5 Dad Business You Can Run From A Storage Unit

Flexibility, low overheads, short notice-periods and easy access. A huge number of businesses are run from storage units across the UK. And it’s not hard to see why. There are well over 1,000 self-storage facilities in the UK so it’s easy to find one near you.

Be it a talent you possess, a hobby expanding into the realms of money-making, or a gap in the market you can exploit, the two ingredients required for success are self-belief and space to flourish.

But when your home business becomes too big for your home, it’s time to step things up with a dedicated premises. There are well over 1,000 self-storage facilities in the UK so it’s easy to find one near you. The largest provider is Safestore with over 160 sites nationwide.

What is a “dad business” anyway?

A “dad business” is literally anything that the stay-at-home, working or retired dad turns his hand to.

Are you the dad business looking to expand?

If your study is straining with stock, kitchen table crammed with commodities or spare room out of space, then further expansion may mean that more room and a dedicated business place are essential.

An office or renting space in a building are expensive investments. Taking out a lease in a bricks-and-mortar location can add hundreds or thousands to your overheads.

There’s a more logical step to consider first, and one you’ve probably driven past plenty of times. The dedicated storage unit. Here are five examples of dad businesses that we see operated from storage facilities.

1. Online selling from a storage unit

Whether you sell through eBay, Amazon marketplace, social media or your own dedicated website, selling usually means stock. And expansion needs extra space.

A storage unit will typically be around 200 to 300 square metres of open space. You can fit around 600 average-sized boxes into that or 300 standard euro pallets.

2. Landscaping and contracting

Lawnmowers, leaf blowers, drills, saws, bags of compost, the space in a shed or truck are finite, bulky and costly to move around with you as you go about your business. A storage unit can be used to store all that bulky gear.

3. Making things and crafting

Lots of dads have incredible practical skills. They might have been gained from a trade, a profession, a manufacturing job or handy person position. Or they’ve simply developed from a pastime or just years making and fixing stuff.

You could fit machinery, workbenches, tools and spares into a storage unit with space for several processes, and enough storage so that you can keep your keyless chucks in stock, or whatever it is you need to create your offerings. The ultimate man cave perhaps – but one which can also make you money.

4. Professional services

Be it accountancy services, tutoring, teach online, run a consulting business, website design, any manner of freelance work, or even a personal trainer, running your business from a storage unit doesn’t mean working from, or welcoming customers to, a metal shell.

You can fit a storage unit out with all sorts of fixtures and fittings. You can even have a reception desk upfront for greeting visitors and clients. You can hook up the internet and a phone line, and you can easily operate a pc and printer from desk space in a storage unit.

5. Writing and video services

Lots of people make lots of money from producing video content. Be it a YouTube channel or something more specialist, the neutral walls of a storage unit, or decorated with a background you see fit can make vlogs and instructional videos look much more professional. Plus you have a nice quiet environment to film without disruption.

The same applies if you either make pocket money or a living from writing. If you don’t have an office or quiet space at home to concentrate for long periods, writing can be difficult. No more people watching from the window or tempting trips to the fridge.

Remember…

There may be a difference between regular and commercial storage units at the facility of your choice. You may be limited to what you can carry out from a regular unit – usually storage and order fulfilment for example.

You should check with the manager of the facility before you consider greeting customers, operating machinery or adding additional wiring for example. You should also know that the UK’s biggest self-storage providers have signed up to a code of conduct to prevent illegal activities taking place within facilities.

Aside from that, the world of possibilities for your burgeoning dad business could well be about to open up – and only you will have the key!