You run a service business. You’re on the road most days—at client sites, job locations, or events. But you still need a home base: somewhere to store equipment, stage jobs, meet clients, and run the business side of things.
The problem is that most warehouse space is designed for companies that ship products, not businesses that deploy equipment and crews. You don’t need dock-height loading for semi-trucks. You need drive-in access for your vans and trailers. You don’t need 10,000 SF of racking. You need organized equipment storage and room to prep for jobs.
Minneapolis-St. Paul has options for service businesses that need professional space without the overhead of traditional commercial leases.
Who This Guide Is For
Event and Production Companies
Lighting, audio/visual, staging, tent and rental companies, photo booths, DJ services—any business that deploys equipment for events. You’re storing lighting rigs, sound equipment, staging components, linens, décor, and everything else that makes events happen.
What you need: Climate control for electronics, organized storage by event type or inventory category, space to prep and test equipment, vehicle access for loading trailers, and professional space for client meetings.
Typical space: 500-1,500 SF depending on equipment volume.
Restoration and Remediation
Water damage, fire restoration, mold remediation, and biohazard cleanup. You’re storing fans, dehumidifiers, air scrubbers, extraction equipment, PPE, and cleaning supplies.
What you need: Climate control for equipment longevity, organized inventory systems, loading access for equipment trailers, 24/7 access for emergency response, and space to stage equipment between jobs.
Typical space: 400-1,000 SF for smaller operations, 1,000-2,000 SF for larger crews.
Commercial Cleaning and Janitorial
Floor care equipment, carpet extractors, pressure washers, cleaning supplies, and uniforms. You need a base to store equipment, mix solutions, and dispatch crews.
What you need: Climate control (chemicals and equipment don’t like Minnesota winters), organized storage, vehicle parking for service vans, and a small office area for scheduling.
Typical space: 300-800 SF for most operations.
Landscaping and Property Maintenance
Equipment, materials, and seasonal inventory. Mowers, blowers, hand tools, fertilizers, mulch, snow removal equipment.
What you need: Loading access for trailers, climate control for chemicals and small equipment, seasonal storage flexibility, and vehicle/trailer parking.
Typical space: 500-1,200 SF, depending on equipment and crew size.
Home Service Providers
Appliance repair, home theater installation, security system installers, pool/spa service, pest control. You carry inventory and equipment that need organized storage.
What you need: Climate control for parts and electronics, organized parts inventory, vehicle parking, and a professional address for customer-facing business.
Typical space: 300-600 SF for most operations.
Photography and Creative Services
Equipment storage, prop inventory, and possibly studio space for smaller shoots. Cameras, lighting, backdrops, props, and client samples.
What you need: Climate control for electronics, secure storage for expensive equipment, a clean environment, and potentially a client meeting space.
Typical space: 400-800 SF for storage-focused operations.
What Service Businesses Need in Warehouse Space
Drive-In Access (Not Dock-Height)
Most service businesses load equipment into vans, trucks, and trailers—not semi-trucks. Drive-in access (garage-door style) lets you back your vehicle directly to your space for easy loading.
Dock-height loading is overkill for most service operations and actually makes loading personal vehicles harder.
Climate Control
Minnesota’s -20°F winters and 90°F summers destroy equipment:
- Electronics (AV equipment, cameras, computers) – Freeze-thaw cycles cause condensation and component damage
- Batteries – Cold kills battery life and capacity
- Chemicals (cleaning solutions, fertilizers, paints) – Freeze and become ineffective
- Fabrics and linens – Humidity causes mold and mildew
Beyond equipment protection, you need to actually work in your space. Prepping for jobs in a -10°F warehouse isn’t realistic.
Organized Storage Systems
Service businesses live and die by equipment organization. You need to find what you need, load it fast, and get to the job.
Look for facilities with industrial racking already installed. Building your own storage system costs $2,000-5,000 and takes time you don’t have.
24/7 Access
Events don’t happen 9-5. Emergency restoration calls come at 2 AM. Early morning load-outs happen before sunrise. You need access whenever you need it.
Vehicle and Trailer Parking
Your vehicles are part of your operation. Service vans, equipment trailers, and work trucks need somewhere to park—ideally close to your unit for easy loading.
Some facilities include parking; others charge extra or don’t allow commercial vehicles overnight. Know the policy before signing.
Professional Space for Client Meetings
Many service businesses meet with clients before events or projects. Conference room access lets you have professional meetings without renting separate office space.
Flexible Terms
Service businesses often have seasonal swings. Event companies are slammed May-October and slower in winter. Restoration work spikes after storms. Landscaping is seasonal by nature.
Flexible 6-12 month lease terms let you adjust space as business changes—without being locked into a 3-5 year commitment that doesn’t match your revenue cycle.
Where to Locate Your Service Business
Central Positioning Matters
Service businesses drive to clients. Location directly affects your daily windshield time and fuel costs.
The Twin Cities span 7,000+ square miles. If your clients are spread across the metro, central positioning minimizes average drive time. If clients concentrate in one area, locate near them.
St. Paul Midway
Best for: Metro-wide service coverage
St. Paul’s Midway sits equidistant from both downtowns—roughly 10 minutes to either. Highway 280 and I-94 provide quick access anywhere in the metro.
From WareSpace St. Paul (801 Transfer Road):
- Downtown Minneapolis: 12 minutes
- Downtown St. Paul: 10 minutes
- Bloomington: 20 minutes
- Maple Grove: 25 minutes
- Woodbury: 20 minutes
Central positioning means no client is more than 30 minutes away. You save hours weekly on drive time compared to edge-of-metro locations.
Eden Prairie
Best for: Western suburbs focus, corporate clients
Eden Prairie’s Golden Triangle offers premium positioning for businesses serving the southwestern suburbs and corporate clients.
From WareSpace Eden Prairie (7500 Golden Triangle Dr):
- Minnetonka: 10 minutes
- Bloomington: 15 minutes
- Edina: 12 minutes
- Downtown Minneapolis: 20 minutes
- Chanhassen: 15 minutes
If your clients are primarily in the western suburbs—corporate events, commercial properties, upscale residential—Eden Prairie puts you close to the work.
The Math on Location
Calculate your average weekly drive time from different locations. If repositioning your base saves 30 minutes daily, that’s 2.5 hours weekly—130+ hours annually. At $50/hour (your time value), that’s $6,500/year in recovered productivity.
Add fuel savings for shorter drives, and location choice has a real financial impact.
What Service Business Warehouse Space Costs
Sizing Your Space
Business Type
Recommended Space
Solo service provider
200-400 SF
Small event/AV company
500-800 SF
Restoration crew (2-4 people)
600-1,000 SF
Larger event company
1,000-1,500 SF
Multi-crew service operation
1,200-2,000 SF
Most service businesses need less square footage than product-based businesses. You’re storing equipment, not thousands of SKUs.
Cost Comparison
Traditional Lease (800 SF):
- Base rent: $9/SF = $600/month
- NNN/CAM: $267/month
- Utilities: $125-250/month (winter spikes)
- Equipment/racking: $2,000-4,000 upfront
- Monthly total: $992-1,117
- Upfront costs: $3,500-6,500
- Lease terms: 3-5 years with personal guarantee
Co-Warehousing (WareSpace, 800 SF):
- All-inclusive rate: $1,200-1,500/month
- Equipment: included
- Monthly total: $1,200-1,500
- Upfront costs: $1,200-1,500 deposit only
- Lease terms: 6-12 months, flexible
The co-warehousing premium is $200-400/month, but you avoid $3,500-6,500 in upfront costs and get flexibility to adjust as business changes.
Setting Up Your Service Business Space
Equipment Organization
Organize by deployment frequency:
- Daily-use equipment – Closest to the loading area, most accessible
- Weekly rotation – Easy access but not blocking daily items
- Seasonal/specialty – Can be stored higher or deeper in the unit
- Backup/spare equipment – Least accessible locations fine
Job Staging Area
Reserve space near your loading access for staging upcoming jobs:
- Pull equipment the day before
- Test and verify everything works
- Load in logical order for setup at the venue/site
- Reduces morning scramble and forgotten items
Inventory Management
Service businesses lose money on:
- Equipment they can’t find
- Supplies they didn’t know were low
- Duplicate purchases because the inventory wasn’t tracked
Simple systems work: labeled bins, inventory sheets, and photos of standard loadouts. You don’t need complex software—you need to know what you have and where it is.
Returns Processing
Designate an area for equipment returning from jobs:
- Inspect for damage
- Clean before storing
- Note any repairs needed
- Restock consumables
- Return to proper storage location
Equipment that gets dumped randomly after jobs eventually becomes equipment you can’t find when you need it.
Small Service Business Warehouse FAQs in Minnesota
How much space does an event/AV company need in Minnesota?
Depends on equipment volume:
- DJ/photo booth operator: 200-400 SF
- Small lighting/AV company: 500-800 SF
- Mid-size event production: 800-1,200 SF
- Full-service event company: 1,200-2,000 SF
Can I meet clients at WareSpace in Minnesota?
Yes. WareSpace includes conference room access for professional client meetings. Many service businesses find this more professional than meeting at coffee shops or client locations.
Do I need climate control for service equipment in Minnesota?
For most operations, yes. Electronics, batteries, and many chemicals don’t survive Minnesota winters in unheated space. Even “durable” equipment lasts longer with climate control.
Can I park my service van or trailer at a WareSpace?
WareSpace includes vehicle parking. Trailer parking is typically available—confirm specifics when touring.
What if my business is seasonal?
Flexible 6-12 month lease terms let you adjust. You can scale up before the busy season and scale down (or maintain minimal space) during slow periods—without the penalty of breaking a traditional lease.
WareSpace Minneapolis-St. Paul offers warehouse space from 200-2,000 SF for service businesses at Eden Prairie and St. Paul Midway. Climate control, drive-in access, vehicle parking, conference rooms, 24/7 access, and flexible terms. Book a tour.
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