home ffl

[newkahrman]

Just wondering if anyone out there has a home based ffl. I have heard that the ATF is only giving licences to businesses that have a store front. That doesn't sound right to me though. Any feedback is appreciated. I have been given the go ahead by local commissioner of revenue (no zoning reg violations for home firearms retailer), but haven't ordered the forms from ATF yet.

 

[dmftoy1]

I used to do it until they tightened up the regs in the early 90's. I believe you can still pull it off but it's not as simple as it used to be. (A guy 7 miles north of me is doing it as a kitchen table business). I think your ability/inability to do it will depend upon the whim of the local BATFE agent that you have to deal with. If he's a stickler then you may have troubles but if he's a normal human being then I think you can still do it. They will expect you to have "hours of operation" and a "Place of business" but my understanding is that it could be a room in your house and you can even have a "by appointment only" set of hours.

Good luck,
Dave

 

[RNB65]

You don't need a storefront, but you do need a legal place of business. The place of business can be your home, but when the ATF agent comes out to verify your place of business he's going to be expecting to see a business license issued by your local government. Not all localities permit home-based retail businesses. You'll have to check local zoning ordinances and regulations.

If your locality doesn't allow home-based business, you can always apply for a special-use permit. But in these anti-gun, politically correct times, getting a locality to issue a special-use permit to run a home-based gun business is going to be a serious uphill battle.

Also, if you don't sell enough guns annually to demonstrate that it's a legit gun business, the ATF won't renew your FFL when it comes up for renewal. The ATF has been cracking down on home-based FFL's for the past decade and trying to put as many as possible out of business. The days of getting an FFL just to buy cheap guns for yourself and your buddies is over.
.

 

[TexasRifleman]

The FFL I do most of my business with is a home based affair. The owner told me they did a little over $1 Million in sales in 2007 so it can certainly be done from home as a viable, money making business.

They have you make an appointment to browse or pickup orders, transfers, etc. You are the only one there at that time, which makes it nice too.

I've been very happy with the arrangement and do nearly every bit of business there.

 

[Neo-Luddite]

The biggest thing is local zoning laws--if you can do it at your home under local zoning codes, and really want to run a business at your house, you CAN do so.

 

[Nate C.]

Zoning is a big part of this, and living outside the city limits makes it easier to get one. WARNING: YOU BETTER GET IT QUICK. The Clinton Administration made it very difficult for the small-time FFL holder. Things got a little easier after Bush was elected. This election is a toss-up. If you want to get one, better do it sooner rather than later.

Nate