As business owners, you’re probably always concerned with cost, safety and efficiency. One of the hard parts is determining if you should rent a storage unit for your archival needs, equipment or inventory or store on-site. Each option seems to have positive qualities, but more and more businesses are seeing the ways that having their own storage, on their property, is advantageous. In this article, we will review what each option is and why on-site storage may be the best investment your business can make this year.

What is a Storage Facility (Off-Site Storage)?

A specialized self-storage facility is essentially leased space where businesses or individuals can store goods, documents, tools or surplus material. The units come in many different sizes, typically with access controls, cameras and locks to provide further security.

The beauty of a storage facility is its ease of use: essentially, you lease the space you need, then each month pay rent. You have no worries regarding maintenance, property tax or a long-term commitment, aside from the lease. These types of storage units are convenient for housing seasonal inventory, archived documents or equipment that is not regularly used.

However, easy as off-site storage sounds, there are disadvantages to consider:

• Ongoing costs – monthly rental payments accumulate over time and may exceed the cost of purchasing a location for on-site storage.
• Inflexible access – you are subject to the operating hours and terms of access at the storage facility, which can slow down the process when you need something urgently.
• Distance – round trips to the storage facility are never time well spent and reduce productivity and transportation costs increased.

What is an On-Site Storage Container?

On-site storage container means having your own storage space, literally at your fingertips, at your site, in the form of custom built storage sheds, converted shipping containers or even additional storage units or storage lockers. Simply put, it’s in-house storage, at your feet.

This type of storage, such as storage containers for sale converts that excess space into a second room that is specifically designed for your needs—whether that storage is documents, machinery, materials or finished goods. Plus, there are no rent payments, no monthly payments and best of all, access is a breeze.

Why On-Site Storage is Better for Your Business

If you’re still on the fence, let’s break down the key reasons why on-site storage stands out as the superior choice:

1. No Rent, No Monthly Installments — A Smarter Long-Term Investment

When you are paying a monthly payment for storage space, it may not seem that bad at first. However, after a few months (or years) paying a regular charge can add up to a lot of money and what do you have to show for it?

When you build or install a storage container on-site, you are making a one-time expense to your property. You receive an asset that will be a permanent fixture on your site with added value and you will not have to deal with fluctuating rental rates or surprise increases in fees from the storage company.

2. Readily Availability and Convenience

Visualize they need a key piece of equipment or an archived document and be able to access it, without ever leaving the property. Everything you need is within reach, allowing you to avoid wasting time on trips back and forth simply to access your inventory. This can be even more relevant for businesses that require frequent access to inventory stored someplace else, including construction companies, retailers with inventory turn-over rates or event planners.

We cannot emphasize enough the convenience of having everything available at your command and taking back control of what might be hours or days of lost productivity for you or your team, all day every day.

3. Safety and Security Under Your Control

When you store off-site you are restricted to the security capabilities of that facility. There’s a good chance the security measures in place are robust, but ultimately it is out of your hands. When you store on-site you get to dictate the security. You can have your own alarms, locks, provided there are cameras and even connect that storage unit into your overall security system.

You’ll have peace of mind that sensitive documents or high-value equipment aren’t left vulnerable miles away from your supervision.

4. Customization and Flexibility

A storage unit in a facility is typically sold as is with limited opportunity for customization. With on-site storage, you have the ability to configure the space to your specific business needs. Headaches related to particular equipment, storage processes around the availability of shelving units for organization, climate control, for heating and cooling sensitive items and partitioned area storage for mixed storage is ultimately your decision.

You’re settling the area for your business as if you were creating a new room. By renting space on an ongoing basis, you’ll ultimately go from an office environment to a storage container environment that grows and evolves as your business has to expand.

5. Cost Savings Beyond Rent

In addition to eliminating monthly payments, on-site storage also avoids the implicit costs related to off-site storage, including fuel costs, time-consuming travel and maybe time lost trying to find something in an off-site location.

On-site storage units also improve operational efficiency. Your team’s time is not used to coordinate pickups and deliveries but rather is spent conducting the primary activities of your business.

When On-Site Storage Makes the Most Sense

While on-site storage is preferable for most, it is particularly best for:

• Retail retailers with changing seasonal inventory
• Construction companies with large tools and equipment
• Event planning companies with props, staging and equipment
• Manufacturers with raw material and finished product that needs to be stored
• Companies that have a high volume of records or have equipment with access concerns

Final Thoughts

If you’re weighing the current costs, availability and limitations of leasing a storage facility against the advantageous freedom, productivity and development opportunity of onsite storage, the decision should be clear.

When you build your storage, you’re receiving more than just a better solution — you’re creating an investment in more efficient operations, more safety and overall better financial sense. You’ll have an additional room that not only increases productivity but is available whenever needed and avoids you being forever caught up in monthly payments. In business time and control mean money. Onsite storage containers solve both.

Are you ready to make the switch and experience the comfort of having the storage solutions where you need them? Contact
Pop Up Lockers now!