Starting a new business in this economy is tough to say the least. I'd strongly recommend putting together a business plan and thinking it through beyond the novel idea of starting a business directly connected to your favorite (I'm assuming) hobby. The business plan will really open your eyes to the costs of running a highly taxed business. Beyond the obvious cost of inventory you have the cost of of your TIB's (Tenants Improvements and Betterments) which is the cost associated with turning a vacant storefront into a cigar shop...things like your humidor(s), counters, accessory racks and such. Then there is your overhead like rent, utilities, insurance, phones, payroll etc... Most all of the necessary services require fees and or deposits to get established. Insurance can be expensive for tobacco stores and finding a policy that will cover theft can be difficult. Most policies will require at least a 25% down payment plus taxes and fees.
I guess what I'm getting at is there is a lot to starting up a business and it can easily drain your financial resources if you are not careful.
I would strongly recommend you buy and read the book
"The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It" by Michael E. Gerber
It is an excellent resource and may be the best couple of bucks you've ever spent.
If you do go through with it I wish you all the best of luck. I started my business from scratch 5-years ago and although there have been some really scary times, it has been a great ride and I now am confident that the light at the end of the tunnel is not a freight train.
