Start An Outdoor Shooting Range Business - Business Ideas
Please note that the data provided in this article are estimates and may vary depending on various factors, and should not be considered as perfect or definitive.
An outdoor shooting range refers to any area designed and operated for rifles, shotguns, pistols, or any site for the exclusive use of archery or air guns.
Owning a commercial shooting range can be a profitable business venture. According to reports, the shooting ranges market will cross $38.6 Billion in a decade.
The market growth is attributed to firearm owners, archery fans, and even hunters realizing the importance of practicing at shooting ranges to help them improve accuracy.
To start the gun range business, research and learn the applicable law in your area and research the licensing and zoning requirements. Joining the National Shooting Sports Foundation could help you find new customers and publicize your business.
Starting an outdoor shooting range business requires a great deal of effort, dedication, and most importantly passion.
If you're interested in how to sell outdoor shooting range, or selling outdoor shooting range online, you can use this page as a guide for everything you'll need to know.
Key Stats
Startup Costs
Min Startup Costs | Max Startup Costs | |
---|---|---|
Equipment & Supply Expenses |
$66 |
$1,200 |
Retail Business Expenses |
$1,250 |
$11,650 |
Inventory Expenses |
$350 |
$14,750 |
Advertising & Marketing Costs |
$75 |
$9,636 |
Software Expenses |
$0 |
$425 |
Website Costs |
$13 |
$215 |
Total Startup Costs |
$1,754 |
$37,876 |
Successful Businesses
Business | URL | Rank | |
---|---|---|---|
|
Shoot Straight |
shoot-straight.com |
191,037 |
|
C2 Tactical |
c2tactical.com |
214,341 |
|
SWFA |
swfa.com |
304,680 |
|
Shooting Range Design & Build, Range Targets, Range Supplies |
actiontarget.com |
317,375 |
|
The National Wild Turkey Federation |
nwtf.org |
400,714 |
|
GAT Guns |
gatguns.com |
702,876 |
|
Oaktree Gun Club |
oaktreegunclub.com |
748,729 |
|
Find Shooting Ranges Near You |
wheretoshoot.org |
824,298 |
|
NSSA-NSCA – National Skeet Shooting Association |
nssa-nsca.org |
834,831 |
|
Frontier Justice |
frontier-justice.com |
964,418 |
|
Los Altos Rod and Gun Club Range |
losaltosrodandgunclub.com |
1,112,755 |
Pros & Cons
Pros | Description |
---|---|
Rewarding work |
Starting a outdoor shooting range business can be really rewarding work. After all, you are solving an immediate issue for your customer and you're working on something you truly care about. |
Meaningful business connections |
You never know who you will meet as a outdoor shooting range business. This could be the start of an incredible business opportunity! |
Daily physical activity |
Outdoor Shooting Range Business's typically involve a much greater degree of movement than other lines of work. Most days, you will spend your day walking, running errands for your business, and performing a multitude of tasks. This can have a positive impact on energy levels and your overall health. |
Amazing perks and discounts |
Working in the outdoor shooting range business comes with its perks! As a seller for these products/services, you typically also get to enjoy industry perks and discounts. |
You are your own boss! |
With starting an outdoor shooting range business, you are the one to make decisions for almost all of the operations. Calling the shots can be empowering and liberating! |
Local Community |
One of the best parts of starting an outdoor shooting range business is that you can develop a local following by selling your products at craft shows, farmers' markets, or even local storefront businesses! This gives you access to additional revenue streams and loyal customers. |
Cons | Description |
---|---|
Crowded Space |
Competition is high when it comes to your outdoor shooting range business, so it's important that you spend a good amount of time analyzing the market and understanding where the demand lies. |
Finding The Right Supplier |
Most businesses in this space go the supplier/manufacturer route, which isn't a bad thing! However, finding the right supplier can take a lot of time, energy and trial/error. If done properly, this process can save you months (if not years) of time and energy. More on this below in the "finding a supplier" section. |
Motivation of employees |
If you plan to have a sales/content team on board, finding creative ways to motivate them can be a challenge. It's important that you're able to offer great incentives and a good work environment for your employees. |
Low margins |
The gross margins for your outdoor shooting range business are typically around 43%, which can make it more challenging to incur new expenses and maintain profitability. |
High employee turnover |
In the outdoor shooting range business, employee turnover is often high, which can be quite costly and time consuming for your business. It's important to try and avoid this as much as possible by offering competitive pay, benefits, and a positive work environment. |
Taxes |
As a outdoor shooting range business, you typically pay self-employment taxes which can be quite high. It's important to understand what you will be paying in taxes each year so you can determine if the work you're taking on is worth it. |
Hey! 👋 I'm Pat Walls, the founder of Starter Story.
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