AlexanderA ......Once you are set up in your fixed place of business, you can make sales at gun shows as a secondary activity.
While there
IS a requirement to be able to operate at your licensed premises, there is no requirement that you actually conduct business primarily at that location. ATF regs clearly allow a licensee to operate from two locations: the licensed premises AND a gun show or other special event. One is not necessarily secondary to the other.
A licensee could have his home as the licensed premises and only conduct sales at gun shows........and never do a sale or transfer from his premises.
medalguy And whether or not you can make a living at it is another topic entirely, with the internet garnering more and more business so it's harder to make money at shows. ("I can get that --- cheaper online.")
This.
Unless you have patience and deep pockets, this is the worst time in history to go into the gun business as a dealer or manufacturer.
Dealers, distributors and manufacturers are racing to see who can sell a gun for less $$........even taking a loss to free up cash.
For example, Palmetto State Armory sold S&W M&P15-22's at retail for $140 LESS than what my dealer cost is at RSR/Lipseys/Sport South. Two years ago they were getting MSRP for that same gun.
1. Do you have a business plan?
2. Do you have a full time job that could support your weekend gun business?
3. Do you live in an area that has a large & affluent population?
If the answer is "no" to any of these questions you darn well better rethink how you plan to make a profit.
I know of four "brick & mortar" gun shops within twenty miles of me that could have answered YES to all three of those questions. All are now closed.