Home based FFL?

[RyanT26]

Is anybody on here a home-based FFL. Been contemplating going that route and have some questions.

 

[HuntHarder]

I thought they made to where you had to have a legit store front now to become an FFL.

 

[backcountry_hunter]

^^^ that can't be totally the case as my main FFL that I use is just word of mouth out of his house.

 

[Fitzwho]

My brother and a guy I work with both do it from home.

 

[Billy Goat]

^^^ that can't be totally the case as my main FFL that I use is just word of mouth out of his house.

My brother and a guy I work with both do it from home.

Might be grandfathered.

We have a bar up the road that has an FFL. Literally a Roadhouse. Grandfathered in from the original owner getting married to some youngin he had been running around with when his wife died, then a similar thing of her again married to someone younger. Something like that.

 

[Fitzwho]

Both these guys have been doing it for several years. Both moved in the last 6 months and were able to get it approved to keep, still possibly grand-fathered, but you would think a move would at least make it questionable for reapproval. Trust me, the ATF doesn’t have any issues coming to your house to do an audit.

 

[Shrek]

A home based shop is not a problem. My friend is going through the licensing now. He’s going to be working from a 12x24 shed he’s fixed up. There’s a few requirements like a safe to store firearms in. Not sure about the rest but so far it hasn’t been too much of a hassle. He contacted the ATF and got the requirements. I do remember back in the Obama years they were trying to get rid of the home based FFL’s. Elections matter...

 

[Whaledriver]

I will say this. There is a metric shit ton of bad FFL info on the interwebz. This thread proves that. If you are thinking of getting license feel free to PM me. I was a FFL and SOT dealer for quite a while. I eventually gave it up as I where I live now is somewhat isolated and did not want people just driving up to my home (they will). If you are going to run it out of your home, these are a few things to consider. Consider your zoning, meaning if you are close to a school or other type place the feds can deny a home based license. Make sure your home insurance is ok with what you are doing. Consider forming a LLC or other legal structure to protect your personal assets (most important move). Consider your neighbors thoughts on your business. Consider security as your home address will be all over the internet. Some sites will work with you on that but the FFL is public, hence so is your address. Consider having a dedicated area in your home for the business. Do not mix business and personal collection as business guns will need to logged in and out. I kept two safes in different areas of house. When it came time for an audit, they would only audit the guns in the one room of my house. I always had them call me to schedule audits. They were always nice and polite, never an issue. Other internet BS is quotas on gun sales. There is no quota. Last is be anal on paperwork and following background check procedures. Overall you will find that there is not a huge markup on new guns. Used guns is where you can actually make a few bucks.

Sorry for the long winded post.....

 

[kopecsean]

Great post!

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[silasbowhunter]

I will say this. There is a metric shit ton of bad FFL info on the interwebz. This thread proves that. If you are thinking of getting license feel free to PM me. I was a FFL and SOT dealer for quite a while. I eventually gave it up as I where I live now is somewhat isolated and did not want people just driving up to my home (they will). If you are going to run it out of your home, these are a few things to consider. Consider your zoning, meaning if you are close to a school or other type place the feds can deny a home based license. Make sure your home insurance is ok with what you are doing. Consider forming a LLC or other legal structure to protect your personal assets (most important move). Consider your neighbors thoughts on your business. Consider security as your home address will be all over the internet. Some sites will work with you on that but the FFL is public, hence so is your address. Consider having a dedicated area in your home for the business. Do not mix business and personal collection as business guns will need to logged in and out. I kept two safes in different areas of house. When it came time for an audit, they would only audit the guns in the one room of my house. I always had them call me to schedule audits. They were always nice and polite, never an issue. Other internet BS is quotas on gun sales. There is no quota. Last is be anal on paperwork and following background check procedures. Overall you will find that there is not a huge markup on new guns. Used guns is where you can actually make a few bucks.

Sorry for the long winded post.....

Great information


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[RyanT26]

I will say this. There is a metric shit ton of bad FFL info on the interwebz. This thread proves that. If you are thinking of getting license feel free to PM me. I was a FFL and SOT dealer for quite a while. I eventually gave it up as I where I live now is somewhat isolated and did not want people just driving up to my home (they will). If you are going to run it out of your home, these are a few things to consider. Consider your zoning, meaning if you are close to a school or other type place the feds can deny a home based license. Make sure your home insurance is ok with what you are doing. Consider forming a LLC or other legal structure to protect your personal assets (most important move). Consider your neighbors thoughts on your business. Consider security as your home address will be all over the internet. Some sites will work with you on that but the FFL is public, hence so is your address. Consider having a dedicated area in your home for the business. Do not mix business and personal collection as business guns will need to logged in and out. I kept two safes in different areas of house. When it came time for an audit, they would only audit the guns in the one room of my house. I always had them call me to schedule audits. They were always nice and polite, never an issue. Other internet BS is quotas on gun sales. There is no quota. Last is be anal on paperwork and following background check procedures. Overall you will find that there is not a huge markup on new guns. Used guns is where you can actually make a few bucks.

Sorry for the long winded post.....

Thanks . You gave me a few more things to think about.

 

[RS3579]

The ffl I deal with has a table in his garage townhouse. Not much more.

 

[Axlrod]

A home based shop is not a problem. My friend is going through the licensing now. He’s going to be working from a 12x24 shed he’s fixed up. There’s a few requirements like a safe to store firearms in. Not sure about the rest but so far it hasn’t been too much of a hassle. He contacted the ATF and got the requirements. I do remember back in the Obama years they were trying to get rid of the home based FFL’s. Elections matter...

It was the Clinton administration that changed the FFL rules and got rid of like 2/3 of the FFL's (hobby dealers). Nobody is grandfathered you either follow the rules or you don't have an FFL. You can look up what is required on the Batfe web site. You do need something from your local government that says running a business from your location is ok (zoning wise).

 

[Whaledriver]

Not sure if anything was changed. It is easier in my opinion to get the FFL than it was to get a vehicle tagged in certain states. I do know I sold more guns under Obama than I did under Bush....lol. The requirements have not changed much in the last 20 years at least. They cannot arbitrarily "get rid" of dealers unless facility like a school or the like pops up next door to you. Zoning is your biggest show stopper.

 

[Team4LongGun]

I will say this. There is a metric shit ton of bad FFL info on the interwebz. This thread proves that. If you are thinking of getting license feel free to PM me. I was a FFL and SOT dealer for quite a while. I eventually gave it up as I where I live now is somewhat isolated and did not want people just driving up to my home (they will). If you are going to run it out of your home, these are a few things to consider. Consider your zoning, meaning if you are close to a school or other type place the feds can deny a home based license. Make sure your home insurance is ok with what you are doing. Consider forming a LLC or other legal structure to protect your personal assets (most important move). Consider your neighbors thoughts on your business. Consider security as your home address will be all over the internet. Some sites will work with you on that but the FFL is public, hence so is your address. Consider having a dedicated area in your home for the business. Do not mix business and personal collection as business guns will need to logged in and out. I kept two safes in different areas of house. When it came time for an audit, they would only audit the guns in the one room of my house. I always had them call me to schedule audits. They were always nice and polite, never an issue. Other internet BS is quotas on gun sales. There is no quota. Last is be anal on paperwork and following background check procedures. Overall you will find that there is not a huge markup on new guns. Used guns is where you can actually make a few bucks.

Sorry for the long winded post.....

Spot on

 

[notradame]

The shop the not the issue, the responsibility and keep all the firearms safe and clearance to me fit to own a licence is what is important, i really like that it can be done from home.

 

[Desk Jockey]

Talked to a friend about this awhile ago and just adding to the post above, I think it is a requirement to have separate storage for your non-personally owned inventory (separate safe). He got out of the business. He didn’t mind dealing with his buddies but got a little fed up with the dregs. Said the same tweakers that were trying to sell him guns were the ones most likely to break in and rob him.

 

[Farmerlentz]

My buddy has a FFL and if I remember he said the atf frowns upon home ffls but the bigger issue was that most wholesale gun brokers won't deal with you without a storefront

 

[Whaledriver]

The ATF cannot frown on anything. It is black and white. If the requirements are met there is nothing they can do but issue a license. It is true some wholesalers will balk on you being a kitchen table dealer. What they will not balk on is volume of sales. Call and develope a relationship with the salesperson. I found a large glock distributor local that dealt with a ton of police trades. I was lucky with an awesome salesperson that took care of me. I did probably one new gun sale versus twenty used. New gun markup is 10 to 20 percent. Add tax and shipping and you cannot beat any prices.

 

[Muley Buck]

As far as zoning is concerned, how close is too close for schools? Who regulates that exactly? State or Feds?