Estimating Your Budget

One of the most important questions when planning a cigar brand is also one of the easiest to underestimate: How much money will the project actually require? The answer is not simply: Number of cigars × factory price. Manufacturing the cigars is only one part of bringing a product to market. Depending on the project, your total investment may also include packaging, design, tooling, freight, importation, regulatory requirements, marketing, inventory, and working capital. The objective of a budget is therefore not merely to determine whether you can afford the first production order. It is to determine whether you have enough capital to launch the product properly and continue operating after the first cigars arrive.