Selling firearms in the United States is governed by strict federal regulations enforced by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). Businesses that sell or transfer firearms must obtain a Federal Firearms License (FFL) and comply with mandatory tracking, reporting, and validation processes.

Why Compliance Matters

Non-compliance can result in severe consequences:

• Fines and Legal Penalties – Violations may lead to heavy fines and license revocation.
• Confiscation of Inventory – Firearms and equipment may be seized during audits or inspections.
• Criminal Charges and Jail Time – Individuals and businesses can face criminal prosecution for non-compliance.

How Flxpoint Helps

Flxpoint simplifies compliance through automation and validation workflows that:

1. Identify firearms and flag them for FFL processing.
2. Collect FFL information automatically or manually based on supplier or channel requirements.
3. Validate data during fulfillment request generation to prevent errors and delays.
4. Route orders appropriately, including splitting firearm and non-firearm orders for faster processing.

By leveraging these tools, businesses can confidently handle firearms while meeting federal regulations.

Items Requiring FFL Transfers

Understanding which products require FFL transfers is crucial to compliance. Flxpoint automatically identifies firearms and serialized parts based on preset workflows.

Products Requiring Transfers

• Complete Firearms: Includes rifles, pistols, and shotguns.
• Serialized Components: Parts like lower receivers for AR-15s, which are legally classified as firearms due to serial numbers.
• Restricted Accessories: Items like silencers and suppressors require additional approvals, taxes, and stricter handling.

Exceptions to FFL Transfers

• Antique Firearms (Pre-1899): Exempt from FFL requirements under federal law.
• Black Powder Firearms: Do not require transfers unless modified to fire modern ammunition.
• Non-Serialized Parts: Components like upper receivers are not regulated as firearms.

Important Note:

Serialized components determine FFL requirements. For example, an AR-15 upper receiver can be shipped without FFL validation, while the lower receiver requires a transfer. Flxpoint workflows distinguish these automatically.

Flxpoint's Role in FFL Handling

Flxpoint automates FFL compliance tasks, reducing manual errors and saving time. The system provides tools for identification, validation, routing, and splitting orders based on FFL requirements.

Identifying Firearms

Step 1: Enable Identification

1. Navigate to Sources → [Select Source] → Settings.
2. Enable May Contain Firearms in the source configuration.

Step 2: Configure Workflow Rules

• Use If-Then rules to identify firearms by categories or SKUs.
• Example:
  • If Category = Handguns → Set Firearm to True.

Step 3: Confirm Validation Settings

• Enable automatic validation for required fields like:
  • FFL License Number
  • Expiration Date
  • Address and Contact Details

Order Splitting for Mixed Orders

Orders containing firearm and non-firearm items are automatically split to prevent delays:

• Firearm Orders: Held until FFL validation is complete.
• Non-Firearm Orders: Processed immediately without delays.

This ensures compliance without impacting the speed of non-firearm fulfillment.

Configuring FFL Workflows in Flxpoint

Source-Level Configuration

1. Go to Sources → Settings → Enable Firearm Identification.
2. Activate Identify Firearms/Collect FFL Info Workflow to trigger FFL handling.
3. Select required fields for validation, such as:
   • FFL License Number
   • Expiration Date
   • Address

Vendor-Specific Integrations

Vendors like GunBroker may require specific formats for FFL submissions (e.g., API uploads, CSV exports, or manual PDFs).

Flxpoint adapts by:

• Mapping FFL Fields Automatically – Ensures required data is sent in the correct format.
• Manual Uploads (Optional) – Allows PDF or CSV submissions for suppliers needing manual processing.
• Status Monitoring – Tracks whether FFL data was successfully transmitted and flagged.

Validation and Automation Tools

Flxpoint validates FFL information automatically during fulfillment request generation. Orders with incomplete information are flagged for manual review.

Automated Validation Process

1. Checks Required Fields: License number, address, and expiration dates must be complete.
2. Flags Errors Automatically: Orders with missing data are held until corrected.
3. Processes Complete Orders: Fully validated requests proceed without manual intervention.

Manual Overrides

For suppliers requiring additional data or special formats, Flxpoint allows users to edit and upload FFL information manually.

Troubleshooting and Error Handling

Errors can occur during validation or transmission. Use the table below to diagnose and fix common problems:

Automating FFL Routing video

To help you get started, we’ve created a step-by-step video tutorial that demonstrates:

• Automating FFL Routing: Setting up workflows and rules to flag firearms and collect FFL information.
• Troubleshooting Common Issues: Diagnosing and fixing validation errors, mismatches, and vendor-specific submission problems.