Does Your Business Need Power in Its Storage Unit?
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If you’re already looking at storage for your business, it’s worth thinking beyond how much space you need. What you plan to do when you’re at the unit can be just as important, especially if you regularly work with tools, equipment, electronics or stock.
At Storage Glen Iris, we offer powered storage units for businesses that need access to electricity while they’re onsite. Whether you need to charge or test equipment, use power tools, plug in devices or prepare and pack orders, having power available can give you more ways to use your storage space.
But not every business needs it. If you’re simply storing stock, furniture, documents or equipment without needing to plug anything in, a standard storage unit may be all you need. In this guide, we’ll help you work out which option better fits the way your business actually operates.
Archie Richards
In This Article
When Does a Business Actually Need a Powered Storage Unit?
Your business may need a powered storage unit if you need to charge, test, plug in or use equipment while you’re at your unit. Power can also be useful if you regularly access stock and need electricity for devices or equipment while preparing orders.
The important thing is to think about how you’ll use the space, not just what you’ll store in it. For example, storing power tools doesn’t automatically mean you need a powered unit. But if you want to charge, test or use those tools when you visit, having electricity available becomes much more useful.
If your unit will mainly hold boxed stock, furniture, documents or equipment that doesn’t need to be powered while you’re onsite, a standard storage unit may be enough. There’s no reason to choose power simply because it’s available. It should solve a practical need for the way your business operates.
At Storage Glen Iris, we offer powered storage units for businesses that need electricity as part of how they use their storage space. The right option ultimately comes down to what you’ll be storing and what you need to do when you access it.
What Will You Actually Need Power For?
The value of a powered storage unit comes down to what you need to do while you’re there. For some businesses, storage is simply somewhere to keep stock or equipment. For others, having electricity available makes the space more practical for day-to-day operations.
Charging and Using Business Equipment
If you regularly store electrical equipment, devices or tools, having power available means you can charge, plug in or use them while you’re at the unit. You can also test equipment before taking it out for a job rather than finding out later that something needs attention.
This can be particularly useful for businesses that regularly move equipment in and out of storage and need it ready to use.
Using Tools or Appliances at Your Unit
For trades, contractors and other businesses storing powered equipment, electricity gives you more flexibility when you visit your unit. Instead of using the space purely to leave equipment between jobs, you can plug in and use permitted power tools or appliances while onsite.
The deciding question is simple: will you regularly need to operate something electrical when you access your stored equipment? If the answer is yes, a powered unit may be the more practical option.
Packing and Managing Orders
For businesses keeping stock in storage, power can also be useful when preparing and packing customer orders. You may need to plug in devices or equipment while working through orders, with Wi-Fi also available in select units at Storage Glen Iris.
If you regularly manage stock and prepare orders from your storage space, having these facilities available can reduce the need to move between separate locations just to get routine tasks done.
When Is a Standard Storage Unit Enough?
Not every business needs power in its storage unit. If you mainly need a secure place to keep business items and won’t be plugging in, charging, testing or using equipment while you’re there, a standard storage unit may be enough.
A standard unit may suit your business if you’re storing things such as:
- Boxed stock or inventory
- Furniture
- Documents and records
- Marketing materials and business supplies
- Tools or equipment that don’t need power while in storage
For example, simply storing power tools doesn’t necessarily mean you need a powered unit. If you’re only dropping them off between jobs and collecting them when needed, electricity may not add much value. If you regularly want to charge or test those tools while you’re at the unit, that’s when a powered option becomes more relevant.
The best choice comes back to how you’ll actually use the space. If electricity won’t change what you can do when you visit your unit, standard storage may be the more suitable option for your business.
Ask These Questions Before Choosing a Powered Unit
If you’re deciding between standard and powered storage, focus on what you’ll actually need to do when you visit your unit. Before you rent, ask yourself:
- Will I need to charge anything while I’m there?
Think about tools, devices and other equipment you regularly need ready to use. - Will I need to plug in or test equipment?
If checking equipment before taking it to a job is part of your routine, access to power can be useful. - Will I use electrical tools or appliances at the unit?
Consider whether electricity will be part of how you work with the items you’re storing, rather than simply something that would be nice to have. - Will I prepare or pack orders from the unit?
Businesses managing stock may need power for devices or equipment used while preparing orders. Wi-Fi is also available with select units at Storage Glen Iris. - Would having power change how I use my storage space?
This is often the easiest way to decide. If electricity lets you complete tasks you’d otherwise need to do somewhere else, a powered unit could be the better fit.
If you’ve answered yes to several of these questions, it’s worth discussing a powered unit when you enquire. If most of your answers are no and you simply need somewhere to store business items, a standard storage unit may be all you need.
What Should You Confirm Before Renting a Powered Storage Unit?
Once you know you’ll actually use the power, the next step is making sure the unit suits how your business plans to use it. Before renting, speak with the storage provider about the practical details rather than assuming every powered unit offers the same setup.
Confirm:
- Powered unit availability: Check whether a powered unit is available in the size you need.
- Your intended use: Explain whether you’ll be charging tools, testing equipment, using electrical devices or appliances, or preparing orders so you know the space suits what you plan to do.
- Power requirements: Discuss what you intend to plug in or operate at the unit.
- Wi-Fi requirements: If you need internet access while managing stock or orders, check whether Wi-Fi is available with the unit you’re considering.
- Access: Think about when you’ll need to visit. Storage Glen Iris offers 24/7 access upon management approval if your business requires access outside standard hours.
- Space: Make sure there is enough room for your stock or equipment as well as the tasks you expect to carry out when you visit.
At Storage Glen Iris, the easiest way for us to help is to understand what you’re storing and what you need to do while you’re there. Tell us how you plan to use the space when you enquire, and we can discuss whether one of our powered storage units is suitable and what options are currently available.
FAQ
Yes. Our powered storage units give you access to electricity, so you can charge compatible tools, devices and other business equipment while you’re at your unit. If you have specific equipment you plan to charge, let us know when enquiring so we can discuss your requirements.
Yes, permitted power tools and electrical equipment can be used in our powered storage units. Tell us what you plan to use the power for when enquiring so we can make sure the unit and intended use are suitable.
Yes, power and Wi-Fi are available with select units at Storage Glen Iris. If internet access is important for managing orders, stock or other business tasks while you’re onsite, ask us about availability when choosing your unit.
Start with what you need to store and what you plan to do when you’re at the unit. Consider the amount of stock or equipment you have, the space you’ll need to access it comfortably, and what you’ll need electricity for.
When you enquire, tell us how you plan to use the space. We can discuss your requirements, current powered unit availability and which available option may be suitable for your business.
Need Power With Your Business Storage?
If electricity is part of how you’ll use your storage space, talk to us about our powered storage units in Glen Iris. Whether you need to charge tools, test equipment, use electrical devices or prepare orders, tell us what you’re storing and what you’ll need power for so we can discuss a suitable option.
If you’re still deciding between powered and standard storage, we can also help you work out which option better suits how your business plans to use the space.
