Starting a New Business as a MI-BOX Dealer 

Starting a new mobile storage business doesn't have to be difficult if you have the right knowledge and experience. Learning something for the first time always takes more time and in business, usually costs more. MI-BOX Mobile Storage started in 2004 and has grown to service customers from coast to coast in the United States and Canada. Our mobile storage dealership network is continually growing and developing new moving and storage business solutions for our customers. MI-BOX storage containers and level delivery systems have been tested for years in virtually every climate and situation. We developed and refined our business model to work with any type of business. Our marketing programs have been tested and are proven to produce results. The knowledge and experience our dealers have learned over the years is available to every new MI-BOX dealer. We want you to know what we know, we want you to learn what works and why, we want you to succeed and we will support each dealer to the best of our ability. Why? The answer is simple. Because our name depends on it!

Getting Started In Mobile Storage 

Step 1: Deciding on the Right Products

Every mobile storage business is built using portable storage containers and a way of delivering them. We encourage everyone getting into mobile storage to exhaustively research your portable storage container and delivery system options. Then, compare your findings to MI-BOX. If you can find a better portable storage container... buy it. If you can find a better container delivery system... buy it. We manufacture and use our own products in our business. They work for us and they will work for you too. Build your business foundation with storage containers and container delivery systems that gives your business the competitive advantage from the start.

Step 2: Know your Service Markets

Mobile storage offers the tremendous benefit of delivering moving and storage services to your customers. On a daily basis, mobile storage businesses can effectively service about a 1 hour drive time from any facility. Yes, it is possible to travel beyond 1 hour, but your efforts should be concentrated within this radius to maximize results. Mobile storage services 3 primary markets.

 1. On Site Markets: This market is defined by customers who are in need of a storage container that is delivered to a customer and left there until they are done renting the unit. Great for remodeling projects, restoration companies and commercial contractors. One initial delivery is made to bring the container to the customer and one final pick up is made once the job is completed.

2. Site to Site Markets: This market is defined by customers who are in need of a container being delivered to a customer's initial site and moved directly to another site designated by the customer. Similar to the U-Hauler's or truck rental markets. This can be for any period of time, days, weeks, months or even years. Storage containers are rented by the month, so the customer is under no time constraints. An initial delivery is made to bring the container to the customer, a return trip to that location is made to retrieve the storage container. The container is delivered to the customer's final destination, and a final pick up is made once the job is completed.

3. Secure Storage Markets: This market is defined by customers who are in need of a storage container but also need a place to keep their stored contents for any length of time. Very similar to self-storage, this market provides moving and storage services but also offers the tremendous benefit of convenience. Customers don't have to rent a truck, pay fuel charges or be under the time constraints of making multiple trips to a self-storage facility. An initial delivery is made to bring the container to the customer, it is left there until the customer has had time to load their contents. Once loaded, the storage container is picked up and brought back to a secure warehouse or fenced in lot for storage. Customers may come out to retrieve any stored items and a final delivery is made when the customer is done renting. A final pick up is completed once the customer's belongings have been unloaded.

These are the markets mobile storage services. Virtually every single customer will fall into one of these categories. Research these markets in your service area. Understand the needs of your customers. Know your competitors who service these markets. Use products that give your business the ability to perform a greater service to your customers to give you the best chance of success. As a MI-BOX dealer, we will help you properly identify market opportunities in your area.

4. Develop Your Business Plan: Not all business are alike. Create a vision of how you want your business to look and most importantly, know the numbers associated with it. Will you be doing everything yourself? Will you have a few employees? Will you rent a warehouse or secure storage lot or buy one? Understanding your monthly expenses is critical to reaching your goals. Don't worry, MI-BOX will assist you every step of the way. Using actual expenses from our dealer operations, we can help you build an accurate expense analysis. Once you understand your expenses - It's time to understand your income.

5. How Dealers Make Money: MI-BOX dealers rent containers to residential and commercial customers by the month and charge delivery fees to get containers to their customers and pick them up. Monthly rental rates are determined by each dealer but are typically in the range of other competing business. On average, 16 ft containers rent for $ 190 per month. Delivery charges also are determined by each dealer and vary by distance traveled. Typical delivery charges range from $ 65 - $95. MI-BOX charges an initial delivery charge and a final delivery charge. To illustrate the income from one rented 16 ft. mobile storage container see the following.

Multiply the average monthly income per rented container by your number of containers to determine your effective gross income.   Then, subtract your monthly expenses to determine your effective monthly income.

6. Be Realistic: Know your limits and financial capabilities. Everyone is different, therefore every mobile storage business will have its own unique characteristics. Will you start small and build it over time? Will you be an owner operator or will you have employees? How will you finance your business? Answers to these questions will help shape the outlook of your mobile storage business.

7. Make A Decision: Once you have the product knowledge and understand the numbers. You need to decide if mobile storage is right for you. If it is, then decide if you should figure everything else out on your own, if a franchise is right for you, or if you want the freedom to run your business using the most trusted brand name in the industry. Decide if a MI-BOX Mobile Storage Dealership is right for you.

MI-BOX will assist any prospective dealer free of charge. Getting you the correct information to make sound business decisions is what we do. Using quality products that last is who we are. Let us help you with your mobile storage decision.