Diary of a Would-Be FFL

[TheExpertish]

If you are going to choose anything, then make it Aaventine Outfitters.

Then you will be first on everyone's list.

Also, I don't know how old you are, but I have noticed a little reticence on your part in some of your posts about interactions with the powers that be.

If there is not a law against it, you can do it. If a civil servant hems and haws, get your politely aggressive hat on and figure out what the deal is. If possible, be aware of their codes before you start asking them questions, so that you can lead them to their own code and find the answer you want. (This works especially well with the DOJ!)

Don't be preemptively shy about soccer moms and school zones. They have nothing to do with your business, and you should be assertive about that. Good luck.

btw that mature polite aggressive tempo is going to work with everything you do, from buying product to selling it, and everything between AND otherwise.

I'm a 33-year-old father of 6 so I can swing it when I need to. Thanks for the pointers. So far so good overall. I think my initial pensiveness towards the soccer moms actually lead me to a better name.

[wideboyawake]

First post here-

I wanted to chime in and agree the name Aaventine Outfitters is perfect. Communicates enough information to those who need to know what you do, and is innocuous enough for those who would be concerned.

Also agree about pressing through folks' apprehension about doing business with you (banks, etc.) Stand proud- what you are doing is legal, upright and is, in fact what makes our economy thrive- Small Business Startups.

Thank you for doing your part to set us all on a course to ecenomic recovery. I pledge to be waiting in line to buy something the very day you open your doors.

If I can be of any help, feel free to PM me- I know very little about this industry but have navigated the waters of a small startup business more than once.

[TheExpertish]

12/07/2011

Dear Calgunners,

So another day down, and a few more things accomplished. I refined what I have of my business plan a little bit more. I have my COE application complete and will be going to get Live-Scanned tomorrow. I also contacted my Aunt who has a graphic design firm in the Bay Area about a logo and stationary.

I have also settled on a location and am currently negotiating the terms of the lease with the owner. I talked to another Calgunner who is a security consultant about what I can do to make things more secure while operating in an office environment. It's clear the biggest problem is going to be after hours, so I will need to take steps to address this as best I can.

Next on the to-do list within the next week will be incorporating, as well as getting my CA Resale Permit, and filing my fictitious name statement. Starting to make contact with vendors to put my name out there so it's getting exciting.

[CIV Tactical]

Keep pushing forward gadsden. I followed through with the opd and criminal investigations, They both found no reason to deny my zoning clearance. My business license was accepted and my sellers permit was issued. Granted I am not dealing in ffl materials I still feel lucky to be able to run a parts business from my home through an online store. I build complete upper receiver units with custom features so even though its not full firearms yet, its one step closer. I guess what I am getting at is dont be detoured by the people that make it difficult. Keep following through and it will work out.

[paul0660]

getting exciting.

Indeed, thanks for sharing this with us. It does everyone good.

[LaLa]

I love reading about all this. I'm sure the rest of us are getting excited with you!

[Santa Cruz Armory]

Dilemma of the day: Do I need to apply as a pawnbroker as well in order to buy and consign second hand firearms?

If your city or county require a scond hand dealers license, you have to have one. (Per CA DOJ) Also, you have to hold the firearm for 30 days. Again, DOJ stated that after 20 days DROS can be started and the 10 day wait is considered the last 10 of the 30 days. I wonder if this will work for 1 handgun every 30 days??

[Librarian]

I wonder if this will work for 1 handgun every 30 days??

It works on the other end - the start of DROS is the start of the 30 days.

But the requirement is no more than 1 DROS in 30 days, so cannot DROS one, and DROS another 20 days later, for delivery after 30 days.

I agree - very interesting thread.

[softscrubb]

When you have your logo and look to buy banners and stationary stuff.. I suggest VistaPrint as a good start. I use them for my business needs and it is good and fast..

[TheExpertish]

12/11/2011

Hey Calgunners,

So it's the late night hours at my last week at this lame job. Greatly looking forward to ending a job, and starting a career. Making progress across the board for getting things "doors open". After looking at Librarian's list I'm thinking the first thing you actually need to file after you know everything is a go is filing for incorporation; whether LLC or a regular corporation. I'm meeting with a friend who is a business lawyer beginning of next week. It's another expense I was not planning on, but unless you're just going to be a "kitchen table" FFL I think this is a must. No sense in losing everything you have over going belly-up, or a worst case scenario lawsuit. Also, if my understanding is correct it is also much easier for a corporation to get NFA Title 2 and CA DOJ Dangerous Weapons Permits. Still not easy, but easier than if you're a Sole Proprietor.

[rogtac]

I mentioned this in another thread, but keep in mind that the incorporation process in CA is a several weeks to several months waiting game (my LLC took about 3 months). look into Legalzoom to compare the costs and services, compared to what an attorney will do.

[TheExpertish]

12/14/2011

Dear Calgunners,

So I met with an attorney today in regards to incorporating, and will be enlisting his services. After comparing what he can do vs. Legalzoom and others, betting your life and business on a lawyer is better than leaving it up to you and a website. The costs are roughly double for what you'd pay for with the complete package on a website. However, I will be able to get it done a bit faster, and there's always a real person I can get in contact with in a business SHTF. Not to mention I now know what is best instead of just what I want to do. What I wanted to do is an LLC, but what I was recommended to do was an S-Corp. Also, the corporation will be tailored specifically to my business instead of putting my idea into a cookie cutter mold and hoping it all bakes out well. Turns out I'm doing it at the perfect time as well with 12/16 being the start of a new fiscal year. My lawyer has a firm they partner with in Sactown so they will be personally filing my papers directly at the State office, which will save a great amount of time and allow me to put everything in the corporations name from the get-go leaving me fully protected.

In other news I have emailed the CLEO's secretary in regards to getting permission to be a Second Hand dealer. I also threw out seeing if he'll endorse high-cap and dangerous weapon permits. We'll see where that goes. I have a law enforcement background so I think I stand a better chance than most. We'll see. Doesn't sound like these are easy to come by.

[Dark Sky Solutions]

Keep up the great work.

I am retiring from the Mil soon and plan on getting my 07/02 and set up a shop(Not in Kalifornistan).

You trials and tribulations are teaching me what to do. Thanks and keep up the battle!!!

[TheExpertish]

12/21/2011

Dear Calgunners,

So I got Livescanned and put the COE application in the mail. Also heard back from the CLEO's secretary, and she said she forwarded my info to him and the Investigations Capt to see what's next. Not much else to report, and from here it's about 2-3 weeks of waiting or so for the COE, and Incorporation to be completed. I need my Fed tax ID to start the lease, and get the all important business license.

[tenpercentfirearms]

I also threw out seeing if he'll endorse high-cap and dangerous weapon permits.

Unless you have a local ordinance that says otherwise, you don't need anyone's permission for a large capacity magazine permit. You just ask for one in writing when you send in your LCM application. Something along the lines of, "I need a LCM Permit so I can sell to my local law enforcement."