Guide to Getting Your FFL in Wyoming (WY): Cost & More

A growing number of gun owners across the nation want to serve their communities as Federal Firearms License (FFL) holders. These FFL holders are allowed by federal law and local ordinances to handle the selling and distribution of firearms and ammo as gun dealers.

To get your FFL in Wyoming, you’ll follow a few requirements, which we will discuss in this article:

• FFL Cost
• Steps to getting your FFL in Wyoming
• Federal Requirements for an FFL
• Wyoming State Requirements for an FFL
• Wyoming Local (City/Town) FFL Requirements
• FAQs and additional resources

FFL Cost in Wyoming

How much does an FFL cost? An FFL in Wyoming costs between $30-$200 for the first 3 years.

When you fill out an FFL application to become a Federal Firearms Licensee with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), you must choose from several license types.

Each of these license types varies in price. This is due to the varied ways they allow the licensee to do business under Federal and Wyoming gun laws. This includes whether the FFL dealer is just trying to sell a few handguns out of a home gun shop, incorporate gunsmithing at a gun store, or handle NFA items, such as a suppressor.

Each of these activities requires a different type of license. The application fees range in price for each FFL license type.

FFL License Cost by Type

To handle NFA items (such as silencers, short-barrel rifles, machine guns, destructive devices, etc.), you must pay additional costs in the form of an SOT license registration.

Steps to Getting Your FFL

To get your FFL in Wyoming, you need to:

1. Ensure you meet the federal requirements for an FFL
2. Choose your FFL type
3. Take an FFL course
4. Submit your FFL application forms

Step 1: Ensure You Meet FFL Federal Requirements

Make sure you meet federal requirements before you do anything else. These are exactly the same for every state in America (more details below).

Step 2: Choose Your FFL Type

Apply for the appropriate type of FFL for your business. Choose the type of license that will allow you to lawfully operate your firearms business.

Type 01 license (for most firearms dealers and gunsmiths) or a Type 07 license (for manufacturing) are the two most common types most businesses need. A Type 07 license lets you both manufacture and sell firearms.

Determine from this article which type of FFL license your business needs.

NFA firearms and accessories require you to be an SOT (Special Occupational Taxpayer). SOT can be applied for after being assigned your FFL number.

Apply for your SOT if you plan to sell these NFA items:

• Silencers/Suppressors
• Full-auto machine guns
• Short-barreled rifles (rifles with a barrel shorter than 16″ or an overall length under 26″)
• Short-barreled shotguns (shotguns with a barrel shorter than 18″ or an overall length under 26″)
• Destructive devices (grenades, mines, bombs, etc.)
• Any other weapons (pen guns, specific special handguns, etc.)

FFL License type and which SOT Class you’ll need to apply for can be found below. We also cover all of the specifics of SOT classes and the NFA in our Get Your FFL Course.

Step 3: Take an FFL Course

Take an FFL course from a qualified FFL instructor.

I developed my course because getting for FFL can sometimes be daunting. I have decades of research and work as an attorney in the firearms industry and know how complex it can be to get your FFL!

The course covers getting your FFL, but it also covers everything you need to specifically know to get your FFL in Wyoming.

I highly recommend that you get the FFL Course and SOT Course combo for an extra $10. I’m a firearms attorney that specializes in ATF compliance, and I will teach you in this combo of courses how to apply to buy and sell silencers and Short Barreled Rifles (SBRs) in addition to standard firearms covered by just your FFL.

Step 4: Submit Your FFL Application Forms

Once you submit all the forms required by the ATF, they will start the background check on all “responsible persons” named in the business. A responsible person (RP) is the sole proprietor and any partner in the corporation who will influence the business’s practices and policies.

Once the background checks are complete, your application is sent to a local ATF field office. Here your application will go to an industry operations investigator (IOI). They will schedule you for an in-person interview to make sure all information is correct and that you are following all state and local requirements.

After a successful interview, the IOI will make a recommendation to either approve or deny your FFL application. The ATF field office supervisor submits approved applications to the Federal Firearms Licensing Center (FFLC), where FFL serial numbers are assigned to the applicants.

According to the ATF.gov website, the entire process takes about 60 days from when a completed application was first received. If you take the Rocket FFL course, you’ll have every detail and access to all the necessary forms to quickly apply for your Federal Firearms License.

Federal Requirements for an FFL

The federal requirements for getting an FFL are the same for every state.

To get an FFL, the federal government requires that you:

• Are at least 21 years of age
• Are a US Citizen or legal permanent resident
• Are legally permitted to possess firearms and ammunition (no felony convictions, have not been a psychological patient or controlled substance user, etc.)
• Have a predetermined location for conducting FFL activities (this includes home-based FFLs)
• Have never violated the Gun Control Act (GCA) or related regulations
• Do not make any false statements/claims on your FFL application

Once you satisfy all of these requirements, you can then move on to the state-specific requirements.

Wyoming State Requirements for an FFL

Wyoming state requirements for an FFL can be broken down into two categories:

1. State licensing requirements
2. Business registration requirements

Wyoming State Licensing Requirements

There are no additional state laws or licenses for FFL holders in the state of Wyoming. This makes the process that much easier with the proper guidance!

Wyoming Business Registration Requirements

Like in any other state, you’ll need to register your business with the State of Wyoming.

You’ll still need to have an official presence in Wyoming, even if your business is registered in another state (we suggest this in our Get Your FFL course).

To register your FFL business in Wyoming, you should check out the steps to starting a company by the Wyoming Secretary of State. They also provide an excellent resource for How To Register your Wyoming Business.

Wyoming Local (City/Town) FFL Requirements

Local zoning requirements are often an issue when applying for an FFL.

Ensure the location you use as a base of operations (often a home-based FFL) allows for a business. For example, home-based firearms businesses are often told they can’t operate in a residential area, but this is frequently due to a misunderstanding about the type of business activity held there.

Zoning departments usually assume regular retail business and heavy foot traffic will be at the location. Still, most home-based FFLs don’t have retail-level traffic and only have customers stop by on occasion.

We cover this and more, including requirements for specific business hours, in our Get Your FFL course.

Wyoming FFL Summary

As you can see, getting your Wyoming FFL is generally easy when you follow these step-by-step instructions.

As long as you meet the federal and state requirements, choose the appropriate license type, take our online course, and fill in the proper forms, you’ll be on your way to being the newest owner of a Wyoming FFL.

However, without my course, you can expect to sink a lot of hours into trying to get it right on your own.

With my course, you can, with confidence, fill out your forms and get through the process with ease. Begin your business wisely and within all the confines of both federal and local laws without expensive mistakes!

So, if you’re ready to “bite the bullet,” let’s get started!

FAQ for Wyoming FFL Licensing

How much does it cost to get an FFL in Wyoming?

An FFL in Wyoming costs anywhere from $30 to $200 for 3 years. For a full breakdown of the cost of an FFL, check here.

Do I need an FFL in Wyoming?

Yes! If you plan to sell, transfer, manufacture, or do anything else for profit involving firearms, you are legally required to have an active FFL.

Does Wyoming require extra licensing for FFLs?

No, there are no additional licensing requirements for FFLs in Wyoming.

Do I need to register a business for an FFL in Wyoming?

Yes, if you are forming a business for your FFL, it must be registered in Wyoming.

Can I get an FFL to save money on guns?

No, you should not get an FFL just to save money on guns. One of the main requirements for getting your FFL is “business intent,” meaning you intend to operate a firearms-related business.

However, wait to start your business until after you get your FFL number.

Extra Resources For Getting a Wyoming FFL

US Code § 923: Code § 923 covers federal regulations for the import, manufacture, and dealing of firearms and ammunition. This is the federal law that requires those operating firearms businesses to get an FFL.

US CFR § 478.47 – Issuance of license.: This code explains how a Federal Firearms License is issued, including who must assign the license number. It requires the ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) to qualify applicants based on a predetermined list of requirements and to issue Federal Firearms Licenses.

If a correctly submitted FFL application has been submitted on ATF Form 7, the Chief of the Federal Firearms Licensing Center (a department at the ATF) must issue the license and assign a serial number to the licensee.

Gun Control Act (GCA): The GCA of 1968 establishes stricter laws on the firearms industry than were already present in the NFA. New regulations regarding firearms offenses, firearms/ammunition sales to “prohibited persons,” and federal jurisdiction for “destructive devices” (bombs, grenades, mines, etc.) were created with the GCA.

Starting a Business in Wyoming: Need help finding out where to start with your new business? Check out the Wyoming Business Division showing you how to do just that!

FFL Types: Use this guide to make sure that you choose the right type of Federal Firearms License for what you want to do.

Home-Based FFL: Don’t want to pay for a storefront but wish to operate as an FFL holder from your home? We explain how to do it from start to finish.

AUTHOR

Ryan Cleckner

Check out Ryan Cleckner 's Courses

Ryan Cleckner is a former special operations sniper and current attorney specializing in firearms law/ATF compliance and is a firearms industry executive (former govt. relations manager for NSSF, Vice President of Remington Outdoor Company, and a SAAMI voting board member).