Indoor gun range, with store front.... Good Idea? Profitable?

[Ramone]

If you want to do some research, come to Tidewater. Off the top of my head, there are 6 indoor ranges/shops within an hour's drive in Norfolk & Virginia Beach. Most, to my outside eye, make more on the shop side than the range. Most are around 50- 75 ft, with various levels of cleanliness/ maintenance.

Rates run about $15.00/hr and up, most have rules that include no drawing from holster, no double taps, etc., that seem to be flexible if it's not crowded, and all seem to require a short video or flyer covering rules and Safety, with a short test on the first visit.

Rules regarding reloads and brass recovery are varied, but seem to be similarly flexible. I don't think any require that you buy your ammo from them, but I usually buy a box to reload my EDC pistol and Mags with.

I'd think a way to get around charging a fee for bringing your own ammo would be to offer a discount for those that purchase ammo.

Obviously, there's going to be a lot more than building a range and opening for business, and a lot is going to depend on local state and municipal regulation.

Here's a few links to my locals:

http://www.colonialshooting.com/vab/

http://www.bobsgunshop.com/

http://superiorpawnva.net/firearms-range/indoor-range/

 

[Capybara]

Our nice, local indoor range opened up about three years ago. They have a fully featured nice gun store and a decent new 55 foot indoor range. State of the art HEPA system, they sell their own reloaded ammo, and the gun store was good, quality employees, nice place to shoot, not cheap but much better than the old, dumpy place, ran by jerks the next town over. FF three years and the range is still open, the store portion is closing January 1st and they will only sell guns via appointment. California's restrictive and onerous gun laws are putting gun stores out of business here left and right. I hope the range stays open but just found out the whole place is up for sale for 3 million dollars including the property, it's a nice sized lot in a good part of Ventura in an industrial park. No takers yet.

So just beware that the California anti-gun cancer is spreading and spreading fast. Nevada, Oregon and Washington are all infected, Colorado too. No matter which pro 2A state you are in, just know that if President Trump blows it and we get another Bernie or Hillary at the helm in 2020, gun rights will be at high risk, even in the most pro 2A states. Think about all of this as you move forward. It is a business, not a hobby and opening a gun store and or gun range in America in 2017 is HIGH risk, no matter which state you are in. I have another friend who bought a floundering local gun store. He put a LOT of money into it, bought literally tons and tons of inventory. He and his family work in it and they are open 7 days a week, at least 10-12 hours per day. He has made a LOT of money in the election lead up and is still cranking. But California's anti-gun laws will probably put him out of business within 2-3 years. He is smart, he is probably going to make a wad of cash and then get out. It's a shame, his store is great, they sell more reloading supplies than anyone in five counties around it. He buys a lot of cool guns that are hard to get that people want to buy, not just the normal Glocks and generic ARs. He sells consignment guns, C&Rs, lots of ammo and accessories. But the laws are going to do him in. Yes, it's California, but these anti gun laws are going to eventually affect you no matter which state you are in. Especially if Trump is replaced by a Dem in 2020. Think about it, make a good and realistic business plan and see if it pencils out.

 

[Everready73]

I live near a city with a population of about 40000 near Central PA . There is one indoor range only and it does pretty good. They sell memberships on tiers that vary how much you pay for range time up to no charge if you buy the "full" membership. Your can take your own ammo but have to buy their targets. They have handguns, AR s also etc to rent. You have to use their ammo for rented guns which they sell pre loaded in the magazine's. That may be a happy medium for most people IMO. You can keep your brass as well

 

[Ks5shooter]

The range rules may have an impact on the crowds you draw. Where I live there is an indoor range owned by a gun store, and they require you to buy their ammo on every visit. This means you can't shoot hand loads or factory ammo that you bring with you to the range. Also, if you have left over ammo from a range visit, you aren't allowed to bring it back on a subsequent range shoot. They also prohibit anyone from taking home brass that hits the ground, even if it's your own brass.

Both rules are no go for me. I choose to shoot elsewere

This is exactly why I don't go to my local indoor range. They are the only game in 30 miles. You may need to see if it is an insurance requirement. I know many other shooter near me who feel the same way and refuse to be come a member or rent a lane.

 

[Lo8080]

The more ranges in the country the better for our cause. Good luck I think there is some good advice echo'd throughout this thread. Only thing I could think of, Security. Don't ever be laxx with it. The indoor range I shot at was broken into and had several guns stolen when I lived in Houston.

 

[chicharrones]

I forgot one other thing. For gun sales at the indoor range, offer one free range visit with the purchase of a gun.

The indoor ranges I go to offer that perk and it helps offset the usually higher gun prices found at indoor ranges.

 

[typhun]

this just open near me. Haven't tried it yet but have some friends that have and liked it

http://virtualsafeshot.com/

 

[GEM]

Study up things other than guns - like how to run a small business. Accounting, billing, taxes, HR, health insurance, marketing, etc. See if the local community college has a course or two on that. A big deal pompous range opened here once and sunk - another range owner (successful) told me that they had NO business plan.

 

[shafter]

A friend of mine.....


.....and is it possible to make it a profitable business?[/QUOTE]

Friends and business don't mix.

I have no idea if it would be profitable. There is no way to know that without a comprehensive business plan. Even then you won't know for sure until you try.

 

[CapnMac]

All the indoor ranges in the DFW area have some sort of storefront. They all have varying degrees of onerous rules about ammo, brass, fire rates and the like. No two are the same. Not sure how some of those places stay open.

The one thing they all have in common is many lanes. 15 to 20 appears to be the rule. With a couple way bigger than that.

From three decades' experience in architecture, I'd tell you to never go small without a plan to get bigger. I'd start with a space that would hold 20 or thirty lanes, with a divider every ten. This would also allow you to run a class during regular range hours without losing that revenue. Would also allow scaled operations (you are less likely to need 20 lanes on Tuesday night than on Saturday morning, when you might might want 30).

As a business, the range will make far more money on the weekends than on weekdays.; your storefront will need to help balance that. You can probably be closed Mondays and Tuesdays, but, that will be tough sledding. Being open only 7 to 7 or 8 to 8 will cost you business while at the same time costing you plenty for staff labor hours.

Research local advertising rates. Local is the most expensive there is. You'll need some budget for advertising though. Do not scrimp on your web page; in fact, plan on one for the shop and one for the range. Make sure that the rules and hours are really clear on those pages. Check them out, do not merely trust that the code monkey who sells them to you has them right (it may "looks fine on his machine' but if your customers don't know, they'll not be happy when they show up). Further, make sure that whatever you state on your website actually goes on-site. Consider a mobile ap linked to your web page which is linked to a webcam to see how busy the range is. (Which would also be a handy way for the boss to able to be away from the job yet eep the occasional eye on it.)