home based 01FFL???

[IrishPirate]

Been thinking for a while now about getting an 01FFL and running a business from my house. But....

Is there anything different about the process if I ONLY wanted to specialize in internet transfers and special orders? I would not have any stock of guns whatsoever, i would only facilitate transfers and special orders.

-i know i need to get a business license and they may not allow me to sell guns from my home
-i understand the financial costs of just getting the "OK" from the gov't to sell guns
-i understand that having people know where i live and that i sell guns from my house could be a bad thing


what i don't know is if this is possible to do without jumping through any extra hoops besides the licensing? Are there any problems that i'm not anticipating??

[rbetts]

ATF requires inventory in order to get your FFL. You'd need to sell stuff as well. Biggest hurdle is your city.

[Librarian]

Read the stickies at the top of the forum - lots of info about hoops.

[Rigmarole]

ATF requires inventory in order to get your FFL. You'd need to sell stuff as well. Biggest hurdle is your city.

There is no ATF requirement to have inventory as an FFL:

You have to be able to comply with all of the zoning requirements for home-based businesses in your area (the ATF will check) along with all state and local laws.

We are a home-based FFL in Reno, NV and I can imagine that we had less hoops to jump through compared to most areas in CA. At the same time, I wish you the best of luck.

Oh... and don't quit your day job if/when you do get your FFL at home.

[kemasa]

The list of requirements is not quite accurate since you are required to run a business, not just getting an 01 FFL for personal collecting. There is no requirement for an inventory as you say.

Each city is different in terms of how easy it is and it can change over time.

[IrishPirate]

Read the stickies at the top of the forum - lots of info about hoops.

that's where i went first, but i didn't see anything about my situation.

I definitely wont be quitting my day job, and no, this isn't to expand my collection, i already know that an 01FFL is a license to sell guns, not collect them. I'm trying to figure out how much of a hassle it will be to be able to do internet orders and transfers for people because my plan is to only charge $40 for internet orders so that people can actually afford to buy things online.

You guys might think that's stupid, but i have my reasons for it.

Also, does the ATF have stricter requirements on Safe's for FFL's or is it the same as for the safe affidavit when you buy a gun??

[tenpercentfirearms]

that's where i went first, but i didn't see anything about my situation.

I definitely wont be quitting my day job, and no, this isn't to expand my collection, i already know that an 01FFL is a license to sell guns, not collect them. I'm trying to figure out how much of a hassle it will be to be able to do internet orders and transfers for people because my plan is to only charge $40 for internet orders so that people can actually afford to buy things online.

You guys might think that's stupid, but i have my reasons for it.

Because you enjoy staying busy and donating your time. I too used to think I was going to get all of this business because I would work for cheap. When I got all of this business for working for cheap, I realized I actually enjoyed my free time more.

You aren't going to make much money in the gun business. Really the only reason I stick with it is because of all of the little benefits of owning a gun shop. Other than that, there are much more profitable businesses to be in with much, much less paperwork.

[IrishPirate]

Because you enjoy staying busy and donating your time. I too used to think I was going to get all of this business because I would work for cheap. When I got all of this business for working for cheap, I realized I actually enjoyed my free time more.

You aren't going to make much money in the gun business. Really the only reason I stick with it is because of all of the little benefits of owning a gun shop. Other than that, there are much more profitable businesses to be in with much, much less paperwork.

cliche' as it might sound, i'm not in it for the money. It really would be for the perks of being able to help family/friends get guns for cheap, tax write offs, and make ordering guns online easier for people in my area. Fam/friends would probably get things right at cost, including transfers, and calgunners or acquaintances would get a good deal....like cost + 5%-10% on orders, and transfers at or below what DOJ allows FFL's to charge. Only downside for others is they'd have to work with my schedule since this would be a side "business". I'm not trying to set anything up for success....just enough to make it worth my while and help some people out.

I know if i focused on making money, it would screw me over because i don't have the capital to invest in a business with the intention of growth. I might not even have the time to do this for anyone other than family. My wife is an ETL with Target so i know she would be able to help me forecast what we'd need to make in order to gain back the investment of licenses, etc.

it might just be a feel good dream, but it's something i'd like to make happen if it turns out that it's doable.

[TheExpertish]

Call your city planning office first and see what their zoning allows. That will give you your yay or nay.

[crazychinaman]

ffl

certain cities say no if kids are in the house.Also some cities required a seperate room for the safe and for all transactions seperate from the house/.

[tenpercentfirearms]

Only downside for others is they'd have to work with my schedule since this would be a side "business". I'm not trying to set anything up for success....just enough to make it worth my while and help some people out.

Any kitchen table guys want to chime in on their experience with developing a customer base and keeping them in line with your schedule?

[IrishPirate]

I know the city is the first and probably biggest hurdle, but i want to have my ducks in a row, or at least know what order they should be in, so that if Roseville says OK, i can move on without too much waiting.


Could HOA regulations stop the city/DOJ/ATF issuing me the licenses i need??

[tenpercentfirearms]

Could HOA regulations stop the city/DOJ/ATF issuing me the licenses i need??

It could. Even if it can't what are the consequences for violating HOA?

[IrishPirate]

It could. Even if it can't what are the consequences for violating HOA?

I can't remember the exact language, but I know there's provisions in our CC&R's pertaining to home businesses. I'm pretty sure my HOA just wont let you advertise on/outside your house, but they can't really stop you from doing whatever you want inside your own home. I wouldn't tell them I'm running a business, but if the city did its own digging and read something wrong/found some BS provision in the CC&R's, would that be enough to deny me a license???

Hopefully I'll be out of this house by the time I'm ready to get an 01FFL, and my new house WILL NOT have an HOA!!!!

[gatesbox]

I don't know if this helps but you are more or less describing the business that Roger Baker runs known as Rogers Relics..... He and his wife work out of their home (garage actually) by appointment and only do transfers. I had to use them once because my go to FFL would not accept receipt of two single action pistols direct from the non licensee seller.

Nice guy, might be worth giving a call or sending an email after you do some more research...