Starting a Firework business?? (insurance, sales, lawyer, license)

[skwcal]

Hi Everyone,

We are wondering if anyone have successfully started a business in selling fireworks so can pick their brain a little bit. My family owns commercial plaza and we have some free space and would like to venture into firework industry.

I was just wondering how does one even get started? How do I import the fireworks from China? What would be my very first step towards this end goal? What would be my first 5 steps towards this end goal? Who can I reach out to / hire for guidance?

Thanks.

[KaraG]

First you should check the local and state regulations to see what the law is in your area.

Fireworks is such a seasonal business, do you really want to waste that space in the plaza for a product line that people only want to buy a few days a year?

[Hemlock140]

More and more cities are banning it. Around here you would struggle to find a city to allow it, and would have to compete with the huge native tribal stands. The state laws here require you to have a license to sell fireworks, and you may only sell them for specific dates and hours around July 4th and New Years Day. The rest of the year sales are banned.

A google search will reveal many places to buy direct from China. If you do it, be sure to notify your insurance carrier and pay the additional amount for the liability and potential damage to the premises that will result from storing and selling fireworks.

[harry chickpea]

Fireworks are not always made in China. A business here in north Alabama recently got in trouble for explosions at their facility making them. I agree that it is not a great business opportunity. Regulation, liability, seasonality all work against it.

[oregonwoodsmoke]

I only know one family that sells fireworks. They make a huge amount of money in a couple of weeks.

The spot can be used to sell Christmas trees in the winter and maybe you could find a fruit vendor to open a booth the rest of the summer.

If there is a lot of traffic, maybe a drive-through coffee kiosk would work.

[Rabrrita]

First things first are you talking about 1.4G and/or 1.3G explosives? Is this retail sales only or will you have other regulated activities at the same location? Lastly, are we talking a couple display racks with packaged sparklers and bottle rockets type items or are we talking an entire store devoted just to fireworks (which raises the total amount issue even if just 1.4G)?

Importing them is not a problem. Getting them cleared for delivery through customs is. Not to mention following all the regulations so they are not seized by some enforcement agency before you can get a chance to sell them.

[City Guy997S]

Talk to a lawyer first....... You need to protect yourself and more importantly your family's shopping center from liability when a 10 yr old kid blows his hand off or blinds himself using something you sold him.