There are four basic metrics I think every self-storage owner should be tracking.

I track more than these four, but these four, I think, set an owner up to win at owning self-storage.

If you are not currently always tracking these to the point you know them off the top of your head, or at least get to them fast, I promise you, there is gold to mine in your facility.

Let’s explore them together, and there is a download if you want it.

**The 4 Critical Metrics Download**

**Five Mistakes PDF*

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**December 6, 2025 Fast-Track Your Self-Storage Success — Free Live Webinar**

**Cap Rate, ROI & IRR Calculator**

**Online Courses at The Quickstart Academy**

**Listen on Apple Podcasts**

** 5 KPIs we measure**

**My blog**

Creating Wealth Through Self Storage

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**The Storage World Analyzer**

**The QuickStart Academy Store**

Let’s talk about five mistakes see people making getting in the self-storage business today, especially people new to the business. Now I have made every one of them myself, so I will talk from experience.

Let’s shorten your learning curve up.

Here is a downloadable handout.

**Five Mistakes PDF*

**Q1 2026 Virtual Self Storage Bootcamp Sign Up**

**December 6, 2025 Fast-Track Your Self-Storage Success — Free Live Webinar**

**Cap Rate, ROI & IRR Calculator**

**Online Courses at The Quickstart Academy**

**Listen on Apple Podcasts**

** 5 KPIs we measure**

**My blog**

Creating Wealth Through Self Storage

**Facebook**

**Twitter**

**The Storage World Analyzer**

**The QuickStart Academy Store**

Even seasoned storage people sometimes get focused on the wrong metric when analyzing self-storage. If you’re new to self-storage, it can be hard to understand all the financial metric slang and acronyms, and what one should really be focused on.

Which one matters most?

In this episode, we will peel back the facade and make these financial metrics understandable and give you access to using them powerfully as you move forward in your self-storage journey.

There is also a downloadable Excel worksheet available for free, which includes these metrics formulas already in place, to help you as you analyze your next deal.

**Cap Rate, ROI & IRR Calculator**

**Online Courses at The Quickstart Academy**

**Listen on Apple Podcasts**

** 5 KPIs we measure**

**My blog**

Creating Wealth Through Self Storage

**Facebook**

**Twitter**

**The Storage World Analyzer**

**The QuickStart Academy Store**

Last week we started a conversation about what I’m seeing in the economy, what may be coming next, and how that changes our self-storage strategy, based on research I dug into after hearing Michael Litt speak. As a CCIM in commercial real estate, our state chapter hosted Litt on “The Big Short.” If you remember the 2015 movie by the same name, it dramatized (and abbreviated) what his hedge fund did during the 2008 recession.

Last Week’s Episode. https://youtu.be/QAMZsyZCPx0

This week we will look at the impact of the tax bill, good and bad, the impact on the national debt, and how this can affect us as self-storage owners.

**Online Courses at The Quickstart Academy**

**Listen on Apple Podcasts**

** 5 KPIs we measure**

**My blog**

Creating Wealth Through Self Storage

**Facebook**

**Twitter**

**The Storage World Analyzer**

**The QuickStart Academy Store**

Some dots have connected in my mind recently that are reshaping how I evaluate self-storage trade areas moving forward. Surprisingly, this insight came from digging into the lives and current work of the people who shorted subprime financial instruments during the Great Recession—and what they’re focused on today.

I also re-learned an important truth when designing my self-storage and investment strategies: don’t follow the news, the politics, or the politicians—follow the money. See where it’s going. That points in a much clearer direction.

Next week, I’ll share where it appears the people who earned over 500% during the Great Recession are investing their money—and what they’re hedging against.

**Online Courses at The Quickstart Academy**

**Listen on Apple Podcasts**

** 5 KPIs we measure**

**My blog**

Creating Wealth Through Self Storage

**Facebook**

**Twitter**

**The Storage World Analyzer**

**The QuickStart Academy Store**

Let’s talk about the biggest issue I see today in leasing up new self-storage space is overspending for online marketing that doesn’t produce results.

I see it happen far too often and have experienced it myself.

Here are the steps, spaces, and things I put my attention on as I work with vendors and/or employees to design and execute a marketing strategy and budget that works.

**Online Courses at The Quickstart Academy**

**Listen on Apple Podcasts**

** 5 KPIs we measure**

**My blog**

Creating Wealth Through Self Storage

**Facebook**

**Twitter**

**The Storage World Analyzer**

**The QuickStart Academy Store**

Let’s talk about converting potential self-storage renters into customers.

I had this conversation last Friday in our Inner Circle group and thought it may be good to discuss it in more depth in this episode.

This is probably the most powerful tool our team has ever used to rent units.

**Online Courses at The Quickstart Academy**

**Listen on Apple Podcasts**

** 5 KPIs we measure**

**My blog**

Creating Wealth Through Self Storage

**Facebook**

**Twitter**

**The Storage World Analyzer**

**The QuickStart Academy Store**

Let’s talk about the new tax implications for self-storage owners and take a look at the good, the bad, and the potentially ugly parts of the massive tax bill recently signed into law and championed by the current administration, at least from my perspective.

I am only going to touch on a few items that I think most directly impact us as self storage owner/operators.

I’m doing this because I have changed a few things in underwriting and planning for the next couple of years in capital improvements. Let me share.

**Online Courses at The Quickstart Academy**

**Listen on Apple Podcasts**

** 5 KPIs we measure**

**My blog**

Creating Wealth Through Self Storage

**Facebook**

**Twitter**

**The Storage World Analyzer**

**The QuickStart Academy Store**

We are going to have to talk about insurance and self-storage, which may touch on politics.

Part of our job as owners and entrepreneurs is to look at what is going on now, extrapolate some data, and then make predictions about the future to some degree so we can make moves today.

And in my opinion, it doesn’t look good for insuring self-storage projects. In fact, it looks ugly.

So let me ask you a question in this episode, a philosophically political question.

**Online Courses at The Quickstart Academy**

**Listen on Apple Podcasts**

** 5 KPIs we measure**

**My blog**

Creating Wealth Through Self Storage

**Facebook**

**Twitter**

**The Storage World Analyzer**

**The QuickStart Academy Store**

Let’s discuss what features, what tech bells and whistles to add to your new facility or one you may be purchasing.

I approach this differently than I did a few years ago.

Let me explain.

**Online Courses at The Quickstart Academy**

**Listen on Apple Podcasts**

** 5 KPIs we measure**

**My blog**

Creating Wealth Through Self Storage

**Facebook**

**Twitter**

**The Storage World Analyzer**

**The QuickStart Academy Store**