Going into buisness?

[Lucas]

I am going to school here in missoula montana for buisness.  I considering a FFL, how hard is it?  Also does anyone know how much it would cost to rent guns if you have indoor range? By the way, not just going to school here, born and bred, firearms have been a part of my life since i was born.  Daddy was a gunsmith, mamma was a bartender!

[tombogan03884]

No point in opening a business unless you have sufficient customer base to support it. There used to be a gun store in every town in America, but they are being squashed by the big box stores, and a place to shoot doesn't seem like that big a draw in a state like Montana.
To answer your question though, The licenses to sell firearms run about $3000 last I heard, To manufacture, sell , and export firearms machine guns and destructive devices the same any BIG company is only around $11000. Insurance I have no idea but make sure you get a company that will not terminate you on a political whim, if you plan on accepting credit cards, exercise the same caution.

[Lucas]

I do some smithing on the side and plan to start with that, but my basis for the store and indoor shooting range is that there is nowhere in Montana that you can ?rent? a gun so you can get a feel before you buy it.  I have talked to several of the firearms dealers in the state and all of them said they wished they could provide the service.  Not trying to contradict what your saying at all.  I appreciate all the help I can get.  Thank you for all your help.

[tombogan03884]

The smithing and rentals will DEFINATLY be your hook to draw business. Again though, I'll warn you about Politicaly correct insurance and credit card companies, CDNN got their credit card service shut off by know nothing liberals.

[Jim Urban]

Lucas

I say,learn all you can,make a good business plan and follow your Gun Store/Gunsmith/Shooting Range Dream.

As for your insurance needs,I'd recommend dealing with the NRA endorsed Insurers.

That way you won't have to hear Mr Insurance Man say "You want to insure WHAT kind of business.No we DON'T do that.Don't you know guns kill?"

You can read about their Gunsmith Liability Policy here... http://www.locktonrisk.com/nrains/gunsmith.asp

you can check out their general Gun Business Policy here... http://www.locktonrisk.com/nrains/bizalliance.asp


Jim

[Sponsor]

[Lucas]

You folk are great!  Never did I think that people would be so willing to help the way they do here.

[tombogan03884]

 Ben Franklin said, "If we don't hang together, We will surely hang seperately" Besides, any one of us may be passing through that area some day. 

[gunman1911]

I have been to many indoor ranges and the ones that stand out are he ones that have proper ventilation Target sports in Royal Oak mi have an excellent system and it was not cheap, and they do rentals and always seem to be very busy when I went there and attracted some well known schoolers(Jerry ,the burner, Barnhart,and Pat Sweeney) a good range and a good smith is good business.

[tombogan03884]

The one the Hooksett NH police used had bad ventilation and the fellow who operated it died of lead poisoning, It took 20 years but it's something you need to think about.

[jaybet]

#1 for an indoor range is safety! #2 is ventilation! You need to be able to monitor "newbies" doing stupid stuff, and keep the air clean. I've been to indoor ranges with bad ventilation and it's horrible, and YOU  don't want to be around it long either.