Ammunition and Shooting Supplies Shop

Licensed hunters, sport and target shooters, members of local gun clubs and ranges, and farmers or rural users with a legitimate need.

Margin on ammunition and accessories sold over the counter. Repeat customers, hunting season demand and good relationships with local clubs drive steady sales.

• Careful, accurate record keeping
• Product knowledge of calibres and uses
• Customer service and sound judgement
• Basic retail stock control

• A business licence under the federal Firearms Act is likely needed to sell ammunition, so check with the Chief Firearms Officer for your province before you spend money
• Rules on storage, display, record keeping and staff licensing, which can differ by province and municipality, so check each one
• Federal and provincial rules on selling ammunition to customers, such as checking their licence, so confirm what you must verify and record
• Commercial general liability and property or theft insurance, since insurers may have specific requirements for firearms businesses
• Security risks, so check what alarms, locks and storage standards are required
• Quebec has its own rules and French-language requirements, so check them if you plan to operate there

Estimated startup costs are typically around $30,000 to $150,000, depending on your premises, stock, security and fit-out. Monthly revenue is estimated at roughly $8,000 to $40,000, depending on your customer base and product range.

A business licence under the federal Firearms Act is likely needed, so check with the Chief Firearms Officer for your province before spending money. Also check storage, display, record-keeping and staff licensing rules, customer licence checks, and Quebec's rules if relevant.

Useful skills include careful record keeping, product knowledge of calibres and uses, customer service and sound judgement, and basic retail stock control. Estimates suggest at least about 30 hours a week.