Myself and a friend have been discussing going into business together to open a gun shop with an indoor shooting range of at least 5 lanes where we live in western Michigan. I am in the process of getting an FFL, while my friend has had his FFL for quite some time and he is also a respected gunsmith in the area. Does anyone have any tips or suggestions on where to start? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
First, Airbornegunny, let me welcome you to the forums. It is always a pleasure to have another former service member join our ranks. I will forgive your selection of service because I have several other Jar-Headed friends and one nephew who are actually fine men. (Big Grin)
As to your question, I investigated such an undertaking as you plan, but it was quite a few year ago. I could not, in my small community, seem to make the numbers work. Of course, that was well before the current Washington buffoons were allowed to begin their destruction of America. I suspect you might have better success. I know that my local range and gun shop is busy all hours they're open.
Someone already mentioned the NSSF, which is a good source, but I found that the NRA was more helpful at the time. You should check out the web site from the NRA called
Shooting Range Services. If you can wait that long, I saw on their site that they have a Range Development and Operations Conference scheduled October 6-10, 2012 in San Diego. If you can't wait, you can contact them via email at
range@nrahq.org and ask all the questions you have.
Because this is to be a business, I also encourage you to enlist the help of a lawyer and a CPA to assist in the preparation of necessary legal filings, permits, and business organization services. A CPA is best suited to help prepare a business plan that can help enormously in getting financing from your local bank. Some banks have freed-up their commercial lending, to include SBA (Small Business Association) loans that are guaranteed by the government. Many people have the idea that the SBA makes loans. They do not. Instead, a bank makes the loan, which is guaranteed by the government, much like a VA or FHA mortgage. Without a good business plan, no matter how good your technical plan is for the range, you will not get financing. Whatever you think it is going to cost, double or triple it. The worst thing a small business can do is to try everything on a "shoestring". Most small businesses fail in the first 1-3 years because of inadequate capitalization.
Best of luck with your new endeavor.
