How to Start a Shipping Container Rental and Resale Business

Whether you're planning to rent them out, resell them, or repurpose them into innovative spaces, there’s real opportunity here.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the basics of starting a shipping container business, your rental and resale options, and how to build a sustainable operation from day one.

Why Start a Shipping Container Business?

The global surplus of shipping containers and growing demand for affordable modular solutions make this a promising industry for entrepreneurs.

The best part? You don’t need a massive fleet or a huge budget to get started.

Two Core Business Models: Rental and Resale

Shipping Container Rentals

One of the most reliable ways to generate recurring revenue is by offering shipping container rentals. Businesses, construction companies, schools, event planners, and even individuals often need short-to-medium-term storage without the commitment of a purchase.

Pros of rentals:

Steady, recurring income
Containers remain your asset
High demand across multiple industries

Things to consider:

Initial capital to purchase inventory
Transportation and delivery logistics
Maintenance and repairs between rentals

Shipping Container Resale

If recurring maintenance and logistics isn’t your thing, reselling shipping containers might be a better fit for you. There’s a robust market for both new (one-trip) and used containers. You can also tap into the growing trend of shipping container conversions—selling units modified into cafes, homes, mobile offices, and more.

Pros of reselling shipping containers:

Quick revenue
No need for ongoing management
Customization adds value and profit margins

Things to consider:

Source shipping containers at competitive prices
Understand shipping container classification systems
Offer value-added services like delivery or customization

Sourcing Containers

You’ll need a reliable source of shipping containers to kick off your business. Be sure to work with a trusted nationwide supplier like USA Containers that offers bulk discounts on used and new (one-trip) containers. Condition, location, and delivery costs will all affect your bottom line.

Legal and Operational Considerations

Before jumping in, make sure you’ve got the business side locked down:

Licensing and permits: Check with your local government on what’s needed to store and transport containers.

Zoning laws: If you’re storing containers on your property, make sure it’s zoned appropriately.

Insurance: Protect your assets from theft, damage, or liability.

Transportation: You’ll need a plan to pick up and deliver containers—either in-house or through a reliable third-party.

Marketing Your Container Business

Whether you focus on renting or reselling shipping containers, getting your name out there is key:

SEO-optimized website: Make sure people can find you when they Google “shipping containers near me” or “shipping containers for sale.”

Google Business Profile: Helps your business appear in local search results.

Social media marketing: Show off custom container builds, customer reviews, and promotions.

Whether you’re renting, reselling, or customizing containers, starting a shipping container business is a smart financial move.

Focus on delivering value, maintaining your inventory, and staying responsive to market trends. With a little strategy and a lot of hustle, your shipping container business can be quite profitable.

Fill out the online form below for a free shipping container quote from USA Containers: