Articles and guides
Everything we have published, from first questions about eligibility to state-specific notes. Guides are reviewed and updated as rules change.
- Start here
FFL Guide: Where to Start
The whole process on one page, with a map of which guide answers which question.
- Eligibility
Requirements for an FFL
Age, prohibited-person rules, premises, zoning and responsible persons. What ATF actually checks.
- Reference
Types of FFL Licenses
Types 01 through 11, what each one allows, what they cost, and how many are active.
- Business
How to Become an FFL Dealer
The business side: picking a model, distributors, insurance, transfer fees and first-year costs.
- Application
Federal Firearms License Guide
ATF Form 5310.12 section by section, fingerprints, the CLEO copy, and the qualification interview.
- NFA
Class 3 SOT License Guide
Special Occupational Tax classes, what a Class 3 dealer can sell, and how NFA transfers work.
- Planning
FFL + Class 3 SOT Roadmap
Planning both at once: which pairing to pick, the order of filings, a budget and a compliance calendar.
- FAQ
FFL License FAQ
Short answers to the questions people ask before, during and after applying.
- Florida
How to Get an FFL in Florida
FDLE background checks, the waiting period, pawnbroker licensing and local business tax receipts.
- Michigan
Getting an FFL in Michigan
Township zoning, pistol sale records, the 2024 background check law and state tax registration.
- Idaho
Idaho FFL Guide
A state with no dealer license, no waiting period and an unusually high share of manufacturers.