What Ancillary Services Should I Offer at My Storage Facility?
Ancillary services are a great way to enhance the customer experience and generate additional revenue at your self storage facility. Learn which additional services may be right for your facility with our helpful guide!
Looking to grow your self storage business? Ancillary services—like selling moving supplies or offering specialty storage options—are a great way to enhance the customer experience and generate additional revenue. The right services will depend on your market, budget, and customer needs. At Extra Space Storage, we’ve helped both wholly owned and third-party managed facilities increase profits and improve customer satisfaction through these value-add offerings. Read this guide to learn which ancillary services may be right for your facility—plus hear real examples from store managers who’ve seen the benefits firsthand.
What Are Ancillary Services?
The meaning of ancillary services for self storage facilities refers to products and services that complement core storage unit offerings. Providing ancillary storage services offers added customer convenience and can help make owning a storage facility more profitable over time. By diversifying offerings, you can increase customer satisfaction and help differentiate your facility from competitors.
Types of Ancillary Services
Ancillary services for your storage business can range from consumer protection and retail products to facility expansions and upgrades. Here are some of the various types of ancillary services your facility can offer.
Retail Products
Selling relevant retail products in your facility's rental office is a great way to provide essential services while generating additional profit. Storage customers often need packing and moving supplies, so becoming an on-site supplier of cardboard moving boxes, tape, bubble wrap, and other packing supplies is mutually beneficial. Selling security accessories, such as high-quality locks with designated combinations, can also add ancillary income while enhancing trust in your facility's security.
Storage Insurance & Protection Plans
Offering storage unit insurance or tenant protection plans can give customers peace of mind while generating ancillary revenue through monthly premiums. Storage unit insurance offers broad coverage against losses from severe weather, burglary, and other unexpected events. Tenant protection plans are typically applicable to losses due to security breaches, water damage from leaks, or pest damage—they also often aren't subject to the same insurance regulations, offering greater flexibility in pricing and terms. Whichever option you choose, providing ancillary storage insurance is a great way to give customers extra convenience and a sense of trust in your brand.
Truck Rentals & Professional Movers
Moving can be a difficult and strenuous process for customers, and being able to access several services in one location can help reduce that stress. Partnering with reliable companies to offer moving truck rentals or professional moving services is greatly beneficial for customers moving large items, including mattresses, desks, and other furniture. Through a partnership, your facility will receive a percentage of the revenue generated during the move. Even if certain customers only need to rent a truck, you get the opportunity to introduce them to your self storage services so they will keep your business in mind for the future.
Specialty Storage Options
Customers storing specific items often want tailored services to best accommodate them. Climate-controlled storage allows customers to rent a storage unit that maintains a consistent temperature throughout the year at a higher premium than regular storage. Facility owners in particularly hot or cold areas can use this highly valuable amenity to attract new customers who need additional protection for sensitive belongings like electronics, musical instruments, or antiques and artwork. Adding safety deposit boxes or private, bank-like units for vault storage can also attract high-end customers who need advanced security for heirlooms or other items. Additionally, equipping select units with racks for record storage or wine storage can help you cater to niche markets and command higher rates.
Security Features & Technology
The implementation of smart self storage technology is quickly becoming an important addition for many facilities. For example, real-time video surveillance and electronic gate access enhance your facility's security systems, helping to mitigate losses and appeal to tech-savvy customers. Offering self-service kiosks and online booking can also help you streamline facility operations, attract more business, and improve the customer experience.
Vehicle Storage
Offering vehicle storage solutions at your facility significantly expands your customer base. Adding garage-like drive-up units for cars, motorcycles, ATVs, and other smaller vehicles enhances the appeal of renting vehicle storage with additional protection from weather, especially in larger cities with limited parking options. The addition of covered or uncovered outdoor parking spaces for boats, trailers, and RVs can also increase rental revenue, particularly if your facility is near popular outdoor recreation attractions.
Pros and Cons of Ancillary Services
While ancillary self storage services may provide substantial benefits and help your facility stand out, implementing them comes with an added layer of complexity and some drawbacks worth considering. Here are some pros and cons of offering ancillary services at your self storage business.
Pros | Cons |
Increased Revenue: Purchasable products and services can contribute significantly to your bottom line. | Initial Investment: Advanced services, such as specialty storage or smart technology, can require significant upfront costs. |
Enhanced Satisfaction: Providing comprehensive services meets more of your customers' needs. | Operational Complexity: Managing a broader range of services increases administrative and operational challenges. |
Competitive Advantage: Unique offerings can set your facility apart from competitors. | Market Demand: Not all services will be in demand in every location or at every time of the year. |
Tips for Implementing Storage Facility Ancillary Services
Before implementing ancillary services, it's important to have a plan and take on only what you can properly handle. Keep these tips in mind:
Start small, introducing only one or two facility services at a time. This helps manage costs while also assessing customer interest, helping you decide whether these services increase profitability long-term or not.
Collaborate with reputable vendors if offering truck rentals or insurance plans—your brand's reputation depends on it.
Ensure your staff is properly trained and knowledgeable about your ancillary services so they can effectively promote them to customers.
Regularly review the performance of your ancillary services to determine customer satisfaction levels and self storage profitability.
Looking to expand your self storage services? Extra Space Storage can help you provide ancillary storage services and boost your facility's revenue through our third-party management program. Partner with us today!
