Pros & cons of running a small business from a storage unit
Most of the major tech companies made their baby steps in garages. In case you have your own garage, go ahead and set it up to be your new office space. If you’re not that lucky, there’s a different solution.
Start your company in one of the self-storage units available for renting. It might sound unorthodox, but more and more people are starting their businesses this way. The text below will guide you through all upsides and downsides of this decision.
PROS
1. Cutting the expenses
Renting an office in a business park can be very pricey and unaffordable for the most of the new companies. If you want to spare some cash in the beginning, and you should, go ahead and pick the cheaper option. You should go with a storage unit by setting your headquarters there. This option is really good move if you aren’t expecting incoming traffic from costumers. Another great thing is that most of the storage companies offer customized storage designed especially for business purposes.
2. Increasing the productivity
Working from a home office can be really fun and most of all cheap. On the other hand, your home office is a part of your living space so you can easily get distracted. If you’re one of those people, don’t hesitate but rent the customized storage unit and set up a new office there. Yes, it will cost you some money, but you’ll be able to increase the productivity. You’ll feel more motivated to get up early in the morning and head to your office.
3. Separating from home life
Going to a separate location to work is much healthier for you and for your new business. Working at home has at least two challenges. The first one is a lack of motivation and plenty of other possibilities which can distract you. Another potential issue is mixing of home and business life. It may happen that you work the whole day and forget to spend quality time with your friends and family. That’s why you should consider renting one of the units like those offered by Super Cheap Storage Company and set up an office there.
4. Plenty of expansion opportunities
By setting your office this way, you’ll have an affordable option to expand the moment you need to. You won’t need to search for a bigger office in another part of the town, you’ll be able to rent another unit just a few steps from the old one. Another great thing is that you won’t be forced to sign a year-long lease. By going month-to-month, you’ll be free to change the premises at any time. That way, you’ll be able to expand the business without losing money on the space you don’t need anymore.
CONS
1. There might be some safety issues
Most of the storage companies offer insurance deals that will keep your stuff safe. But, if you have some expensive technology and important documents inside your office, you might be worried a bit. Because of that, you’ll probably need to go there from time to time just to check if everything is in its place. This downside can be alleviated if you rent the storage near to your home.
2. Can’t defend from nature
If you are living in the area which is known for its storms or other natural calamities, you might be in slight trouble. Keep in mind that items stored in your office can be damaged by bad weather. Because of that, you’ll need to insure your most valuable items. So, you’ll have a cheap option for the office space, but you’ll need to spend some extra bucks on insurance. Keep in mind that most of the storage companies aren’t responsible for damages caused by nature.
3. Storage units CAN get expensive
Although your new storage office is the most affordable option at this moment, it might not be in the long run. Before you decide upon renting a storage unit, make sure to anticipate all possible expenses coming your way. As mentioned above, you’ll need to pay for the damage made by natural calamities. Second, you’ll need to keep the office clean, so if you don’t want to do it by yourself, you’ll need to hire someone for the job. At the end, the longer you stay in one of the rented units, the total expenses may become approximately the same as they would be if you rented the usual office.
Conclusion
Before making a final decision, make sure to get well informed about all good and bad sides of renting a storage unit for business purposes. As you can see, there are some pros and cons, so you should put everything on the paper to see if that’s the best option for setting up your new office. In case it is, go ahead and start working on growing your company.
Leila Dorari is an entrepreneur, a marketing consultant and freelance writer from Sydney. She has been working with different companies for 5 years now. When taking a break from making new marketing slogans, she is either window shopping or exploring new ways to make her life more meaningful.