Anyone obtained their own FFL?
- Thread starter JLP83
- Start date
First off, are you opening a business or do you just want to be able to have guns shipped to your home address and maybe a small discount at some (fewer every year and smaller discounts) retailers?
FFL is for businesses so you need to show that you are operating a business.
FFL is for businesses so you need to show that you are operating a business.
Is your intended FFL location zoned for business. If not, you will have to obtain a zoning varience. Probably have to get a sales tax license too. These two requirements made me decide not to do it.
I signed up for Rocket FFL through Cleckner.
Then I found out I wasn't zoned for anything commercial.
I've since moved to a new state and need to revisit it, but make sure you can operate a business before doing anything. It may save you some $$
Then I found out I wasn't zoned for anything commercial.
I've since moved to a new state and need to revisit it, but make sure you can operate a business before doing anything. It may save you some $$
So do I, and my place is zoned agricultural, but my county said I had to get a variance. Better check.
Good friend of mine is seriously considering giving his up this year. Under the current circumstances I can see why he would. As mentioned above with little or no real advantages to having it. Just a good reason for them to come looking for no reason if they should desire to do so.
I thought about getting an ffl but decided that keeping all that paper work and in order was not my cup of tea besides the guy's I go through now at the gun clubs have gotten me some great deals why fix a wheel that is not broken . maybe in the future unless things turn for the worst then I'll go a cheaper route to get my firearms .
In Texas, get both.
Fairly discouraging crowd considering a base part of exercising the 2nd.
R
Fairly discouraging crowd considering a base part of exercising the 2nd.
R
Unless you are doing something retarded, won't see them.
Is there a "perfect" time to do it? All political climates suck.
I want to, and I can where I'm at it turns out, only I don't see how I'd get much business unless it was purely online. I mean, I could offer local services but I doubt I'd get any business. There are a few FFL's around here actually, I had to search for them, but only one gun store in basically the whole county and that's where everyone goes... Being a run down area nobody is buying nice shit, the store sells a lot of sub-$1k weapons and VISM gear (nc star shit I guess). And most of that stuff collects dust. I have to order all my shit elsewhere.
You can't have a business where you are your best customer!
I don't have anything to mfg. or capability to do that, I could assemble rifles but shit, who can't? I DID think of maybe buying all the shit to assemble AK's and maybe a couple others that wouldn't be too hard (already have all the shit for AR's --but again, who doesn't?).
I just need a niche I can exploit but I can't seem to figure one out here and now.
You can't have a business where you are your best customer!
I don't have anything to mfg. or capability to do that, I could assemble rifles but shit, who can't? I DID think of maybe buying all the shit to assemble AK's and maybe a couple others that wouldn't be too hard (already have all the shit for AR's --but again, who doesn't?).
I just need a niche I can exploit but I can't seem to figure one out here and now.
Currently looking into the same thing. Online is king but unless you are placing massive orders you won't be able to compete. People may not buy high priced stuff in your area but they will buy it online. Business will boom 1 out of every 4 years. The real question is how does one stay afloat the other 3 lean years?
As a business plan you need to start off with as little capital investment as possible because the margins are small and the market saturated. Build your brand from there, locally and online. Residential FFL sounds good but you have to contend with zoning, business license approval and the ATF reducing the approval for home based FFL's. I wouldn't suggest a residential FFL from the standpoint you make your home a target.
If you have a certified gunsmith friend then maybe offer those services, but your liability increases. You could try an indoor shooting range/gun store combo but each lane is around 35k, so a simple 10 lane would cost 350k (large investment).
Start small and build your brand. Expect a operational loss the first year or two. Offer exceptional customer service and maintain a community presence. Good luck, I am in the same boat as you.
Hi,
O man...The ol "They gonna come in and search your entire house whenever they want to" shit still alive, lolol
2 Common examples that lead the BATFE to dive deeper into your home based FFL operation....
A. When they ask for abc serial number item and you say "O wait, let me go get that for you" and it is in your master bathroom....then you do not have your shit (no pun intended) together.
B. When they ask for you to show them where you store your FFL owned serialized items and they ask "Why is that Glock" not in your books and you answer with "O that is my personal gun"....then you do not have your shit together.
---------------
Just as for tax purposes you will set aside a very specific sq/ft area of your home in which will be a "business"...that is where the BATFE will "reside" in most everything they do...barring the 2 common issues listed above never become an issue.
Sincerely,
Theis
O man...The ol "They gonna come in and search your entire house whenever they want to" shit still alive, lolol
2 Common examples that lead the BATFE to dive deeper into your home based FFL operation....
A. When they ask for abc serial number item and you say "O wait, let me go get that for you" and it is in your master bathroom....then you do not have your shit (no pun intended) together.
B. When they ask for you to show them where you store your FFL owned serialized items and they ask "Why is that Glock" not in your books and you answer with "O that is my personal gun"....then you do not have your shit together.
---------------
Just as for tax purposes you will set aside a very specific sq/ft area of your home in which will be a "business"...that is where the BATFE will "reside" in most everything they do...barring the 2 common issues listed above never become an issue.
Sincerely,
Theis
Great point. To the OP if you can parcel out a certain portion of your land for commercial zoning then you can build a "cheap" building and call that your store front. May or may not be a good idea depending on what your business plan is.
I tried some 30 years ago filled out the paperwork ATF agent came to my home for the interview. Next step was to notified all my neighbors that I would be selling guns from my home and thats where it stop. I was just getting it for my personal use but I think they put a end to that and you must have a full pledge business showing gross sales.
You might look at getting a Curio and Relic license, depending on your interests and what you'd like to do. Still can get some discounts; much lower bar to entry; still can pick up older/military weapons directly.
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