Carlos diaz vice president and general manager of value store it management inc.
Can i run a business from a self storage unit.
In theory working out of a storage unit seems like a grand idea for small business owners.
Self storage is the best business there is for the small investor.
Thirdly operating a self storage facility is straightforward.
Many different kinds of businesses have already discovered the plentiful benefits of taking out a self storage unit as a business base.
Be that a photo studio or band etc etc.
The rent is cheap and space is ample.
You are responsible for the personal property of your customers so you need to make sure that you are prepared to manage that obligation.
Of miami lakes fl is clear that no businesses are allowed.
So basically there s a lot you can do with a self storage unit and a good self storage facility.
Secondly lenders look favorably on self storage as a start up business because of their tremendous success rate.
Better yet small business association sba loans may require as little as 10 down.
Running a store from your self storage can be a less expensive alternative to renting or leasing a small store and is definitely more professional than running one from your garage or backyard storage area.
But you can not run a business or work in one.
You can use it for space location flexibility or simply because of its convenience.
In short the answer to the age old question can i run a business from a self storage unit is a resounding.
Many storage operators discourage business users.
In fact down payments may run as low as 25 for conventional business loans.
You can set up a desk in a storage unit and run the day to day stuff plus many storage units can be provided with lighting and electrical outlets.
However before renting a self storage unit you should talk with the manager and make sure they are allowing you to run a business using their facilities.
It s also an operating business with very predictable cash flow.
Storage units are designed for storage only and yes you could possibly use one for storing ebay items or business items.
In addition there is also a receipt and dispatch service to help you run your business more effectively.
That doesn t mean that standard self storage is entirely useless for small business owners and larger companies.
Owning a self storage business can be very lucrative.
So let s explore those in more detail.
It has all the benefits of a real estate play and few of the drawbacks associated with traditional investment real estate.
It s a self storage unit not meant to be used as an operating business he said.
Because of these facts it caught the eye of wall street following the last recession.
Running a business from your self storage unit is a smart choice.
However starting up a storage unit workshop or transforming your storage unit into an office is not allowed in most cases.