boxouse
Boxouse was a small real estate and construction company based in Oakland, CA, that aimed to redefine housing through sustainable, modular shipping container homes before closing its operations.
Company History
boxouse began its journey in 2013 on a vacant lot in Oakland, CA. The company evolved into a community of friends with a shared goal of experimenting with sustainability and innovative building practices. Over time, the focus was to redefine housing through portable, modular designs inspired by shipping containers.
Locations and Production
Production for boxouse was rooted in Oakland, California. The company offered its various housing options across the United States and Canada. The catalog included a range of houses, from minimal designs to luxe editions equipped with wheels, solar panels, and full utilities.
Challenges and Legal Efforts
boxouse encountered multiple challenges, including difficulty raising sufficient funds to purchase new rental locations and the costly and time-consuming permitting process. The team attempted to legalize their shipping container homes as Factory Built Housing on a state level but faced significant obstacles. Additionally, the spaces they built were more popular for rental rather than purchase.
Funding and Financials
boxouse raised a total of $280k in funding and generated approximately $134k in revenue, combining rental income of around $50k and sales revenue of $84k. Despite this, the company faced expenses that totaled approximately $489k, resulting in a net loss of $75k. The bulk of the expenses included materials ($166k), labor ($66k), and delivery and installation ($33k).
Products and Offerings
boxouse's product line consisted of around 11 built structures, featuring a mix of options that catered to different housing needs. The company emphasized sustainability and modern living through its open-source CA legal shipping container home plans, released under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license. Offerings ranged from minimal homes to luxurious setups with complete amenities.