Gun Store Insurance - Let us find your best coverage - protection built for firearms retailers
Gun stores need coverage for theft-prone inventory, products liability and FFL compliance that many standard carriers won't write, plus gunsmithing, ranges and classes if you offer them. Send us a few details and we will shop 50+ carriers for your best rate – no cost, no obligation. Prefer to talk? Call 800-616-3490.
Gun Store Quote Request
Applicant Information:
Have these handy
- FFL and SOT license numbers
- Peak and average inventory value
- Sales split: new, used, ammunition, accessories
- Security details: vault, alarm and cameras
- ATF inspection history
- Five years of loss runs
Related coverage
What Gun Store coverage includes
Gun store insurance combines general and products liability with property, theft and business income protection designed for firearms retailers.
- General liability - Customer injuries and property damage at your store.
- Products liability - Claims from firearms, ammunition and accessories you sell.
- Inventory and theft - Firearms and stock against fire, burglary and theft.
- Business income - Lost income while the store is closed after a covered loss.
- Crime and employee theft - Cash, inventory shrink and dishonest employees.
- Gunsmithing E&O - Errors in repair, modification or custom work.
- Range and training liability - On-site ranges, rentals and classes, if you offer them.
- Gun shows and transit - Inventory away from your store.
Good to know: a vault or safes after hours, a monitored alarm, recorded cameras and a clean ATF inspection history open the most markets. Firearm thefts must be reported to the ATF within 48 hours of discovery. Read the full gun store insurance guide below.
Not covered: unlawful transfers or full-automatic conversions, reloaded ammunition and on-site shooting unless specifically added.
Insurance Application:
Gun StoreBegin Application
Required forms
Gun Store Supplemental Application (PDF)Want to save and finish later? Complete it online
Optional (add any that apply)
Workers Compensation (PDF)Want to save and finish later? Complete it online
Excess / Umbrella (Commercial) (PDF)Want to save and finish later? Complete it online
Download, complete and email to quote@societiesinsurance.com, or attach it with your quote request.
Prefer to talk?
- Toll-Free: 800-616-3490
- East Coast: 706-550-4418
- West Coast: 206-755-0101
- info@societiesinsurance.com
- Mon-Fri 8:00am - 6:00pm, Sat 9:00am - 12:00pm
Why gun stores need specialized insurance
A gun store combines the everyday risks of any retail shop with exposures most retailers never face: high-value inventory that attracts burglars, products that can cause serious injury, federal licensing obligations and, often, a range or gunsmithing bench on site. Many standard carriers won't write firearms retailers at all, so coverage usually comes from specialty markets that understand the business.
Inventory thieves want
Firearms are portable, valuable and easy to resell, which makes gun stores a frequent target for burglaries and smash-and-grab break-ins.
Every sale is a liability
Claims can follow a firearm, magazine, optic or box of ammunition long after it leaves your counter.
FFL compliance matters
Underwriters review your FFL, ATF inspection history and record-keeping before they quote, and violations can limit your options.
Fewer carriers, more questions
A complete, accurate submission is the difference between a competitive quote and a decline.
Coverages a gun store should consider
Most gun stores combine several policies into one program. These are the core coverages and why each one matters for firearms retailers.
| Coverage | What it covers | Why it matters for a gun store |
|---|---|---|
| General liability | Bodily injury and property damage on your premises or from your operations | Customer slip-and-falls, injuries while handling merchandise, damage during off-site events |
| Products-completed operations | Injury or damage caused by products you sold or work you completed | Firearms, ammunition, optics, holsters and accessories; usually the most important liability coverage for a gun store |
| Property and inventory | Building (if owned), fixtures, display cases, safes and inventory | Fire, burglary and theft of firearms and ammunition; confirm limits match your peak inventory, not your average |
| Business income | Lost income and ongoing expenses after a covered loss | Keeps payroll and rent paid while the store is closed for repairs or restocking |
| Crime and employee theft | Theft of money, securities and inventory by employees, plus forgery and robbery | Inventory shrink and cash losses that property policies often exclude |
| Gunsmithing errors & omissions | Claims arising from repairs, modifications, trigger work, Cerakote or custom builds | A firearm that malfunctions after your work can lead to a serious injury claim |
| Range liability | Injuries at an on-site indoor or outdoor range | Usually requires its own coverage or endorsement, with range safety rules and waivers |
| Instructor / training liability | Claims from safety, concealed-carry and training classes | Covers instructors and the store when classes are held on or off site |
| Inland marine | Inventory in transit, at gun shows or off premises | Most property policies limit coverage away from your store |
| Commercial umbrella | Additional liability limits above your primary policies | A single serious products or range claim can exceed a $1,000,000 primary limit |
| Workers compensation | Employee injuries on the job | Required in most states once you have employees; range and gunsmithing work raise the exposure |
| Cyber liability | Data breaches, ransomware and privacy claims | Gun stores hold sensitive customer information, including background check and transaction records |
Products liability and the PLCAA
The federal Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), passed in 2005, shields licensed sellers from many lawsuits over the criminal misuse of firearms they lawfully sold. It does not eliminate products liability exposure.
Claims that can still be brought
- Negligent entrustment, such as a sale to someone the seller should have known was dangerous
- Sales that knowingly violate a state or federal law
- Breach of contract or warranty
- Design or manufacturing defects when the product is used as intended
- Negligence in your own work, such as gunsmithing or repairs
Why products coverage still matters
- Defense costs can be significant even when a claim is ultimately dismissed
- Products claims often name every seller in the chain of distribution
- Accessories, optics, holsters and ammunition carry their own exposure
- Store-branded or imported products can make you the "manufacturer" in a lawsuit
This is general information, not legal advice. How the PLCAA applies depends on the facts of each claim and on state law.
Theft protection and what underwriters look for
Security is the single biggest factor in a gun store's property premium and in which carriers will quote. These are the controls underwriters ask about most.
| Security control | What underwriters look for |
|---|---|
| After-hours storage | Firearms locked in a vault or safes overnight, or at minimum in locked cases with long guns cabled |
| Alarm system | Central-station monitored burglar alarm with motion detection, glass-break sensors and a cellular or radio backup |
| Video surveillance | Recorded cameras covering entrances, the sales floor, counters and storage areas, with footage retained for weeks rather than days |
| Building hardening | Steel or solid-core doors, security bars or roll-down gates, and bollards or barriers to stop vehicle ram-raids |
| Sales-floor controls | Handguns in locked cases, long guns cabled, and one firearm handed to a customer at a time under employee supervision |
| Inventory control | An accurate electronic acquisition and disposition record and regular physical inventory counts |
Theft reporting: federal firearms licensees must report the theft or loss of firearms from their inventory to the ATF and to local law enforcement within 48 hours of discovering it. Report the loss to us and your carrier at the same time so the property claim isn't delayed.
Services that change your coverage
Many gun stores do more than sell firearms. Each of these activities changes what your policy needs to cover, so be sure to list them on your application.
Gunsmithing and custom work
Repairs, trigger jobs, caliber changes, Cerakote and custom builds need errors & omissions or completed-operations coverage that specifically includes this work.
On-site range
Indoor and outdoor ranges add serious injury exposure, plus lead and noise concerns. Carriers review range design, ventilation, range officers and waivers.
Rentals and test-firing
Renting firearms or letting customers test-fire before buying raises the range exposure and is often rated separately.
Training and CCW classes
Classes need instructor coverage, signed waivers and certified instructors. Off-site classes and events should be listed too.
NFA items and SOT status
Suppressors, short-barreled rifles and machine guns require Special Occupational Tax status and are underwritten more closely.
Gun shows and online sales
Inventory at shows or in transit needs inland marine coverage. Online and shipped sales broaden the products exposure.
Reloading and powder
Reloaded ammunition and stored powder and primers are excluded or restricted on many policies and must be disclosed.
Buying used and consignment
Used firearms and consignment pieces are another person's property in your care, which affects how your inventory coverage is written.
Common coverage limits by type of gun store
The right limits depend on your inventory, sales volume and activities. These ranges reflect what similar businesses commonly carry.
| Store profile | General / products liability | Umbrella | Key additions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small storefront dealer | $1M / $2M | $1M - $2M | Inventory, crime and business income |
| Full-line gun store | $1M / $2M - $2M / $4M | $2M - $5M | Gunsmithing E&O, inland marine, cyber |
| Store with indoor range | $1M / $2M - $2M / $4M | $2M - $5M+ | Range liability, instructor coverage, workers comp |
| SOT / NFA dealer | $1M / $2M - $2M / $4M | $2M - $5M | Higher theft limits, products coverage for NFA items |
Typical examples only, not a recommendation for any specific store. Landlords, lenders and event organizers may require specific limits.
Common exclusions to watch for
Illegal transfers and modifications
Knowing sales to prohibited persons, straw purchases and unlawful conversions to automatic fire are excluded.
Reloaded ammunition
Many policies exclude reloaded or remanufactured ammunition unless it is specifically added.
Range and rental activities
A standard retail policy usually excludes on-site shooting unless range coverage is added.
Assault and battery
Some policies exclude or sub-limit claims involving violence on the premises.
Inventory shortage
Unexplained inventory loss found only on a physical count is often excluded unless you can show theft.
Off-premises inventory
Firearms at gun shows, in vehicles or in transit may be excluded without inland marine coverage.
What drives the cost of gun store insurance
Inventory value
Higher peak inventory means higher property and theft premiums.
Security controls
Vaults, alarms, cameras and anti-ram barriers earn better pricing and more markets.
Sales mix
The split between new, used, ammunition and accessories affects the products rating.
Services offered
Ranges, gunsmithing, rentals and classes each add premium.
Compliance history
A clean ATF inspection record and strong record-keeping help with underwriting.
Loss history and location
Past burglaries, claims and local crime rates are all reviewed.
Getting a gun store insurance quote
- Gather your informationYour FFL and any SOT details, current declarations pages, five years of loss runs, inventory values, sales mix and a description of your security.
- Complete the Gun Store supplemental applicationIt covers licensing, sales and products, services, security and the coverage you want, so underwriters have everything they need up front.
- We shop specialty marketsWe take your submission to carriers and wholesale markets that write firearms retailers, including excess and surplus lines markets when needed.
- Compare and bindWe walk you through limits, deductibles, exclusions and conditions such as security requirements, then bind coverage and issue certificates.
Gun store insurance questions
Does a standard business owners policy cover a gun store?
Usually not. Many standard business owners policies exclude firearms dealers or restrict firearms inventory and products coverage. Gun stores are generally written through specialty programs designed for firearms retailers.
Is my firearms inventory covered against theft?
It can be, but carriers often require specific security, such as a vault or safes after hours and a monitored alarm, and may set a separate theft limit. Check that your limit matches your peak inventory, including holiday and hunting-season stock.
Are customers' firearms covered while I'm repairing them?
Customer property in your care typically needs bailee or customers' goods coverage. Your own inventory coverage may not include it.
Does my policy cover my range?
Not automatically. An on-site range normally requires range liability coverage or an endorsement, and carriers review range design, safety rules, supervision and waivers.
Do I need coverage for gun shows?
Yes. Inventory away from your store needs inland marine or off-premises coverage, and many shows require a certificate of insurance naming the organizer.
Will an ATF violation affect my insurance?
Underwriters ask about ATF inspections and any warning letters or license actions. Past violations can limit carrier options, but documented corrective action helps.
Does the PLCAA mean I don't need products liability?
No. The PLCAA limits some lawsuits over criminal misuse, but it has exceptions, and claims involving defects, warranties, negligence or your own work can still be brought. Defense costs alone can be significant.
What does it cost to work with Societies Insurance?
There is no fee for quoting. We compare specialty carriers for you and are paid by the carrier you choose.
Ready to protect your gun store?
Download the Gun Store supplemental application and send it with your quote request, or call 800-616-3490 to talk through your coverage.
This is a general overview. Coverage, availability, pricing and underwriting requirements vary by state, carrier and policy, and the issued policy controls. Limit ranges shown are typical examples, not recommendations for any specific business. Also see our Firearms Dealer page.