UNITS Moving and Portable Storage Franchise

UNITS Moving and Portable Storage delivers rental containers to homes, businesses, event sites and construction locations. Customers can use the containers on-site, arrange warehouse storage or have them moved to another address. Franchisees also participate in long-distance moving between UNITS territories under the system’s requirements. A typical operation uses at least 10,000 square feet of property, although the franchisor considers other sizes and may permit a different storage arrangement for a qualifying Micro Territory.

The franchisor was incorporated in South Carolina in March 2005 and began offering franchises in August 2006. Michael McAlhany has served as president and CEO since incorporation, with earlier experience operating fixed and mobile storage businesses. The June 26, 2026 FDD describes a system combining branded containers, trucks, robo-lift delivery equipment, storage procedures and marketing and inventory-management methods.

The FDD estimates an initial investment of $518,000 to $1,269,400 across its territory sizes, including an initial franchise fee of $55,500 to $222,000. The base franchise fee is $55,500 for a territory of 300,000 people or less; larger territories cost more. Investment estimates include containers, delivery equipment, premises, technology, opening advertising, training expenses and initial operating funds. Container tariffs and certain additional shipping, inspection and related charges are excluded from the estimates.

Initial training takes approximately four days at the designated training location, currently Charleston, South Carolina. The designated manager, account manager, customer service representative and delivery specialist must complete the required training; the designated manager may also fill one of those positions. Topics include sales and marketing, equipment operation and maintenance, financial controls, customer service, reporting, container and warehouse management, forklift safety and the robo delivery system. Initial tuition is included, while participants’ travel, meals, lodging and payroll are the franchisee’s responsibility.

Pre-opening assistance includes site-selection criteria, review of the proposed site and lease or purchase agreement, standard build-out specifications, required equipment guidance and access to the operations manual. UNITS provides up to three days of on-site opening assistance. The franchisor also supplies guidance and reviews materials for the grand-opening advertising campaign. The franchisee selects and secures the location and completes local hiring and operating preparations.

Ongoing support includes periodic advice by telephone, email, newsletters and other methods on operations, accounting, marketing and sales. Operational assistance, additional training and system updates are made available as the franchisor considers necessary, with consultation visits at its discretion. The required StoreSmart software supports scheduling, dispatch, revenue management, inventory, accounts receivable and point-of-sale activity. Refresher programs and training for replacement personnel can involve additional participant expenses or fees.

UNITS offers several uses for the same core container-and-delivery operation: on-site storage, warehouse storage, local moves and qualifying long-distance moves within the network. This creates a service model suited to both households and businesses, with specialized equipment and common operating software supporting the movement and tracking of containers. An owner can build local customer relationships while organizing the physical assets and service processes behind each delivery.

The business suits an operator who enjoys logistics, team supervision and business development. Every location must have direct, full-time supervision by a trained designated manager, who may be the owner or a qualified non-owner manager. A full-time account manager is also required. Those roles connect the commercial side of the business with reliable warehouse and delivery execution.

Read more in UNITS Moving and Portable Storage Franchise: Operations and Training.