Companies have two main options when it comes to inventory or equipment management: a warehouse vs storage unit. Each has its place, and the ideal fit for your business will come down to what you’re trying to store, the quantity of items, your budget, and a few other things.

A business storage unit can be a smarter option for scaling businesses that don’t need tons of space or those unwilling to commit long-term. They’re more affordable and practical, especially an on-site storage unit you can keep on your property or a job site.

On the other hand, a warehouse is the more practical fit for long-term storage needs if you already have a ton of inventory and need freight/dock access. These are often chosen for full-time distribution operations or massive businesses.

There is another option, though – you can bring portable storage units into a warehouse to help with organization. We’ll talk more about the differences between warehouses and storage units below.

But if you do decide to go with self-storage, you can count on WheeKeep to provide a seamless storage experience for your company. Get in touch with the #1 storage solution in Saudi Arabia today!

Benefits of Storage Units

These are secure spaces you can rent to hold items you don’t need access to every day, or just don’t have room for in your main facility. They’re used for freeing up space at home, supporting moves, and of course, for business inventory/supply management as well.

The way it works is you load your belongings, lock the unit, and access it when needed. It’s a great choice for equipment, documents, furniture, inventory, and many other things.

More Affordable

Storage units cost a lot less than leasing a warehouse or commercial space. All you pay for is the space itself. There are no lengthy contracts, staffing, or utilities. This keeps your expenses low and predictable.

Fast, Easy Access

The convenience side of things separates storage units from warehouses as well. They’re easier to get started with and you can get quick access to your unit when you need it as well.

Lower Commitment

Leasing a warehouse requires a long contract. But storage units offer flexible terms. You can store items for a few weeks or several months without being locked into a lengthy agreement. They’re great during moves, renovations, seasonal changes, or business transitions.

Scalable

It’s far more practical to scale up your storage needs with a storage unit than a warehouse. You can grow or shrink your storage solution in real time. Add another unit during busy periods, then scale back if demand slows.

So, can you run a business out of a storage unit? Not for client-facing situations – but there are definitely ways you can use self-storage for business. Inventory management, office renovations, and securing equipment at job sites, to name a few.

The point is, portable storage with WheeKeep is totally adaptable. Our solutions can be tailored to work for your business, no matter what your needs are. Get in touch with our team today to learn more!

Benefits of Warehouses

Warehouses are built for businesses handling large volumes of goods on a daily basis. They support ongoing logistics, bulk storage, and distribution in a way that storage containers just can’t. This can serve as your central hub if your company already has established operations.

More Room

You’ll gain access to wide, open floor plans that allow for palletized storage, racking systems, and large equipment. This layout is really helpful for companies moving high quantities of inventory or managing bulk shipments.

Loading Docks and Freight Access

Most warehouses have loading docks, ramps, and space for delivery trucks to support frequent shipments, container deliveries, and scheduled pickups. Businesses receiving or sending large freight loads like being able to move goods quickly using forklifts and pallet jacks.

Long-Term Storage for Established Supply Chains

Warehouses are best suited for long-term operations with predictable inventory flow. You need to be able to forecast a strong enough demand for a long enough period to justify leasing a warehouse.

Because, as you can probably imagine, warehouses are a lot more expensive and complicated from a logistical standpoint. So, where does that leave you in choosing between a warehouse vs storage unit?

Warehouse vs Storage Unit: Which Should You Use?

You’ll want to think about how your business actually operates day-to-day to choose between a warehouse vs storage unit. Either can make sense if you have storage problems, but they’re best suited for very different types of workloads, timelines, and budgets.

Size and Volume of Items Stored

Warehouses are made for large-scale storage. This is what you should use if your business handles pallets, full truckloads, or bulk inventory that needs racking systems.

In contrast, storage units make sense for smaller volumes – think boxed inventory, tools, equipment, documents, or furniture. Many businesses don’t need thousands of square meters. They just need a controlled, organized space that doesn’t take over their main location.

There are also situations where you overrun your warehouse’s volume, and you just need a band-aid solution for a short period of time before looking into a bigger warehouse. A storage unit can give you a little buffer for extra inventory in these cases.

Frequency of Access and Turnover

You should think about how much daily volume you’re moving into and out of your facility as well. Warehouses support a more chaotic workflow with wide aisles and freight access.

On the other hand, storage units work well when you need to retrieve items weekly, monthly, or on demand without coordinating dock schedules or warehouse staff. Again, the exception is if you are keeping storage units on-site and can fulfill orders from your container.

Staffing and Operational Requirements

Warehouses are only beneficial if you have the capacity to run them well. They need dedicated staff to take care of receiving, organizing, loading, and shipping. That adds payroll, training, and oversight.

Storage units don’t require staffing, and thus, are way simpler to use as part of your operation. They’re a great choice for small teams, startups, contractors, and growing businesses that want control without extra labor.

Cost Comparison and Contract Length

As you can imagine, the cost side of things is one of the most important in choosing between a warehouse vs storage unit. Warehouses come with more fixed costs. You need to budget not just for the long-term lease but:

• Insurance
• Utilities
• Equipment
• Staffing

All of this adds up quickly, and can put a warehouse out of reach for a lot of businesses. But a storage unit can be as affordable as you need it to be. You pay just for the space you need, and for as long as you need it. This keeps expenses predictable and you’re never locked into long contracts when business demands change.

Short-Term vs Long-Term Business Goals

You can narrow it down between a warehouse vs storage unit based on the trajectory your business is on. Warehouses make sense if your company is already established with predictable distribution and long-term volume.

But if your needs change regularly or you’re still growing, you’ll find that storage units give you way more freedom. We have helped a lot of businesses use storage units as a stepping stone before committing to warehouse space, or as a long term solution when full-scale logistics simply aren’t necessary.

Can You Use a Storage Unit as a Warehouse?

The short answer is yes, you can use a storage unit as a warehouse. This is a smart way to hold inventory, pack orders, store equipment, or manage overflow without the cost and logistical headaches of a full warehouse.

It’s as simple as choosing the right storage unit size. You’ll want to make sure to account for walkways, not just how much inventory or gear you have to store. Make sure you keep everything labeled and organized (we have some great storage unit organization ideas) to keep your workflow as seamless and efficient as possible.

We also have clients who use our portable storage solutions within their warehouses to keep inventory organized. As long as your operation doesn’t require daily freight deliveries or large pallet movement, a storage unit can be a simple, efficient warehouse alternative. We make it easy at WheeKeep.

Work With WheeKeep For All Your Business Storage Needs

WheeKeep is the trusted choice for storage in Saudi Arabia because we make the process as simple and customizable as possible.

Most businesses prefer our on-site storage units. We’ll deliver a container to your location for you to load up and treat as your own personal warehouse.

The alternative is our portable storage unit, which works great for keeping stuff out of sight and out of mind that you don’t need. This makes sense for business documents, tradeshow supplies, etc. We’ll deliver the unit, you pack it up, and we’ll haul it away to store it at our secure, climate-controlled facility.

We also have a moving storage unit option where we’ll deliver a unit, let you pack it up, and then we’ll deliver it to your new location for you.

No matter how you store with us, expect world-class customer service from A to Z. Whether you’re looking for a fridge storage unit or an ambient storage unit, streamline your business operations with WheeKeep today!