Shipping container self storage

[Garrett Blanchard]

Very interested in venturing into shipping container self storage. Such as finding empty parking lots or level land in good areas that has room for 50-100 containers at each location. I am aware of people doing this. I was thinking more southern states that have lower maintainence(no snow to plow). Anyone have comments about this, pros, cons, zoning to be careful of? Can lease the land and just move the containers when leAse is up or purchase the land and move the containers and sell the land or even sell the containers if it doesn’t pan out...

[Neil Henderson]

It depends on a LOT of factors. 

I've seen people do it. Generally, shipping containers are used as a way to expand an existing self storage facility with minimal capital outlay (the containers can be leased) and as a way to increase revenue without improving the property that would generate an increase in property taxes. 

I would caution against just finding piece of raw land near a road and throwing up a fence and shipping containers and calling it storage. Triple check the zoning and I wouldn't proceed without paying for a feasibility study.