Starting any business requires a lot of resources, energy and long hours at the office. A successful launch requires application of solid fundamentals and good preparation. When you are starting a new storage facility, there are always periods of time during construction when there is a natural lull in your workload.

It is during this lull when you should complete your pre-launch checklist. Ideally everything will be complete prior to opening your doors for business. Timelines will vary depending on variables unique to each facility. I used a two-month window in the example below. I think you will find you will do yourself a favor by choosing and learning your P.O.S. software prior to the two-month mark.

Here’s your pre-launch checklist:

1. Tell your contractor to complete the office prior to completion of the construction project. The contractor will not like this and will spew a bunch of excuses at you. Stick to your guns, it’s worth it. Access control and security cameras can be installed in the office after you get your Certificate of Occupancy and before you open.
2. As soon as your final inspection is complete, order all utilities, computers, retail fixtures and office fixtures. You want to make your office a comfortable place for your customers and children. TIP: having toys and children’s books to distract the children will allow the parents to pay attention to you, be patient and more agreeable to upsells. It’s also a thoughtful touch.
3. If you are planning on using Point of Sale software, access controls, and cameras, then anytime you lose power you lose the ability to do transactions and eventually you will lose access control. Spend about $5000 on a good, reliable backup generator. Integrate this into your plans and have the electrician install it.
4. 8 weeks prior to opening you should have already shopped for and chosen your P.O.S. system. At 4 weeks you should know how to use it and have the floor plan for your facility loaded and prices chosen.
5. 4 weeks prior to opening your website should be complete and integrated into your P.O.S. so customers can make reservations and pay bills online. A lot of your business will funnel through your website. It’s important it looks good, communicates your brand, and is easy for your customers and prospects to access the information/functions they are looking for. You should own your website, otherwise you will be beholden to someone else and not have real control of your destiny. Further, management company websites promote their brand and should be avoided.
6. Also 4 weeks out, make a Google business listing. They will mail you a postcard to confirm you are real. This should be done as soon as you have an address and a way to receive mail.
7. 2-4 weeks out you should have your accounting software integrated with P.O.S. and made a mock monthly report with sample data (included with P.O.S.) to confirm proper integration.
8. 3-4 weeks out order your retail supplies. Thus 4-5 weeks out you need to shop and make decisions regarding how much product you are going to display. U-Haul gives used boxes to customers for free. It’s good for the environment and it’s a nice service to the customer. I like to give away 2 used boxes for every 1 box bought. It accomplishes everything U-Haul’s program does and drives retail sales.
9. 2-3 weeks out shop for and choose a rental truck option. Maybe U-Haul or Budget or you can lease a moving truck and allow customers to use it for move-ins. Know that U-Haul provides the best marketing and will drive the most business to you. They will also take up more space and employee time than the other options. CAUTION- U-Haul will also use your successful rental history as a metric to construct a mega storage/rental complex across the street.  
10. 3 weeks out conduct interviews for primary office and primary maintenance personnel. 2-3 weeks out initiate training. Your primary office person needs to be comfortable in daily procedures and master reservation and rental processes and conversations-you don’t want to miss out on any conversions.
11. 2 weeks out start answering your phones and taking reservations.
12. 1 week out you should have rental trucks on site, the bugs worked out of access control and security cameras, retail displays are dialed in and final inspection on the rest of the buildings have at least been requested.
13. Prior to making your final payment to the general contractor, inspect the work and get an as-built set of plans including the location of buried pipes. Go through your inspection checklist (later article). Take your time, be diligent and be firm. If you find a discrepancy, the contractor will claim his way is standard or he’s been doing it this way for 20 years and had no problems. Details are written for YOUR protection so stick to your guns. Insist on either a written revision from the engineer, or he fixes the discrepancy per existing details.
14. TIP: Building erectors drop screws EVERYWHERE. They pose a serious tire hazard. Be sure every square inch of driveway is swept with a magnet as part of construction cleanup– or negotiate a lower final payment in exchange for you doing it.
15. DON’T STRESS OUT or get overwhelmed. It is normal for construction and other aspects to experience delays for a variety of reasons. In fact, something ALWAYS happens. Keep your eye on the prize, do what you can and don’t worry about what you cannot control. Soon you will be making lots of money and you will look back at this time with a little smile.

The timeframe I gave with the checklist assumes everything will go to plan – which never happens. Why do that? First, a tight timeframe and specific goals call for focused, intentional actions which lay the seeds for a culture you want. Second, end of construction- grand opening tends to drag out and being focused and intentional prevents that from happening. The key is to not allow yourself to get too stressed and overwhelmed. Instead focus on what you can do and look for pathways for action. Remember results are 100% a function of proper actions.

HB has a history of success launching storage facilities. With my launch package you will get brand management and implementation, a website with reservation and rental capability, robust financial reporting, cutting-edge sales and customer service training, retail store design, owner training and the foundation to support a large, successful business on day 1. When I’m done, you will never need anyone’s help…ever!

Most importantly, I take the burden of the extra work necessary to start your business, allowing you to continue with your current business/job while learning this one part-time. Your future self will thank you. Considering what is at stake, and results pay for my services over the medium-term, hiring me is the smartest and most economical decision you can make.

Contact me to learn more about my launch services and affordable payment plans.