How to Start Your Own Private-Label Cigar Brand: A Step-by-Step Guide
Have you ever dreamed of launching your own cigar line—complete with custom bands, packaging, and blends? Whether you’re a retail shop owner, an event promoter, or simply an entrepreneur with a passion for cigars, Bobalu Cigar Co. makes it possible to bring your vision to life.
As a U.S.-based cigar manufacturer with over 25 years of experience, Bobalu produces premium hand-rolled cigars for hundreds of boutique labels and retailers across the country—and we can help you too.
Here’s a practical, no-fluff guide to launching your private-label cigar brand the right way.
🔍 Step 1: Understand the Legal Requirements
✅ You must have the proper license or permit to sell cigars
Before you go any further, know this: you cannot legally sell cigars in the U.S. without the appropriate permits.
Depending on your location, this typically includes:
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Tobacco Retailer License
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Local/State Sales Tax Permit
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FDA Tobacco Registration (for larger operations or importers)
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Tobacco Products Distributor License (if you plan to resell)
We strongly recommend checking with your local state department of revenue or alcohol and tobacco commission to verify what’s required.
🔗 Pro Tip: If you’re starting small (e.g., private events or gifting), ask us how we can help you get started in a limited capacity with compliance in mind.
🔍 Step 1a: No License
🛠️ No License Yet? No Problem—Here’s How to Get Started Anyway
If you’re not licensed yet to sell cigars, don’t let that stop you from getting your cigar brand off the ground.
At Bobalu, we’ve built our business to support you at every stage of your journey, even before you’re fully licensed. Here’s how to get started right now:
✅ 1. Order from the Retail Site
Even without a wholesale license, you can:
Purchase the same cigars we offer to our wholesale clients
Select from the same packaging and labeling options
Start building your brand and feel confident in the product you’re promoting
You’ll be getting factory-direct cigars—the real deal—not some watered-down “retail version.”
📸 2. Build Your Brand Assets
Get a jump on things before you go live:
Take photos of your cigars for your website and social media
Shoot unboxing videos, customer reactions, or lifestyle shots
Create buzz around your brand before you’re even licensed to sell
This early content is gold—and it gives you something to show potential customers, retailers, or investors.
🤝3. Share & Test with Friends
Hand out samples to people you trust—your friends, inner circle, or cigar buddies.
Get real feedback on the look, flavor, and feel of your cigars
Learn what resonates and what doesn’t
Fine-tune your branding or blend based on genuine impressions
You can’t get better market research than that.
🚀 4. Slide Into Wholesale When You’re Ready
Once you’ve secured your proper licensing, we’ll move you right over to the wholesale side—no problem. Your branding, blends, and packaging can stay consistent. It’s a seamless transition from testing phase to full-scale business.
Final Word:
The truth is, you don’t need to wait to start building your cigar brand. Just because the paperwork isn’t filed yet doesn’t mean you can’t make progress. Start small, get momentum, and when you’re ready to go big—we’re already here.
🧪 Step 2: Choose Your Custom Cigar Blend
At Bobalu, everything starts with the blend.
You can choose from up to 30 Blends:
- Filler leaf types (Dominican, Nicaraguan, Honduran etc.)
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Wrapper leaf types (Connecticut, Habano, Maduro, San Andres, Cameroon, etc.)
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Sizes and shapes (Coronas, Toros, Robustos, Churchills, Box-pressed, etc.)
- Speciality Cigars (Artisan, Multi-wrapper, unique shapes,box pressed, etc)
We’ll guide you through blends and samples until you find the perfect flavor and draw for your target customer.
🔥 Insider Tip: A strong starter combo is a Connecticut Robusto (great for beginners) and a San Andres Toro (for experienced smokers).
🎨 Step 3: Design Your Custom Bands & Boxes
Your branding matters. A lot. If you want to look like an amateur do it yourself. If you want cigars that can complete with the big brands let the pro’s handle it. No logo? We can make you one. Your graphic artist has probably never made a cigar band, again leave it to the pro’s that do this everyday.
Our team can help you design:
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Custom cigar bands with your logo, brand colors, including box labels
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Boxes and bundles (traditional wood boxes, paper boxes, bundles (cello-wrapped packs), Humi-paks, Tins, Tubes etc)
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Retail-ready presentation look
We also offer in-house printing so your production runs stay tight and costs stay low.
💡 Don’t have a logo yet? We can help you get started with branding essentials that stand out on the shelf.
📦 Step 4: Understand the Minimums
We make it easy to launch without going all-in on a massive order. Most manufacturers require you buy 100’s of boxes/bundles. Most retailers go out of business with the same 100’s on the shelf. Here, you buy as needed. you sell more, you buy more. The huge advantage of having to little or no stock is that there are no wrong decisions, if something is not selling you can easily replace with a new cigar. so the fact that you really carry no stock that has to be blown out, the change from negative to positive is immediate. No small cigar company needs spend all the capital on cigars just sitting on the shelf.
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Minimum Order Quantities (MOQ): Starting at just 25-100 cigars
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You can mix sizes and blends in one order
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Orders can be banded or unbanded depending on your branding readiness
This low barrier to entry means you can test the market or start small without overextending.
🎯 Why We Sell in Samplers (And Why You Should Too)
One thing we’ve learned after decades in the cigar business: you rarely hit the bullseye with just one cigar. That’s why we put such a strong emphasis on selling cigars in sampler packs—whether it’s online or in our Austin factory lounge.
Here’s why:
1. You Get 5–6 Chances to Win a Customer Over
No matter how much a customer says they know what they like, cigar preferences are personal—and unpredictable. A well-priced sampler gives them several different blends, strengths, and wrappers to try. That’s 5 or 6 chances to make them say, “Wow.” And when that happens, they’re a customer for life.
2. It’s Almost Impossible to Nail It on the First Try
Let’s be honest—it’s incredibly hard to match the exact cigar someone will love based on a phone call, email, or even a walk-in conversation. A sampler reduces the pressure and increases the odds of a great experience. It’s like giving the customer a guided tour of your flavor world.
3. Price It to Entice
Our samplers aren’t just good—they’re priced to move. If your goal is to win new customers or turn browsers into buyers, an affordable, value-loaded sampler is one of the best marketing tools you’ll ever use. Think of it as your “first impression box.”
4. Some People Just Can’t Be Pleased—Move On
We’ve had people rave about their favorite cigar, but the fact is if I took their brand and labeled it with my label they would still tell us it “sucks”. That’s just part of the game. Even the best cigar makers in the world get trashed by someone online. Don’t take it personally. Don’t argue. Just move on to the next customer who’s ready to be impressed.
Final Thought:
Whether you’re selling direct to consumers or building a private-label brand, samplers are your secret weapon. They lower risk for the customer, build trust in your brand, and open the door to repeat business.
If you don’t have a sampler in your lineup yet—start there.
🧰 Step 5: Set Up Your Business Infrastructure
You’ll want to appear professional and be ready for growth from day one.
Here’s what we recommend:
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✅ A basic website (Shopify, Square, or even a landing page)
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✅ Professional email address (yourname@yourbrand.com)
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✅ An email list platform (like Mailchimp or Klaviyo) to collect and contact your buyers
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✅ Social media accounts to build buzz and drive brand recognition
Even if you’re only selling locally or at events, this online presence builds credibility and opens doors to future opportunities.
🤝 Step 6: Partner with Bobalu for Manufacturing & Support
We’re more than just a cigar factory—we’re your full-service cigar partner. Here’s what we offer:
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✅ Blending consultation
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✅ In-house band printing & packaging
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✅ Small-batch fulfillment
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✅ Quick turnaround for repeat orders
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✅ Guidance on licensing, regulations, and growth strategy
We’ve helped hundreds of brands go from concept to shelf—and yours could be next.
🗂️ FAQ: Starting Your Own Cigar Line
❓ Do I need a license to get started?
Yes, if you plan to sell cigars to the public. We recommend obtaining a retail tobacco license at minimum.
❓ How long does it take to launch a private-label cigar brand?
Typically 1-5 weeks from concept to finished product, depending on blend development, artwork, and permits.
❓ Can I test the cigars before I commit?
Absolutely. We offer sample blends to help you find the perfect profile.
❓ How many cigars do I have to order to get started?
Our typical private-label order is usually around 25–500 cigars, depending on customization needs.
❓ Will Bobalu handle the design for bands and packaging?
Yes—we offer full design services or can work with your existing art.
❓ Can I reorder the same blend in the future?
Yes, we keep your blend, artwork on file and can produce reorders consistently and quickly.
🚀 Ready to Launch Your Brand?
If you’re serious about creating your own cigar line—whether for resale, private events, hospitality, or personal legacy—Bobalu is ready to help.
📞 Call us at (888) 33-CIGAR or
📧 Email info@bobalu.com to get started today.
Let’s build your brand, one cigar at a time.
