Chuck Guiteau
Graduate Poster
It's a little more complicated than that. To begin with you have to have a brick and mortar business. There was a time when you could just obtain the FFL and deal out of your home, but those days are long gone. It must contain facilities for secure storage of firearms.The BATF will check, too.I'm no expert by any means, but IIRC all that is required is you fill out all the paperwork and pay the fee. Assuming you pass the background check of course.
You don't have to incorporate or anything like that, and I doubt you need a lawyer.
You can operate as a sole proprietorship, but you're assuming a huge liability if you do.That's why most businesses form a corporation or LLP.
You're also required to conform to all local business and zoning laws, which means you'll have to get a business license and in many jurisdictions operate your primary business in an area zoned for that business.
So you'll definitely need an attorney, unless you want to throw the dice and gamble away a good deal of money, time, and effort.
If you don't want to operate as a sole proprietorship and use your SSN for tax purposes, you'll need to obtain an EIN. Not difficult, but the IRS is not known for its kindly attitude towards businesses who don't keep good books. Four years after I closed down a business (through a perfectly legal and above board liquidation) the IRS came after me with an audit. Fortunately, I'm a packrat and kept every scrap of paper involved. They ended up owing me (or at least the corporation) $400.00, although I was not keen on pressing them for it.
The BATF has the right to inspect your premises and books , and while they may not come around often, when they do you better have your ducks in a row. They will at the least go over your "bound book" with a fine tooth comb, and they've been known to seize property on the flimsiest of reasons.
So, no, you don't just mail off a money order and an application then start ordering your crates of rifles, delivered COD to your back door.
Like I said, it's a lot of work for $20 a pop.
Here's the actual application that you file to get started.
http://www.atf.gov/forms/download/atf-f-5310-12.pdf