What co-warehousing is
A co-warehousing operator leases or owns a building, divides it into member spaces and runs the shared parts: loading doors, equipment, packing areas, parcel receiving and usually some office space. Members pay a monthly fee for their own space and access to the rest.
It sits between two other options. Unlike pay-per-pallet storage, you handle and reach your own goods. Unlike a month-to-month bay, you don't carry a whole unit and its door.
Who it suits, and who it doesn't
It suits e-commerce sellers who have outgrown a garage, trades that need a base for materials and tools, makers doing light assembly, and new brands that want a professional receiving address with a short commitment.
It doesn't suit noisy, dusty or odorous work, dangerous goods, operations that need their own dock schedule, or anyone who needs full control over who is near their inventory. Food businesses should check health-authority requirements first, because shared space may not qualify as approved premises. If you'll fill a bay within a few months, go straight to a bay.
It's usually a licence, not a lease
Most memberships are licences: permission to use space without exclusive possession. That's why an operator can often move you within the building, change the house rules and end the arrangement on short notice. Your rights come from the membership agreement, so read it. The title on the document doesn't decide what it is — the substance does. See licence vs lease.
There's a second layer. The operator usually holds its own lease on the building. If that lease ends or the operator fails, members can lose access quickly, so ask how long the operator's lease runs.
How it's priced
Memberships are usually a monthly fee tied to the size and type of your space — a floor spot costs less than a lockable room. Around it sit add-ons: receiving per parcel or pallet, forklift time, overflow storage, pick-and-pack if the operator offers it, packing supplies, after-hours access and parking. A deposit and a setup fee are common, and a longer commitment may earn a better monthly fee. Expect GST, as on commercial rent.
Security, insurance and your inventory
Your goods sit near other members' goods. Ask who has keys, how entry is logged, where the cameras point and what happens when someone else signs for your delivery. Carry your own contents insurance — don't assume the operator's policy covers your stock — and commercial general liability if the agreement requires it, often with the operator named as an additional insured.
Storage height and what can be stored are fire-code questions, so operators limit stacking and ban dangerous goods. Follow the rules; a breach can put the whole building's insurance at risk.
Alberta notes, and how to find a space
Many business types need a municipal business licence in Calgary and Edmonton. The municipality decides whether your business can operate at the address, not the operator, so confirm before you print the address on anything. Industrial buildings are not places to live or sleep; see can you live in a warehouse.
Tour at a busy time of day, watch how the docks are shared, and ask members how receiving works in practice. For other small-space routes, see small warehouse for rent.
Questions to ask on a co-warehousing tour
- Is my space an open spot, a cage or a lockable room, and can it be changed without my agreement?
- What's included in the membership, and what's billed as an add-on?
- Who operates the forklift, and what training do I need to use equipment myself?
- How are parcels and freight received when I'm not there?
- What are the access hours, and how is entry controlled and recorded?
- What notice ends the membership, from either side?
- What insurance do I need, and must the operator be named on it?
- What can't be stored or done here — dangerous goods, food, noise, customer visits?
- How long does the operator's own lease on the building run?
- Can I use the address for my business licence and mail?
Questions people ask
What is a shared warehouse space?
It's a warehouse divided among several small businesses. Each member gets a floor spot, cage or small room for their goods, and shares the loading doors, forklift, packing area, receiving desk and amenities. It's usually sold as a monthly membership, and it suits operators who need more than a storage unit but less than a whole bay.
Is co-warehousing good for e-commerce?
It often is for small and growing sellers. You get a receiving address, packing space and loading doors without a lease, and you keep hands-on control of your stock. Check the courier pickup schedule, parcel receiving hours and packing-station access at your busiest times. As order volume grows, compare it with a 3PL or your own bay.
Can I rent a small part of a warehouse?
Yes, in a few ways. Co-warehousing rents small spaces by the month. Some tenants sublease part of their bay, which usually needs their landlord's consent. A public warehouse can store a handful of pallets for you. Each gives you different access, control and paperwork, so match the option to how often you need to reach your goods.
Is a warehouse membership a lease?
Usually not. Most memberships are licences — permission to use space without exclusive possession — which is why operators can move you or end the arrangement on short notice. Whether an agreement is legally a lease or a licence depends on its substance, not its title. Read the agreement, and get legal advice if the space matters to your business.
Can I get a business licence at a shared warehouse?
Possibly. In Calgary and Edmonton the municipality decides whether a business can be licensed at an address and whether the use fits the land use district. You'll need the operator's cooperation too, and some operators supply what the application asks for. Confirm with the municipality before you rely on the address.
Reviewed 2026-09-30 · General planning guidance · Sources and boundaries