Armory Sponsor
Posted: 4/3/2025 1:17:39 PM EDT
|
Hey there sorry if this is in the wrong section but I’m new member to the board of directors at my small local shooting club range. We’re a 501c3 and frankly things like insurance are eating us alive so we’re looking for additional sources of revenue. We have no hired staff and everything is run on a volunteer basis. One of the ideas that has come up is if possibly we could start dealing in certain shooting related products that would be available to our members/ visitors at our competitive shoots to purchase. That being said finding the right distributor or company to work with low financial barrier to entry has been difficult. Can anyone recommend or know of such a partner? Also does anyone have recommendations as to what their local ranges have done to supplement income and keep the lights on? |
|
Partner with a reputable local instructor and offer use of the range for classes open to the public. My club recently started doing this and they all sell out. Very easy way to bring in some extra revenue. The only caveat would be if you have only one range it'll be obviously be unavailable to members when classes are going on. Some members may take issue with that. My club has multiple ranges so that's not really an issue for us. |
|
One of the clubs I'm a member of does a couple gun raffles every year. From Feb until Easter we do pancake breakfasts. Turkey shoot. Rent the clubhouse and pavilion to groups. We're working on our nonprofit status, NY doesn't make it easy. |
Award: 24/365 Most likely to be an appendix.
"Arfcom makes me happy. Arfcom is like a giant, heavily armed, dysfunctional family that smells like cheetos and gun oil." - Undefined
"Arfcom makes me happy. Arfcom is like a giant, heavily armed, dysfunctional family that smells like cheetos and gun oil." - Undefined
|
Originally Posted By Remington1992: Hey there sorry if this is in the wrong section but I’m new member to the board of directors at my small local shooting club range. We’re a 501c3 and frankly things like insurance are eating us alive so we’re looking for additional sources of revenue. We have no hired staff and everything is run on a volunteer basis. One of the ideas that has come up is if possibly we could start dealing in certain shooting related products that would be available to our members/ visitors at our competitive shoots to purchase. That being said finding the right distributor or company to work with low financial barrier to entry has been difficult. Can anyone recommend or know of such a partner? Also does anyone have recommendations as to what their local ranges have done to supplement income and keep the lights on? ETA - Somehow this self-posted before I completed my thoughts, so I'll be editing in additional info. My situation does not directly equate to yours, but I'll put forth some thoughts. I'm the President of the Quantico Shooting Club. We have 1300 military and civilian members and operate as a non-federal entity (not-for-profit) on Marine Corps Base Quantico. BTW - I'd luv to know how you guys pulled off the c3 status. We can only use ranges on weekends, but our must pays are $77k annually just to turn the lights on. We are all volunteer, but we are required to have an on-duty EMT (daily rate of $175) and we employ admin ladies to handle memberships, walk-ins, guests, etc., etc. (also a day rate of $175). We supplement our membership dues through fees, matches, brass sales and interest bearing instruments: 1. We hold a variety of matches to support the local community to include, USPSA, Centerfire and Rimfire Precision Rifle Series, Steel Challenge, Gas Gun, Vintage and Military matches and Multi-Gun. One year we raised over $40k running matches. Now, it did require a significant investment in steel, but we've made all those monies back several times over. We're in competition with at least three other clubs in the area, but we hold our own. 2. We collect the brass from shooters at matches, events and when ranges are open by simply putting out brass buckets. Those that reload can take their brass but those that don't contribute about $750 a month to our funds. We do not sell the brass to members (liability), we sell it to scrappers. It does take a commitment to separate the steel from the brass, but we have a guy who does it for us for gas money and Chic-fil-A. 3. We charge a $20 fee on top of membership for an initial initiation (new members only) and a $20 facilities fee to fund improvements as the Marines have no monies to support ranges. 4. We invest significant monies in interest bearing, low risk, instruments. We were getting 5% on CDs but it looks like we'll move to Treasury Bonds shortly. 5. We charge $20 for a guest day pass. These are some of the finest outdoor ranges in the area and people can't shoot for $20hr at the other ranges. 6. We shy away from instructors as we cannot use mil ranges to generate income, but we will hold classes for cost. However, we require any instructor bring their own $1M insurance policy (there are no "friends" in a profit and loss  ).7. We have minimal "stuff" for sale. We require people bring everything they need: weapon, ammo, targets, hydration, sunscreen, mats, etc., etc. We keep low cost hearing and eye protection, but most get loaned out and returned (we're suckers for kids on the range possibly becoming new shooters). We also have some target backers and stands, but we do not tie up funds in stock. By the nature of our agreements, it would be hard for us to host turkey shoots, steak shoots, etc., etc., but we do have precision shoots that raise some monies (on a 50/50 basis) as well as a small soda fund that might contribute $20 on a good month. Bottomline is we run everything as a profit and loss center with the goal of staying alive. We also have significant amounts of insurance, including Board of Director insurance, to protect the club and officers should an incident occur. The BoD insurance ($5M) is vital and hopefully you and your board are similarly covered. If not, when something happens, your former best friend will be coming after your house, car, boat, accounts, etc., etc. I had an FFL in Washington DC and did business through MD and VA FFLs. We did the gun show circuit and the money I would make on accessories (unless they were high dollar) wasn't worth the trouble. Joe Fudd likes TC Contender stuff so he pushes for your to buy, which then sits on your shelf because even he won't buy it until you decide to almost give it away. Lastly, try not to get sucked in by the vocal few, there are people who do not warrant your time. We have a sliding scale for membership (for the junior enlisted) but our most expensive membership is only $190 a year and we get continual complaints from civilians that shooting on base should be free, why do I have to pay so much for weekend only access, etc., etc. Shooting on these ranges is a privilege and we charge a reasonable amount for annual access. We learned certain folks can't be pleased so we refer them to the range that's $3,000 annually. Lots of overkill in my reply, but I do feel better now. 
|
President, Quantico Shooting Club where we shoot 1,000yds every Sunday!
Back the Blue
Back the Blue
|
You could try getting signed up as a dealer with one of the distributors with a low barrier to entry, like Zanders. They also ship for free with any $500 order, and they don't require separate $500 limits for handguns, long guns, and accessories. like some do. There's also Lipsey's, but they tend to carry fewer accessories than Zanders. I'm not sure if the profit from buying and selling is worth the effort, but something to consider. You could also try getting donations of product or money from manufacturers. Again, I'm not sure if the gain would be worth the effort, but something to consider. Best wishes with it. |
Feb 2025 It’s 48 to 0 and we’re only 2 minutes into the first quarter
trobertson5-0 I wasn't put in jail for what I did. I was put in it for what I think.
There were FBI agents posting in my threads. I've seen the discovery showing this.
trobertson5-0 I wasn't put in jail for what I did. I was put in it for what I think.
There were FBI agents posting in my threads. I've seen the discovery showing this.
|
During the last meeting for he club I am a member of we voted to increase our annual dues. All members also have to have an NRA membership, that is how they get everyone insured there. |
Let's go Brandon!
Everything you need to know about the left was on display during covid . -RC03
Everything you need to know about the left was on display during covid . -RC03
| I think a club FFL and CMP connection would make some money. Not a lot but some. A skeet club I know get's a huge shipment of reloading shot, powder, primers every year. The club banks some of that money as they are the connection and the source. I also like the above idea that all members have to be NRA members for insurance. Call NRA this can't be the first time they have heard of a club trying to make some cash. Our state organization has raffles every month. |
|
We’re doing raffles and just hosted a gun show in our indoor facility, this fall we’ll have a big community fun night fundraiser as well. We also rent out the building for weddings, graduations, etc. We’re working on hosting more and bigger shoots as well. Our current facilities are 4 trap ranges, an indoor rimfire range, a pistol range that if we close things down and rearrange can be made into a 100yd rimfire, and a 100yd archery range. We’re located in a small rural farming community of about 2500 people. Membership dues are going up but we do struggle to get folks to renew/ use their memberships. |
|
Originally Posted By joeIII223: During the last meeting for he club I am a member of we voted to increase our annual dues. All members also have to have an NRA membership, that is how they get everyone insured there. Our club members are 100% NRA, many lifetime NRA I'm sure. By maintaining 100% NRA membership, we are able to keep NRA discounted insurance. If not for that, I'm 99% sure we would not be able to fund it. Also a year or so ago, we all voted to raise the rates another 20 a year. 1st time its been raised in a good 10-15 years. I felt it was worth it. I also, donate money to the club at least once a year and volunteer my help on as many range "Work Days" to help with projects and maintenance as I can. I usually bring my own cordless drill, chain saw, back pack blower, trimmers, string and fuel. We've had individuals sponsor steel, signs Targets, Props, Timers and other minor things that add up, vs spending club fund on them. |
LARUEMINATI
NRA Endowment Life Member
Originally Posted By Boom_Stick:
""AKs are for villagers you have to tell not to shit in their water supply.""
NRA Endowment Life Member
Originally Posted By Boom_Stick:
""AKs are for villagers you have to tell not to shit in their water supply.""
|
Originally Posted By Remington1992: .....One of the ideas that has come up is if possibly we could start dealing in certain shooting related products that would be available to our members/ visitors at our competitive shoots to purchase. Unless you are buying pallet loads of ammunition you aren't going to beat Amazon, PSA, WalMart or Academy on ammunition or accessories. How many of these shoots per year, how many people attend and how many need to buy ammunition or accessories at the venue? If you aren't getting several hundred through the doors each day you may find yourself operating at a loss from the get go. That being said finding the right distributor or company to work with low financial barrier to entry has been difficult. Can anyone recommend or know of such a partner? As mentioned, Zanders. But the discount isn't going to make you rich. |
Plano, Texas...........the Gun Nut Capitol of Gun Culture, USA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pELwCqz2JfE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pELwCqz2JfE
|
Originally Posted By smullen: This, our club is also small. 1500-2500 Members Max, various ranges out to 300, lots of competitions and event. Our club members are 100% NRA, many lifetime NRA I'm sure. By maintaining 100% NRA membership, we are able to keep NRA discounted insurance. If not for that, I'm 99% sure we would not be able to fund it. Also a year or so ago, we all voted to raise the rates another 20 a year. 1st time its been raised in a good 10-15 years. I felt it was worth it. I also, donate money to the club at least once a year and volunteer my help on as many range "Work Days" to help with projects and maintenance as I can. I usually bring my own cordless drill, chain saw, back pack blower, trimmers, string and fuel. We've had individuals sponsor steel, signs Targets, Props, Timers and other minor things that add up, vs spending club fund on them. How does the nra membership insurance work if you have non members at the facility like shoots open to non members or weddings/graduations? For example 4h has a fairly large presence at our range. |
Armory Sponsor