Commercial space is expensive, especially in densely populated urban areas. For small businesses who don’t consistently need large and permanent retail or commercial space for inventory, self storage can be a practical alternative. These units offer extra capacity without long-term commitment, and they’re more cost efficient than commercial spaces. They’re useful for seasonal demand, unexpected growth or temporary projects such as renovations, upgrades or relocations. 

So what kinds of enterprises are the best candidates to save on costs with self storage units for businesses? This article will look at some of them – from retail inventory storage to organizational benefits for offices, to equipment storage for construction workers and other tradespeople.

Small Retailers Can Save on Inventory Storage Costs 

Many small retailers, from home office businesses to single store owners, could cut costs by using storage units for business inventory. By selecting a smaller business premises that needs less room, rent costs can be cut considerably. 

This can mount up in a desirable high traffic area, where every square foot of extra space can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. By renting storage space in a nearby but less busy or less in-demand area, the square foot costs of surplus inventory storage can fall considerably. 

Seasonal inventory, such as unsold winter clothes or gear in summer, or extra packaging supplies for intense periods of demand are just two good examples of inventory and stock that could be best put into self storage. 

As another example, a small online retailer might keep fast-moving inventory on-site while storing bulk stock and packaging supplies off-site. This keeps the main space clear and focused, while still allowing quick restocking or shipping when needed. 

This can be very useful for people running ecommerce businesses out of their homes, as it can reduce how much work crosses in the home space. Successful business owners who started in a garage will know how quickly things can spill out into the rest of the house – so keep self storage in mind as an option. 

Cost Effective Equipment Storage for Contractors and Tradespeople

Contractors, real estate developers, electricians, landscapers. If you’re in the trades, you’ll know how quickly tools, materials and equipment can pile up in vehicles, garages or even offices and workshops. 

As well as being a problem for organizational and workplace efficiency, vehicle security is a concern for businesses in many areas of the country. 

Secure self storage solves both of these concerns. Particularly for specialized equipment or gear that is rarely used but important to have easy access to.

A great provider of self storage units for business needs will offer 24/7 drive up access and security, for convenience and peace of mind. Booking a unit, via a flexible contract, can be done in minutes online or by phone, and they can be available to start using to the same day in most cases. 

A 10×30 storage unit is the largest size most self storage providers offer, and this will be big enough for bulky equipment, or the storage of multiple crews worth of tools. 

Document and Archive Storage for Offices 

Upstate New York has plenty of established businesses across the professional services. These firms can generate lots of archived paper documents that may be needed long after they were filed away. Over time, these stacks of paper can pile up and become difficult to manage. 

With commercial space not getting any cheaper, many businesses are turning to self storage units in New York, which offer a flexible way to manage overflow without expanding their permanent footprint. Local options to your business keep everything accessible when needed, 

Climate controlled storage units are an important option for this kind of storage. Potentially important old paperwork and business records can be vulnerable to changes in temperature or humidity, as can older electronic records systems. 

For this reason, and others, a reliable self storage provider will have climate controlled units that keep the air inside at a constant temperature year-round. 

Organizational Benefits for a Lean and Efficient Workplace 

Self storage doesn’t just reduce costs directly. It can also indirectly lower expenses by making your business more efficient. 

A clean and clear workplace is a happier and more effective one. Using self storage means a lot of things that might otherwise be kept on premises are away from busy workspaces, where they could get in the way or cause accidents. 

Month to month storage offers the flexibility to extend a business’ capacity on a temporary basis. Or, for longer periods if the short term needs become ongoing.

Self storage can also be used during renovations, upgrades, relocations or franchise launches, to store the contents of a business location while works are carried out. 

Both of these show how storage units are useful when scaling a business. During uncertain periods of extra demand, they fill a need without the commitment and cost of renting a whole warehouse or expanding your own.