Electronic Bound Book Software for FFL Dealers
FFL Command Center is electronic bound book software built to keep the organized, complete, and searchable A&D records that 27 CFR Part 478 requires, in the form ATF Ruling 2016-1 authorizes. Every ATF-required field is captured, so nothing is missed and inspections stay predictable.
27 CFR Part 478 — What the Regulations Require
The ATF requires licensed dealers to maintain a bound book (acquisition and disposition record) and completed Form 4473s for every firearm transfer. Here's how FFL Command Center addresses each major requirement.
| Requirement | Regulation | FFL CC Status |
|---|---|---|
| Acquisition record for each firearm received | §478.125(e) | ✓ Tracked |
| Disposition record for each firearm transferred | §478.125(e) | ✓ Tracked |
| Acquisition & disposition record for repair / gunsmithing firearms | §478.125(e); Rulings 73-13, 77-1 | ✓ Separate repair bound book |
| Maintain records for 20 years | §478.129(b) | ✓ No auto-delete |
| Form 4473 for each transfer to non-licensee | §478.124 | ✓ Workflow included |
| NICS background check and result logged | §478.102 | ✓ Result field captured |
| Out-of-business record preservation | §478.127 | ✓ Export package |
| Records available for ATF inspection | §478.23 | ✓ Instant search, one-click audit report, read-only inspector login |
| Firearms identified by serial number | §478.92 | ✓ Required field |
| NFA (Title II) item & transfer records (Forms 3/4/5) | 27 CFR 479 | ✓ Tracked (you file the ATF forms) |
| Manufacturer / importer bound book | §478.123 | Dealer only |
Bound Book Fields Captured
ATF-required fields are marked in red. All additional fields help complete the operational picture.
Consignment Firearms
Consignment recordkeeping turns on physical possession, not the sale. FFL Command Center supports two models. In dealer-held consignment you take the firearm in, and it is recorded as an acquisition in your A&D the moment you take custody, with the consignor as the source. In listing-only consignment the customer keeps the firearm at home; you list it on your storefront with no phantom inventory row, and the acquisition is recorded only when it physically transfers through you at sale. Booking into the bound book is a guarded, manager-initiated step with a possession checklist, the consignor's name and address, the true receipt date, and a hard block on NFA items. Returning an unsold firearm to its owner is recorded as a private-party disposition. Every entry is written through the same single acquisition and disposition path as the rest of your inventory.
Gunsmithing & Repair Firearms
A firearm taken in for repair is customer property held in custody, not owned inventory, so no Form 4473 or NICS check applies. FFL Command Center records repair firearms in a separate Repair Bound Book (NSSF best practice), so they never mix with your sales A&D, stock, or profit-and-loss. Accepting a repair automatically writes the acquisition entry; releasing it back to the owner writes the disposition. Both steps require a manager and are logged with a full status trail. Firearms sent to another FFL for outside work are recorded as a disposition (with the receiving FFL's full 15-character number) and a fresh acquisition on return, and a privately made firearm can be flagged at intake with a serialization-deadline reminder.
Form 4473 Workflow
Guide: A&D bound book requirements, what to record and when →
Guide: how long must an FFL keep Form 4473s? →
Guide: what to expect in an ATF compliance inspection →
When the Inspector Shows Up
Inspection day goes smoother when everything is in one place instead of spread across binders and file boxes.
See the Compliance Workflow Live
We'll walk through a complete transfer — from bound book entry to 4473 to disposition — during your demo.