As someone who recently got married, my wife and I are still riding the high of our wedding day. The weather was great, the venue was beautiful, the food was delicious, the drinks were endless, and we were surrounded by our closest family and friends. It was truly a perfect wedding.

At its core, marriage is the coming together of two people. Like many relationships, my partner and I each have our own strengths and weaknesses, but when combined, we form a strong, balanced bond. Marriage is also a partnership, with both parties needing to play an active role for the long-term success of the relationship.

Similarly, the marriage between compliance and technology can ultimately determine the success of a firearms business.

FFL Compliance

While the goal of any FFL is to produce or sell firearms, licensees must do so while operating within the boundaries of state and federal regulations. From how to serialize firearms to how firearms are stored to how records tracking the transfer and sale of firearms are made and retained, every aspect of an FFL’s business is closely inspected by ATF for compliance.

If a firearms business is found to be in violation of state or federal regulation, the FFL could face corrective action and, in the worst cases, lose their operating license. This is especially important now under the Biden administration’s zero tolerance policy, where previously considered minor violations could be deemed “willful” and grounds for revocation. However, FFLs are not without help when it comes to maintaining compliance and protecting their licenses.

FFL Technology

Though some manufacturers and dealers still rely on paper forms and logbooks to run their business, many of today’s FFLs are utilizing industry-specific technology and software offerings to modernize their operations.

Whether based on-premises or in the cloud, firearms businesses now have access to various point-of-sale (POS) systems, acquisition and disposition bound books, electronic ATF Forms 4473, enterprise resource management (ERP) systems, ecommerce platforms, and digital storage ­– each a cog in the machine that is an FFL. This technology can not only increase efficiencies, grow profits, improve the customer experience, and make a business more marketable, but also keep an FFL compliant.

A Perfect Marriage

To be successful, an FFL must maintain compliance to retain its license and take advantage of available technology to get more out of its operations. Independently, compliance and technology are critical to the vitality of the business, but only through the integration of compliance best practices and effective technology implementation can a firearms business achieve a lasting marriage.

Orchid FFL Software & Services

No marriage is perfect, but there are many options on the market for FFLs to choose from to meet the needs of any FFL.

At Orchid, we pride ourselves on being the firearm industry’s only true one-stop shop for FFL technology and compliance services. Whether manufacturer or retailer, we offer a comprehensive suite of software solutions and professional legal services to help your business run with great efficiency and the utmost compliance.

Contact us today to learn how we can marry industry-leading compliant software and services to meet the needs of your FFL.