Small warehouses are built for small and medium-sized businesses, but they also appeal to larger companies that use the spaces creatively to meet customer demand for fast shipping. A 2022 shortage of warehouse space pushed large companies to buy up storage wherever they could find it, including small warehouses, and the push to shrink delivery times has them using smaller fulfillment sites closer to customers. Walmart, for example, converted portions of some stores into mini warehouses for local order fulfillment.
The advantages come from the amenities, locations, and storage that small warehouse spaces offer, and they reach businesses of nearly every type.
What Is Small Warehouse Space?
A small warehouse space gives a business a functional storage, production, and office facility in one. You can set up a desk and computer in part of the unit and store inventory in the rest. For smaller companies, it offers far more room than a home garage or basement. Large companies tend to use standalone small warehouses at the top of the size range as local fulfillment centers.
Small and medium businesses usually prefer shared spaces. With shared warehousing, you pay a portion of operating costs alongside other Tenants, which is far more affordable than a full lease. You also get amenities a bare warehouse lacks: secure storage, shared meeting rooms, lounges, kitchens, loading dock access, and equipment.
Companies That Benefit Most
| Company type | Why small warehouse space fits |
|---|---|
| Ecommerce brands | Racking and dock access for fast, organized fulfillment; WiFi and power to run the store on-site |
| Hands-on owners | Shared kitchens and conference space keep teams together while managing inventory in-house |
| Creative entrepreneurs | Room for a studio plus secure storage for materials and finished work |
| Contractors and logistics | Dock access and storage close to customers to shorten delivery and ease supply-chain strain |
Ecommerce Brands
Ecommerce brands of every size use small warehouses. Large operators add automation, where a robot-driven micro-fulfillment site with four operators can fill 1,000 orders a day in a fraction of a full center’s footprint. But you do not need robots: simple racking to keep inventory organized lets a small business fill and ship orders quickly, and with secure WiFi, power, and dock access you can run the whole operation from the unit.
Hands-On Business Owners
Owners with employees value shared kitchens and conference spaces that keep teams on-site, comfortable, and easy to meet with, all while staying close to inventory and operations.
Creative Entrepreneurs
A small warehouse makes a ready studio for photography, painting, sculpting, or any creative work, with industrial racks to support canvases, materials, and finished pieces, and security that keeps everything safe from household risks.
Contractors and Logistics
Contractors and logistics providers use small warehouses to shorten delivery times and reduce supply-chain issues, with dock access for whatever they ship or receive.
Built for almost any business
See if a small warehouse fits your operation
WareSpace units run from 200 to 2,000+ Sq Ft with loading docks, HVAC, racking, shared kitchens and meeting rooms, and 24/7 access, all-inclusive starting at $1,000/mo on short-term leases.
FAQ
Is small warehouse space only for ecommerce?
No. Ecommerce brands, service companies, hands-on owners, creative entrepreneurs, contractors, and logistics providers all benefit. Almost any business that needs storage plus a little operational room is a fit.
Why do large companies use small warehouses?
To shorten delivery times. Clusters of small local sites act as fulfillment centers closer to customers, which is faster and more flexible than relying only on large distribution centers.
Why choose shared space over a full warehouse?
You split operating costs with other Tenants and get amenities a bare warehouse lacks, which makes it far more affordable for small and medium businesses. Learn more about shared warehouse space.
Start Reaping the Benefits
Businesses from almost any field can put small warehouse space to work. Book a tour or explore the industries we serve to see the perks for your business.
