Blog / News

Why Independent Self-Storage Owners Will Outperform the Major REITs in 2026 The self-storage landscape is shifting—fast. After years of aggressive expansion by the national REITs, the market is entering a phase where independence, agility, and local insight are becoming real competitive advantages. And in 2026, those advantages will matter more than ever. While REITs continue to scale through acquisitions and massive developments, they also face the limits that come with corp

by Marc Goodin. Self storage success and failure are visable the first month you open. Failure occures the first 1 to 2 years of opening and starts with low rental numbers in your first month. Most failures are due to cash flow problems and not the viability of the business. Owners do not have enough cash or cash flow from the business to pay the loan and pay expenses beefore they rent up to break even point. When this happens they often sell the facility at a reduced

By Garrett Byrd Storage Authority Franchis e Self-storage is a booming, recession-resilient asset class, and the Small Business Administration (SBA) loan program is often the best-kept secret for financing these ventures. Whether you're acquiring an existing facility or building a new one, understanding the mechanics of an SBA loan, especially the interest rate sensitivity, is crucial to your success. Why SBA Loans are Perfect for Self-Storage SBA loans, particularly the SB

By Marc Goodin, CEO of Storage Authority, the only self storage franchise in the US. Top Three Questions: 1 How much cash do I need to invest in self storage to make a good six figure income? (ie, what is the minimum cash needed) Short answer: For a severaaal millionn dollar project you need $1,500,000 with an 15% down SBA loan. If you build multi story or go with a traditional loan with 30% down you may need double this amount. If you have high land costs you may need to

Crazy things that happen in seslf storage development.

Learn why an SBA Loan for self storage in 1 minute.

How do some new storage facilities hit 100 rentals in their first month, while others take a year to reach the same number? It’s not luck. It’s not location alone. It’s an intentional system, one you can learn and duplicate. On Thursday, December 18th at 11 AM EST, join Josh Parker of the Storage Authority team for a free 20-minute flash guidance webinar, Secrets to 100 Rentals in Your First Month. 👉 Reserve your spot here. Be Intentional. Be Seen. Be First. Success in sel

Becoming wealthy—or truly healthy—isn’t about being the toughest person in the room. It’s about knowledge, consistency, and the willingness to learn from people who’ve already walked the path. What’s interesting is that once you do reach a level of wealth, it actually gets easier to create more of it. Not because money magically attracts money, but because education, experience, and the right mentorship compound just as powerfully as interest. When I was a stockbroker, my

Some may call me crazy, but I always found ways to save money when building my self storages. Sealing the foundation is not cheap. I had the sealer delivered and sprayed it on myself, saving 50% off the contractor's price. It was almost fun. Enjoying the journey is what life is all about - even when it is was bit crazy. Crazy Auctions Remember the crowds on self storage auction days. Gone! Traded in for online auctions What have you done at your self-storage that is a bit cr

This explains why fear either holds people back or motivates them to build or invest self storage

4 high-end, ELITE office details from our latest build that truly set the Storage Authority Buck Road office way above any of their competitors.

What are yours? by Marc Goodin, CEO of Storage Authority. My #1 Reason is for the massive profit opportunity that allows me to spend time with my wife, GP, following the sun. My #2 Reason is for the massive real estate depreciation that can significantly reduce or even eliminate income taxes on your self-storage income and even your W2 income. Plus, I love taking out $500,000 to $1,000,000 tax-free when I refi. And it provides me more time to go fishing! My Reason #3 is t

1) If you can charge $1.60/sf/month (often a 10 x 10 non-climate-controlled unit at $160/month, you are going to make a good profit. Notice I did not say the competition was at $160/month Storage Authority, come see the difference. Here we have a kiosk for renting and paying rent If your self-storage competition is charging $160 and you understand and implement a sales and marketing strategy, you are going to make a ton of money If you don't charge $160/month, the odds a

I have a family of five, and one thing life has taught me is this: true balance isn’t a constant state. It’s something you keep returning to. There are seasons where you intentionally push yourself out of balance—whether you’re grinding through a real estate deal, dialing up your training, or reaching for the next step in building wealth. And that’s okay. Sometimes you need those stretches of intensity to break through to a new level. But long-term success, in both fitness

By Garrett Byrd Storage Authority Franchis e Most investors believe that finding self-storage land is about “ the one right source .” Marc Goodin and the Storage Authority Team make it clear: it’s really about consistent, targeted activity—using simple tools, relationships, and follow‑up to turn “throw-away” parcels into million‑dollar assets.​​ Why Most People Never Find a Site Many would‑be owners stall out because they outsource the hunt to a broker and wait. The case s

Coventry Lake Connecticut Why Balance Wins in Both Investing and Fitness For me, true wealth is not just a number. If you have money but no time or health, you’re not wealthy — at least not by my definition. Real wealth = money + time + health. And yet, whether it’s money or movement, people love to pick sides.Some swear by stocks, others by real estate, and some believe entrepreneurship is the only real path to wealth. In fitness, the same thing happens — runners on one sid

By Garrett Byrd Storage Authority Franchis e Franchise owners ask smart questions. One asked what percent stock means and why it matters. The answer shapes how you read supply pressure in any market. Percent stock measures the share of new storage space delivered compared to the total space already in place at the start of the period . It gives you a fast read on supply pressure. You see how much new space is hitting a market compared to what already exists. A higher percen

By Garrett Byrd Storage Authority Franchis e In the high-stakes world of self-storage development, finding the perfect plot of land isn't just about luck— it's about strategy, persistence, and a little insider savvy . We've all heard the war stories: endless drives, dead-end leads, and that one breakthrough moment that changes everything. At The Storage Authority , we've cracked the code on land acquisition more times than we can count. And now, we're pulling back the curta

By Marc Goodin, CEO of Storage Authority. Amazon knows this. Whole Foods knows this. And most successful entrepreneurs know this. Take a look at the Whole Foods bag that reminds you will not find over 300 ingredients in your bag ( your food) because they are toxic foods banned by Whole Foods. We could buy your stuff online at many retailers. But Amazon is #1 because they make it so easy to order and return, not to mention lightning-fast delivery. Heck, often Am

By Garrett Byrd Storage Authority Franchis e In the competitive world of self-storage, where square footage and security features often dominate the conversation, it's easy to lose sight of what truly sets a brand apart: the human touch. At Storage Authority Franchise , we're flipping the script. We're not just in the self-storage business. We're in the hospitality business. Why Customer-Centricity is the New Standard in Self-Storage Self-storage isn't about cold metal do