Any Shooting Range Owners From Florida?

In the part of Florida that I live, there is only one range with four stalls. It is expensive as well as run down. People go there only because they have no other place to go within a 50 mile radius. I decided I want to open a range myself and have already obtained so much data that my head is spinning, yet I still have some questions I am having trouble getting answered.

I have the Florida State Statutes, County Codes and Zoning, The NRA Range Sourcebook (in the mail), USAF ETL 08-11: Small Arms Range Design and Construction, the EPA CFRs for lead, and have a couple of properties I am looking at in my area that meet code and would be large enough to suffice the range.

The range will be an outdoor range that has 50m (X5), 100 m (X5), 300 m(X3), and 1000 m (X2) lanes that will have use a dirt backstop accompanied by a cement block wall. The range will allow for ammunition from .22 cal to .50 cal. Other than delivery of dirt my brother, cousin, dad, and friend will assist me in the construction of the stalls, measuring the Surface Danger Zone/Vertical Danger Zone, backstops, and targets. My cousin and myself are going to Orlando to become Range Safety Officers for insurance purposes. As business takes off I will be adding a skeet shoot and a tactical/obstacle course with pop-up targets and CQB scenarios, but those are not in the making yet (not until I have an established business).

The building where business will be conducted will need to have retail space for accessories, gear, ammo, and guns for sale/rent (I have an application for an FFL but until I have a location of business I cannot send it in). I will also need a 125ft X 125ft room for conducting NRA, CCW, and security courses as well as offer free hunting courses (All but the hunting courses will be taught by either myself or my cousin). A bathroom and breakroom are requirements for a security training facility in my state.

I know what is needed by the county, state, EPA, and BATFE in regards to licensing and regulations for the range and firearms, what I am not sure of is the business aspect. I was hoping someone who owns a range in Florida could help answer the few questions that I have left.

Q1: I know the average mark-up for firearms and accessories in the area, but how can I find the cost of the firearms and accessories (wholesale/dealers price) or of any price breaks for bulk orders? The distributors will not talk to me until I have my FFL and I cannot get my FFL without a place for business and I cannot get a place of business without a business loan from a bank. Due to the economy and my age, 24, I am going to have to go to the bank with a DETAILED business plan and explain how they will get there money back.

Q2: How do you pay a business loan back? Do you pay monthly payments (i.e. mortgage/car payment) or do you pay in back in a lump some with in so many years? If so what is the time frame it is to be paid back in?

Q3: Do you know of any good insurance companies to cover my business (in Florida) and if so how much does it cost? Again they will not talk to me until I have a business.

Q4: How much do lead removal services cost? The EPA mandates that a company has to come and remove lead from my dirt back stops and I’m sure it is not free. If I have the equipment am I allowed to do it myself?

Q5: If you own an outdoor range in Fl, do you mind telling me an estimated cost of construction supplies for your outdoor range?

Q6: I am looking a buying a large piece of land and I’m probably not going to find one with a building on it that suits my needs. Any ideas/suggestions on new construction vs. other options I am unaware of such as portable buildings (if they have them)

Q7: What are the state and federal taxes (estimate of course) for running such a business in FL?

Please, refrain from JUST telling me that this is an expensive business and that it will fail. I now that it will be expensive and that is why I need a DETAILED business plan for the bank. I am hoping for help with the few financial questions left to determine the over all cost and revenue I will need to acquire.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and I appreciate and look forward to any responses.

Be sure to read the comments, you will find more information about federal firearms license

Any shooting range owners from Florida?

In the part of Florida that I live, there is only one range with four stalls. It is expensive as well as run down. People go there only because they have no other place to go within a 50 mile radius. I decided I want to open a range myself and have already obtained so much data that my head is spinning, yet I still have some questions I am having trouble getting answered.

I have the Florida State Statutes, County Codes and Zoning, The NRA Range Sourcebook (in the mail), USAF ETL 08-11: Small Arms Range Design and Construction, the EPA CFRs for lead, and have a couple of properties I am looking at in my area that meet code and would be large enough to suffice the range.

The range will be an outdoor range that has 50m (X5), 100 m (X5), 300 m(X3), and 1000 m (X2) lanes that will have use a dirt backstop accompanied by a cement block wall. The range will allow for ammunition from .22 cal to .50 cal. Other than delivery of dirt my brother, cousin, dad, and friend will assist me in the construction of the stalls, measuring the Surface Danger Zone/Vertical Danger Zone, backstops, and targets. My cousin and myself are going to Orlando to become Range Safety Officers for insurance purposes. As business takes off I will be adding a skeet shoot and a tactical/obstacle course with pop-up targets and CQB scenarios, but those are not in the making yet (not until I have an established business).

The building where business will be conducted will need to have retail space for accessories, gear, ammo, and guns for sale/rent (I have an application for an FFL but until I have a location of business I cannot send it in). I will also need a 125ft X 125ft room for conducting NRA, CCW, and security courses as well as offer free hunting courses (All but the hunting courses will be taught by either myself or my cousin). A bathroom and breakroom are requirements for a security training facility in my state.

I know what is needed by the county, state, EPA, and BATFE in regards to licensing and regulations for the range and firearms, what I am not sure of is the business aspect. I was hoping someone who owns a range in Florida could help answer the few questions that I have left.

Q1: I know the average mark-up for firearms and accessories in the area, but how can I find the cost of the firearms and accessories (wholesale/dealers price) or of any price breaks for bulk orders? The distributors will not talk to me until I have my FFL and I cannot get my FFL without a place for business and I cannot get a place of business without a business loan from a bank. Due to the economy and my age, 24, I am going to have to go to the bank with a DETAILED business plan and explain how they will get there money back.

Q2: How do you pay a business loan back? Do you pay monthly payments (i.e. mortgage/car payment) or do you pay in back in a lump some with in so many years? If so what is the time frame it is to be paid back in?

Q3: Do you know of any good insurance companies to cover my business (in Florida) and if so how much does it cost? Again they will not talk to me until I have a business.

Q4: How much do lead removal services cost? The EPA mandates that a company has to come and remove lead from my dirt back stops and I’m sure it is not free. If I have the equipment am I allowed to do it myself?

Q5: If you own an outdoor range in Fl, do you mind telling me an estimated cost of construction supplies for your outdoor range?

Q6: I am looking a buying a large piece of land and I’m probably not going to find one with a building on it that suits my needs. Any ideas/suggestions on new construction vs. other options I am unaware of such as portable buildings (if they have them)

Q7: What are the state and federal taxes (estimate of course) for running such a business in FL?

Please, refrain from JUST telling me that this is an expensive business and that it will fail. I now that it will be expensive and that is why I need a DETAILED business plan for the bank. I am hoping for help with the few financial questions left to determine the over all cost and revenue I will need to acquire.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and I appreciate and look forward to any responses.

Be sure to read the comments, you will find more information about federal firearms license

Any FFL holders in Iowa who could help me?

I’m looking to buy an RPK from J&G guns online, and so far no place in town that HAS an FFL (scheels, pawn shops) will do business with me on this, since the only place that will, only does it for deer rifles or shotguns. Now i’ve had an SKS before, and have behaved responsibly for many years with firearms, and in fact am currently in paperwork with the BATFE to get a Type 50 explosives manufacturer license (legal hobbyist) and have a spotless criminal record (including driving!) and even coach an after-school program, so between being a good-intentioned guy and having the BATFE already allowed to conduct random visits for my explosives license, i think i can assure you pretty well that you’d be safe selling me a "scary" gun like an RPK. No criminal record of anyone in my household either.

So do you think i could find somebody in Iowa with an FFL who actually WOULD let me pay them a good fee to let me purchase through them, cash up front? How much should i expect to pay them?
Oh and i put this in hunting because i plan on using this for backyard hunting (i live in rural iowa where i have a safe area of privately owned woods to shoot in) as well as the hunting guys always seeming to have better gun answers. You can contact me through email from my profile page if you want.

Be sure to read the comments, you will find more information about FFL Licence

How are some shotguns considered AOW [Any Other Weapon]?

Unlike most most 18 year old people I take pride in the fact that I’m pretty knowledgeable about gun laws. now I’ confused about some shotguns falling under AOW. my understanding is that as long as there barrel length is 18 inches and there overall length is 26 inches no paper work is required. I saw on Yahoo that if it has a pistol grip and a front vertical grip then it falls under AOW and requires a 5 dollar stamp form the BATFE. how does that fall under AOW if it meets the length requirements?

The only thing I see for shotgun under AOW is

"A short-barreled shotgun which came from the factory with a pistol grip is categorized as an AOW rather than a SBS, because the Gun Control Act describes a shotgun as “…designed or redesigned to be fired from the shoulder…”

Is it legal to own a fully automatic firearm in the United States?

I have a slight understanding of the conditions, you know the visits from the BATFE and all, but what are the requirements for obtaining a federal firearms license? And what are the benefits of having said permit? I am not looking to be a dealer or manufacturer, but I do wish to eventually own a DPMS A17, H&K MP5N, and a couple other automatic weapons. Also, I understand that legally, it would be hard to find a place to shoot them. If I were to -hypothetically speaking- get a hold of a few acres (say 10 for instance) that were away from any other public or private property where people would commonly be found, would it be legal to fire these weapons there? Are there requirements for this, or does it have to be on specially permitted land?

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