The Differences Between Self-Storage and Warehouse Storage Explored

The Differences Between Self-Storage and Warehouse Storage Explored

These days, more and more businesses are using self-storage to manage their excess stock. It makes sense, right? After all, the cost of renting a self-storage unit is far cheaper than paying the monthly rent or mortgage on a large warehouse or commercial premises.

Self-storage allows businesses to scale their storage needs with ease, optimising their monthly spend with the square footage used. Warehousing is different. More often than not, the cost is the cost. Businesses can be left paying for either too much or too little square footage.

But this is just one difference. Whereas warehouse and self-storage facilities are hardly chalk and cheese, the services they provide are more than a bit comparable.

What does this mean? It’s important to understand the differences between each before putting down your hard-earned cash on one over the other. A cursory glance tells you that self-storage is best suited for personal storage, and warehouse storage is exclusively for commercial storage. But is that right? Understanding the differences between each will help you decide which options is best for your needs.

Interested in learning more? Be sure to read to the end; you don’t want to miss something and make the wrong decision! Let’s start with a description of each.

Warehouse storage explained

The most obvious way warehouse storage differs from self-storage is in square footage. Warehouses offer a great deal of space, something that’s ideal for retailers, manufacturers, and importers. Self-storage providers can offer space to store pretty much anything; for instance, clothing and electronics can be safely stored in temperature-controlled environments.

However, warehouse storage is, generally, a great deal more expansive. Businesses can take advantage of upwards of 1,000 square feet of space. This means that businesses with larger, evolving inventories may benefit more from warehouse storage than self-storage.

Don’t forget, there are downsides to warehouse storage. UK businesses are limited when leasing or buying warehouse space, only having the square footage accessible to them onsite. Then there’s the cost. Warehouse storage is more expensive, with many SMEs and blue-chip businesses taking out a mortgage or paying high lease costs to rent the space they need. Sure, you might be able to find a warehouse willing to lease a portion of a warehouse, but the options are hardly as flexible as those for self-storage.

Self-storage units do not suffer from the same drawbacks. There are no long-term contracts. No escalating costs or high interest rates to eat into your revenue. Customers can control their own costs, and there are often flexible payment options to take advantage of. Better still, self-storage customers are free to cancel at any time; there’s no worry about being tied down to a 10- or 25-year mortgage.

However, the flexibility of warehouse storage cannot be ignored. The standard warehouse storage facility features some or a combination of the following: wire partitions, static or mobile shelving, mezzanine flooring, pallets, and multi-tier racking, to name just some of the options open to customers. The sheer breadth of options open to customers has seen everything from transport companies to e-commerce brands invest heavily in warehouse storage.

Key pros of warehouse storage:

Below are some of the key pros of warehouse storage:

• High ceilings and expansive space make it easy to safely store large and irregular-shaped equipment, like machinery
• Good security, including the option of 24/7 manned security surveillance, cameras, or a combination of both
• Options to scale, expand, or reduce the available space according to your needs
• Commercial property ownership can act as a sound financial investment for the future

Key cons of warehouse storage:

Below are some of the key cons of warehouse storage:

• It can be very expensive. Business costs will have to be factored into any commercial decision, especially if warehouses are being leased
• You’ll have less direct control over the assets you choose to store
• Not being able to optimise the storage space needed, many businesses find that they either have too much or too little warehouse storage space
• Not being able to scale storage according to your evolving needs

Self-storage explained

Self-storage is a fit-for-purpose storage solution for both commercial and domestic use. Customers benefit from flexible contracts, climate control, and the prospect of being able to store pretty much whatever they’d like. From vehicle storage to military storage, moving storage, or student storage, self-storage facilities offer so much more than commercial storage solutions.

The key difference between a warehouse and self-storage is the privacy and size scalability it affords. Self-storage facilities allow customers to gain access to their belongings 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

It’s important to remember that, although self-storage offers flexible solutions for customers, there are some assets that customers may not be permitted to store. These include unregistered vehicles, live plants and animals, weapons, and perishables.

Key pros of self-storage

Below are some of the key pros of self-storage:

• Cost-effective
• Flexible, scalable security solutions to meet your individual needs
• Convenient for both businesses and individuals
• Secure storage solutions, including on-site staff and security guards, CCTV surveillance cameras, keyless entry, and intruder alarms

Key cons of self-storage

Below are some of the key cons of self-storage.

• Not ideal for customers with vast storage needs
• Limited space means that self-storage isn’t ideal if you wish to store large items
• You may need to keep an inventory list of all the items placed in self-storage

Why you should opt for self-storage over warehouse storage

As we’ve established, self-storage will appeal to customers with diverse and flexible storage requirements, whether commercial or residential.

However, a great many commercial customers believe that self-storage offers a better option for their needs than leasing warehouse space or even buying a facility.

So, why do businesses make the decision to rent self-storage? Let’s take a look in more detail.

Generally speaking, opting for self-storage is all down to individual needs. For instance, small businesses without the square footage who don’t need the vast space warehouse storage affords or want to keep their costs under control may be better off opting for self-storage.

But there’s more.

Many self-storage companies offer additional services, including secure lockups, a range of packaging solutions, and even office space to rent. These turnkey services can help businesses streamline operations while keeping expenditures under control.

Warehouse storage tends to pretty much do what it says on the tin. You might be able to pay for additional space; however, you won’t get any of the other benefits that self-storage promotes.

Additionally, some self-storage companies offer a collection and delivery service. This can be very beneficial to commercial and residential customers, whether moving home or relocating offices, saving time and money.

How do you find a reliable self-storage company?

Finding a reliable self-storage service is easier than you think. Try searching Google for a local self-storage company. Have a look at their website to see if they offer the services you need and pay attention to any online reviews.

Depending on where in the UK you’re located, you should be able to find a local self-storage company. Many are located close to major transport links, which means no matter where you are, you should be able to travel to and from the facility with ease.

Oftentimes, self-storage facilities are well-signposted and highly visible. Once you’ve found one, be sure to give them a call to make sure that they offer the services you need.

Self-storage vs. warehouse storage: the choice is yours.

As we’ve outlined, both self-storage and warehouse facilities have distinct pros and cons. Any storage solution you opt for must suit your budget, storage needs, and preferences.

Any growing SME will greatly benefit from the flexible, scalable, customer-focused, secure, and convenient solutions offered by self-storage facilities. You can effortlessly manage your inventory and even take advantage of the range of additional services offered.

However, if you want to store excess household furniture after you move home, if your son or daughter is taking a gap year abroad or studying at university, or simply keep any belongings you don’t have room for safe, then your best option is probably self-storage.

If you have substantial storage needs, are considering investing in a commercial facility as an asset, or wish to store hazardous or perishable items, then you may be better off opting for a warehouse.

Interested in learning more?

Get in touch with Easy Access Self-Storage today, and we will help you assess your storage needs and find you a solution that best suits your circumstances.

So, what are you waiting for?