[wideawake]

I've often thought about how profitable a range would be as a business venture.

I agree that making it a friendly place for women would be paramount - in general women take the responsibility very seriously, they make for steady repeat business and they are excellent for free word-of-mouth advertising. Key factors for attracting female customers are cleanliness and professionalism - i.e. spotless restrooms and well-groomed, polite employees.

Giving group seminars on firearm safety and practical self-defense would be greatly appreciated as well, I expect.

An indoor range gives a sense of a more-controlled environment, even though it's expensive to maintain.

[FreedomPoster]

Any comments on post #8?

[RicocheT]

It's almost impossible now to open a range anywhere near an urban area here in the Midwest. A gun store in a suburb of Milwaukee wanted to buy a warehouse property in an industrial park. The municipal government of the area said no and then hurried up and changed the zoning law to exclude gun ranges. The insurance co.s are also down on ranges and hem and haw about insuring a new range. Existing ranges have to keep the policies they have and hope to heck no claims occur.

[dansangel]

FreedomPoster: Thank-you, as always for the ping.

wideawake: I was directed to this comment specifically for my opinion. You make some very valid points. .45MAN and I stopped patronizing one indoor range due to lack of ventilation, extreme dirtiness and the clientele it attracted. It's a bit unnerving to allow patrons to shoot sideways like they see in the movies and inadvertently take down ceiling tiles.

A firing range business venture with your points in mind would attract not only female gun enthusiasts, but male, as well. No one wants to compromise their safety just for the sake of firing a gun.

[glc1173@aol.com]

"I've often thought about how profitable a range would be as a business venture. I agree that making it a friendly place for women would be paramount - in general women take the responsibility very seriously, they make for steady repeat business and they are excellent for free word-of-mouth advertising. Key factors for attracting female customers are cleanliness and professionalism - i.e. spotless restrooms and well-groomed, polite employees."

It can do quite well - if it does the things you mention, plus is not in a semirural-to-rural area where outdoor shooting areas abound for free. As you note, it absolutely has to be - and look - woman-friendly; the look of a little WWII-surplus furniture doesn't cut it.