Snapshot: A Thriving, Community-Based Industry
Gun ranges are a thriving industry in the US, with much important in their local communities. The shooting range industry boasts a market size of at least $4 Billion, and an average industry growth over the last 5 years of 4.6% (source: IBISWorld).
Shooting ranges are also a critical part of the larger firearms industry. Shooting range businesses offer their customers a place to improve their marksmanship, learn about new guns, and connect with others in their communities who are passionate about firearms.
These numbers clearly demonstrate the value shooting ranges provide to their customers. Whether a shooting range offers ammunition for sale, firearms instruction, target practice, or all of the above (and more)… it’s clear that the shooting range industry is here to stay.
Merchant Services In The Gun Range Business
If you legally operate a shooting range business (either as a stand-alone business, or as an ancillary service to your gun shop), you may have been previously turned down for a merchant account from a mainstream bank or merchant services company.
Or worse, your shooting range business may have had its merchant account terminated with little or no previous notice.
Many banks and merchant services providers will not accept your business for one of two reasons:
- If your business also sells firearms, firearm sales are regulated by the federal government, and therefore, additional underwriting is required by the credit card processor.
- Because firearms and the 2nd Amendment are a “hot button” political issue, many banks and merchant services companies have taken an “anti” 2nd Amendment stance, and refuse to work with shooting ranges, even if they are otherwise highly desirable clients.
Tactical Payments, by contrast, was founded with the exact mission to serve firearms industry businesses. We will offer you competitive pricing, easy integration, and friendly, USA-based customer support.
Shooting Range Merchant Account FAQs
The following are the most frequently asked questions we get from businesses interesting in being approved for a shooting range merchant account from Tactical Payments.
What kinds of shooting range businesses do you accept as merchants?
Tactical Payments accepts a wide variety of businesses that operate shooting ranges, including firearms retailers that operate a shooting range as an ancillary business, as well as businesses which operate a shooting range as their primary or sole service. All merchants must abide by all applicable Federal, State, and Local laws and regulations.
What criteria does my shooting range business need to meet, to approved for a merchant account by Tactical Payments?
To be approved for a merchant account by Tactical Payments, your shooting range business must meet the following criteria: (a) your business must be located, and operate, solely within the United States of America (and the business owner must be a US citizen with a SSN); (b) you must be willing to provide the following documentation: (1) a voided business check or verified bank letter, (2) a valid government ID such as a driver’s license, (3) 3 months’ previous business bank statements, or personal bank statements if the business is a startup, and (4) 3 months’ previous credit card processing statements, if applicable.
ADDITIONALLY, for firearms dealers: Must have an FFL if selling, manufacturing, or importing firearms or destructive devices; must not sell all accessories needed to assemble a gun if the business does not have an FFL.
ADDITIONALLY, for CCW / CHL / LTC or other training courses: Must have documented firearm instructor certification through the National Rifle Association, TCLEOSE, Security Officer training, or the military.
Is Tactical Payments compatible with my existing firearms inventory or Point Of Sale (POS) software?
FFLs and firearms businesses typically have a preferred inventory or POS (Point Of Sale) software system they use. Because Tactical Payments works with most major payment gateways (including Authorize.net, USAePay and NMI), our merchant accounts integrate with most firearms inventory and Point Of Sale systems. Tactical Payments is compatible with Stratus Retail POS, Windward Software, Elliott Firearms Software, Gun StoreMaster, Rapid Gun Systems, AIMsi, Epicor FFL Compliance Manager, and Firearms Management Systems, as well as Gun Broker. (Many FFLs sell on GunBroker.com, and accept credit and debit card payments from buyers via an integrated merchant account & payment gateway.)