Hi! I'm Magen Smith, CPA
I'm a self storage owner first, CPA second.
I created Self Storage CPA to provide self storage with monthly accounting services, auditing, and operational consulting.
I've been in the storage industry for nearly 20 years. I develop, convert, and manage properties. I love this industry and enjoy helping others improve their storage operations.
Whether you are looking to get into the self storage industry, improve your current property, or just chat, you are in the right place.
I love to work with owners who:
Care about their business
My favorite customers are the ones who want their self storage business to be successful and understands that takes work.
Want to be successful
Storage owners who want to learn, grow and improve are some of my favorite people.
Value Improvement
I am always looking for ways to make things better. More money, less time, better processes. I love to work with owners who have the same values.
Open Minded
I love to work with people who are open-minded to new ideas, new ways of thinking, and collaborating to create a better result.
What We Do
The self storage industry has changed. It's becoming more competitive, rates are getting squeezed, technology is increasing so fast it makes your head spin and most properties still only have one manager.
As the “Self Storage CPA", I started my firm to help self storage owners. That means a few different things:
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Accounting. I handle the monthly accounting for self storage properties. That means recording income and expenses, reconciling accounts, and providing financials.
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Consulting. I take my years of experience, listen to your story, and give recommendations. Every business is unique and every owner has different needs. We work together to find out what works for you.
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Self storage auditing. Reviewing the operations of a property to find the gaps is one of my favorite things to do. We spend time and discuss how you like your business to run then dig to see if that is reality. It's so much more than checking locks.
If you want to improve your facility and aren't sure how to do it, you are in the right place.
I know the storage business from the inside out and love to help others succeed.
How it all began
Today I own self storage properties, a development company, and a management company. I am a licensed CPA, but that comes second to being an owner/operator in the industry. My viewpoint, consulting, and ideas always derive from my role as a business owner first, CPA second. So while I won't give you advice on how to save taxes, I will give you tons of ideas on how to make more money.
I started in the self storage industry as a manager, setting up a brand new property with no direction from the owners. I learned by trial and error and tested to find the best way to operate the property. I left the storage industry to work in public accounting at a tax firm while I obtained my CPA license. . It was extremely rewarding but I wanted to do more. I wanted to help other self storage businesses thrive. To make this happen, I created Magen Smith CPA, LLC, with the goal of helping other business owners grow their self storage businesses.
In my current role running a development company and management company, I am in the trenches just like you. I know how hard it is to find good staff, how stressful it can be to raise rates and set pricing, and what it feels like to wonder what your managers are doing when you aren't there. I understand raising money for a deal and having to provide updates to investors. I get it.
Some things you should know
I don’t do taxes. If you need tax help, I can help find you someone, but it won’t be me.
I get really involved. When I am on your team, I tend to question things. I want to make sure that we are thinking about every angle and every opportunity to make your business better. I will think about your company at night and worry about how to make it better. When I work with someone, I treat their company like it is my own because I want you to succeed.
I don’t accept many clients. Because I get so involved, I don’t have space for many clients. This means that you will get more attention from me, but it also means that I am not the cheapest option out there. When you hire me, you get quality attention, and lots of it.
I have a sense of humor and like to enjoy my work. I hope you are someone that can appreciate a joke and a casual conversation. If you are in a suit all the time and expect me to be as well, we probably won’t get along. But if you value open and honest communication, you are in the right place.
I love what I do. The self-storage industry is personal to me. I develop, own and manage properties across the country. Storage is all I do, every day, in one form or another. This industry is full of amazing interesting people and I feel blessed to be part of it.