The coronavirus pandemic will hit business hard, long after we’ve all gone back to whatever normal looks like in life after lockdown. As a business owner, this could see you looking to cut costs wherever possible, which could even mean giving up your business premises.
If that’s the case, you might need to think outside the box for a suitable solution – or maybe inside the box, that solution comes in the form of a storage unit.
Working from home has plenty of plus points – avoid the commute, work around other commitments, cut business overheads – all of which combine to make it an appealing option for a growing number of workers.
It’s not without its problems though, and a lack of space is one of the major downsides of working from home – you start of with a neat ledger of work and before you know it your spare room is overrun with all sorts of files, folders and mountains of papers.
And then it spreads even further until you can no longer see where the office ends and the home begins.
There is a relatively low-cost alternative though – working from a self-storage unit.
What is a self-storage unit?
A self-storage unit is simply an area of space, usually a container or sectioned-off area of a warehouse, that is rented out to businesses or private clients so they can store belongings.
This is often a temporary measure and many units are rented out on a month-to-month basis, though longer agreements can be made.
How to work from a self-storage unit
Although self-storage units are often hired out by businesses who have outgrown their current premises but can’t afford to move to a bigger site, there are a growing number of startups using them as a base.
That doesn’t mean workers turn up each day and cram themselves into a small storage space for eight hours at a time, rather small businesses can store all their files, paperwork, non-essential items or stock there to keep their work spaces free from clutter.
And it’s proving especially popular among online retailers who can easily store stock away from the home or office and keep it securely locked and out of sight of potential thieves.
Another advantage of using a self-storage space for business is there is a short-notice period, usually a month, if you suddenly need to downsize or upscale your operations, and overheads are low and free from council tax as this is usually covered in the rental agreement.
Is self-storage right for your business?
Although the High Street has suffered in recent years, with more and more shop spaces lying vacant, the demand for self-storage units is on the rise, particularly among online retailers.
Storage centres are generally found in areas where space is cheaply available, such as on the outskirts of town, and although these locations might not provide a sought-after address, the basic units are ideal for e-commerce firms.
If you’re looking for a more prestigious postcode, you could also take up a virtual office space in your nearest city centre as this will most likely still work out cheaper than taking up a more traditional office space.
It’s all down to personal preference, but if you’re not yet ready to make the move to your own office but could do with more space, taking on a self-storage unit, such as those offered by Lok’n Store, could be an ideal way to make room and cut costs.
