The Best Storage Solution for Your Business?

Mountains of paperwork, spare office equipment, important tools, and boxes of stock… there are many things a business might need to store. With commercial space at a premium, a regular office won’t cut it for a business’s storage needs. If you’re looking to grow your venture and stay competitive, dedicated business storage space is key.

Businesses are diverse and there are many types of storage solutions designed to accommodate their different needs. In this blog, we’ll discuss the various business storage solutions available, and help you come to a decision on which is best for your business.

Types of Business Storage Solutions

 

 

Small Business Storage

If you have a startup, a service business such as plumber, or even an established business that operates on a small scale, your storage needs probably aren’t too expansive. You might need just a few more square feet of storage for things your offices can’t accommodate. This is where small business storage come in handy.

Renting a small business storage unit is more cost-effective than upsizing your commercial space, which is way more costly by the square foot. With small business storage, you’re looking at a 20–30 square foot unit on average — though self storage units are available on flexible contracts, meaning you can always upsize as your needs expand.

E-Commerce Storage

The e-commerce industry is booming, and if your humble venture started off at home, you’ll need to upgrade to more space soon. To keep up with demand, you need a healthy amount of stock, and that means plenty of stock storage space. A warehouse might be too big and costly, especially in the early stages of your empire. A friend’s garage might be just right — but won’t provide the safety your stock requires.

That’s why e-commerce storage has become popular amongst those in the online retail world, be it an online store or Ebay or Amazon seller. It provides the opportunity to rent affordable space on adjustable terms. With the option to rent month to month and change your unit size as you wish, you can rent more space as demand increases, and size down during slow periods; costs stay low and space stays abundant.

Any good storage facility will offer 24-hour monitoring, intruder alarms, and comprehensive insurance coverage, meaning your stock will be thoroughly protected.

Document Storage

While most businesses have gone digital, there will still be a fair share of paper documents (e.g. contracts). Either by law or industry regulation, it’s necessary to hold onto certain documents — sometimes, for years at a time. The way that your archives are stored, and the level of protection provided, may even be mandated by a regulatory body. Either way, it’s important that these documents remain confidential to protect your business and potentially your clients too.

Many companies outsource their document storage to self storage facilities, renting small- to medium-size units depending on the magnitude of their archive. This helps businesses comply with any security standards and frees up space at their offices.

Warehouse Storage

If you have a brick-and-mortar store or even a sizable e-commerce business, you might have larger stock storage needs. Still, a traditional warehouse might be too large and costly. There’s also the issue of being tied into a long lease and made responsible for maintenance and utilities. Luckily, storage facilities offer warehouse storage alternatives, where you can store inventory, as well as pack and dispatch orders.

This solution offers you all the space you need, while removing the stress of maintenance, added costs, and long-term commitments. Self storage facilities are also more centrally located than traditional warehouses, so you could be closer to your customer base, reducing shipping costs. With warehouse self storage, you could be looking at a unit up to 250 square feet, which will hold a house worth of inventory.

Container Storage

Are you a tradesperson or artisan looking for a convenient place to store your tools and equipment in between gigs? Is your machinery starting to rust in the garage? Container storage units are durable and weatherproof, providing the perfect space to store everything you need for your craft.

Since these containers are located at storage facilities, which are usually in the centre of town, your tools will be near your clients. And to make things even more convenient, these drive-up units make for easy loading and unloading — no need to lug those powertools in and out of the facility to your car.

What Size Business Storage Unit Should I Rent?

With such a variety of unit sizes on the market, it may be hard to determine how much space your business needs. The best thing to do is make an inventory list of what you need to store, and if you’re willing to go the extra mile, measure each item to calculate the total space needed. If you want a shortcut, our Size Guide can help.

Once you have an idea of the amount of space you need, consider getting a slightly larger room to accommodate for future needs such as moving business locations — but don’t go overboard. Keep in mind that selecting a unit that’s too small might lead to cramped spaces and damage to your belongings, but renting one that’s too large means you’re paying for unused space.

The great thing about self storage is its flexibility, so if you get the size wrong the first time around, you can upsize or downsize easily with a reasonable provider.

Here are some tips to make the most of your business storage unit:

1. Use storage solutions like shelving units to maximise space and organisation.
2. Keep an inventory list to track all items in storage.
3. Stack any boxes from floor to ceiling to optimise vertical space.
4. Where possible, disassemble items to save on space.
5. Use sturdy boxes and packaging materials to make sure your business items maintain their condition in storage.

 

Where To Find Secure Storage for Your Business

Business storage has become an increasingly popular solution for helping businesses thrive. From storing documents to clearing up office space, this storage solution is in high demand due to its many benefits.

Many self storage operators around the globe have kept up with secure, affordable offerings. While self storage is typically a safe bet, it’s best to keep the following in mind:

Make sure the storage facility you choose has excellent reviews, speaking to their great customer service.
Ask your storage provider which security features they provide — 24-hour surveillance, intruder alarms, and a comprehensive insurance policy are non-negotiables when it comes to protecting your business assets.
Check that your rental contract offers flexible terms and remember to read it thoroughly to ensure there are no hidden charges. It’s also important to keep the notice period in mind.

Choose a facility with a variety of unit sizes should you need to upsize or downsize as your business’s needs change.

And remember, you can’t go wrong when you choose Louth Self Storage! We tick all the boxes — excellent customer service, state-of-the-security, stress-free flexibility, and, of course, a great variety of units!

Are you a Louth business owner? Simply fill out a short form to get a quote today. You can also reach us via email at office@louthselfstorage.co.uk or give us a call on 01507 327008 to learn more. We look forward to hearing from you!