Creating an LLC is optional as you can apply for an FFL as a sole proprietor. However, with that said, if you plan on starting a business you should go ahead and setup your LLC first, then register your FFL with the business, so you don’t have to go back and do this again once the LLC is setup.

Recommended Resources for this step:

• How to Setup an LLC Guide

Task List

• Articles of Organization:
  • File through the Secretary of State (e.g., Georgia).
  • Pay the filing fee (e.g., $100).
  • Receive confirmation and become an official LLC.
• Employee Identification Number (EIN):
  • Apply for an EIN through the IRS.
  • Use EIN for all tax and business paperwork.
• Home Occupation Application:
  • Apply to run a business from your home through your city or county.
  • Pay the application fee (e.g., $20).
  • Provide necessary information, such as square footage and expected deliveries

An FFL (Federal Firearms License) is a license issued by the ATF allowing individuals or businesses to legally engage in the manufacture, importation, and sale of firearms. It's necessary to comply with federal regulations and conduct legal firearms transactions.

Recommended Resources for this step:

• Home Based FFL Journey: What I Wish I Knew
• The Complete Guide to Getting Your FFL and Running Your Business

Task List

• Determine which FFL Type you need:

• Discover the FFL Types Infographic 

• ATF FFL Application:

  • Apply for your FFL through the ATF website.
  • Get fingerprinted at the sheriff’s office.
  • Take a passport-quality photo.
  • Submit a copy of the application to local law enforcement.

• Office of Commissioner of Insurance:

  • File an illegal immigration reform and enforcement act citizen affidavit form.
  • Notarize the document and submit it.

• ATF Interview:

  • Prepare for an interview with an ATF agent at your place of business.
  • Ensure intent to operate as a business is clear.
  • Have necessary documents ready (e.g., list of potential distributors).

• FFL Fees:

  • Pay the FFL application fee (e.g., $200 for a Type 1 license, $30 for a Type 6 license).
  • Receive your FFL within a few weeks if approved.

Task List

• NIC System Registration:
  • Sign up for access to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).
  • Link to FBI Nics Registration
• Sales and Use Tax Certificate:
  • Apply for a sales and use tax certificate.
  • Pay sales tax as required by your county.

If you are the FFL seller on record for a firearm you are legally required to have a record of that transaction in a Acquisitions and Disposition Book aka “Bound Book" and a 4473 form filed out for each transaction. If you are simply dropshipping the item and another FFL is facilitating the transaction via a “transfer service” they are the one responsible for this record keeping.

Recommended Resources for this step: Home Based FFL Tips

Task List

• Decide on Manual or Electronic 4473s
  • Consider setting up Electronic [See this video]
    • Be sure to notify ATF when switching to electronic
    • Fastbound is most well known company
• Purchase a Bound Book (or software) & understand the requirements
  • If manually tracking, purchase a bound book (Amazon Link)
  • Obtain necessary supplies such as a filing cabinet, computer, printer, and paper.
  • Log all firearms transactions accurately.
  • Be sure to understand the laws on who you can and can not sell to
  • Be prepared to file a “multiple hand gun report” to the ATF
• Ensure you have a system for continual compliance:
  • Be prepared for annual ATF audits.
  • Keep accurate and organized records to ensure compliance.
  • Keep paper records of 4473 forms for 20 years

👉 Watch the interview with FastBound to learn how the right tool can make staying compliant one less thing to worry about.

In this section, we’ll guide you through the essentials of finding reliable suppliers to dropship firearms for your ecommerce store. Whether you’re starting with your existing wholesale relationships or looking for larger or specialty distributors, we share practical tips and resources to help you get up and running quickly.

Recommended Resources for this step:

Flxpoint Supplier Directory

Need a quick overview?
Watch our video on how to find and evaluate firearms dropshipping suppliers—so you can source smarter and avoid common pitfalls.

Applying with distributors to become a firearms dealer can be tedious and often requires direct follow-up with suppliers. However, the distributors listed in step 1 typically have formal application processes and are generally prompt in responding to your approval status.

Recommended Resources for this step:

• Setting up Dealer Accounts with Distributors

Tasks:

1. First ensure you have registered your business and FFL (if applicable), see step 2 in our quickstart guide.
2. In many cases you do not need a website in this industry to get approved as a dealer with the distributors listed in our kit, however we do recommend you have a business name and business email when filling out your application
3. If you don’t already have a website - we recommend in this guide setting up the website after getting approved with a distributor that you know can dropship and has a catalog to provide you. The reason is two-fold:
   • Your ecommerce store revolves around the product catalog and you need that first to build out the site design navigation
   • Depending on your distributor that may be pre-integrated with certain technology partners that will make selecting your platform a little easier to start (i.e. you decided on Squarespace and realize there is not a good tech solution to integrate your top distributor)
4. Lastly, we also recommend you have an idea of how your business will differentiate and succeed online - in dropshipping firearms online, you are competing against the rest of the nation buying the same products at the same price, you’ll want to have a business plan to speak to at minimum.

As an online retailer, your suppliers are the backbone of your business—impacting everything from product quality to customer satisfaction. Evaluating supplier relationships is crucial for ensuring consistent inventory, competitive pricing, and reliable delivery times. See the Supplier Evaluation Checklist linked below and the video tutorial to make better decisions when choosing your supplier partners.

Recommended Resource for this step:

Supplier Evaluation Checklist

Want to see it in action?
Watch how to connect a firearms supplier feed in Flxpoint and start syncing product data automatically—no spreadsheets or manual uploads required.

In this section we dive into the critical topic of integrating with your dropship suppliers. From inventory syncing to managing product data, we cover five key integration points to ensure smooth operations and avoid costly mistakes like stockouts and data mismatches.

By understanding your integration options and how to approach these conversations with your suppliers, you'll be better prepared to streamline your ecommerce business and improve overall efficiency.

Curious what supplier integrations really look like?
Watch the video to learn the five key integration points that keep firearms dropshipping operations accurate, efficient, and scalable.

With so many ecommerce platforms out there, choosing the right one for your firearms business can feel overwhelming. Gearfire, AmmoReady, WordPress—each comes with its own pros, cons, and compliance considerations.

In the videos below, we walk through how to evaluate your options, compare top firearms-friendly platforms, and even reverse-engineer what other dealers are using—so you can make a confident, informed decision that supports both compliance and growth.

Not sure which ecommerce platform is right for your firearms business?

In the above video, we break down what to look for in an FFL-friendly platform, compare all-in-one vs. customizable options, and share best practices for setting up your catalog and automating FFL workflows.

Thinking about launching a website as a new FFL dealer?
In this video, Garrett Fankhauser shares what first-time dealers need to know before choosing Gearfire, AmmoReady, or a custom site. Learn why a website alone won’t guarantee success—and what strategic steps actually lead to profitability. Watch this video to get real-world advice from someone who’s been there.

Want to know what ecommerce platforms your competitors are using?

In this video, we show you how to uncover the tech stacks behind top online gun stores—plus tips for analyzing their performance, user experience, and backend tools. Use these insights to level up your own FFL ecommerce site.

That wraps up our helpful video section! Keep moving through this guide and use what you’ve learned here to make confident, strategic decisions—and remember, your tech stack should scale with you.

Want to know what ecommerce platforms, payment tools, or plugins your competitors are running? Wappalyzer is a free Chrome extension that makes it easy to uncover the tech stack behind any website—instantly.

Why It’s Useful for Firearms Dropshippers:

• Identify FFL-Friendly Ecommerce Platforms
  Curious if a store is using Gearfire, AmmoReady, WooCommerce, or something custom? Wappalyzer shows you which platform powers the site so you can evaluate what might work for your own business.

• Research Competitor Tools
  See if your competitors are using tools like payment processors, analytics platforms, CRM systems, or marketing tech—and use those insights to inform your own stack.

• Validate Supplier Sites
  Wondering if a supplier is legitimate or how advanced their backend is? Quickly check what technology they’re using before reaching out.

• Plan for Integration Needs
  Knowing what tech a supplier or competitor uses can help you assess how easy it’ll be to connect to them using Flxpoint.

💡 Pro tip: Use it alongside our platform evaluation videos to see real-world examples in the wild.

Download the Wappalyzer Chrome Extension and start analyzing the firearms ecommerce landscape like a pro.

Want to see what the leaders in online firearms retail are doing? Here's a snapshot of top-performing gun stores, including estimated annual revenue and the ecommerce platforms they use. Use this as a benchmark when choosing your own FFL-friendly website solution.

Looking for help building or optimizing your firearms ecommerce site? These top web design agencies and consultants specialize in FFL-friendly platforms and understand the unique needs of firearms retailers.

If you're reselling firearms online, driving significant, high-converting traffic through SEO strategies is a long-term commitment that requires serious investment, patience, and ongoing effort. The firearms niche is particularly competitive when it comes to search engine optimization (SEO) due to strict regulations, high competition, and complex keyword dynamics. Ranking for keywords such as "buy firearms online" or "best handguns for sale" often takes a well-executed strategy involving technical SEO, high-quality content, and backlinks from authoritative sites in the firearms space.

While developing a strong SEO foundation is essential, it is often a lengthy process before you see results, particularly in this regulated market. Focusing on content that educates, informs, and provides valuable insights on firearms safety, legislation, and reviews can help, but it’s important to understand that climbing to the top of Google’s search rankings will take time and a dedicated content plan.

On the other hand, YouTube content marketing offers a more accessible and potentially faster route to gaining organic traffic. Firearm enthusiasts are highly engaged on platforms like YouTube, where they actively search for product reviews, shooting tutorials, and industry-related news. Unlike SEO, where it can take months or even years to rank well for competitive keywords, YouTube's algorithm tends to reward engaging, high-quality video content with quicker visibility, making it easier to stand out.

You could start by creating videos that showcase firearms, compare products, discuss firearms safety, or offer maintenance tips. Partnering with popular firearm influencers or featuring product demos could also help boost your credibility and reach.

Consistency is key here: Regularly publishing content that appeals to your target audience’s needs and interests can help you build a community of subscribers who are more likely to convert into customers. Embedding these videos on your website, using targeted calls to action in your video descriptions, and optimizing your YouTube content with strong titles, tags, and descriptions can help direct viewers to your site, turning video engagement into actual sales.

In the firearms niche, the combination of YouTube's accessible content creation model and the highly engaged firearm enthusiast community makes it a powerful organic traffic driver.

Top Firearms YouTube Channels

Listing your firearms products on marketplaces and deal aggregators can significantly boost sales and exposure for your online store. These platforms have a built-in audience actively searching for firearms, accessories, and deals, allowing you to tap into a high-intent customer base without needing to build that traffic yourself.

By featuring competitive pricing, detailed product descriptions, and high-quality images, you can attract more buyers and drive them to your store, ultimately expanding brand awareness and increasing direct sales over time.

Engaging on forums can be a highly effective way to drive online sales for your firearms business. By actively participating in niche communities like gun-related forums and subreddits, you can build trust with potential customers and position your business as an authority in the firearms industry.

Sharing valuable insights, answering questions, and providing product recommendations creates a direct connection with enthusiasts who are more likely to purchase from businesses they trust. Additionally, many forums allow the promotion of deals and products, which can drive targeted traffic to your website and increase sales conversions.

Advertising your ecommerce firearms business on niche firearms blogs offers a strategic alternative to mainstream platforms like Google and Facebook, where firearms-related ads are often banned. These specialized blogs attract a highly targeted audience of firearms enthusiasts, making it easier to connect with potential customers who are already interested in your products.

By partnering with reputable niche blogs, you can build brand awareness, foster trust within the community, and drive qualified traffic to your online store—all while navigating around the limitations imposed by major advertising platforms.

Partnering with social media influencers in the firearms industry can significantly boost your online sales by tapping into their established, engaged audiences who trust their recommendations. Influencers can showcase your products in a relatable way, increasing brand visibility, driving traffic to your site, and building credibility. This strategy also allows for targeted marketing to niche firearm enthusiasts, resulting in higher conversion rates and long-term customer loyalty.

Here are some of the top influencers in the firearms space on Instagram: