Self-Storage Financial Models
Compare 4 operating formats. Choose the type that matches how you will sell, serve customers and use capacity.
Choose your business type (4)
Provides physical storage related to physical storage and related handling. Customer-owned goods occupy defined capacity; the operator earns storage and handling fees, not the value of goods held.
- Earns from
- Occupied storage-unit-period
- Sales limited by
- Usable storage positions and handling throughput
Collects customer property, stores it at an operator-controlled facility and returns it on request. The physical logistics layer adds work beyond passive storage.
- Earns from
- Storage-unit-month and transport job
- Sales limited by
- Storage space, route vehicles and handling capacity
Places operator-owned assets used for physical storage and related handling with customers for longer rental periods and provides the maintenance promised in the agreement. Ownership remains with the rental operator unless a separate sale is agreed.
- Earns from
- Active rented unit-month
- Sales limited by
- Available fleet and contracted installation or service capacity
Runs day-to-day physical operations relating to physical storage and related handling for an asset owner. The asset owner retains the principal asset and its underlying customer economics; the management company earns contractual management compensation.
- Earns from
- Managed asset or site-period
- Sales limited by
- Sites supportable by operating teams and contract scope
Compare the operating logic
Open comparison| Business type | What earns revenue | What limits sales |
|---|---|---|
| Customer-Access Self-Storage | Occupied storage-unit-period | Usable storage positions and handling throughput |
| Collection-and-Storage Warehouse | Storage-unit-month and transport job | Storage space, route vehicles and handling capacity |
| Portable Storage Container Rental | Active rented unit-month | Available fleet and contracted installation or service capacity |
| Third-Party Storage Facility Management | Managed asset or site-period | Sites supportable by operating teams and contract scope |
Build a plan around your own assumptions
Read the planning guideCompare the format, then check the workbook inputs and outputs on its model page.
Questions
Which model should I choose?
Match the paying customer, billing unit, location and capacity constraints to your intended operation. Review the full model page to check its scope and workbook status.
Can I combine business types?
Some formats can share premises or staff. Shared resources and revenue need to be counted once. Check the combination notes on each model page.