The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

Conversation with a FLO regarding importing a couple of rifles from the EU came up with the idea of becoming an RFD mainly for reloading gear but some rifles /shotguns as well .This has been an idea running around my head for a while as my current bussiness is not what i want to do .I have the space at home .
So any suggestions re suppliers security etc ?

Cheers

Tin hat on ready for the incoming ..

Try getting accounts sorted before committing to anything. I bought an rfd business and it has been a struggle just to open new accounts with the existing long term suppliers.

I live in the same county & asked about this idea some years ago I was told I needed to work out a business plan which covered all aspects of being a RFD. We also needed to provide a shop address as even though we had alarm and secure area etc could not use home address as a business. This is also detailed on the deeds no business at home address.

Good luck with your quest, since we asked things have changed at Chelmsford so maybe easy now.

My initial RFD was with Essex, they couldn't have been more helpful. But since then the whole liasson job has been centralised and many of the names that dealt with RFDs have changed.

You will need some sort of business plan and you'll need to identify your market. If you don't intend to deal or show very little interest in actually trying to find customers then it will be hard to get it.

I'm now with Herts but close to the Essex border so I might be able to help with recommending a good security company. Where abouts in the county are you?

Essex appear to be helpfull so far

any more thoughts ?

In order to gain trade supplier accounts you invariably need to be an RFD and have business references. There are the usual suspects as suppliers in the UK, if in doubt I just Google 'Company xyz UK Importer' some are worth dealing with and some less so and you may find better terms from people with purchasing power as opposed to importers on occasion. Also do not always believe what you read on the internet, perception is not necessarily reality.

A business plan was essential for us during our start-up and Bedfordshire Licensing took a keen interest from the start advising us on what was required regarding security standards. As an example, BS 7558/92 standard cabinets and a Grade 3 Alarm system should be specified as a minimum when you start putting things in place.

Forgot to add - you need business insurance, essential in my opinion and do not forget VAT

bnz41 wrote:I live in the same county & asked about this idea some years ago I was told I needed to work out a business plan which covered all aspects of being a RFD. We also needed to provide a shop address as even though we had alarm and secure area etc could not use home address as a business. This is also detailed on the deeds no business at home address.

Good luck with your quest, since we asked things have changed at Chelmsford so maybe easy now.

I know several RFDs who work from home with no business address.

Also if you own your property freehold you cannot be prevented from running a business there as long as it doesn't contravene planning regulations. Years ago developers would state in deeds that no business could be carried out at the property (except sometimes doctor or dentist) but this has been ruled unfair in the courts and in any case the developers are probably not interested in enforcing it (assuming they still exist).

So carry on with your plans and and good luck.