Running an online business often starts at home. But as stock builds up, you might start wondering… can I run my online business from a self storage unit?
Then the business grows.
More orders mean more stock, more boxes and more space needed to get everything organised. Before long, the spare bedroom is full and the garage has become a makeshift warehouse.
So can you run your online business from a self storage unit?
The short answer is yes, you can use self storage to support an online business. It can give you a secure place to keep stock, packaging, equipment and business records. You may also be able to receive deliveries and prepare orders there.
What you usually cannot do is treat a standard self storage unit as a shop, permanent office or public business premises. The exact rules depend on the storage provider and your agreement, so always explain how you plan to use the unit before you move in.
Can I Run My Online Business From a Self Storage Unit?
A self storage unit can become the practical base behind your online shop.
You can use it to store:
- Products and inventory
- Boxes and packaging materials
- Labels and promotional inserts
- Seasonal stock
- Returns waiting to be checked
- Photography equipment and display materials
- Exhibition equipment
- Business files and archive boxes
You can organise the unit into clear areas for incoming deliveries, available stock, packing and returns. This creates a simple stockroom without filling your home or committing to a warehouse.
Some businesses also visit their units to pick products and prepare orders. Whether you can pack and dispatch from the site will depend on the facility’s rules, access times and the type of work involved.
What Can’t You Do From a Storage Unit?
A storage unit is primarily a place to keep goods. It is not normally designed to operate as a shop or permanent workplace.
You should not assume that you can:
- Invite customers to visit the unit
- Display and sell products directly to the public
- Employ staff to work there throughout the day
- Install machinery or production equipment
- Use the unit as a permanent office
- Use the unit as your company’s registered office
- Store prohibited, hazardous or perishable goods
If you operate a limited company, you still need an appropriate registered office address. The Government explains the requirements in its guidance on registered office addresses.
Online retailers must also follow the normal rules covering product information, delivery, cancellations and returns. You can read the Government’s online and distance selling guidance for more information.
Using self storage does not change your responsibilities as an online seller. It simply gives you more room to manage the physical side of the business.
Why Use Self Storage Instead of Working From Home?
Working from home can keep costs down when an online business is new. The problem is that stock has a habit of spreading.
Once products start taking over living areas, it becomes harder to keep accurate stock records. Boxes get mixed up, returns disappear into the wrong pile and packing an order takes longer than it should.
Moving stock into a dedicated storage unit helps create a clearer divide between home and work. Everything can be labelled and placed in a consistent location. You can see what you have, what is running low and what needs to be reordered.
It may also help protect stock from the changing temperatures and damp conditions found in some garages, sheds and lofts.
Is Self Storage Cheaper Than a Warehouse?
For many small online businesses, self storage can be a more realistic next step than renting a warehouse or commercial unit.
A warehouse may involve a longer lease, business rates, utilities and maintenance costs. You could also end up paying for far more room than you currently need.
Self storage is more flexible. You can choose a unit that suits your present stock levels and change to a larger or smaller space as the business changes, subject to availability.
This can be particularly useful for seasonal businesses. You may need more room before Christmas or during a busy sales period but much less space during quieter months.
Reddistores offers different storage unit sizes, from smaller units suitable for boxes and limited stock to larger spaces for substantial quantities of inventory and equipment.
How Can Self Storage Make Order Fulfilment Easier?
The way you organise the unit is just as important as its size.
Use sturdy shelving so that products are kept off the floor and easy to find. Give each product or variation a clear location and label every shelf. Keep popular items close to the entrance so you do not have to walk through the entire unit for every order.
Leave a central walkway rather than filling every gap. If you need to move several boxes to reach one product, the unit will quickly become frustrating to use.
It also helps to separate new stock from customer returns. Returned goods should be checked before being placed back with stock that is ready to sell.
If you store paperwork containing customer or employee information, it must be protected properly. The Information Commissioner’s Office explains that data security includes physical as well as digital records in its guide to data security.
Which Type of Storage Is Best for Online Stock?
The right choice depends on what you sell and how frequently you need access.
Heated indoor storage can be suitable for products, packaging, documents and equipment that need a clean, dry environment. Reddistores’ indoor business units are individually alarmed and customers have their own lock, key and alarm PIN.
Outdoor container storage may suit bulky products, tools or equipment where direct vehicle access is more important. Being able to drive up to the container can make regular loading and unloading much easier.
Reddistores also has space for large commercial vehicles and articulated lorries. Deliveries can be accepted on behalf of customers and held for collection, which can save you from waiting at home for a supplier to arrive.
You can read more about the available options on the Reddistores business storage page.
Can I Use a Self Storage Unit as My Business Address?
Do not assume that renting a unit means you can use the facility as your registered office, returns address or public trading address.
Receiving a delivery on your behalf is different from providing an official address for your business. Discuss your requirements with the storage provider and arrange a suitable registered or correspondence address separately if needed.
You should also check that your business insurance covers stock while it is being transported and stored. Indoor storage at Reddistores requires suitable insurance, which can be arranged independently or through Reddistores for an additional charge.
Is Self Storage Right for Your Online Business?
Self storage can work well if your online business needs more stock space without the cost and commitment of a warehouse.
It gives you a separate place to organise stock, keep packaging and manage the practical work behind your online shop. You can choose the space you need now and look at changing unit size as your business grows.
The key is to be clear about how you intend to use it. Tell the storage company what you sell, how often you need access, whether suppliers will make deliveries and whether you plan to pack orders at the unit.
If you are looking for flexible business storage in Redditch, speak to the Reddistores team. We can help you choose between heated indoor storage and drive-up outdoor container storage based on your stock, access needs and available space.
Email: info@reddistores.co.uk
Tel: 01527 62308
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