Chris Walls is the CEO and President of Go Mini’s, a portable storage franchise offering containers for moving, storage, renovation, and restoration needs. Founded in 2002, Go Mini’s has become one of the fastest-growing portable storage companies in North America, with locations in 43 states in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

Since converting to a franchise model in 2012, Go Mini’s now boasts 107 sold franchises. We sat down with Chris to discuss their franchising model, new initiatives, and plans for growth in 2025.

Franchise Chatter (FC): Can you start by telling us more about Go Mini’s? What sets the brand apart in the moving and storage industry?

Chris Walls (CW): Our process is simple – customers start with a free quote online, and can choose from various container sizes (12’, 16’, or our industry leading 20’ Mini) that best fits their needs, booking and scheduling their delivery online. From there, we handle the rest, making the process seamless from start to finish. We take pride in our efficient, precise service, from designated drop-off points to hassle-free pickup or delivery.

Unlike traditional self-storage, our portable storage units are delivered directly to your door. We prioritize a customer-first moving and storage experience, offering unmatched convenience and flexibility, transparent, cost-effective, and affordable pricing, and top-notch security.

A key differentiator is our 20-foot storage containers. We are one of the only brands in the industry offering the increased size, eliminating the need for our customers to get multiple containers for larger moves. Through our various offerings, we are able to service a wide customer base, providing assistance with local moving, military moving, business and recreational storage, and much more.

FC: Tell us about your background, and how you became involved with Go Mini’s.

CW: I joined Go Mini’s as President and CEO in 2020. Prior to this, I held both legal and operational roles in public and private companies. I was a trial attorney for about eight years before transitioning to the corporate side, working with startups and mature public companies. When I became involved with Go Mini’s, they were at an inflection point, looking to accelerate their growth. My background and prior knowledge of the industry felt like a perfect fit, and I joined the team to help take the brand to the next level.

FC: Go Mini’s was named a Top 200 Franchise for 2025 by Franchise Business Review, based on real feedback from franchisees. What would you say are Go Mini’s biggest differentiators for prospective franchisees, and what support and training do you offer that contributed to your recognition on this list?

CW: Being on the Top 200 Franchise list was an incredible honor, especially as it came from feedback from our own franchisees. We prioritize support for our franchise system, providing a comprehensive support system with everything they need to achieve success including a proprietary operating system.

Go Mini’s is also one of the few companies using a franchise model in the industry, and we’ve built our business model to provide incredible benefits for our franchisees. Each territory is protected with no need for a warehouse or retail space due to our product’s superior construction and durability in all outdoor conditions. Our model requires minimal staffing with a simple concept, and the corporate office works closely with franchise owners to analyze and fully understand their market’s potential to maximize profits.

While our model uses a national network, we also provide our customers with the experience that only a local business can deliver. Additionally, our franchisees operate their local business with strong community ties, all while being supported by a strong national brand and proven model.

FC: Go Mini’s recently announced a long-distance moving service, Go Mini’s Miles, and launched it in two new markets this year. How does this help the brand stay ahead in the moving industry and expand your consumer base?

CW: With Go Mini’s Miles, we are now equipped to meet the growing demand for long distance containerized moving services more effectively. We have extended our reach from coast to coast, growing our offerings from local moves to long-distance. We hope that through our safe, affordable, and stress-free solutions, the Go Mini’s Miles program will attract new customers to trust us with any and all of their moving needs.

Since the launch, we’ve received several requests every day for long-distance moving. As our customers continue to seek out this service, we plan to continue growing the program through 2025.

FC: In the past year, Go Mini’s has celebrated a lot of growth. What are the brand’s goals for 2025, and how do you plan to achieve them?

CW: In 2024, we launched several new locations, and have no plans to slow down. We are partnering with a new Franchise Development team to boost our presence in target markets, including Northern California, Dallas, Connecticut, Daytona Beach, Washington, Virginia, San Diego, Sacramento, and Seattle.

We’ve also refined our technology offerings, implementing significant updates to our proprietary operating system, GM1, and CRM to improve our customer engagement capabilities and operational workflows, while enhancing franchisee efficiency and success. This also includes our newest feature that enables our franchisees to tie their digital marketing efforts into sales, which enables them to make smart decisions on where to spend their advertising dollars. Throughout the year, we will continue to focus on enhancing our tools and resources available to franchisees to build upon this momentum.

While the moving industry is often considered seasonal, we have implemented strategies that will ensure steady growth and profitability year-round, including adapting to seasonal demand to maintain consistent revenue, innovating to meet the ever-changing demands of our customer base, and engaging with local communities to build consistent brand loyalty. These help us to stay ahead in a competitive market, and keep expanding to meet the demand for our services.

We also recently launched a new national partnership with College HUNKS Hauling Junk and Moving, creating a one-stop-shop for the moving and storage process and eliminating the need to coordinate with multiple service providers. Combining their professional moving and labor services with our premium containers, customers will experience convenience and reliability like never before.

FC: Who is the ideal franchisee candidate for Go Mini’s that you will be targeting this year?

CW: We are looking for franchisees with an entrepreneurial spirit – those who are passionate about providing exceptional customer service, and are willing to follow a proven, innovative business model. Prioritizing quality over quantity, we plan to partner with those who align with our values of excellence and service. Through this approach, we have created a strong network of driven, highly capable owners who represent our brand well, delivering the exceptional service we have come to be known for.