Warehousing for Small Business

Your distribution management starts at your warehouse

If you have inventory, you have a warehousing issue. Storing goods safely and efficiently is key to running a profitable business. Whether you will be best served by a self-storage facility or a full-service commercial warehouse will depend on your needs and your ability to spend time and money keeping your inventory in check. When making a decision, consider:

1. How much space you need and how your goods need to be stored. Do you need air-conditioned space? Loading docks? Will you require shelving? How frequently will you need access to the items?
2. Will you be able to receive the items and take them to a storage area or do you want someone to receive the items for you at a warehouse?
3. Do you want to manage the inventory or have someone else do it?
4. Do you want to ship directly from the warehouse? If so, will you handle it or will someone need to do it for you?
5. Do you need to be near your warehouse or can you save money by locating it away from your central office, and more in an area conducive to your shipping and receiving needs?

Moving from the garage to the warehouse is a big step — one that requires making a number of choices. Here are some tips to help smooth the transition:

 

Locate the right warehouse space for your business

The Web offers numerous resources for exploring warehouse management.
Try: A few companies specialize in finding warehouse space nationally, including Starboard TCN Worldwide Commercial Real Estate, which lists prices online, and Leonard's Guide. InsightQuote has price comparisons. Ozburn-Hessey Logistics specializes in finding and establishing warehouse space nationally and provides third-party logistics services like order fulfillment and distribution management, and Small Business Warehousing does much the same with a focus on small businesses.

Find a specialized warehouse

Some companies offer climate-controlled warehouses or offer harder-to-find features like hazardous-materials storage.
Try: Check out D&S Warehousing's public/contract warehousing, which offers climate control, 24-hour security, distribution services and even hazmat warehousing. Or search for a specialized warehouse on Industrial Space or Industrial Gurus.  Find contract warehousing and distribution management providers and bonded warehouses at Business.com.

Determine how to handle warehouse management

A warehouse can be integral to tracking inventory and shipping and receiving goods, and can even serve as a place to show your goods and run your business.
Try: Check these tips on how to refine warehouse management decisions. Some warehouse management consultants offer some free advice on the Web, including Ken Ackerman and Art Avery. Organize your warehouse management and distribution management with inventory software from one of the vendors listed at Business.com.

Understand the different types of warehouses

A warehouse can be as simple as a garage-like space at a self-storage facility or as complicated as a vast facility where the operators not only store your goods, but accept shipments, maintain and track inventory and send materials out.
Try: An overview of warehouse types is available on KnowThis.com. Entrepreneur.com examines warehouse options for eBay sellers.

Consider alternatives

When it comes to warehousing, it may a good idea to think outside the box.
Try: Small business incubators often offer office and warehouse space along with other support services at affordable rates. Find out more from the National Business Incubation Association.

 

• Not all warehouses are created equal. Check the company out with the Better Business Bureau.
• Ask for references and check them.
• If you belong to a trade association, talk with members about how they meet their warehousing needs. Some warehouses cater to specific types of businesses.

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