Indoor shooting range...

[Can'thavenuthingood]

Get a legal pad and scratch out a Business Plan.

Design the range around the woman customer, make it appealing. You can do this without going all girly. Just neat, clean, open and uncluttered with attractive paint schemes and floor coverings.

Get rid of the grimy air lead tasting feel of an indoor range, have a strong HVAC system and keep it on a regular maintenance schedule. Have a lounge area for customers (women) to wait for friends without being on "display".

Have restrooms with many stalls and clean. Keep quality soap and handtowels or dryers well stocked. Hand lotion is good to have handy.

Savage's Snailtrap is the best idea for a backstop out there. About 4 years ago they were $1700 per foot and come in 8 foot modules. Up front cost will payoff down the road in less maintenance time.
Minimize or elminate employees handling of lead. This is a biggy, real big.

Early on get quotes for Workmens Comp, medical and Insurance. Of these, the Work Comp killed it for me, initial quotes were 22% then up to 40%. This kind of money cuts deep into revenues and must be made up, hence the higher cost to the end user. Umbrella insurance policy was reasonable.

Locating in an Industrial Park will largely preclude "My little Johnny got scared while playing in our backyard" type lawsuits.

The city government is a PAIN. They want it all and they want it in cash up front. Take your checkbook everytime you go to city hall and the planning commission.

Train and dress your staff as Professionals. If my wife or daughter are uncomfortable, they and myself won't be back.

I'd skip the FFL (maybe get a C&R) and just rent guns. Support your local FFL's through a teamwork effort, you run the range. Give them coupons for new gun purchasers. Buy your rental stock from ALL the FFL's in the area.

Lotta work ahead of you, good luck.

Hope you do it.

Vick

[WallySparx]

http://www.magrange.com/

that truefire thing sounds like the coolest thing ever. can anyone describe what you do exactly, since you presumably don't shoot real ammo at the tv?

[islandchanel]

If you want to make one that will make a range that will make some money you need to make one in Temecula. The closest one i know from their is almost 40 minutes away. Hell maybe one of the indian reservations will let you build one on their land.

[choochboost]

There have been some really great suggestions already so I won't repeat what has already been covered. But one thing I will suggest is not having safety rules that are too restrictive. I'm all for safety, but some ranges get a little ridiculous.

Reasonable prices, especially where it benefits new shooters (guest fees, rentals) will help your customer base continue to grow. At the range where I am a member I can shoot as long as I want for free (no time limit) and if I bring a guest it only costs the guest $3.50. That brings that guest back for more visits and there's a greater possibility he'll buy his own membership. They also only charge $5 for gun rentals. It is one $5 fee for the whole time you're there regardless of how many guns you rent (one at a time of course). For me, this was the determining factor between choosing this range over another even though the other range was closer. I bring new shooters almost 25% of the time I shoot and I shoot a lot.

I'd also suggest offering a variety of memberships or packages. Annual unlimited visits, 6-month unlimited visits, 10-visit package, etc.

One more thing. You should definitely have video monitoring of the bays and lanes. That will benefit everyone.

[grammaton76]

One more thing. You should definitely have video monitoring of the bays and lanes. That will benefit everyone.

Big time. Particularly when the guys who're doing John Woo impressions swear they weren't doing it... it's best to have some kinda proof when you kick them out.

[Can'thavenuthingood]

What's the latest on the range idea?

Are you going to make a go of it?

Vick

[Employee3]

Still working on it. Probably going the FFL route.

[HillBilly]

I second the Temeclua thing. Nothing like that around, and I have found the area to be pretty gun friendly.

Aside from that...Everything up here where I am is bad. I have yet to be to an indoor range with employees that were not completely hostile. The one I frequent has a friendly owner, but he is rarely there, and his employees are arrogant snobs. I HATE the thought of having to patronize them, but there is little other choice if I want to shoot.

I would literally pay DOUBLE or maybe TRIPLE the fee for a nice, professional, clean facility with friendly employees. I would drive farther, and support their effort more.

Have someone ready to give "lessons" on staff. I can't count the number of times a couple or people have walked in, and as they are ready to rent guns, they counter guy asks..."have you shot before?"...they say no, and ask if lessons are available. He tells them about basic training 6 weeks from then. The couple leaves, and probably gives up on shooting.
And finally, don't let your place turn into a "mostly cop" kind of place. The vibe I get from my local ranges screams that only the LEO's get treated with respect, all the rest of us just help pay the rent.