Joe DownsCEO & Co-Founder, Belrose Storage Group. Founder, Storage Moguls.

Commission vs salary how to pay your storage manager

2 Mar 2026 · 1 min

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In this segment, the speaker explains that when a storage facility owner finds a suitable manager, they must decide how to structure the manager's compensation. Two primary options are presented: a commission‑based model, typically paying 5–8% of collected revenue, which aligns the manager’s incentives with rent collection and unit occupancy; and a fixed salary model, usually ranging from $35 to $50 (presumably per hour or per unit), which offers the manager financial stability and makes the owner’s budgeting more predictable. The speaker highlights the trade‑offs between incentive alignment and financial security, guiding owners toward a balanced compensation decision.

Chapters

Because once you find the right person, you have to decide how to structure their pay for their performance. So you have 2 main options, commission-based or salary. Commission structure typically pays 5 to 8% of the collected revenue. Primary benefit being you're in alignment. They're incentivized to, you know, as a manager to fill the units and collect rent because the more revenue the facility brings in, the higher their paycheck. On the other hand, a fixed salary usually between 35 and 50 offers stability. That can provide financial security for the manager and makes it easier for you, the owner, to budget for fixed expenses. So.