It might surprise you to discover that self-storage is a vast market sector in the UK. In fact, almost half of the total number of European self-storage facilities are based here.
There are over 1,500 self-storage facilities throughout the UK with impressive growth in sites of 5% year-on-year. This equates to around 44.5 million square feet of storage space, filled with people’s belongings.
People use self-storage franchise facilities for a wide range of purposes. Perhaps they're having their home renovated and they need to get furniture out of harm's way during building work.
Some self-storage customers move to temporary accommodation if they're waiting for a new home to release, and they need somewhere to store the majority of their furniture while they rent.
Often people run out of space for their collections and can't bear to part with them - self-storage franchises are perfectly placed to safely stash their beloved collections.
Some businesses use self-storage units for holding inventory or archives - much cheaper and infinitely more flexible than hiring entire warehouses.
Franchising
Franchising provides newcomers with the opportunity to start up their own self-storage facility, using the proven business infrastructure of a successful partner.
Adopt the instantly recognisable branding of an established business and access a customer base that already knows and trusts your company identity.
Self-storage franchises offer a range of excellent training opportunities to ensure that your new company operates in line with business- and tax regulations. But they don't just train you up and leave you to it; most parent companies provide ongoing operative- and administrative support, as well as access to HR functionality.
Franchising is THE common sense approach to going into business for yourself; offering a gateway to a successful infrastructure that's ready to go right from the start.
Facts About Self-Storage Franchises
Interestingly, the most common customer profile for a self-storage customer tends to fit into the older age bracket - between 40 and 69-years-of-age.
There’s plenty of scope for expansion as a self-storage franchise owner. Around a third of all self-storage sites are owned and run by multi-unit operators. Some self-storage owners have over ten sites within their portfolio.
So, if you're in an area with no current self-storage provision, there's plenty of scope to make the most of people's local storage needs.
Cities tend to have the highest self-storage requirements. Currently, London has almost twice the capacity for self-storage (per capita) than anywhere else in the UK.
London real estate comes at a significant premium which means that people often downsize or relocate to release equity; storing their furniture while they find a new place to live.
Franchising Vs Independent
Franchises often more readily attract support from moneylenders and banks than independent companies because their infrastructure is formed on a pre-proven business model. Franchise businesses generally present a reduced risk for a return on investment because they are built upon a demonstrable marketplace niche.
Independent businesses, however, more frequently scramble to achieve start-up funds. Independent companies are less attractive to lenders because their market position has yet to be proven, making them a greater financial risk.
Those independent businesses that do manage to raise start-up collateral tend to achieve less favourable lending rates than franchises, and almost half of all independents go bankrupt within their first three years while they struggle to recoup their initial investment.
Franchise businesses, on the other hand, tend to thrive right from the start because they can rely on instantly recognisable branding and clients who already know and trust them as a brand.
Self-Storage Franchises
Explore our excellent range of self-storage franchises, and help the UK get packing today!
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