So I am starting some market research. I want to open a gun store. I have investors, but what I really need is a location. I want a red state, and a city with a decent population. Somewhere that really is hurting for good gun shops, where there is demand.
Thoughts?
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You need to find:
1. Cheap land/RE/buildings
2. Permissive Gun Laws - States ranked A or B by the NRA
3. Large population base
My initial recommendation would be Nevada or Arizona, or places close to manufacturers. You need to look at states with pretty free gun laws. Texas has Constitutional Carry coming down the pipe right now, which would be perfect. CA is obviously out, as is Hawaii.
Are full-auto firearms a consideration? For repair, etc? Few states still allow them.
The gun industry right now is in re-adjustment. Companies that have been run properly will survive. Improperly run manufacturers are closing. An AR manufacturer is closing because they don't have the $2mm in taxes to pay the IRS. Really? They didn't put aside $2mm? :facepalm:
And a store alone won't cut it, imo. A range is imperative. It's like a gas station with a c-store. The gas = guns, c-store = range. Depending upon your location, then you have to decide outdoor or indoor. In WA, indoor is highly preferable from a business standpoint.
Also, some states may require additional licenses/fees for gun stores.
There's a store in a suburb of Seattle (Lynnwood) that moved out last year because the City of Seattle passed a "gun tax" which charged $25 per gun sold and $.05 per round over .22LR. This guy has the best prices around. The thing is he's not always stocked, most of it is to order. Which is fine.
As liberal as Washington is, we still have really good state gun laws. We're OC, Shall-Issue CC, and very few prohibited places- bars, courthouses, jails, mental health facilities are pretty much it. No Guns signs have zero legal standing, you get trespassed if you don't leave when asked. A horrible state court decision has been levied by the City of Seattle and the stadiums to prohibit carry in stadiums, even though it's against State law. Some BS mental gymnastics that the gov't owns the stadiums, but is just leasing them, so as a "business owner" they have the right to prohibit firearms.
We can't carry a loaded firearm in a car unless we have a CPL (concealed pistol license). No duty to inform an officer we're carrying (they kinda know already, since the CPL is in the system, and pistols are supposed to be registered with the DOL).
Oregon's out. ID, MT, WY all too sparsely populated. Although the Kalispell area would be awesome. Plus it's near NEMO (hnnng).
As far as your biz plan goes, I have one suggestion. Get a handle on shipping. Notably for ammo. I would love to order ammo online for a fair (cheap) price with free shipping. I don't want a dirt-floor price only to have a $45 shipping cost. And I've checked multiple online retailers and their shipping costs for the same amount goes from $12 to $28. :banghead:
Now, when you do finally get going, let me know, I'll put you in contact with my buddy who runs an area for Streamlight; he can connect you with the right reps.