2004
70
$732,640
$55,500
$1,269,400
No
Step into a growth industry with the UNITS Moving & Portable Storage franchise in Canada—a turnkey business model combining flexible portable storage, moving services, and secure warehousing, backed by a strong brand and a proven system. As Canadian homeowners, renters, renovators, and commercial clients demand more convenience, the UNITS concept delivers a seamless, door-to-door storage solution powered by smart delivery technology, transparent pricing, and a franchise support system designed to launch and scale your business. Whether your market is suburban Ontario, booming Alberta, or growing urban centres in British Columbia, UNITS offers a compelling opportunity to lead your region’s portable storage sector with confidence.
Recession-resilient demand
The need for moving, storage, and renovation support is relatively stable. People relocate, downsize, renovate, or temporarily offload belongings—even during economic lulls. UNITS sits at the intersection of moving, self-storage, and on-site storage, enabling multiple revenue streams.
Proven, scalable model
With decades of refinement in the U.S. and growing presence in Canada, the franchise model is well tested. You benefit from established operational systems, branding, and supplier relationships rather than reinventing from scratch.
Differentiated delivery system
UNITS’ proprietary ROBO-UNIT delivery system allows precise placement of containers—even into tight driveways—without shifting contents. That becomes a competitive differentiator in dense Canadian suburbs or constrained lots.
Multiple revenue streams & upsell potential
Beyond container rentals and moving, revenue comes from warehousing (climate-controlled storage), packing supplies, loading/unloading services, and long-distance transport. This diversification cushions you against seasonal dips in one segment.
First-mover advantages in many Canadian markets
While UNITS is actively expanding into Canada, many cities remain under-served for portable storage. You can establish strong local presence early, build brand recognition, and secure territorial exclusivity.
Corporate backing & global ambition
The franchisor is actively pushing international expansion, including into Canada. This means more investment in branding, systems, and cross-border synergies that benefit franchisees.
Founded: 2004
Founder: Michael McAlhany
Industry: Moving & Portable Storage
Headquarters: Charleston, South Carolina, USA
Number of Units: Over 70 franchise locations across North America
UNITS Moving & Portable Storage began in 2004 with a mission to make moving and storage simpler, safer, and more flexible. The company introduced a unique portable container system combined with its proprietary ROBO-UNIT delivery method—allowing containers to be placed exactly where customers need them.
Since opening its first franchise in 2005, UNITS has expanded steadily throughout the United States and is now growing across Canada. The brand continues to earn recognition for innovation, customer satisfaction, and franchisee support.
UNITS operates within the home services and logistics industry—specifically in the portable moving and self-storage sector, one of the fastest-growing categories in North America.
UNITS provides a complete training and support system to help franchisees launch smoothly and operate efficiently:
Territory Research & Site Selection: Guidance on choosing the right territory and facility based on local demographics and demand.
Facility Setup: Assistance with warehouse layout, signage, and operational equipment.
Vendor Access: Support in purchasing storage containers, delivery systems, and vehicles at negotiated prices.
Technology Integration: Setup of proprietary reservation and billing software to manage daily operations efficiently.
Grand Opening Assistance: Local marketing strategies, promotional campaigns, and community outreach to establish your business presence.
Comprehensive Training Program: A multi-day training at corporate headquarters covering all aspects of business operations—sales, marketing, technology, logistics, and customer service.
On-Site Support: Field trainers assist during the opening phase to ensure operations run smoothly.
Operations Manual: A detailed guide outlining best practices, safety protocols, and performance management systems.
Marketing & Branding: Access to digital assets, ad templates, local SEO guidance, and national marketing campaigns.
Ongoing Support: Regular performance reviews, system updates, peer collaboration events, and continuous innovation from the franchisor team.
The goal is to provide franchisees with everything they need to launch successfully and maintain profitability year after year.
To maximize success with a UNITS franchise in Canada, the ideal candidate would typically have:
Strong financial capacity
You should hold significant liquid capital and net worth to absorb startup and initial working capital demands, and to weather ramp-up periods. (See financial section below.)
Business or operations experience
Prior experience in logistics, transportation, warehousing, real estate, or service-based business operations is highly advantageous. You should be comfortable with customer-facing operations, fleet management, and managing personnel.
Entrepreneurial mindset with local orientation
A franchisee who understands their local market, has community ties, is customer-centric, and is willing to drive growth, rather than being a passive investor.
Leadership & people management skills
You should be adept at hiring, training, supervising teams, driving performance, and building relationships with contractors, clients, and vendors.
Sales & marketing acuity
Because a key part of success hinges on capturing customer demand, you should be able to oversee local marketing, lead generation, partnerships (real estate agents, contractors, home staging companies), and business development efforts.
Commitment to the brand & standards
You must embrace the UNITS operating model, brand standards, customer-first culture, and willingness to follow system guidelines to protect brand consistency.
Geographic mindset & territory focus
You should be attuned to your local region (a city, suburban corridor, or cluster) and be ready to invest effort in building awareness, relationships, and logistical networks in your territory rather than spreading effort too thin.
Patience & long-term orientation
Portable storage is not a fast-turn business. Expect ramp-up periods, seasonality, and continuous marketing cycles. A long-term view is essential.
Ability to manage regulatory & local compliance
As a Canadian franchisee, you will need to navigate municipal permits, bylaws, zoning, transportation restrictions, import/customs for containers, insurance, safety codes, and provincial labour regulations. Being capable or hiring advisors to manage legal/regulatory compliance is essential.
Below is an approximate and public-domain backed financial framework. These numbers are not guarantees but serve as a reference. You should always request the current Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) or equivalent in Canada before committing.
| Item | Estimate / Range* | Notes & Assumptions |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Investment (all-in) | USD $732,640 – $1,269,400 | This covers franchise fee, warehouse/real estate, containers, delivery equipment, trucks, signage, software, opening inventory, and initial working capital. |
| Franchise Fee | USD $55,500 (for a territory covering ~300,000 population) | Higher fees may apply for larger population territories (incremental fee per 100,000). |
| Real Estate / Facilities & Leasehold Improvements | USD $50,000 – $75,000 (or more depending on location) | Costs vary heavily with local lease rates, space requirements, and improvements needed. |
| Technology, Software & Initial Inventory | USD $7,500 – $18,000 | Includes reservation systems, billing software, office setup, packing materials, uniforms, etc. |
| Containers, Freight & Delivery Equipment | A substantial chunk (hundreds of thousands) is allocated to procuring containers, container transport/delivery systems (ROBO-UNIT), forklift/truck investment, and shipping costs. | Because UNITS uses specialized container and delivery systems, these line items are large and critical. |
| Signage | USD $200 – $5,000 | Depending on local signage regulations and branding needs. |
| Grand Opening Advertising / Local Launch | USD ~$10,000 | To create local awareness, promotions, events. |
| Additional Funds / Working Capital Buffer | USD $80,000 – $200,000 | To support operations during ramp-up, seasonality, unforeseen costs. |
| Royalty Fee (ongoing) | 8% of gross sales monthly | A fixed share of revenue delivered to franchisor for brand, systems, continued support. |
| Marketing / Advertising Contribution | 2% of gross sales (national fund) | Franchisees may also allocate additional local ad spend (e.g. CAD equivalent of USD 3,000–4,500 / month) |
| Break-even / Ramp-up time | 2–4 years (typical) | Given the capital intensity and ramping of sales, many franchisees expect to reach break-even after several years, assuming strong execution and marketing. |
| Average Revenue / AUV | ~USD $644,000 per unit (as publicly reported) | This is an average and may vary widely by market, territory size, competition, and operational efficiency. |
| Operating Margin / Profit Potential | If one assumes ~15% EBITDA margin (as some public sources do), this could yield ~$96,000 per year in profit on USD $644,000 revenue. | |
| Return on Investment (ROI) | Depending on performance, an ROI period could range between 5 to 10+ years, though better-performing markets and disciplined management might accelerate that. | Also depends heavily on local market conditions, occupancy rates, cost control, and growth scaling. |
| Territory Population Requirement | Usually, the baseline territory is designed around ~300,000 population, with expansion options into more densely populated zones with supplemental fees. | |
| Net Worth & Liquidity Requirements | A commonly cited requirement: US $1,500,000 net worth with US $300,000 in liquid capital | Some sources suggest lower thresholds or variation by market. |
* All figures are based on publicly reported U.S. data (2024–2025). For Canadian entry, local capital costs, currency exchange, import duties on containers, land/lease pricing, and regulatory costs must be adjusted.
Key Observations & Considerations
The franchise is capital-intensive due to the need for containers, equipment, and delivery systems.
Market viability in Canada will depend heavily on local real estate rates, labour costs, import logistics, municipal permitting, and competition.
With the right territory and execution, revenues and margins can support a solid return—but only after disciplined growth and cost management.
Franchisees must budget generously for local marketing, awareness-building, and sustained lead generation in early years.
