<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001140361-13-036319.txt : 20130918
<SEC-HEADER>0001140361-13-036319.hdr.sgml : 20130918
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20130918174259
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001140361-13-036319
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20130916
FILED AS OF DATE:		20130918
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20130918

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HENNESSY ADVISORS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001145255
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	INVESTMENT ADVICE [6282]
		IRS NUMBER:				680176227
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7250 REDWOOD BLVD.
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			NOVATO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94945
		BUSINESS PHONE:		415-899-1555

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7250 REDWOOD BLVD.
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			NOVATO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94945

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SEAVEY THOMAS L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001165097

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-49872
		FILM NUMBER:		131104277

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7250 REDWOOD BLVD.
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			NOVATO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94945
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc1.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2013-09-16</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001145255</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HENNESSY ADVISORS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HNNA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001165097</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SEAVEY THOMAS L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>7250 REDWOOD BOULEVARD, SUITE 200</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NOVATO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94945</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-09-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>44211</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to acquire)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>7.11</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-11-03</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-11-03</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>25313</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>25313</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes 5,000 shares underlying restricted stock units that will vest 25% per year beginning on September 16, 2014.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Peter D. Fetzer, Attorney-in-Fact for Thomas L. Seavey</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-09-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>