A self storage business rents small end user controlled compartment space to a retail customer or business. The space is typically secured by the end users own lock and key and the facility operator does not have casual access to the contents of the space unlike in a warehouse. Their is no bailment created and the self storage operator never takes possession, care or custody over the contents of the unit. The self storage operator provides the space and some means of access to it.



Less formal public storage

Less formal public storage might be a locker room, cloak room, left luggage, train stations, amusement parks (especially water parks), and airports. There may be an attendant or an automated vending machine to collect the fee and control access, or it may simply require dropping a few coins into a slot to allow a key to be removed locking a compartment. At a swimming pool or sauna the key will be attached to a wrist or ankle strap. This type of storage is typically not related to a self-storage business. Storage such as these are provided as an ancillary service provided as part of another business. Self-storage is a business unto itself.

Storage Rental

Renting is an agreement where a payment is made for the temporary use of a good or property owned by another person or company. The owner of the property may be referred to as the lessor and the party paying to use the property as the lessee or renter. There is typically an implied, explicit, or written rental agreement or contract involved to specify the terms of the rental.

Self storage facilities were often located on cheaper, less desirable land, such as under a freeway, near an airport, or on the outskirts of town. The facilities will have a catchy name of the U store it variety. More recently, in many metropolitan cities where competition among storage companies is fierce, better parcels of land near residential and commercial areas are being converted into self-storage. Moving trucks and vans may be also be available for rent e.g. the facility may include a U-haul or other truck rental franchise. Many storage facilities allow the use of a truck for free or even send a truck to your nearby home or business as a move-in promotion.

The rooms are typically windowless, walled with a corrugated metal, and lockable by the renter. Chain-link fencing or wire mesh may function as a more secure ceiling than a suspended ceiling. Rooms are different sized, from one half closets to enough space to store all the contents of multi-story house. A controlled access facility may employ security guards, surveillance cameras and some means of electronic gate access such a keypad, prox card. Some facilities even use biometric thumbprint or hand scanners to ensure that access is granted only to those that rent.

In rural areas most facilities contain multiple single story buildings with units that open to the outside. In suburban areas most facilities contain one or multiple 1-3 story buildings using passenger & freight elevators or a materials lift to move the goods to the upper floors. Ground floor unit access is still direct to the outside. Urban areas self storage facilities are often converted multistory warehouses. Loading docks are used on the ground floor and complimentary rolling carts or moving dollies are used by the customers to access freight elevators that take them to the floor their unit is on. Urban self storage facilities might contain only a few floors in a much larger buildings.

Customers are generally allowed to store any non-hazardous, non-toxic, non-perishable material in the facility: personal items, furniture, motorcycles, overstocked retail wares, etc. Industry surveys indicate that 44% of clients are moving, 34% don't have enough space currently, and 15% of clients are people with business needs. Customers are prohibited from sleeping, or otherwise living in the room.

If the customer fails to pay the rent, a lien is placed on the customers goods and they are sold at auction. The customer is still responsible for any rent and fees due if the auction does not clear their balance.