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Co-warehousing vs traditional warehouse space
A landlord's multi-year contract gives you the most space and the most overhead. Co-warehousing gives you flexibility and one all-in bill. Here's the honest side-by-side.
A traditional industrial space contract is the right tool once you can fill a whole building, but for a growing product brand it means a multi-year commitment, NNN charges, a big deposit, and paying to build out and equip the space yourself before you ship a single order.
Co-warehousing collapses all of that into a private, move-in-ready suite on a monthly membership: utilities, equipment, and a team included. Here's how the two compare, and when each one wins.
Verdict: choose co-warehousing when you need well under a full building and want flexibility with one all-in bill; sign a traditional landlord contract only when you can fill and afford to build out an entire building for years.
EasyBay co-warehousing is now reserving in Charlotte, NC and Orlando, FL (none open yet), and you can reserve a suite.
Side-by-side
Co-warehousing vs traditional industrial space
| Feature | Co-warehousing | Traditional industrial space |
|---|---|---|
| Commitment | 6- or 12-month terms | 3–5 year commitment |
| Pricing model | One flat all-inclusive rate ($885 to $5,087 a month) | Base rent + NNN / CAM + utilities |
| Security deposit | Low to none | Often several months' rent |
| Build-out + racking | Move-in ready | You design, fund, and build it |
| Forklifts, docks, receiving | Shared, included | You buy and operate your own |
| Resize as you grow | Resize up or down anytime | Locked to your footprint |
| Utilities + internet | Included | Separate accounts you set up |
| Minimum size | From ~150 sq ft | Often 5,000+ sq ft |
| Time to move in | Days | Weeks to months |
| Best for | Right-sized, flexible operations | Filling a whole building long-term |
When to pick which
A quick decision guide
Pick co-warehousing if…
- You need well under a full building
- Your volume is growing or seasonal
- You want one predictable, all-in bill
- You'd rather not fund build-out + equipment
- You want to move in this week
Sign a landlord contract if…
- You can fill a whole building
- Your footprint is stable for years
- You have capital for build-out + equipment
- You need a fully custom layout
FAQ
Co-warehousing vs traditional industrial space: common questions
Is co-warehousing more expensive than traditional industrial space?
The headline per-square-foot rate can look higher, but a landlord contract's true cost adds NNN/CAM, utilities, internet, build-out, racking, equipment, and a multi-month deposit. For small-to-mid footprints, co-warehousing is usually cheaper all-in, and dramatically lower risk because there's no multi-year liability.
When should I sign a traditional landlord contract instead?
When you can fill and afford an entire building for several years, you have the capital for build-out and equipment, and your space needs are stable. At that scale, a dedicated building often becomes the cheaper per-unit option.
Can I start in co-warehousing and move to my own building later?
Yes, that's a common path. Start on a short 6- or 12-month term, prove your volume, then sign a building once the economics clearly justify the commitment. You avoid over-committing to square footage you guessed at too early.
What's included in co-warehousing that traditional space isn't?
Utilities, gigabit Wi-Fi, dock access, forklifts, drop-bin receiving, conference rooms, a photo studio, and on-site staff, all bundled into one invoice. With traditional space you source and pay for each of those separately.
Skip the five-year commitment
Tour a co-warehouse and see what short-term, all-inclusive space feels like.