Licensed hunting and shooting shop

Licensed hunters, sport shooters, farmers and ranchers, and people taking firearms safety courses who are buying their first gear.

Margin on firearms, ammunition and accessories, plus fees for services such as transfers, mounting and cleaning. Sales are often busiest before hunting seasons.

• Detailed product knowledge
• Careful record keeping and compliance
• Customer service with a safety-first attitude

• Check whether you need a firearms business licence from your provincial or territorial Chief Firearms Officer before you trade. Ask about the security and storage requirements for the premises before signing a lease
• Federal rules on what can be sold, to whom and in which class have changed in recent years, so check current rules with the Canadian Firearms Program for restricted and prohibited items, including handguns
• Owners and staff who handle firearms will generally need valid personal firearms licences and may face background checks, so confirm the details with the Chief Firearms Officer
• Commercial general liability and property insurance can be hard to arrange, so get quotes early
• Inventory is expensive and theft is a real risk, so plan security carefully
• Business licence and local bylaw rules vary by municipality. Some provinces, such as Quebec, may have extra provincial requirements, for example around firearms registration, so check with the provincial authorities where you plan to operate

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $50,000 to $250,000, depending on premises, security measures and how much inventory you stock. Inventory is expensive, so many owners plan their opening range carefully.

Things to check: whether you need a firearms business licence from your provincial or territorial Chief Firearms Officer, the security and storage requirements for your premises, and current federal rules with the Canadian Firearms Program. Owners and staff handling firearms will generally need valid personal licences.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $15,000 to $70,000, depending on location, range of stock and opening hours. Theft is a real risk and insurance can be hard to arrange, so plan security and get quotes early.