ingredient as their marketplace is accustomed to new types of ventures.

Because of his life’s work in construction, mechanics, and technical writing, John provided the required aptitudes necessary to design and build their unique storage sheds. And Kelly, with a strong background in office management, banking, insurance, and law, provided the Rent-A-Shed business with logical, practical systems and procedures. It is the nature of this “team” spirit that created on paper and then built a very successful concept that has continued to grow each new month of its existence.

In 2002, John began designing prototypes of his portable sheds in the backyard, but he realized that design and construction would be only part of the plan if he were to separate his business from his competitors. And certainly, there were numerous competitors to consider.

The concept of mini-storage had been around for many years, but of course, mini-storage is an “off-site” storage alternative, and John felt that having “on-site” portable storage provided many advantages to the user. Because ready access to ones possessions is often an important factor in the storage equation, John determined that there would be a demand for mobile units, and he was right. Also, a new concept in portable storage was becoming popular, that being portable box rentals that are delivered to a home or business and taken away to a storage facility once packed. Although both concepts have their advantages for long-term “limited access” situations, Rent-A-Shed was to provide highly attractive mid to long term storage solutions with ready access. The success of Rent-A-Shed attests to the fact that the vision was correct.

Portable sheds however, were just a part of the big picture. There were many aspects of the business that demanded development before the concept could be launched. For example, delivery was a major problem, but John’s ingenuity and mechanical background solved the problem and now the Rent-A-Shed delivery system is patent pending. And what about the problem of narrow gates and limited access to the eventual customer location of the portable shed? Again, ingenuity served to create a solution in the form of “modular portable sheds”. This creative step involves the construction and delivery of modular panels that are then assembled on-site. Naturally, the same unit can be unassembled and moved again. And finally, no business is complete without policies, procedures and accounting systems. Kelly brought her background to the task and created the Rent-A-Shed “administrative systems”.

Interestingly enough, John and Kelly knew from the beginning that they were building more than a single unit business in Northern California. From the onset, carefully designed systems and procedures were tested and then integrated into the business because franchising was the ultimate goal, and a franchise demands that systems be in place for franchisees to follow. From marketing to construction designs to office procedures, John and Kelly took the time necessary to develop quality, dependable systems and then launched their franchise in early Fall, 2007. Rent-A-Shed is perhaps the most competitive of all storage unit franchise offerings, but John and Kelly have carefully defined what kind of franchisees they would most willingly invite into their business, and their formula is reasonably simple. They are reaching out to people like themselves, and that makes all the sense in the world. The business of building, renting and selling sheds demands mechanical skills, as well as office management abilities, so they are seeking those traits in future franchise owners.

Whether you are thinking of renting or buying portable self-storage for your home or business, or you are searching for a solid franchise opportunity that utilizes your mechanical or building skills and interests, Rent-A-Shed welcomes your inquiry.