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Franchises · Top 10

Top 10 Storage and Self-Storage Franchises in 2027

By Kory White · Updated Oct 2026 · 4 min read
StorSquare
Direct answer

StorSquare has the lowest published cost of any storage franchise in 2027, at $166,000 to $438,000, ahead of Get Simple Box ($400,000 to $1.2 million) and MI-BOX ($494,697 to $1,936,072). UNITS and Go Mini’s charge an 8% royalty, while a fixed-site Storage Authority needs $600,000 or more in cash.

At a glance

#PickInitial investmentBest for
1StorSquare$166,000 to $438,000Buyers who want the lowest published entry cost in portable storage
2Get Simple Box$400,000 to $1.2 millionOwners who want a low royalty on portable containers
3MI-BOX$494,697 to $1,936,072Owners who want to keep every dollar of gross revenue
4UNITS Moving and Portable Storage$518,000 to $1,269,400Buyers who want a long-running portable storage and moving brand
5Zippy Shell$657,450 to $1,219,830Owners who prefer a per-container fee over a percentage royalty
6Go Mini's$759,024 to $1,247,125Buyers who can finance a larger container fleet and want a lower liquid-cash requirement
7COOL-BINZ$889,180 to $1,109,015Owners who want climate-controlled storage as the point of difference
8Storage Authority$298,000 to $660,000 to convert an existing building; $6,948,000 to $9,800,000 ground-up (2025 FDD)Investors who want a traditional fixed-site self-storage facility
9TWO MEN AND A TRUCKMetro market $165,700 to $538,700; mod market $107,100 to $270,000Buyers who want moving first and storage as an added revenue line
10College HUNKS Hauling Junk and Moving$193,100 to $345,500 (2026 FDD Item 7)Buyers who want junk removal and moving with storage on the side

Pick by what you want

Lowest entry cost
StorSquare
Lowest royalty percentage
Get Simple Box
No revenue royalty
MI-BOX
Longest-running portable brand
UNITS Moving and Portable Storage
Traditional self-storage
Storage Authority

The ranking

1

StorSquare

StorSquare
Answrs VerdictThe lowest published entry cost in portable storage.
Initial investment: $166,000 to $438,000Model: Portable storage containers; no warehouse or traditional storage facility requiredRoyalty shown: 0% on its franchise page (confirm in the FDD)Markets named: Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Florida and Texas

StorSquare publishes an investment of $166,000 to $438,000 for a portable storage franchise that needs no warehouse. Its franchise page names Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Florida and Texas, and shows a 0% royalty that you should confirm in the FDD.

Go ifBuyers who want the lowest published entry cost in portable storage
Skip ifYou want a published royalty and franchise fee before you call
Why #1 over #2: Its published starting cost is below every other portable brand here, including Get Simple Box.
2

Get Simple Box

Get Simple Box
Answrs VerdictA 5% royalty on a family-run container brand.
Initial investment: $400,000 to $1.2 millionFranchise fee: $40,000 to $60,000Royalty: 5%Territories open: Idaho, Montana, Utah, Texas and FloridaFounded: 1997

Get Simple Box has operated since 1997 and publishes a 5% royalty, a franchise fee of $40,000 to $60,000 and total investment of $400,000 to $1.2 million, with territories open in Idaho, Montana, Utah, Texas and Florida.

Go ifOwners who want a low royalty on portable containers
Skip ifYou need a single fixed franchise fee
Why #2 over #3: Its 5% royalty is lower than the 8% charged by UNITS and Go Mini’s.
3

MI-BOX

MI-BOX
Answrs VerdictNo revenue royalty, but a very wide cost range.
Initial investment: $494,697 to $1,936,072Franchise fee: $18,000 to $300,000, set by territory populationOngoing fee: $10 per container over 86 in inventory; no percentage of gross revenueNet worth and liquidity: $1.5 million net worth and $300,000 liquid capitalStarted: 2004

MI-BOX has used its containers since 2004 and charges $10 per container over 86 in inventory instead of a percentage of gross revenue. Total investment runs $494,697 to $1,936,072, with a $1.5 million net worth requirement.

Go ifOwners who want to keep every dollar of gross revenue
Skip ifYou want a small, predictable budget
Why #3 over #4: It takes no share of revenue, which UNITS does at 8%.
4

UNITS Moving and Portable Storage

UNITS Moving and Portable Storage
Answrs VerdictThe established portable storage and moving system.
Initial investment: $518,000 to $1,269,400Franchise fee: $55,500 for a territory of at least 300,000 peopleRoyalty: 8% plus 2% marketing, collected monthlyNet worth and liquidity: $1.5 million net worth and $500,000 liquid capital

UNITS Moving and Portable Storage lists an investment of $518,000 to $1,269,400, a $55,500 franchise fee for a territory of at least 300,000 people, and an 8% royalty plus 2% marketing.

Go ifBuyers who want a long-running portable storage and moving brand
Skip ifYou cannot meet the $500,000 liquid capital requirement
Why #4 over #5: Its published range starts lower than Zippy Shell’s.
5

Zippy Shell

Zippy Shell
Answrs VerdictA per-container royalty instead of a percentage.
Initial investment: $657,450 to $1,219,830Franchise fee: $75,000 to $150,000Royalty: $16 per container per month, plus a $650 monthly ad royaltyUnits: 42Founded: 2009

Zippy Shell’s Entrepreneur listing shows $657,450 to $1,219,830 invested, a $75,000 to $150,000 franchise fee and a royalty of $16 per container per month, with 42 units. The listing may be dated.

Go ifOwners who prefer a per-container fee over a percentage royalty
Skip ifYou need current figures; the Entrepreneur listing may be dated
Why #5 over #6: Its flat per-container fee avoids the 8% percentage royalty at Go Mini’s.
6

Go Mini's

Go Mini's
Answrs VerdictA lower liquid-cash requirement than UNITS.
Initial investment: $759,024 to $1,247,125Franchise fee: Begins at $85,000, based on territory populationRoyalty: 8% plus 2% national marketing, collected monthlyNet worth and liquidity: $1 million net worth and $100,000 liquid capital

Go Mini’s franchise page lists $759,024 to $1,247,125 invested, a franchise fee beginning at $85,000, and an 8% royalty plus 2% national marketing. It asks for $1 million net worth and $100,000 in liquid capital.

Go ifBuyers who can finance a larger container fleet and want a lower liquid-cash requirement
Skip ifYou want a smaller opening budget
Why #6 over #7: Its $100,000 liquid capital requirement is far below UNITS’ $500,000.
7

COOL-BINZ

COOL-BINZ
Answrs VerdictThe climate-controlled specialist.
Initial investment: $889,180 to $1,109,015Franchise fee: $59,900Product: Climate-controlled, insulated portable storage binsDiscount: Reduced franchise fee for qualified veterans and first responders

COOL-BINZ sells climate-controlled, insulated portable bins. Its franchise page lists an investment of $889,180 to $1,109,015 and a franchise fee of $59,900, with a discount for qualified veterans and first responders.

Go ifOwners who want climate-controlled storage as the point of difference
Skip ifYou want a low-cost start
Why #7 over #8: It offers climate control that standard portable containers do not.
8

Storage Authority

Storage Authority
Answrs VerdictThe only fixed-site self-storage franchise here, with the highest cost.
Initial investment: $298,000 to $660,000 to convert an existing building; $6,948,000 to $9,800,000 ground-up (2025 FDD)Franchise fee: $69,000Royalty: 6% of gross revenues or $1,950 a month, whichever is greaterCash to start: $600,000 or more to buy a small facility, or $1,500,000 to build or buy one

Storage Authority is a fixed-site self-storage franchise. Its 2025 FDD figures show $298,000 to $660,000 to convert a building and $6,948,000 to $9,800,000 to build, with a $69,000 fee and a 6% royalty. Its own page asks for $600,000 or more in cash.

Go ifInvestors who want a traditional fixed-site self-storage facility
Skip ifYou want proven franchise unit growth; the 2025 FDD analysis shows no franchised units at year end
Why #8 over #9: It is the only brand here that puts you in a traditional storage building.
9

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK
Answrs VerdictA moving brand with storage as an add-on.
Initial investment: Metro market $165,700 to $538,700; mod market $107,100 to $270,000Franchise fee: $50,000Storage: Franchises can offer portable and on-site storage alongside movingReach: More than 380 locations across the United States in 47 states

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK lists $165,700 to $538,700 for a metro market and $107,100 to $270,000 for a mod market, with a $50,000 franchise fee. Its franchises can add portable and on-site storage to moving.

Go ifBuyers who want moving first and storage as an added revenue line
Skip ifYou want storage to be the main business
Why #9 over #10: It has more than 380 locations, far beyond the portable-storage brands above.
10

College HUNKS Hauling Junk and Moving

College HUNKS Hauling Junk and Moving
Answrs VerdictJunk removal and moving with storage as a side service.
Initial investment: $193,100 to $345,500 (2026 FDD Item 7)Royalty: 7% of gross revenue plus a 2% brand fundNet worth and liquidity: $200,000 net worth and $75,000 liquid capitalStorage: Consumer site lists storage solutions among its services

College HUNKS Hauling Junk and Moving lists $193,100 to $345,500 from its 2026 FDD, with a 7% royalty and a 2% brand fund. Its consumer site lists storage solutions among its services.

Go ifBuyers who want junk removal and moving with storage on the side
Skip ifYou want a storage-first business

How we ranked these

We ranked storage-first franchises ahead of moving brands that sell storage, and within each group by the lowest published starting investment, using each franchisor’s own franchise page or its Entrepreneur or FDD listing. Figures change with each FDD, so confirm them before you sign. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.

Questions people ask

How much does a storage franchise cost?

Portable storage franchises publish total investments from $166,000 (StorSquare) to $1,269,400 (UNITS); a fixed-site Storage Authority ground-up build runs $6,948,000 to $9,800,000 per its 2025 FDD.

What is the cheapest way to open a storage franchise?

StorSquare publishes the lowest range at $166,000 to $438,000, and Storage Authority lists $298,000 to $660,000 to convert an existing building.

Do storage franchises charge a royalty?

Most do: UNITS and Go Mini’s charge 8% plus 2% marketing, Get Simple Box 5%, and Zippy Shell $16 per container per month. MI-BOX charges no percentage of gross revenue.

Do I need a warehouse to start a portable storage franchise?

StorSquare says no traditional warehouse or retail facility is required; it describes using a small yard or lot for storage and staging.

Lowest published initial investment (USD) at a glance

StorSquare$166,000
Get Simple Box$400,000
MI-BOX$494,697
UNITS$518,000
Zippy Shell$657,450
Go Mini's$759,024
COOL-BINZ$889,180
Lowest published initial investment (USD), as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.

Official sites

Sources

Prices, specs and availability change; confirm on the official site before you buy.