How to Sell Guns Online Legally (Home-Based FFL Guide)

For home-based FFLs and anyone weighing a license: the rules, where to sell, payments and shipping.

By Rich McIver and Andy Hagans, TacticalPay LLC · Last updated: November 2, 2026 · Platform and carrier policies checked November 2026

Maybe you’re selling a single gun — or an entire collection. Or maybe you’re a gun collector thinking of turning your hobby into a business by getting your Federal Firearms License (FFL). Either way, selling guns online is an effective way to maximize the potential pool of buyers and get top dollar for your items. But because guns are a regulated product, it’s important to understand how to do it legally.

Often, a seller’s initial question is simply: do I need an FFL to sell guns online? Strictly speaking, you don’t — not if you’re an individual selling the occasional gun from your own collection. But if you’re buying and selling guns as a business, you do need an FFL — and in our experience, having an FFL makes selling online a lot easier. So, this guide is for FFLs (plus anyone who is deciding whether or not they should get one) who want to sell guns online legally.

And remember, laws vary by state and location, so make sure to talk to an attorney who is licensed in your state if you have any questions, and before selling across state lines.

Selling Guns as an Individual vs. as an FFL

Again, if you’re just selling a gun or two from your own collection, you can probably sell online as an individual. Federal law lets you sell directly to another unlicensed person who lives in your state, as long as you have no reason to believe they’re prohibited. If your buyer lives in another state, though, the gun has to go through a licensed dealer where they live.¹ Meanwhile, on GunBroker, every sale goes through a dealer either way, under GunBroker’s own rules.²

That said, if you plan to buy guns to resell (or plan to sell in any significant volume), get an FFL. The ATF says anyone who engages in the business of firearms must be licensed. Where an “occasional sale” ends and a “business” begins is a legal question; if you’re near that line, ask an experienced attorney.

The truth is, having an FFL just makes selling online a lot easier. For instance, FedEx won’t ship firearms for individuals, and UPS only accepts them directly from licensees, though GunBroker’s shipping tool lets any of its sellers ship by UPS.³⁴⁷ Similarly, getting a merchant account with TacticalPay requires a valid or pending FFL. Of course, there are tradeoffs; the license also brings paperwork and inspections, plus some expenses (which may be less than you think).

Individual vs. FFL at a glance

Go deeper: Read the ATF’s best practices for private sellers, if you’re selling as an individual.

Getting Licensed and Registered

Now, once you’ve decided to get licensed, plan on about 60 days from the time the ATF receives your correct application, by the ATF’s own estimate.¹² The same dealer license that covers typical retail sales also covers online sales; the ATF doesn’t issue different classes of dealer license based on how you sell.¹³ For a home-based dealer, zoning comes first. Failing to comply with state or local law, such as a zoning ordinance, is the first reason the ATF lists for denying an application,¹² so confirm your zoning in writing before you apply.

The federal license isn’t always the only registration you’ll need. The ATF’s Form 7 instructions note that state laws or local ordinances may require additional licenses or permits, and that requirements like collecting sales taxes may also apply. Most states require a sales tax permit before you make a sale. Selling online can also create a duty to collect sales tax in other states where you have enough sales or presence, which the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) calls nexus.¹⁴ The SBA’s Department of Revenue lookup links to every state’s tax agency, and an accountant can tell you where you need to collect.

Go deeper: the ATF’s Apply for a License page.

The Rules for Selling Guns Online

As a dealer, your online sales follow the same federal rules as any other sale: an out-of-state buyer’s gun ships to a licensed dealer in the buyer’s state, and an in-state buyer who needs a background check buys in person at your premises.

For a home-based dealer, remember that an in-state customer who needs a background check comes to your home to pick up the gun.

Before selling in person or online, make sure that you understand the federal minimum ages: no firearm or ammunition to anyone under 18, and no handgun to anyone under 21, with a higher state or local age taking priority.¹¹ The buyer’s state matters too. Some states restrict certain firearms, features or magazine capacities, so a sale that’s legal where you are can be illegal where your buyer lives, and if it’s illegal for the buyer, don’t make the sale. For the most current state rules, start with the ATF’s State Laws and Published Ordinances, which links to each state’s own laws. The buyer’s dealer is a good practical check, too, since they’ll have to follow their own state’s rules at transfer.

Go deeper: the ATF’s Federal Firearms Licensee Quick Reference and Best Practices Guide.

Where to Sell: GunBroker vs. Your Own Website

Dealers sell online in two main places: GunBroker or their own website (and many dealers sell on both).

In our experience, GunBroker is the fastest way to get up and running as a seller, because the buyers are already there. In the long run, though, your own website gives you more control and opens up certain forms of marketing that GunBroker doesn’t allow. Many of the most successful online dealers have their own website as well as a presence on GunBroker, but concentrate the bulk of their efforts on one or the other.

If you’re selling on your own site, you’ll need a way for buyers to choose their receiving dealer at checkout. Shopping cart platforms like WooCommerce and BigCommerce have plugins that can add this functionality.

Note that if you build your own site, your selections for ecommerce platform and payment processor are important. Some platforms such as Shopify may restrict your payment options for regulated products such as firearms, adding to your total payment processing costs. By contrast, many FFLs choose to use WordPress and/or WooCommerce, so that they can select an external payment provider (like TacticalPay) to minimize their total credit card processing costs.

Payments That Allow Firearms

Whichever ecommerce platform you choose, you’ll need a merchant account from a payment provider, plus an associated payment gateway that connects to your shopping cart.

A quick note on popular payment providers: Square, Stripe and PayPal all restrict or even ban firearm businesses from using their platforms. Square’s payment terms bar sales of “firearms, firearm parts or hardware, and ammunition.”¹⁶ Stripe’s restricted businesses list puts firearms under “Limited availability” and says any approval can be revoked at any time.¹⁷ PayPal’s acceptable use policy rules out transactions involving “ammunition, firearms, or certain firearm parts or accessories.”¹⁸ Meanwhile, GunBroker bans PayPal, Zelle, Venmo, Cash App and other person-to-person payment apps for firearm transactions.¹⁵

All in all, most FFLs are well-served by obtaining a firearm-friendly merchant account and payment gateway from an industry specialist like TacticalPay. Note that leading solutions such as TacticalPay can also connect directly to GunBroker, allowing merchants to enable Immediate Checkout.

What to use, and what to avoid

Your choice: TacticalPay Gateway (powered by NMI) or Authorize.net. Both are among the most widely supported gateways in the industry. Our own TacticalPay Gateway is firearm-friendly and plugs into GunBroker, WooCommerce, BigCommerce and more than 200 other platforms. Every TacticalPay merchant account can use Authorize.net instead if you prefer.

How to Ship Guns Legally

Let’s talk about shipping. Before a gun leaves your hands, you’ll need to confirm the license on the other end is real and current, and use a shipping account that’s set up for firearms. On GunBroker, get the receiving dealer’s license documentation and confirm the authorized shipping address before you ship. For orders GunBroker processes through Master FFL, the dealer’s license is waiting in your Sold Order once it shows “FFL Received.” If the paperwork is missing or the address doesn’t match the dealer’s information, sort it out before you ship.⁶ The ATF’s FFL eZ Check lets you verify any license yourself, and GunBroker’s shipping tool builds your label from the receiving dealer’s FFL number so the address is accurate and verified.⁷ Licenses run three years,¹⁰ so a copy you’ve kept on file can go out of date.

📋 Checklist: Before Every Firearm Shipment

• A copy of the receiving dealer’s license on file
• License verified through eZ Check or your shipping tool
• On GunBroker sales, ship-to address matches the dealer’s authorized address
• Firearm unloaded, and the carrier informed that the package contains a firearm
• No outside markings that show what’s inside
• Tracking number saved with the order

Your choice: USPS, UPS or FedEx. GunBroker’s own shipping guide suggests USPS as the most cost-effective way for a licensee to ship a handgun,⁶ while its UPS shipping tool keeps your labels and charges inside your GunBroker account.⁷ Whichever you pick, set the account up before your first sale.

⚠ Note: A gun lost or stolen in transit counts as lost from your inventory. Report it to the ATF and local law enforcement within 48 hours of discovering it.¹⁹

Go deeper: GunBroker’s Firearms Shipping Guide, with each carrier’s rules for licensed and unlicensed shippers.

Your Bound Book and Compliance Records

For every online sale, the ATF requires an entry in your A&D record, often called your bound book, showing where the gun went (see The Rules for Selling Guns Online). It’s also smart to keep these with it:

• The receiving dealer’s license and how you verified it
• The tracking and delivery confirmation
• The order and payment record

Electronic records make compliance a whole lot easier. ATF Ruling 2016-1 lets you keep your A&D records electronically if you meet its conditions, though once any of them is electronic, all of them must be. Compliance platforms such as FastBound and FFL Boss are proven solutions used by thousands of FFLs.

A Final Word

Selling guns online can be highly lucrative when you give buyers a compelling reason to buy from you, specifically. Just don’t be the naive new FFL who assumes that a wholesale account with a distributor like Lipsey’s or Davidson’s is a self-contained business plan! You’ll find success at scale by identifying your niche or specialty, and then delivering a satisfying experience to your customers over time. That’s the common thread with the many FFLs who’ve succeeded as online gun dealers.

Sources

1. ATF, “Best Practices: Transfers of Firearms by Private Sellers (ATF P 5300.21),” atf.gov/media/24981/download (January 2013; read October 5, 2026).
2. GunBroker, “Legal Topics — Buying and Selling Firearms,” support.gunbroker.com/hc/en-us/articles/222007967-Legal-Topics-Buying-and-Selling-Firearms (read October 24, 2026).
3. UPS, “How to Ship Firearms,” ups.com/us/en/support/shipping-support/shipping-special-care-regulated-items/prohibited-items/firearms (page modified May 19, 2026; read October 24, 2026).
4. FedEx, “How to Ship Firearms,” fedex.com/en-us/shipping/how-to-ship-firearms.html (read October 24, 2026).
5. USPS, “Publication 52, 432 Mailability,” pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52c4_010.htm (read October 24, 2026).
6. GunBroker, “Firearms Shipping Guide,” support.gunbroker.com/hc/en-us/articles/222836508-Firearms-Shipping-Guide (read October 24 and November 2, 2026).
7. GunBroker (via The Shooting Wire), “GunBroker.com Eases the Headaches of Sending FFL Items with New Shipping Solution,” shootingwire.com/releases/249b2715-b08f-4381-aa16-de3344859f6d (December 18, 2024; read October 24, 2026).
8. GunBroker, “Fees for Using GunBroker.com,” support.gunbroker.com/hc/en-us/articles/34054290525851-Fees-for-Using-GunBroker-com (read October 24, 2026).
9. ATF, “Firearms Questions and Answers (Conduct of Business),” atf.gov/resource-center/questions-and-answers?page=5 (last updated October 9, 2026; read October 24, 2026).
10. ATF, “Federal Firearms Licenses,” atf.gov/firearms/federal-firearms-licenses (read October 5, 2026).
11. ATF, “Federal Firearms Licensee Quick Reference and Best Practices Guide,” atf.gov/firearms/tools-and-services-firearms-industry/current-licensees/federal-firearms-licensee-quick-reference-and-best-practices-guide (last updated May 8, 2026; read October 5, 2026).
12. ATF, “Apply for a License (FFL),” atf.gov/firearms/tools-and-services-firearms-industry/apply-for-a-license (last updated January 13, 2026; read October 5, 2026).
13. ATF, “Firearms Questions and Answers (Licensing),” atf.gov/firearms/questions-and-answers?page=5 (last updated January 15, 2026; read October 5, 2026).
14. U.S. Small Business Administration, “Grow your business: Pay taxes for online sales,” sba.gov/counseling/grow-your-business (read October 24, 2026).
15. GunBroker, “How to Sell on GunBroker.com: A Complete Guide for Sellers,” support.gunbroker.com/hc/en-us/articles/36833479854363-How-to-Sell-on-GunBroker-com-A-Complete-Guide-for-Sellers (read October 5, 2026).
16. Square, “Payment Terms,” squareup.com/us/en/legal/general/payment (last updated July 30, 2026; read October 10, 2026).
17. Stripe, “Prohibited and Restricted Businesses,” stripe.com/legal/restricted-businesses (last updated September 22, 2026; read October 12 and November 2, 2026).
18. PayPal, “Acceptable Use Policy,” paypal.com/us/legalhub/paypal/acceptableuse-full (last updated October 29, 2022; read October 6 and November 2, 2026).
19. ATF, “Report Firearms Theft or Loss,” atf.gov/firearms/tools-and-services-firearms-industry/current-licensees/report-firearms-theft-or-loss (read October 5, 2026).