Business Storage: Key Takeaways
- Business storage provides secure, off-site space for documents, furniture, inventory, and equipment
- Commercial storage offers added features like warehouse-style units, shelving, climate control, and delivery services
- Storage can help you save money you might otherwise spend on extra office or retail space
- Decluttering your office improves productivity, organization, and workplace safety
- Signs you may need storage include overflowing seasonal inventory, lack of office space, expansion or relocation, or managing large volumes of assets
- When choosing a facility, make sure it’s close to your business, has 24/7 security, and offers flexible lease terms
You’ve just moved into a new office that’s a little smaller than the old one. As you look around, you realize the space is too tight for those oversized sofas.
Then comes the near disaster: Lily, your office assistant, stumbles over stacked document boxes and almost sprains her ankle, while your mind is already seeing lawyers and workers’ compensation claims.
Moments like this are common for NYC companies. They make it clear: Your business needs more room. The self-storage market in the U.S. is expected to hit $57.53 billion by 2030, which means there’ll be a lot of room to use.
We’ll break down:
- Signs your company might need storage
- The key benefits of business storage in NYC
- The difference between business and commercial storage units
- What to look for when choosing a storage facility
Declutter your office and keep your team safe. Request a storage quote from Imperial
Signs Your NYC Business Might Need Storage
Wondering if it’s time to invest in extra space? Here are a few clear signs your business could benefit from storage.
- Your office space is packed: If paperwork, supplies, or unused equipment stand in the way and make daily operations a challenge, it’s time to declutter.
- Seasonal inventory is overflowing: Christmas is long gone, but you still find yourself buried under holiday stock and off-season merchandise.
- You’re expanding or relocating: You’ve rented a few extra rooms for your new team and are in the process of painting the walls. Or you’re moving to another borough and need time to set up everything from scratch. Temporary storage to the rescue!
- You work with a lot of physical assets: Maybe you’re a law firm juggling decades of case files or a large employer managing years of records for compliance. If physical assets are piling up, it’s time for a better system.
- You need better organization: Hard to find the records you need? Centralizing your overflow inventory or archives in one secure space makes it easier to manage business operations.
Do you recognize yourself in these scenarios? If so, it may be time to find a storage facility.
Smart storage starts with knowing when you need it
Key Benefits of Business Storage in NYC
The most obvious benefit of business storage is how much space it can save you. But keeping assets offsite brings more than that:
Improved Productivity
A clutter-free workspace is cozy and welcoming, allowing team members to focus on their tasks without being distracted by boxes and unused office chairs.
Cost Efficiency
In a city where square footage comes at a hefty price, a storage unit can cost a fraction of what you’d pay for more office or retail space.
Security
Trusted storage providers offer video surveillance, access control, fire suppression systems, and climate controls to protect your assets and keep sensitive items like electronics and equipment in optimal condition.
Convenience
Many facilities offer pickup and delivery, helping you transport items without disrupting your workflow. Some even provide inventory management support, tracking stock levels, organizing shipments, and preparing your goods so they’ll be there when you need them.
Storage helps businesses stay organized and efficient
Commercial Storage vs. Business Storage Units: What’s the Difference?
While the two terms are often used interchangeably, a few nuances distinguish commercial storage from business storage.
Purpose
Think of business storage units as an option when you need a secure spot to keep things tidy and out of sight.
Commercial units do more. They’re for meeting industrial, retail, or enterprise needs. For example, if you are selling clothing, you may use a storage facility for seasonal inventory. Or you might store heavy equipment and bulk materials if you have a construction company.
Unit Types
Business storage typically uses self-storage units such as small to medium-sized lockers where you can keep documents, extra office furniture, or promotional materials.
Commercial storage offers customizable or warehouse-style units, an ideal solution for bulky pallets or temperature-sensitive equipment.
Features & Access
Business storage usually has DIY access, meaning you can visit the unit yourself to pick up what you need, whether a banner for an upcoming trade show or stored laptops for new hires.
Commercial storage units may offer extra services like delivery and receiving. This is a great option if you need a facility to accept shipments for your retail business or if you need bain-maries delivered to your catering business’s next event in Queens.
Commercial storage can also offer handy features such as loading docks and freight elevators.
Users
Business storage is popular with freelancers and small companies, serving as a cost-effective way to keep essential items safe without committing to a larger office.
Commercial storage works well for warehouses, retail chains, and medical practices that need to store excess stock or surplus equipment and records.
Customization Options
Business storage units are straightforward, designed for simple, everyday needs.
Commercial storage has shelves and racks that help you organize and manage bulky inventory. It can also offer climate control units for temperature-sensitive products.
How To Choose a Commercial Storage Facility in NYC
Different storage providers offer different solutions for storing equipment and documents. Here’s how to pick one for your company’s distinct needs:
- Research: Start by comparing top-rated storage providers in NYC that match your needs.
- Location and accessibility: Choose a facility that’s close to your business. If you’re in Manhattan, you don’t want to spend hours in traffic just to get what you need from Staten Island.
- Security features: Make sure the provider has 24/7 video monitoring services, controlled access systems, and individual unit locks.
- Climate control: If you’re storing sensitive items like artwork, electronics, paper files, or pharmaceutical products, climate control should be at the top of your requirements list.
- Delivery and pickup services: Got bulky items or constant deliveries? Go with a facility that offers logistics help so you can skip heavy lifting (and the furniture lifter) and save time.
- Transparent pricing: Look for a provider that offers clear monthly rates without hidden fees that can bust your budget.
- Flexible lease terms: Depending on your needs, choose a short- or long-term lease. Better yet, sign a flexible lease so you have the freedom to terminate it, extend it, or switch to a better option.
Need Business & Commercial Storage in NYC? Imperial Has It
Yes, our company name might suggest that we handle only business and residential moves. But at Imperial Movers, we do much more. We go beyond transportation, packing, and hauling, helping companies scale their operations with secure storage.
Imperial offers business and commercial storage solutions to keep your business space tidy and well-organized.
Licensed and insured for total peace of mind, Imperial offers short- and long-term storage options to match your business needs.
Looking for temperature-controlled units for your pharmaceutical products? Space to store your restaurant’s patio furniture?
We serve a wide range of industries, from retail and hospitality to construction and healthcare, offering both self-storage and on-demand options with free pickup available.
We can help when you need to move a piano out of your music studio, or a pool table from your bar during renovation. We’ll even store them safely until you’re ready to bring them back where they belong.
With flexible unit sizes, 24/7 surveillance, and modern indoor facilities, you’ll have affordable, reliable storage tailored to your business needs.
Choose from a wide range of unit sizes:
- 5×5 can store 30-40 standard file boxes of documents.
- 10×10 is roomy enough for desks, chairs, and everything from a few workstations up to 170 file boxes. (Yes, that many!)
- 10x 30 provides ample room for restaurant equipment or event furniture.
Whatever your needs, we’ve got you covered.
Need more space without signing another lease? Let Imperial handle the storage.
Business Storage: FAQs
What’s business storage?
Business storage means keeping things like equipment and extra inventory in a secure, off-site space, freeing up your day-to-day workplace from things you don’t need for immediate use.
What can I store in a commercial storage unit?
You can lease commercial storage for inventory, equipment, documents, furniture, trade show displays, electronics, and more.
Can I access my business storage unit anytime?
Some storage facilities offer 24/7 access, while others have limited business-hour access. Imperial Movers can help coordinate access as part of your logistics support.
Do you offer pickup and delivery?
Yes, Imperial Movers provides free pickup and drop-off services. We can also pack your items and transport them to the storage facility.
Make room for growth. Call Imperial for a storage quote.
