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    • Sep 8, 2023

The Power of Cost Segregation in Self-Storage Investments

By Garrett Byrd


Investing in self-storage facilities can be a lucrative endeavor, but like any investment in real estate, it comes with its fair share of financial considerations. One of the most significant factors that property owners need to account for is depreciation. However, there's a strategy that can significantly benefit self-storage facility owners: cost segregation.


Understanding Depreciation

Depreciation is a fundamental concept in real estate. It represents the gradual decrease in the value of an asset over time due to wear and tear. In the context of self-storage, it means that the building and its components depreciate over several decades, typically 27.5 years for residential property and 39 years for commercial property. This long depreciation timeline can slow down your tax deductions, which in turn affects your overall return on investment.


The Power of Cost Segregation

Cost segregation is a tax strategy that can help self-storage facility owners accelerate their depreciation schedule. Instead of treating the entire property as a single asset with a long depreciation period, cost segregation involves breaking down the property into its various components and assigning shorter depreciation schedules to certain parts. Here's why it's advantageous:

  1. Increased Tax Deductions: By identifying and segregating components with shorter depreciation schedules (such as interior fixtures, electrical systems, and more), you can increase the amount you can deduct each year. This effectively reduces your taxable income, which means you'll owe less money in income taxes annually.

  2. Immediate Cash Flow Improvement: The benefit of cost segregation is that it provides immediate cash flow improvement. You can use the additional deductions to reinvest in your self-storage facility or allocate those funds as you see fit for your business.

  3. Reduced Ownership Expenses: Lowering your taxable income through cost segregation translates to reduced expenses associated with owning and maintaining investment real estate. This can make your self-storage facility investment even more financially appealing.

  4. Enhanced ROI: Ultimately, the goal of any investment is to maximize return on investment (ROI). Cost segregation contributes directly to this goal by increasing your after-tax cash flow, which means a more attractive ROI for your self-storage property.

  5. Compliance and Expertise: It's crucial to work with professionals who specialize in cost segregation. They have the expertise to navigate the complexities of tax law and ensure compliance, helping you fully realize the benefits of this strategy while staying within legal boundaries.






Illustrative Assets That Qualify for Cost Segregation in Self-Storage Facilities For a more comprehensive grasp of assets eligible for cost segregation, consider the following list of typical items often present in self-storage facilities:

  1. Security and access control systems.

  2. Climate control systems.

  3. Elevators and equipment used for material handling.

  4. Both interior and exterior lighting.

  5. Pavement areas and pedestrian walkways.

  6. Signage installations.

  7. Office and maintenance machinery.

  8. Shelving units and storage systems.

These examples highlight assets commonly found within self-storage properties that may qualify for cost segregation, shedding light on opportunities for tax benefits in your investment.

In the competitive world of self-storage investments, it's essential to explore every avenue to maximize returns. Cost segregation, combined with the guidance and support of a franchise model like Storage Authority, offers a powerful combination for success. It allows you to accelerate depreciation, reduce taxes, improve cash flow, and ultimately enhance your ROI. It's a strategy that can make your self-storage facility investment even more financially rewarding, especially when backed by the expertise and resources of a reputable franchise like Storage Authority.

As with any financial strategy, it's essential to consult with tax professionals and the Storage Authority team to determine the best approach for your specific self-storage investment. By doing so, you can leverage the advantages of cost segregation and the Storage Authority franchise model to their fullest potential, ultimately benefiting your bottom line and ensuring a successful venture in the self-storage industry.


Thinking about joining the Storage Authority family and embarking on your journey towards financial freedom and success.


Do you want to have a 15-minute call to learn how Storage Authority helps improve the systems, sales, marketing, and profits at your existing facility? If you are building from the ground up let's also review how we help you find land and get your facility designed, approved, and built. Please send me an email or call me – no appointment is needed:

Garrett@StorageAuthority.com or 941-928-1354


If you would like to learn more and start your journey to self-storage ownership click the link here: http://www.storageauthorityfranchise.com/opportunity2


Your success story begins with Storage Authority!





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