Gunsmithing Business Questions

B

Bert223

New member
Hello Everyone,

I have a few questions about gunsmithing as a business.

Do you need any licenses to perform gunsmithing services?

Do you need an FFL if you are not going to sell firearms?

Do you have to be insured?

Can you manufacture gun parts other than receivers without a firearms manufacturer's license?

Can you manufacture 80% receivers without a firearms manufacture's license.
 
In order:

Do you need any licenses to perform gunsmithing services?
Yes, you do.
If a customer leaves a gun overnight, you have to book it into your business.
If you're taking money for work, you need it.

Do you need an FFL if you are not going to sell firearms?
Yes.
There is no special gunsmith federal license.

Do you have to be insured?
You darned well better be.
First time you screw up, or a customer THINKS you screwed up, these days you better be prepared to buy the customer a new gun, and even then they will likely sue.
No insurance, and you'll loose everything you own.
If someone gets hurt, it gets even worse.

Can you manufacture gun parts other than receivers without a firearms manufacturer's license?
Yes, as long as you aren't assembling guns.
As example, you want to make slides or safeties for sale, you need no gun license.

Can you manufacture 80% receivers without a firearms manufacturer's license.
If you mean can you machine a receiver, but leave it 80% unfinished, you need no license for that.
An 80% receiver is NOT a gun.

In addition to a FFL and insurance, you'll need a State tax number, and any an all local and State permits, licenses, and permissions.
 
Thanks for the info dfariswheel :). Sounds like it's hard to get into gunsmithing. Do you know anywhere that I could get all the legal info at about it?
 
All of what Dfariswheel says plus enough money to live on while you're building the business. Figure on two to three years or more of living expenses.
 
All Dfariswheel says, plus enough capital to buy the minimum equipment needed. If you think all you need is a file and a screwdriver set, try another line of business. First you should take a "hands on" gunsmithing course. You would not want to have brain surgery done by a doctor who watched a video, and you wouldn't want your gun worked on by a TV gunsmith.

Also, take courses in small business operations. A lot of people like working on guns but don't bother to consider how to run a business. They go out of business quickly.

I strongly advise setting up a shop in a business area. Even if zoning will allow a business in your home, you don't want your home to be your place of business. Not only do people wanting gun repairs at all hours disrupt your home life, but your home becomes a target for bad guys who know you have guns on the premises. If they break into your shop, that's bad, but your family is not in danger.

Jim
 
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