Northside Self Storage
“We started with 40 containers on a gravel lot. The software runs the front desk.”
RDRon & Deb Kessler · Northside Self Storage · Since 2014
12-mo revenue$454,620+5% vs last yearSquare + Plaid
How to start a self-storage business in the US
0 of 13 doneStart with: Check the numbers first
Self-storage needs zoning approval and building and fire sign-off, which can take a year or more. Each state has its own self-storage lien law that decides how you can deal with unpaid units, so read yours before you write your rental agreement.
Build new, convert a building or buy a facility. Each has a very different timeline.
Demand nearby, good access and the right zoning.
Units, security and software that runs the site without staff.
Filling a new facility is slow. Price to fill, then raise rents.
Get found by people who are moving, and watch how full you are.
Open for business13 steps to go
Stage 1Decide how to get in
0/3- Run the odds calculator with your budget
- Plan for 2 to 3 years to fill a new site
- Compare building with buying
- Price each route roughly with a broker
- Look at empty warehouses and big-box stores
- Decide how much risk and time you can take
- Ask for 24 months of rent rolls
- Visit and count empty units yourself
- Check rents against nearby facilities
Stage 2Find the site
0/3- Map every facility within five miles
- Call them for prices and empty units
- Consider a professional feasibility study
- Meet the planning department early
- Make any land deal conditional on approval
- Plan fire lanes, sprinklers and lighting with your architect
- Form an LLC and get an EIN
- Talk to banks and SBA lenders
- Budget interest payments for the lease-up years
Stage 3Build and equip
0/3- Copy the mix that is full at nearby facilities
- Add some climate-controlled units if demand is there
- Leave space to add units later
- Fit a keypad or app-controlled gate
- Cover every aisle with cameras
- Light the site well at night
- Choose software with online move-ins
- Turn on autopay for every tenant
- Connect it to your gate system
Stage 4Open and fill up
0/2- Check rents at every nearby facility
- Offer a move-in deal for the first months
- Plan regular rent reviews
- Have a local lawyer review your rental agreement
- Write down your late-payment steps
- Offer tenant insurance or require proof of cover
Stage 5Run and grow
0/2- Claim your Google Business Profile
- Ask new tenants for a review
- List on storage marketplaces
- Track how full you are each month
- Watch for new facilities being planned nearby
- Read why other storage businesses closed
No steps match.
Open for business, with numbers to prove it.
Owners who started one
Questions people ask
How long does it take to fill a new self-storage facility?
Often two to three years. Plan your cash and loan payments for that lease-up period.
What permits does self-storage need?
Usually zoning approval, which may need a special use permit, plus building permits, fire marshal approval and a certificate of occupancy.
What happens when a tenant stops paying?
Each state has a self-storage lien law that sets out the notices and timeline before you can sell a unit’s contents. Follow it exactly.