Starco Brands, Inc.
For the period ended Dec 31, 2024. Filed Apr 18, 2025.
View on SEC.govAbout this filing
A company's yearly report to the SEC, with audited financial statements. It is the fullest account a company gives of its business, its finances and the risks it sees.
FY2024 · Filed Apr 18, 2025
STCBStored price and day change unavailable
What changed in Risk Factors?
Read the current filingPrevious report: 10-K
Period ended 2023-12-31; filed 2024-04-03.
0001493152-24-013032
Item 1A. Risk FactorsCurrent report: 10-K
Period ended 2024-12-31; filed 2025-04-18.
0001641172-25-005354
Item 1A. Risk FactorsThe baseline is this issuer’s latest earlier reporting period of the same form that was filed before the current report. A previous 10-Q is a different quarter, not a year-over-year comparison. Amendments are excluded.
Compared 73 previous paragraphs and 78 current paragraphs.
59 unchanged; 14 reworded; 5 added; 0 removed; 0 previous and 0 current paragraphs rearranged.
Tables are not compared: 4 previous and 3 current tables excluded. Dates, whitespace, punctuation and numbering changes are ignored; changes to financial figures remain significant.
A changed paragraph is not evidence that risk increased or decreased. An unchanged paragraph does not establish that risk stayed the same.
Added paragraphs (5)
Current report
We are subject to risks from changes to the trade policies, including tariff and import/export regulations by the U.S. and/or other foreign governments.
Current report
Changes in trade policy, including trade restrictions, new or increased tariffs or quotas, embargoes, sanctions and countersanctions, safeguards or customs restrictions by the U.S. and/or other foreign governments could have a material adverse impact on our business. The imposition of new tariffs or increases in existing tariffs on products imported from countries where we or our suppliers operate could result in increased costs for our consumer goods. These cost increases may reduce our margins, require us to raise prices, or make our products less competitive in the marketplace. In addition, other countries may change their business and trade policies in anticipation of or in response to increased import tariffs and other changes in trade policy and regulations already enacted or that may be enacted in the future. If we are unable to mitigate these risks through supply chain adjustments, pricing strategies, or other measures, our financial performance and growth prospects could be negatively affected. For example, the U.S. has recently imposed new tariffs on China related to the importation of certain product categories and China has responded with retaliatory tariffs.
Current report
Fluctuations in prices of raw materials and other inputs may adversely impact our results.
Current report
Some of our products are built with aluminum and other commodities with price volatility. Steel, aluminum and other commodity prices have historically been highly volatile and the costs for these items may increase in the future due to a variety of factors, including: the level of tariffs that the U.S. imposes on imported steel, aluminum and other commodities; an outbreak of conflicts in regions of the world that produce the commodities or the raw materials that go into the commodities or through which the commodities are transported; or a weakening U.S. dollar.
Current report
In addition, the cost of parts, materials, components or final assemblies has increased and may continue to increase for reasons other than changes in commodity prices. Factors such as the imposition of duties and tariffs and other trade barriers, supply and demand, the level of imports, freight costs, availability of transportation, the cost of manufacturing labor, availability of labor, inventory levels and general economic conditions may affect the price of parts, materials, or components of our CPG products.
Reworded paragraphs (14)
Previous wording
In certain voting situations, including the election of directors, we are effectively controlled by Ross Sklar. As a result, Mr. Sklar has the ability to prevent or influence certain actions by us.
Current wording
In certain voting situations, including the election of our directors, we are effectively controlled by Ross Sklar. As a result, Mr. Sklar has the ability to prevent or influence certain actions by us.
Previous wording
As of April 2, 2024, Mr. Sklar beneficially controls, directly or indirectly, the voting power of up to 481,029,128 shares of the Company’s Class A common stock representing up to 74.2% of the outstanding voting power of the Class A common stock.
Current wording
As of April 16, 2025, Mr. Sklar beneficially controls, directly or indirectly, the voting power of up to 484,608,472 shares of the Company’s Class A common stock representing up to 75.1 % of the outstanding voting power of the Class A common stock, with respect to the election of up to 4 of 7 directors to our Board. Mr. Sklar may exercise control over approximately 220,658,559 shares, or 34.2 % of the total voting power of STCB pursuant to certain stockholder actions as described in the respective voting agreements.
Previous wording
As a result of his stock ownership and various voting agreements, Mr. Sklar has the ability to exercise significant control and influence over our business, including many matters requiring stockholder approval (e.g., election of certain directors, and significant corporate transactions, such as a merger or other sale of our Company or its securities or assets).
Current wording
As a result of his stock ownership and various voting agreements, Mr. Sklar can exercise significant control and influence over our business, including many matters requiring stockholder approval (e.g., election of certain directors, and significant corporate transactions, such as a merger or other sale of our Company or its securities or assets).
Previous wording
The Company is dependent on The Starco Group which is owned by our CEO, Ross Sklar. There is no assurance that TSG will produce, supply or distribute sufficient quantities of those products needed by the Company. Difficulties in developing alternative sources of supply, if required, or failure of TSG to provide the products to the Company would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, and result of operations.
Current wording
Some of the Company’s products are dependent on The Starco Group which is owned by our CEO, Ross Sklar. There is no assurance that TSG will produce, supply or distribute sufficient quantities of those products needed by the Company. Difficulties in developing alternative sources of supply, if required, or failure of TSG to provide the products to the Company could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, and result of operations.
Previous wording
We have historically incurred significant net losses since inception. We incurred a net loss of $45,402,121 in the year ended December 31, 2023, generated net income of $977,858 in the year ended December 31, 2022, incurred a net loss of $2,325,074 in the year ended December 31, 2021, generated net income of $543,286 in the year ended December 31, 2020 and incurred a net loss of $139,964 in the year ended December 31, 2019. As of December 31, 2023, we had an accumulated deficit of $63,769,469. We may not be able to maintain profitability and may incur significant losses again in the future for a number of reasons, including unforeseen expenses, difficulties, complications, and delays, and other unknown events.
Current wording
We have historically incurred significant net losses since inception. We incurred a net loss of $17,334,549 in the year ended December 31, 2024, incurred a net loss of $46,402,121 in the year ended December 31, 2023, generated net income of $977,858 in the year ended December 31, 2022, incurred a net loss of $2,325,074 in the year ended December 31, 2021 and generated net income of $543,286 in the year ended December 31, 2020. As of December 31, 2024, we had an accumulated deficit of $81,420,357. We may not be able to maintain profitability and may incur significant losses again in the future for a number of reasons, including unforeseen expenses, difficulties, complications, and delays, and other unknown events.
Previous wording
In 2023, the Company recognized $20,467,700 and $9,145,000 of impairment charges on goodwill within the Soylent segment and Starco Brands segment, respectively. The Company had no impairment charges on goodwill recorded in 2022.
Current wording
In 2024, the Company recognized $11,383,000 of impairment charges on goodwill within the Soylent segment and $2,944,871 of impairment charges on goodwill within the Starco Brands segment. In 2023, the Company recognized $20,467,700 and $9,145,000 of impairment charges on goodwill within the Soylent segment and Starco Brands segment, respectively.
Previous wording
We cannot assure you that the remaining $26,689,391 of goodwill on the balance sheet as of December 31, 2023 will not be impaired in the future as it is not certain we will achieve sustainable operating profits and revenue growth in the future. Failure to achieve and maintain profitability could lead to a triggering event that would require analysis of whether the remaining goodwill should be impaired.
Current wording
We cannot assure you that the remaining $12,361,520 of goodwill on the balance sheet as of December 31, 2024 will not be impaired in the future as it is not certain we will achieve sustainable operating profits and revenue growth in the future. Failure to achieve and maintain profitability could lead to a triggering event that would require analysis of whether the remaining goodwill should be impaired.
Previous wording
We believe that ours and our company-clients’ brand image and brand awareness is vital to the success of our business. We also believe that maintaining and enhancing the image of ours and our clients’ brands, particularly in new markets where we have limited brand recognition, is important to maintaining and expanding ours and our clients’ customer base. As we execute our acquisition and growth strategy, our ability to successfully expand into new markets or to maintain the strength and distinctiveness of the image of ours and our clients’ brands, our existing markets will be adversely impacted if we fail to connect with ours and our clients’ target customers. Among other things, we rely on our marketing, strategy, and media partners, as well as social media platforms, such as Instagram and Twitter, to help implement our marketing strategies and promote ours and our clients’ brands. Ours and our clients’ brands and reputation may be adversely affected if we fail to achieve these objectives, if ours or our clients’ public image was to be tarnished by negative publicity, if we fail to deliver innovative and high-quality products acceptable to our customers, or if we face a product recall. Negative publicity regarding the production methods of our manufacturer The Starco Group or those of the client-companies we work with could adversely affect our reputation and sales. Additionally, while we devote considerable efforts and resources to protecting our and our clients’ intellectual property, if these efforts are not successful the value of our brand may be harmed. Any harm to our brand and reputation could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition.
Current wording
We believe that our and our company-clients’ brand image and brand awareness is vital to the success of our business. We also believe that maintaining and enhancing the image of ours and our clients’ brands, particularly in new markets where we have limited brand recognition, is important to maintaining and expanding our and our clients’ customer base. As we execute our acquisition and growth strategy, our ability to successfully expand into new markets or to maintain the strength and distinctiveness of the image of ours and our clients’ brands, our existing markets will be adversely impacted if we fail to connect with ours and our clients’ target customers. Among other things, we rely on our marketing, strategy, and media partners, as well as social media platforms, such as Instagram and Twitter, to help implement our marketing strategies and promote our and our clients’ brands. Ours and our clients’ brands and reputation may be adversely affected if we fail to achieve these objectives, if ours or our clients’ public image was to be tarnished by negative publicity, if we fail to deliver innovative and high-quality products acceptable to our customers, or if we face a product recall. Negative publicity regarding the production methods of our manufacturer The Starco Group or those of the client-companies we work with could adversely affect our reputation and sales. Additionally, while we devote considerable efforts and resources to protecting our and our clients’ intellectual property, if these efforts are not successful the value of our brand may be harmed. Any harm to our brand and reputation could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition.
Previous wording
Our success depends to a significant degree on our ability to timely identify and originate product trends as well as to anticipate and react to changing consumer demands. All of our products are subject to changing consumer preferences and we cannot predict such changes with any certainty. Product trends in the food, household cleaning, air care, spirits and personal care markets can change rapidly. We will need to anticipate, identify and respond quickly to changing trends and consumer demands in order to provide the products our customers seek and maintain the image of our brands. If we cannot identify changing trends in advance, fail to react to changing trends or misjudge the market for a trend, our sales could be adversely affected, and we may be faced with a substantial amount of unsold inventory or missed opportunities. As a result, we may be forced to mark down our merchandise in order to dispose of slow-moving inventory, which may result in lower profit margins, negatively impacting our financial condition and results of operations.
Current wording
Our success depends to a significant degree on our ability to timely identify and originate product trends as well as to anticipate and react to changing consumer demands. All of our products are subject to changing consumer preferences and we cannot predict such changes with any certainty. Product trends in food, household cleaning, air care, spirits and personal care markets can change rapidly. We will need to anticipate, identify and respond quickly to changing trends and consumer demands in order to provide the products our customers seek and maintain the image of our brands. If we cannot identify changing trends in advance, fail to react to changing trends or misjudge the market for a trend, our sales could be adversely affected, and we may be faced with a substantial amount of unsold inventory or missed opportunities. As a result, we may be forced to mark down our merchandise in order to dispose of slow-moving inventory, which may result in lower profit margins, negatively impacting our financial condition and results of operations.
Previous wording
Additionally, inflationary factors such as increases in the costs to purchase products, acquire mineral rights and overhead costs may adversely affect our operating results. A continued high rate of inflation in the future may have an adverse effect on our ability to maintain current levels of gross margin and selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenues if the selling prices of our services do not increase with these increased costs.
Current wording
Additionally, inflationary factors such as increases in the costs to purchase products, acquire product rights and overhead costs may adversely affect our operating results. A continued high rate of inflation in the future may have an adverse effect on our ability to maintain current levels of gross margin and selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenues if the selling prices of our services do not increase with these increased costs.
Previous wording
We are party to a licensing agreement (the “TSG Licensing Agreement”) with TSG dated July 12, 2017. Pursuant to this agreement, STCB licenses to TSG the exclusive right to manufacture and sell certain of STCB’s products, which it may sell under the brand names owned by STCB. In return, TSG pays STCB royalties based on TSG’s unit sales of the products licensed by STCB to TSG pursuant to the TSG Licensing Agreement. Most of the Company’s products are manufactured and sold by TSG pursuant to this Licensing Agreement. As such, we are reliant on the TSG Licensing Agreement with TSG for a significant portion of our business. In addition, due to the close relationship of the Company and TSG, the deal terms that the Company has procured under this TSG Licensing Agreement (relating to manufacturing and royalties the Company receives on product sales by TSG) are very favorable to the Company, and would be difficult to replicate with another third-party manufacturer. Further, if for some reason the Company wanted to switch to an alternative provider for the manufacturing and selling of Company products, the TSG Licensing Agreement grants TSG an exclusive right to the products of the Company, and therefore the Company would be unable to change to another manufacturer without the consent of TSG or a breach by TSG of the terms of the TSG Licensing Agreement. Under the terms of the TSG Licensing Agreement, the agreement expires December 31, 2028, but may be terminated by either party immediately upon the material breach of the TSG Licensing Agreement by the other party. If TSG were to assert a breach of the TSG Licensing Agreement by the Company, and was successful in terminating the TSG Licensing Agreement, it could have a material adverse effect on the Company and its operating results.
Current wording
We are party to a licensing agreement (the “TSG Licensing Agreement”) with TSG dated July 12, 2017. Pursuant to this agreement, STCB licenses to TSG the exclusive right to manufacture and sell certain of STCB’s products, which it may sell under the brand names owned by STCB. In return, TSG pays STCB royalties based on TSG’s unit sales of the products licensed by STCB to TSG pursuant to the TSG Licensing Agreement. Most of the Company’s products are manufactured and sold by TSG pursuant to this Licensing Agreement. As such, we are reliant on the TSG Licensing Agreement with TSG for a significant portion of our business. In addition, due to the close relationship of the Company and TSG, the deal terms that the Company has procured under this TSG Licensing Agreement (relating to manufacturing and royalties the Company receives on product sales by TSG) are favorable to the Company and would be difficult to replicate with another third-party manufacturer. Further, if for some reason the Company wanted to switch to an alternative provider for the manufacturing and selling of Company products, the TSG Licensing Agreement grants TSG an exclusive right to the products of the Company, and therefore the Company would be unable to change to another manufacturer without the consent of TSG or a breach by TSG of the terms of the TSG Licensing Agreement. Under the terms of the TSG Licensing Agreement, the agreement expires December 31, 2028, but may be terminated by either party immediately upon the material breach of the TSG Licensing Agreement by the other party. If TSG were to assert a breach of the TSG Licensing Agreement by the Company, and was successful in terminating the TSG Licensing Agreement, it could have a material adverse effect on the Company and its operating results.
Previous wording
Another manufacturer of a significant number of our products is Gehl Foods, LLC (“Gehl”), whom we are reliant on to a meaningful degree. The operations of Gehl can be subject to risks beyond our control, including shipping delays, labor disputes, trade restrictions, tariffs and embargos, or any other change in local conditions. Gehl may experience a significant disruption in the supply or raw materials from current sources and, in the event of such a disruption, it may be unable to locate alternative materials suppliers of comparable quality at an acceptable price, or at all. There may be shipments of products by Gehl to the Company’s customers that fail to comply with our specifications or that fail to conform to our quality control standards or those of our customers. Under these circumstances, we may incur substantial expense to remedy the problems and may be required to obtain replacement products. If we fail to remedy any such problem in a timely manner, we risk the loss of net revenue resulting from the inability to sell those products and related increased administrative and shipping costs. Additionally, if the unacceptability of our products is not discovered until after such products are purchased by our customers, our customers could lose confidence in our products or we could face a product recall. In such an event our brand reputation may be negatively impacted which could negatively impact our results of operations.
Current wording
Another manufacturer of a significant number of our products is Gehl Foods, LLC (“Gehl”), a non-affiliate, whom we are reliant on to a meaningful degree. The operations of Gehl can be subject to risks beyond our control, including shipping delays, labor disputes, trade restrictions, tariffs and embargos, or any other change in local conditions. Gehl may experience a significant disruption in the supply or raw materials from current sources and, in the event of such a disruption, it may be unable to locate alternative materials suppliers of comparable quality at an acceptable price, or at all. There may be shipments of products by Gehl to the Company’s customers that fail to comply with our specifications or that fail to conform to our quality control standards or those of our customers. Under these circumstances, we may incur substantial expense to remedy the problems and may be required to obtain replacement products. If we fail to remedy any such problem in a timely manner, we risk the loss of net revenue resulting from the inability to sell those products and related increased administrative and shipping costs. Additionally, if the unacceptability of our products is not discovered until after such products are purchased by our customers, our customers could lose confidence in our products or we could face a product recall. In such an event our brand reputation may be negatively impacted which could negatively impact our results of operations.
Previous wording
From time to time, acquisition opportunities have, and may in the future, become available to us. Those opportunities may involve the acquisition of specific assets, like intellectual property or inventory, or may involve the assumption of the business operations of another entity. If the performance of our acquisitions (AOS®, Skylar®or Soylent®) do not produce positive results, the dilution to stockholders from related true-up share issuances and any interest rate on debt held by such subsidiary, may prove detrimental to our financial results and the performance of your particular shares.
Current wording
From time to time, acquisition opportunities have, and may in the future, become available to us. Those opportunities may involve the acquisition of specific assets, like intellectual property or inventory, or may involve the assumption of the business operations of another entity. If the performance of our acquisitions (AOS®, Skylar® or Soylent®) do not produce positive results, the dilution to stockholders from related true-up share issuances (approximately 135 million shares) and any interest rate on debt held by such subsidiary, may prove detrimental to our financial results and the performance of your particular shares.
Previous wording
The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, or other pandemics, may have an impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Current wording
Pandemics may have an impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.