To all the FFL's here

[RJ Dunn]

Lets say you do not have your FFL and with the knowledge that you have now, how would you go about getting one. Yes, I'm leaning towards getting my FFL and have seen all the hundreds of kits available online. What I don't want to do is open a gun store with the overhead. What I want to do is run it out of my home conducting business at a fair price. So any information will be appreciated.



P.S. I would be very OLL friendly

[Stanze]

Check your zoning area, and be prepared to spend a ton of money and time for very little profit. You get out of it what you put into it.

[bwiese]

You can't just get an FFL "for fun", there has to be a biz/profit motive.

Not only do you have to keep the Feds happy, you gotta get a DOJ permit and be properly zoned. Also need to be a legit biz with tax papers etc. and maybe local PD inspection of premises for security.

The days of the 'kitchen table' FFL are essentially over. Very few such new enterprises could pass the zoning, and getting the local stuff squared away is necessary to get keep the Feds happy - everything is interdependent.

You WON'T make money unless you're doing it as a full-time or near-full time biz.

[FreedomIsNotFree]

One other thing to be aware of in regards to regulation. If you, meaning your business, is located in an UNincorporated portion of the county, the regulations can be less restrictive than if you are in city limits.

[jkasandiego]

As Stanze and Bill mentioned, ZONING is pita.

[RJ Dunn]

With all the issues that have been brought up, I think i'm in pretty good shape. I'm in a very rural part of Tehama County. And as for security , I live on a large private ranch with a 8 man security dept which I am the Supervisor. I also have a Ca POST Academy Certificate, I do not know if the cert will actually help, but it can't hurt my chances. Stanze brought up needing a ton of money. I'm already in need of a larger safe, so no matter what I have to get that anyway. And as for the License, I am under the impression that it is around $200.00, I could be wrong. If anyone knows of any other expenses that I would need to incur please post them. Thanks to everyone that have posted.

[Hunter]

With all the issues that have been brought up, I think i'm in pretty good shape. I'm in a very rural part of Tehama County. And as for security , I live on a large private ranch with a 8 man security dept which I am the Supervisor. I also have a Ca POST Academy Certificate, I do not know if the cert will actually help, but it can't hurt my chances. Stanze brought up needing a ton of money. I'm already in need of a larger safe, so no matter what I have to get that anyway. And as for the License, I am under the impression that it is around $200.00, I could be wrong. If anyone knows of any other expenses that I would need to incur please post them. Thanks to everyone that have posted.

Here is the short list of what you need.

California firearms dealers must obtain and maintain the following:

A valid FFL,

A valid Seller's Permit issued by the State Board of Equalization,

A valid COE issued by the DOJ,

Any regulatory business license, or licenses, required by local government,

A local license granted by the duly constituted licensing authority, valid for one year from the date of issuance, and in one of the following forms:
In the form prescribed by the Attorney General;

A regulatory or business license that states on its face, "Valid for Retail Sales of Firearms" and endorsed by the signature of the issuing authority; or
A letter from the licensing authority stating that the jurisdiction does not require any form of regulatory or business license or does not otherwise restrict or regulate the sale of firearms.

After obtaining the above licenses, an Application for Centralized List and appropriate fees are submitted to the DOJ. Upon approval of the application, the dealer will be given a CFD number and placed on the Centralized List of firearms dealers.

A listing on the DOJ Centralized List of Firearms Dealers.

For more information on dealer licensing or to obtain an Application for Centralized List of Firearms Dealers, contact the Firearms Licensing and Permits Unit at (916) 227-3694.

[Stanze]

With all the issues that have been brought up, I think i'm in pretty good shape. I'm in a very rural part of Tehama County. And as for security , I live on a large private ranch with a 8 man security dept which I am the Supervisor. I also have a Ca POST Academy Certificate, I do not know if the cert will actually help, but it can't hurt my chances. Stanze brought up needing a ton of money. I'm already in need of a larger safe, so no matter what I have to get that anyway. And as for the License, I am under the impression that it is around $200.00, I could be wrong. If anyone knows of any other expenses that I would need to incur please post them. Thanks to everyone that have posted.

The $200 FFL is the tiniest detail in running a gun business in CA.


Here's my list of pros and cons in being a CA gun dealer.

Pros:

* You can use your FFL to order guns through the mail at wholesale prices!
* It can be profitable!


Cons:

* Dealing with Federal, State and local authorites, laws, inspection and regulations.(I wouldn't even mention the OLL situation.)
* Stocking costs(firearms, ammo, accessories, re-loading supplies, etc.)
* Overhead costs(Rent, electricity, insurance, internet, credit card machine, fixtures, incorporate, accountants, gas, meals, client entertainment, DOJ materials, postage, alarm, safes, website, gun show table fees, etc.)
* Advertising costs(internet, newspaper, radio)
* Competition(w/ corporate chains that can afford to do huge volume buys and blow your price out of the water, shady dealers that get law enforcement discounts and past the savings to the public.)
* Friends and family that want you to sell them guns at cost and don't understand that you have a business to run.
* Running a business takes up all your time, away from family, friends, hobbies.
* Difficult customers, following up on bad transactions.
* Gun bans-Next year most of the handguns as we know it in CA will not be eligible for "Drop-Testing/Safety Certification" and ones that are currently legal will drop off the list as the extortion fee is not renewed.(This is a copy and past from a earlier post of mine.-S.)
* Security, it is a gun shop!
* Insurance
* A bunch of hangers-on that want to be part of a gun shop operation and stand around BS'ing all day when you got important work to do and no time to do it with.



It's not impossible, but it's an awful lot of trouble in our gun non-friendly state. You'll need lots of energy, time, credit and cold hard cash. I strongly suggest you pay an attorney whatever their fee is($3000-5000.) to incorporate your business as a separate entity, otherwise you're opening yourself up big time to liability.

Good luck!

[tenpercentfirearms]

I don't know if it possible to have a part time FFL. As soon as people start to find out how good a deal they can get with you, they will start calling and coming by. You will spend a lot of your time on the phone, on the web, doing paper work, and delivering guns.

Before long you will realize that the 10% or less you are making is definetly not worth the time or effort you are spending to get it.

There are certainly times where I wish I still had time to play video games or to go hunting and shooting. My life is constantly busy between two full time jobs.

Then again I am typing this on my iPhone on the plane in Phoenix because Acusport is paying for my flight and hotel to go to their dealer show in Salt Lake City. So never mind, I guess I like being an FFL.

[hitman13]

The $200 FFL is the tiniest detail in running a gun business in CA.


Here's my list of pros and cons in being a CA gun dealer.

Pros:

* You can use your FFL to order guns through the mail at wholesale prices!
* It can be profitable!

yo forgot that with your own business comes tax write offs...

[RJ Dunn]

The $200 FFL is the tiniest detail in running a gun business in CA.


Here's my list of pros and cons in being a CA gun dealer.

Pros:

* You can use your FFL to order guns through the mail at wholesale prices!
* It can be profitable!


Cons:

* Dealing with Federal, State and local authorites, laws, inspection and regulations.(I wouldn't even mention the OLL situation.)
* Stocking costs(firearms, ammo, accessories, re-loading supplies, etc.)
* Overhead costs(Rent, electricity, insurance, internet, credit card machine, fixtures, incorporate, accountants, gas, meals, client entertainment, DOJ materials, postage, alarm, safes, website, gun show table fees, etc.)
* Advertising costs(internet, newspaper, radio)
* Competition(w/ corporate chains that can afford to do huge volume buys and blow your price out of the water, shady dealers that get law enforcement discounts and past the savings to the public.)
* Friends and family that want you to sell them guns at cost and don't understand that you have a business to run.
* Running a business takes up all your time, away from family, friends, hobbies.
* Difficult customers, following up on bad transactions.
* Gun bans-Next year most of the handguns as we know it in CA will not be eligible for "Drop-Testing/Safety Certification" and ones that are currently legal will drop off the list as the extortion fee is not renewed.(This is a copy and past from a earlier post of mine.-S.)
* Security, it is a gun shop!
* Insurance
* A bunch of hangers-on that want to be part of a gun shop operation and stand around BS'ing all day when you got important work to do and no time to do it with.



It's not impossible, but it's an awful lot of trouble in our gun non-friendly state. You'll need lots of energy, time, credit and cold hard cash. I strongly suggest you pay an attorney whatever their fee is($3000-5000.) to incorporate your business as a separate entity, otherwise you're opening yourself up big time to liability.

Good luck!

I need to have a smoke, before responding to this. (Walks away from pc with head held low.)

[RJ Dunn]

Well, thats all it takes.That 3hr drive to Roger Relics does'nt seem all that long now. With all the hassle you guys have posted.I would still have to deal with the ranches CC&R. I am pretty sure there is something in there prohibiting it as I would be operating a firearms business on their property. Well, that was a short lived idea. Thank you to all that responded.

[Maton]

Damn I was contemplating a FFL license myself, damn that lol, too much work.

[thisismyboomstick]

RJ Do it!!!

I need a good FFL close to me.

You've got one guaranteed customer right here.