This article is for small business owners, sole traders and anyone who runs a business from home and is running out of room for stock, equipment or paperwork. If you are weighing up a traditional warehouse against a storage unit, here is how to think it through.

Why more businesses are choosing self-storage

Self-storage is becoming increasingly popular, and many businesses now rent storage units instead of traditional warehouse space. The reasons vary from business to business, and we have covered them in more detail in our post Business Self Storage: What you need to know. The short version is that a unit can be a simpler way to get extra room than taking on a whole warehouse.

That does not make it right for every business. The questions below will help you decide.

Start with what you actually need to store

Before you compare options, list what would go into the space. For a business, this might be stock, tools, display materials, seasonal items, or records you need to keep. Next to each item, note roughly how big it is and whether you can stack it.

This matters because the unit size drives everything else. You can pick a location and calculate the storage size you need on the Select a Location page of our website. Do this with your list in front of you, and you will get a much more useful answer than guessing.

If you are not sure what suits a unit well, our post [Top 6 Belongings You Need to Store in Self-Storage](https://www.storagely.co.uk/blog/6-belongings-to-store-in-self-storage/) is a good prompt, even though it is written with a wide audience in mind.

Think about how often you will visit

Some businesses need to get to their stock every day. Others only dip in a few times a month, or just once a season. How often you go should decide how close the site needs to be.

If you will be there regularly, choose a site near your home, your shop or your delivery route, because the travelling time adds up. If you are mainly archiving things, a longer drive matters less and you have more choice.

Storagely is based in Tividale, and we have opened further sites at Langley Mill, Shenstone, Coventry and Preston. Take a look to see which is closest to where you work.

Decide how long you will need the space

A business might need extra room for a busy season, a refit or a short project. Or it might need somewhere to keep things for years. The length of time changes what you should plan for.

Choosing long-term storage has a few more considerations than short-term or temporary storage. We go through them in [Long Term Storage: Tips and Best Practices](https://www.storagely.co.uk/blog/long-term-storage-tips/). Read it if you expect your items to be with us for a long stretch.

Check who you are trusting with your goods

Your stock and equipment are what keep your business running, so it is fair to look closely at any provider. Storagely is now a Tick Box accredited business through Trading Standards, and we have written about it on our blog. It is one thing worth comparing when you look at different storage companies.

Whoever you choose, ask questions before you sign. Ask what is included, how the agreement works and what happens if your needs change. A good provider will be glad to answer.

Ready to see what size you need?

Choose a location on the Select a Location page of our website and use the calculator to work out the storage size for your business. Then get in touch with the team and tell us what you plan to store.