Top 3 Self Storage Franchises in the UK
Alice Tuffery, writer
Published at 16/06/2019, Updated on 04/05/2022 , Reading time: 5 min
Self-storage facilities are used around the world by people who need extra space to temporarily store their belongings. Here, we take a closer look at some of the best self-storage franchise opportunities on the market today.
According to the Self Storage Association UK (SSA), self-storage businesses first emerged in the US in the 1960s. Today, the US has approximately 53,000 self-storage facilities across the country. Two decades later, the American influence crept into the UK market, and British self-storage facilities began popping up in the late 1980s.
The self-storage industry in the UK
The market in the UK hasn’t quite taken off like it did in the US, but the number of self-storage facilities in the UK does exceed that of McDonald’s outlets, standing at 1,500. That means 68 percent of customers are less than a 20-minute journey away from their nearest self-storage facility (SSA & YouGov).
In total, UK self-storage businesses occupy around 8,445 square miles of space. The SSA estimates that over a third of this space is used by businesses and that the industry as a whole makes a turnover of roughly £750 million.
According to SSA’s annual industry report and YouGov’s survey, the average self-storage customer is between 40 and 69 years old, but just 46 percent of people have a good understanding of self-storage as a concept. This means the industry has the potential to increase its customer base and revenue as the public become more aware of the benefits of self-storage.
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Why join a self-storage franchise?
It is thought that roughly 30 percent of self-storage sites are managed by multi-unit operators with more than 10 sites in their portfolios. But because many of these sites are likely to be in lucrative areas, multi-unit operators probably dominate over 40 percent of the market (SSA).
Therefore, there’s certainly scope to launch a multi-unit operation in the self-storage industry. Whether you want to take advantage of this opportunity or manage just one location, you should consider franchising. There are plenty of self-storage franchises out there to help you build your business, so you can offer storage space to local customers with the backing of a reliable brand and proven business model.
Self-storage franchise opportunities
We don’t have any self-storage franchises on our books at the moment, but there are lots of other great opportunities out there. Here are just a few of them.
1. easyStorage
easyStorage is convinced that its model provides customers with the convenience they are looking for, making it a fantastic choice for prospective franchisees. Use of the company’s vans and fuel is free, as customers only pay for the time it takes to load the van. Even the loading system has been simplified, by enabling customers to pack their items into ‘easyPods’ that can be stacked efficiently in the warehouses to avoid wasted space.
- Becoming an easyStorage franchisee: Become part of the ‘easy’ brand with easyStorage, which stands alongside easyJet, easyHotel, easyFood and other businesses. This company asserts that while “easyJet brought down the cost of flying, easyStorage has found a way to bring down the cost of storing”. It has done this by improving its efficiency, introducing new technology and innovative systems, and lowering prices to 50 percent of those set by competitors.
- How much you need to invest: To become an easyStorage franchisee, you’ll need to make a minimum investment of £45,000.
- What you get for your investment: Currently, there are five easyStorage locations in London, Liverpool and Enfield. If you choose to join easyStorage as a franchisee, you’ll be supported by the business’ Franchise Support Manager and will get to attend training at the business’ London headquarters.
2. Barn Store
Barn Store appeals to customers that need to store large items like cars, dinghies and jet skis. This is another self-storage franchise actively looking for entrepreneurs to extend its network of storage locations.
- Becoming a Barn Store franchisee: The business is particularly interested in prospective franchisees who already own one or two buildings and are willing to turn these into Barn Store locations. These buildings should be at least 8,000 square feet in size and be in a location that would welcome plenty of new customers. However, the Barn Store isn’t fussy about the type of building you propose to convert, as previous self-storage facilities have been made out of redundant dairies, cow sheds and broiler sheds.
- How much you need to invest: Barn Store hasn’t released financial figures on its website, but you can get in touch with the franchise to find out how much cash you’ll need to part with.
- What you get for your investment: Again, you should contact Barn Store to find out the finer details of the franchise agreement, but it’s likely you’ll be supported throughout your contract term. If you would like to add to the business’ current portfolio of 14 self-storage facilities, you could also download the franchise prospectus from the Barn Store website.
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3. Sentry
Founded in 1988, this is one of the oldest self-storage franchises in the UK. It is a family-owned business with 17 locations, but it is looking for franchisees.
- Becoming a Sentry franchisee: Like Barn Store, Sentry is appealing to entrepreneurs that already own buildings ready for conversion. If you want to franchise with Sentry, you’ll need a building with 10,000 square feet of space near to a town or city, or land of over half an acre in size.
- How much you need to invest: Sentry puts affordability first. Get in touch directly to find out how much you’d be investing if you deliver Sentry’s self-storage service.
- What you get for your investment: Once franchisees are on board, Sentry offers a number of perks. It helps with site planning, layout and the implementation of facilities such as gates and CCTV cameras; offers discounts on insurance and the lease or purchase of containers; and provides marketing materials, administration support, telephone answering, and training and ongoing support. In addition to this, all franchisees can become members of the Self Storage Association and are listed on Sentry’s website.
Become a self-storage franchisee
If the self-storage franchises listed above aren’t quite right for you, why not take a look at our home improvement and construction opportunities? There’s a wide variety of investment levels, so you’re bound to find something to suit your budget.
Alice Tuffery, writer