Starco Brands, Inc. - Quarter Report: 2022 March (Form 10-Q)

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

STARCO BRANDS, INC.

and SUBSIDIARIES

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

STARCO BRANDS, INC.

and SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2022 AND 2021

NOTE 1 – ORGANIZATION AND DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

Starco Brands, Inc. (STCB) was incorporated in the State of Nevada on  January 26, 2010 under the name Insynergy, Inc. On  September 7, 2017, STCB filed an Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation to change the corporate name to Starco Brands, Inc. The Board determined the change of STCB's name was in the best interests of the Company due to changes in its current and anticipated business operations. In  July 2017, STCB entered into a licensing agreement with The Starco Group (“TSG”), located in Los Angeles, California. The companies pivoted to commercializing novel consumer products manufactured by TSG. TSG is a private label and branded aerosol and liquid fill manufacturer with manufacturing assets in the following verticals: DIY/Hardware, paints, coatings and adhesives, household, hair care, disinfectants, automotive, motorcycle, arts & crafts, personal care cosmetics, personal care FDA, sun care, food, cooking oils, beverages, and spirits and wine.

During the third quarter of 2021, STCB formed two subsidiaries, Whipshots, LLC, a Wyoming limited liability company ("Whipshots LLC") and Whipshots, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company which was subsequently renamed Whipshots Holdings, LLC ("Whipshots Holdings"). Whipshots- LLC was a wholly-owned subsidiary of STCB at formation which was subsequently contributed to Whipshots Holdings. Whipshots Holdings is a majority owned subsidiary of STCB in which STCB owns 96% of the vested voting interests. There are unvested interests not owned by the Company for an additional 3% of the of the equity which have been issued subject to vesting requirements. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements are of STCB and its subsidiaries Whipshots Holdings and Whipshots LLC (collectively, the "Company").

In our opinion, all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of unaudited consolidated financial position and the unaudited consolidated results of operations for interim periods presented have been reflected herein. The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

NOTE 2 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Consolidation 
The consolidated financial statements of Starco Brands, Inc. include the accounts of STCB and our 96% owned subsidiary and its wholly owned subsidiary, which are comprised of voting interest entities in which we have a controlling financial interest in accordance with ASC 810, Consolidation. All significant intercompany profits, losses, transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation in the condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
Our consolidated subsidiaries at March 31, 2022 include:
Whipshots Holdings and its wholly owned subsidiary Whipshots LLC
 

Basis of presentation

The condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company and the accompanying notes included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are unaudited. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for the fair presentation of the condensed consolidated financial statements have been included. Such adjustments are of a normal, recurring nature. The condensed consolidated financial statements, and the accompanying notes, are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and do not contain certain information included in the Company’s Annual Report and Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021. Therefore, the interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with that Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 
Use of estimates
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates include the estimated useful lives of property and equipment. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
Concentrations of Credit Risk
We maintain our cash in bank deposit accounts, the balances of which at times may exceed federally insured limits. We continually monitor our banking relationships and consequently have not experienced any losses in our accounts. We believe we are not exposed to any significant credit risk on cash.

Cash equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. There were no cash equivalents as of March 31, 2022 or December 31, 2021.

Accounts Receivable

Revenues that have been recognized but not yet received are recorded as accounts receivable. Losses on receivables will be recognized when it is more likely than not that a receivable will not be collected. An allowance for estimated uncollectible amounts will be recognized to reduce the amount of receivables to its net realizable value. All of our receivables are from related parties. The allowance for uncollectible amounts is evaluated quarterly and was zero as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021.

Fair value of financial instruments

The Company follows paragraph 825-10-50-10 of the FASB Accounting Standards Codification for disclosures about fair value of its financial instruments and paragraph 820-10-35-37 of the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“Paragraph 820-10-35-37”) to measure the fair value of its financial instruments. Paragraph 820-10-35-37 establishes a framework for measuring fair value in accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP), and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. To increase consistency and comparability in fair value measurements and related disclosures, Paragraph 820-10-35-37 establishes a fair value hierarchy which prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three (3) broad levels. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs. The three (3) levels of fair value hierarchy defined by Paragraph 820-10-35-37 are described below:

Level 1: Quoted market prices available in active markets for identical assets or liabilities as of the reporting date.

Level 2: Pricing inputs other than quoted prices in active markets included in Level 1, which are either directly or indirectly observable as of the reporting date.

Level 3: Pricing inputs that are generally unobservable inputs and not corroborated by market data.

The carrying amount of the Company’s consolidated financial assets and liabilities, such as cash, prepaid expenses and accrued expenses approximate their fair value because of the short maturity of those instruments. The Company’s notes payable approximates the fair value of such instruments based upon management’s best estimate of interest rates that would be available to the Company for similar financial arrangements at March 31, 2022.

Property and equipment

Property and equipment are carried at the lower of cost or net realizable value. All Property and equipment with a cost of $2,000 or greater are capitalized. Major betterments that extend the useful lives of assets are also capitalized. Normal maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. When assets are sold or otherwise disposed of, the cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any resulting gain or loss is recognized in operations. At March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company had no net property and equipment.

Revenue recognition

STCB and its subsidiaries earn their revenue as royalties from the licensing agreements it has with TSG, a related entity, and other related parties. STCB licenses the right for TSG to manufacture and sell certain Starco Brands products. The amount of the licensing revenue received varies depending upon the product and the royalty percentage is determined beforehand in each agreement. The Company recognizes its revenue only when sales are made by TSG or other related parties to a third party.

The Company applies the following five-step model in order to determine this amount: (i) identification of the promised goods in the contract; (ii) determination of whether the promised goods are performance obligations, including whether they are distinct in the context of the contract; (iii) measurement of the transaction price, including the constraint on variable consideration; (iv) allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations; and (v) recognition of revenue when (or as) the Company satisfies each performance obligation.

The Company only applies the five-step model to contracts when it is probable that the entity will collect the consideration it is entitled to in exchange for the licensee transferring goods or services to the customer. Once a contract is determined to be within the scope of ASC 606 at contract inception, the Company reviews the contract to determine which performance obligations the Company's licensee must deliver and which of these performance obligations are distinct. The Company recognizes as revenues the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to the respective performance obligation when the performance obligation is satisfied or as it is satisfied. Generally, the Company's licensee's performance obligations are transferred to customers at a point in time, typically upon delivery.

Income taxes

The Company follows Section 740-10-30 of the FASB Accounting Standards Codification, which requires recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the consolidated financial statements or tax returns. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are based on the differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the fiscal year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance to the extent management concludes it is more likely than not that the assets will not be realized. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the fiscal years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the Statements of Income in the period that includes the enactment date.

The Company adopted section 740-10-25 of the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“Section 740-10-25”) with regards to uncertainty income taxes. Section 740-10-25 addresses the determination of whether tax benefits claimed or expected to be claimed on a tax return should be recorded in the consolidated financial statements. Under Section 740-10-25, the Company may recognize the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the consolidated financial statements from such a position should be measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than fifty percent (50%) likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. Section 740-10-25 also provides guidance on de-recognition, classification, interest and penalties on income taxes, accounting in interim periods and requires increased disclosures. The Company had no material adjustments to its liabilities for unrecognized income tax benefits according to the provisions of Section 740-10-25.

Stock-based Compensation

The Company follows the guidance of the accounting provisions of ASC 718 Share-based Compensation (“ASC 718”), which requires the use of the fair-value based method to determine compensation for all arrangements under which employees and others receive shares of stock or equity instruments (warrants, options, and restricted stock units). The fair value of each warrant and option is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes options-pricing model that uses assumptions for expected volatility, expected dividends, expected term, and the risk-free interest rate. The Company has not paid dividends historically and does not expect to pay them in the future. Expected volatilities are based on weighted averages of the historical volatility of the Company’s common stock estimated over the expected term of the awards. The expected term of awards granted is derived using the “simplified method” which computes expected term as the average of the sum of the vesting term plus the contract term as historically the Company had limited activity surrounding its awards. The risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant for the period of the expected term. The grant date fair value of a restricted stock unit equals the closing price of our common stock on the trading day of the grant date.

Net income (loss) per common share

Net income (loss) per common share is computed pursuant to section 260-10-45 of the FASB Accounting Standards Codification. Basic net income (loss) per common share is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted net income (loss) per common share is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of shares of common stock and potentially outstanding shares of common stock during the period. The weighted average number of common shares outstanding and potentially outstanding common shares assumes that the Company incorporated as of the beginning of the first period presented. As of March 31, 2022, the Company had 728,570 shares of stock payable that have been sold to investors, 650,000 shares of stock payable to advisors and subject to vesting, and 2,550,000 potentially dilutive shares from outstanding warrants.

Intangible Assets

Definite-lived intangible assets consist of certain trademarks and customer lists. Definite-lived intangible assets are amortized utilizing the straight-line method over the assets’ estimated useful lives, which approximate 10 years.  There was no significant amortization during the quarter ended March 31, 2022 or the year ended December 31, 2021.

The Company assesses potential impairment of its long-lived assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that an asset or asset group’s carrying value may not be recoverable. Factors that are considered important that could trigger an impairment review include a current period operating or cash flow loss combined with a history of operating or cash flow losses and a projection or forecast that demonstrates continuing losses or insufficient income associated with the use of a long-lived asset or asset group. Other factors include a significant change in the manner of the use of the asset or a significant negative industry or economic trend. This evaluation is performed based on estimated undiscounted future cash flows from operating activities compared with the carrying value of the related assets. If the undiscounted future cash flows are less than the carrying value, an impairment loss is recognized, measured by the difference between the carrying value, and the estimated fair value of the assets, with such estimated fair values determined using the best information available and in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements. The Company did not record asset impairment charges related to its intangible assets during the quarter ended March 31, 2022.

Royalties and Licenses

Royalty-based obligations with content licensors are either paid in advance and capitalized as prepaid royalties or are accrued as incurred and subsequently paid. These royalty-based obligations are generally expensed to cost of revenue generally at the greater of the contractual rate or an effective royalty rate based on the total projected net revenue for contracts with guaranteed minimums. Prepayments made are generally made in connection with the development of a particular product, and therefore, we are generally subject to risk during the product phase. Payments earned after completion of the product (primarily royalty-based in nature) are generally expensed as cost of revenue.

Our contracts with some licensors include minimum guaranteed royalty payments, which are initially recorded as an asset and as a liability at the contractual amount when no performance remains with the licensor. When performance remains with the licensor, we record guarantee payments as an asset when actually paid and as a liability when incurred, rather than recording the asset and liability upon execution of the contract.

Each quarter, we also evaluate the expected future realization of our royalty-based assets, as well as any unrecognized minimum commitments not yet paid to determine amounts we deem unlikely to be realized through future revenue. Impairments or losses determined post-launch are charged to cost of revenue. We evaluate long-lived royalty-based assets for impairment using undiscounted cash flows when impairment indicators exist. If an impairment exists, then the related assets are written down to fair value. Unrecognized minimum royalty-based commitments are accounted for as executory contracts, and therefore, any losses on these commitments are recognized when the underlying intellectual property is abandoned (i.e., cease use) or the contractual rights to use the intellectual property are terminated.

Our minimum contractual obligations as of December 31, 2021 approximate $550,000, $1,100,000 and $1,650,000 for the years ending December 31, 2022, 2023 and 2024, respectively.

Recently issued accounting pronouncements

The Company has implemented all new accounting pronouncements that are in effect.  These pronouncements did not have any material impact on the consolidated financial statements unless otherwise disclosed, and the Company does not believe that there are any other new accounting pronouncements that have been issued that might have a material impact on its financial position or results of operations.

NOTE 3 – GOING CONCERN

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. The Company has an accumulated deficit of $18,347,237 at March 31, 2022 including the impact of its income of $40,949 for the quarter ended March 31, 2022.  Net cash used in operating activities was $566,093 for the quarter ended March 31, 2022. The Company’s ability to continue with this trend is unknown. The Company’s ability to raise additional capital through the future issuances of common stock and/or debt financing is unknown although the Company is actively raising capital via a Regulation A offering which was qualified in December 2021. The obtainment of additional financing and the successful development of the Company’s contemplated plan of operations, to the attainment of profitable operations are necessary for the Company to continue operations. These conditions and the ability to successfully resolve these factors raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The consolidated financial statements of the Company do not include any adjustments that may result from the outcome of these aforementioned uncertainties.

NOTE 4 – NOTES PAYABLE

The Company has a financing loan for its Directors and Officers Insurance (“D&O”) that was incurred in September 2021. The loan bears interest at 4.4% and requires monthly payments through June 2022. As of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company had D&O loan balances of $27,060 and $53,822, respectively.

See Note 7 - Related Party Transactions for loans to STCB from the Company's CEO. 

NOTE 5 – OPERATING LEASE

The Company previously occupied office space in Burbank, California. The Company signed a three-year lease starting January 1, 2016. The lease was then extended for an additional three-year term. Upon adoption of ASU 2016-02 Leases (Topic 842), the Company recorded an initial Right of Use of Asset and Lease Obligation of $122,825.

On November 1, 2020, the lease was amended to reduce the monthly lease payment to $1,750. In addition, the lessor agreed to forgive all past due accrued rent. As a result, the Company recognized a gain on the forgiveness of debt of $34,280.

On November 13, 2020, the Company and lessor assigned the lease for the office space in Burbank to two of its then Directors, Sanford Lang and Martin Goldrod, relieving the Company of any further obligation under the lease.

The lease expense for year ended December 31, 2020 was $34,691 and cash paid under this operating lease was $25,918 during the same period.

During the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company determined that it was unlikely to collect the lease deposit and recognized an asset writeoff expense of $3,500. There were no other lease expenses or payments during the period. There was no lease expense for the period ended March 31, 2022.

NOTE 6 – COMMITMENTS & CONTINGENCIES

On February 18, 2020, STCB received a demand letter from a law firm representing certain individuals who purchased the Breathe brand home cleaning products. The demand letter alleged that STCB had unlawfully, falsely and misleadingly labeled and marketed the Breathe brand of products to consumers in violation of the Consumer Products Safety Act, the Federal Hazardous Substance Act and the FTC Act as well as various California and New York laws. While STCB denied any wrongdoing, a settlement was reached and paid in full, with no further obligation required by STCB.

On September 8, 2021, Whipshots LLC, a Wyoming limited liability company (“Whipshots”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Starco Brands, Inc., entered into an Intellectual Property Purchase Agreement (the “Agreement”) effective August 24, 2021, with Penguins Fly, LLC, a Pennsylvania limited liability company (“Seller”). The Agreement provides that Seller will sell to Buyer the trademarks “Whipshotz” and “Whipshots”, accompanying domain and social media handles of the same nomenclature, and certain intellectual property, documents, digital assets, customer data and other transferable rights under non-disclosure, non-compete, non-solicitation and confidentiality contracts benefiting the purchased intellectual property and documents (collectively, the “Acquired Assets”). The purchase price (“Purchase Price Payment”) for the Acquired Assets will be payable to Seller, over the course of seven years, based on a sliding scale percentage of gross revenues actually received by Buyer solely from Buyer’s sale of Whipshots/Whipshotz Products. The Purchase Price Payment shall be subject to a minimum amount in each contract year and a maximum aggregate amount between $140,000 and $2,000,000 based on revenues generated by the products. As of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company had paid $20,000 of Purchase Price Payment, which has been recorded as an intangible asset.

On September 14, 2021, the Company entered into a License Agreement with Washpoppin Inc., a New York corporation. Pursuant to the License Agreement, Licensor shall license to the Company certain Licensed Property of the recording artist professionally known as “Cardi B”. As part of the Agreement, in exchange for royalty rates based on Net Sales (as defined in the Agreement) during each applicable contract period, the Licensor warrants to cause the Artist to attend certain in person events, media interviews, participate in the development of the Licensed Products (as defined in the Agreement), and promote the Licensed Products through social media posts on the Artist’s social media platforms. The Company has committed to a minimum royalty payment under the Agreement of $3,300,000 in aggregate through 2024, subject to Licensor’s satisfaction of its obligations. In the quarter ended March 31, 2022, the Company incurred expense of approximately $127,000 and had a capitalized balance of approximately $381,000 related to this royalty.

Accrued Liability

On July 9, 2014, the Board of Directors approved an investment arrangement with an individual. Per the terms of the agreement, the investor transferred $150,000 to STCB to be used for the development of a specific product. The product for which the investment was intended was never produced and this agreement is being renegotiated. The $150,000 investment was never returned by the Company and the amount is included in other payables and accruals on the balance sheet.

NOTE 7 – RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

During the year ended December 31, 2017, Sanford Lang, the Company’s former Chairman and CEO, advanced STCB $289,821 to pay for general operating expenses. The advance required a monthly interest payment of $2,545 and was due on demand. In June 2021, Mr. Lang and Mr. Goldrod executed agreements with STCB whereby the advance from Mr. Lang and all other amounts owed to each were repaid and both Mr. Lang and Mr. Goldrod resigned from the Board of Directors. Further, for a period of 36 months beginning in July 2021, STCB will repurchase an aggregate of $10,950 worth of shares each month from Mr. Lang and Mr. Goldrod, with the share price for each purchase to be set according to the volume weighted average trading price of the common stock over the last 10 days of the month. In the three months ended March 31, 2022 STCB paid an aggregate of $32,850 to Mr. Lang and Mr. Goldrod per the agreements and anticipates that the corresponding share transfers will be settled in 2022.

As of March 31, 2022, the Company owed TSG $72,843 for expenses paid by TSG on behalf of STCB for expenses to launch licensed brands. As royalties have exceeded $250,000 in the aggregate, once the Company has an adequate cash reserve, TSG may deduct the incurred expenses from the subsequent royalty payments until TSG is paid in full. In addition, STCB owes TSG and its subsidiaries an additional $203,539 for expenses paid on behalf of STCB or funds advanced to the Company to pay for other operating expenses. TSG is owned by STCB's CEO, Ross Sklar.

On January 24, 2020, STCB executed a promissory note for $100,000 with Ross Sklar, CEO. The note bears interest at 4% per annum, compounds monthly, is unsecured, and matures two years from the original date of issuance. On June 28, 2021, STCB executed an additional promissory note with Ross Sklar in the principal amount of $100,000 with the same terms as the January 24, 2020 note and a maturity date of June 28, 2023. On September 17, 2021, STCB executed a third promissory note with Ross Sklar in the principal amount of $500,000 with the same terms as the prior notes and a maturity date of September 17, 2023. On December 13, 2021, STCB executed a fourth promissory note with Ross Sklar in the principal amount of $500,000 with the same terms as the prior notes and a maturity date of December 12, 2023. On February 14, 2022, STCB executed a fifth promissory note in favor of Ross Sklar, CEO, in the principal sum of $472,500, in exchange for a cash advance in the amount of $300,000 and payment of Company costs in the amount of $172,500. As with the other notes between the Company and our CEO, the note bears interest at 4% per annum, is unsecured, and matures two years from the original date of issuance. This note may also convert into shares of Company common stock at the 10-day volume weighted average trading price of the Company common stock for the 10-day period prior to the issuance of the Note, which was calculated as $0.29 per share. As of March 31, 2022, there was $6,086 of accrued interest due on these notes.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2022, the Company incurred $87,044 of marketing expense from The Woo. David Dryer, STCB's EVP of Marketing was a Managing Director at The Woo until February 2022.

During the quarters ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company recognized revenue of $923,274 and $132,514, respectively. There were $560,372 and $174,059 of accounts receivable and accrued accounts receivable from TSG and Temperance as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively. All revenue received is from related parties. 

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company advanced $95,640 to Temperance as a note and related to its initial production of Whipshots. The note carries no interest and is payable on demand.    

NOTE 8 – STOCK WARRANTS

A summary of the status of the Company’s outstanding stock warrants and changes during the periods is presented below:

NOTE 9 – STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)

On July 23, 2020, the Company granted 49,751 shares of common stock for services. The shares were valued at $2.01, (the average 14-day closing price), for total non-cash expense of $100,000.  In October 2021, the Company agreed to grant 650,000 shares of common stock for services of advisory board members. The shares vest over a 24 month period and were valued at $1.00 each, consistent with the price of shares issued in the Reg A offering, for a total non-cash expense of $650,000 to be recognized consistent with the shares' vesting schedule. During the quarter ended March 31, 2022 the Company expensed $81,249 related to these shares.

Stock Payable

In the quarter ended March 31, 2022, STCB recorded $81,249 of stock payable for services provided and related to common stock to be issued.  The following summarizes the stock payable activity during the periods ended  March 31, 2022 and March 31, 2021:

NOTE 10 - SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

Management has evaluated subsequent events pursuant to the requirements of ASC Topic 855, from the balance sheet date through the date the financial statements were issued, and has determined that no material subsequent events exist.

ITEM 2.   MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT FOR FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

THIS QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q INCLUDES FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 27A OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, SECTION 21E OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED, AND OTHER FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS, PARTICULARLY THOSE ANTICIPATING FUTURE FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE, BUSINESS PROSPECTS, GROWTH, OPERATING STRATEGIES AND SIMILAR MATTERS, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, STATEMENTS CONCERNING THE IMPACTS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON OUR BUSINESS, OPERATIONS, RESULTS OF OPERATIONS, LIQUIDITY, INVESTMENTS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION. WE HAVE BASED THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS ON OUR CURRENT INTENT, EXPECTATIONS AND PROJECTIONS ABOUT FUTURE EVENTS, AND THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS ARE NOT GUARANTEED TO OCCUR AND MAY NOT OCCUR. THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO KNOWN AND UNKNOWN RISKS, UNCERTAINTIES AND ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT US THAT MAY CAUSE OUR ACTUAL RESULTS, LEVELS OF ACTIVITY, PERFORMANCE OR ACHIEVEMENTS TO BE MATERIALLY DIFFERENT FROM ANY FUTURE RESULTS, LEVELS OF ACTIVITY, PERFORMANCE OR ACHIEVEMENTS EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED BY SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. IN SOME CASES, YOU CAN IDENTIFY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS BY TERMINOLOGY SUCH AS “MAY,” “WILL,” “SHOULD,” “COULD,” “WOULD,” “INTEND,” “PROJECT,” “CONTEMPLATE,” “POTENTIAL,” “EXPECT,” “PLAN,” “ANTICIPATE,” “BELIEVE,” “ESTIMATE,” “CONTINUE,” OR THE NEGATIVE OF SUCH TERMS OR OTHER SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS. THESE STATEMENTS ARE ONLY PREDICTIONS. FACTORS THAT MIGHT CAUSE OR CONTRIBUTE TO SUCH A DISCREPANCY INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, THOSE DESCRIBED IN OUR OTHER SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION FILINGS. 

THE FOLLOWING DISCUSSION SHOULD BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND RELATED NOTES THERETO INCLUDED ELSEWHERE IN THIS REPORT. ANY OF THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS THAT WE MAKE IN THIS QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q AND IN OTHER PUBLIC REPORTS AND STATEMENTS WE MAKE MAY TURN OUT TO BE INACCURATE AS A RESULT OF OUR BELIEFS AND ASSUMPTIONS WE MAKE IN CONNECTION WITH THE FACTORS SET FORTH ABOVE OR BECAUSE OF OTHER UNIDENTIFIED AND UNPREDICTABLE FACTORS. IN ADDITION, OUR BUSINESS AND FUTURE RESULTS ARE SUBJECT TO A NUMBER OF OTHER FACTORS, INCLUDING THOSE FACTORS SET FORTH IN THE “RISK FACTORS” SECTION OF OUR ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2021 AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION (THE "SEC") ON MAY 20, 2022. BECAUSE OF THESE AND OTHER UNCERTAINTIES, OUR ACTUAL FUTURE RESULTS MAY BE MATERIALLY DIFFERENT FROM THE RESULTS INDICATED BY THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND YOU SHOULD NOT RELY ON SUCH STATEMENTS. WE UNDERTAKE NO OBLIGATION TO PUBLISH REVISED FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS TO REFLECT THE OCCURRENCE OF UNANTICIPATED EVENTS OR CIRCUMSTANCES AFTER THE DATE HEREOF. THESE RISKS COULD CAUSE OUR ACTUAL RESULTS FOR 2022 AND BEYOND TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE EXPRESSED IN ANY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS BY OR ON BEHALF OF US, AND COULD NEGATIVELY AFFECT OUR FINANCIAL CONDITION, LIQUIDITY AND OPERATING AND STOCK PRICE PERFORMANCE.

Our Business

Starco Brands, Inc. (formerly Insynergy Products, Inc.), which we refer to as "the Company," "our Company," "STCB", "we," "us" or "our," was incorporated in the State of Nevada on January 26, 2010. On September 7, 2017, the Company filed an Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation to change the corporate name to Starco Brands, Inc.  The Board determined the change of the Company’s name was in the best interests of the Company due to changes in our current and anticipated business operations at that time.  In July 2017, the Company entered into a licensing agreement with The Starco Group ("TSG"), located in Los Angeles, California.  TSG is a private label and branded aerosol and liquid fill manufacturer with manufacturing assets in the following verticals: DIY/Hardware, paints, coatings and adhesives, household, hair care, disinfectants, automotive, motorcycle, arts & crafts, personal care cosmetics, personal care FDA, sun care, food, cooking oils, beverages, and spirits and wine. Upon entering into the licensing agreement with TSG, the Company pivoted to commercializing novel consumer products manufactured by TSG.

Executive Overview

In July 2017, our Board of Directors entered into a licensing agreement with TSG to pursue a new strategic marketing plan involving commercializing leading edge products with the intent to sell them through brick and mortar and online retailers.  We are a company whose mission is to create behavior-changing products and brands. Our core competency is inventing brands, marketing, building trends, pushing awareness and social marketing. The licensing agreement with TSG provided STCB with certain products on an exclusive and royalty-free basis and other products on a non-exclusive and royalty basis, in the categories of food, household cleaning, air care, spirits and personal care. 

The current CEO and owner of TSG, Ross Sklar, was named the CEO of STCB in August of 2017.  Mr. Sklar has a long track record of commercializing technology in industrial and consumer markets. Mr. Sklar has built teams of manufacturing personnel, research and development, and sales and marketing professionals over the last 20 years and has grown TSG into a successful and diversified manufacturer supplying a wide range of products to some of the largest retailers in the United States.

STCB conducted extensive research and has identified specific channels to penetrate with its portfolio of novel technologies. STCB is now executing on this vision and since its inception has launched four product lines. The Breathe® Household cleaning aerosol line is an environmentally friendly line of household cleaning aerosol products. It is the world’s first aerosol household cleaning line to be approved by the EPA’s Safer Choice program. This line is biodegradable and is propelled by nitrogen, which makes up approximately 80% of the earth’s breathable air. Breathe was named Partner of the Year by the EPA’s Safer Choice Program and also achieved the Good Housekeeping Seal of approval.

STCB also launched the Breathe® Hand Sanitizer Spray in April 2020. This invention was created and patents were filed by Alim Enterprises, LLC, (“AE”) an entity owned by Mr. Sklar. Originally the technology was developed for Blue Cross Laboratories, LLC, (“BCL”) a personal care consumer products manufacturer owned by Mr. Sklar’s TSG. The product was developed as a result of supply chain collapse during the Covid-19 outbreak and increased demand for hand sanitizers. The traditional packaging components used in manufacturing hand sanitizer became very difficult to procure. BCL, located in Santa Clarita, California, is an at scale manufacturer that started approximately 50 years ago with personal care products, including hand sanitizer. Due to the outbreak of Covid-19, many traditional component supply chains became overly stressed and BCL could not source enough bottles and caps. Through Mr. Sklar’s AE, the concept of a spray hand sanitizer was invented. AE filed patents on what it believes to be the first ever aerosol spray hand sanitizer with a 75% alcohol solution that utilizes only compressed air and nitrogen as the product’s propellant. AE and its intellectual property counsel believe the product is novel and warrants a utility patent. In February 2021, AE assigned the patent application to STCB as contemplated by a 2020 memorandum of understanding among AE, STCB and TSG.

The product is being manufactured by BOV Solutions, a division of TSG that is an at scale FDA, CFR210/211 manufacturer of aerosol and OTC products. The Breathe Hand Sanitizer Spray can only be made in an FDA facility that has at scale aerosol capabilities. The product is being sold through BOV Solutions and TSG’s existing distribution footprints in the United States. STCB launched the product in April 2020 via a press release in partnership with Dollar General, announcing its distribution in each of their 15,000+ stores. STCB has also partnered with Wegmans, HLA and J Winkler. Since then, the product is in distribution through The Home Depot, Lowes, American Pharmacy, AutoZone, The Farm Shop, Harris Teeter, UNFI, Kehe, Macy’s, Smart & Final, Weeks and others. The product comes in three sizes, 1oz., 5oz., and 9.5oz. sprays and is available directly on STCB’s website www.breathesanitizer.com and on Amazon.com and Walmart.com.         

STCB is also the marketer of record, but not the owner of record of, Betterbilt Chemical’s Kleen Out® branded drain opener and for the Winona® Butter Flavor Popcorn Spray. STCB provides marketing services for these brands pursuant to the terms of agreements governing STCB's marketing. Both products are available in Walmart stores.  

Through STCB’s relationship with TSG and their marketing partner Deutsch Marketing, STCB launched a new label in June 2019 for Winona Popcorn Spray throughout all Walmart stores. STCB also launched the Winona Popcorn Spray on Amazon through our strategic partner Pattern (formally iServe), who is a shareholder in STCB. Winona Popcorn Spray is also sold in H-E-B grocery stores. The Company also launched a new caramel flavor which is also distributed through Walmart and H-E-B. Sales grew significantly in 2021 and the Company expects sales to continue to grow in this space as management plans to increase the Company's sales personnel in 2022 for this product line.

On September 8, 2021, STCB (via its Wyoming subsidiary, Whipshots, LLC “Whipshots LLC”) entered into an Intellectual Property Purchase Agreement effective August 24, 2021, with Penguins Fly, LLC, pursuant to which the Company purchased the trademarks “Whipshotz” and “Whipshots”. The purchase price for these trademarks is payable to Penguins Fly, LLC over the course of seven years, based on a sliding scale percentage between 2% and 5% of gross revenues actually received by the Company solely from the Company’s sale of Whipshots/Whipshotz products.

On September 14, 2021, STCB (via newly formed Delaware subsidiary Whipshots LLC (DE), which was subsequently renamed to Whipshots Holdings LLC “Whipshots Holdings”), entered into a License Agreement with Washpoppin Inc., a New York corporation (“Washpoppin”) pursuant to which Washpoppin licensed certain intellectual property of the recording artist professionally known as “Cardi B” to the Company for use associated with the Company’s new product line consisting of vodka-infused, whipped-cream aerosols, under the brand name “Whipshots.” The Company launched these products under the Whipshots™ brand in the fourth quarter of 2021 and first quarter of 2022. In addition, STCB entered into Distribution Agreements with various distributors pursuant to which such distributors will act as the exclusive distributors of Whipshots™ in various geographic locations.

On December 2, 2021, the Company launched Whipshots at Art Basel in Miami.  This launch event garnered over 1 billion impressions world-wide.  The Company launched the product on whipshots.com with a limited quantity of cans to be sold each day for the month of December 2021.  The Company sold out every single day of the month.  The Company launched brick and mortar retail distribution in the first quarter of 2022 and signed a distribution agreement with RNDC, one of the largest spirits distributors in the nation.  The Company also announced a distribution deal with GoPuff and BevMo.  The Company expects to register Whipshots in all states but starting in select markets with plans to grow cautiously.

As long as the Company can raise capital, the Company plans to launch other products in spray foods and condiments, air care, sun care, hair care, personal care, spirits and beverages over the next 48 months. Although the initial market reception to our new lines has been encouraging, the Company may encounter a number of hurdles that could prevent this and future product launches from achieving sustained commercial success. Financing growth and launching of new products is key and the Company’s ability to raise further capital is critical. In 2021, the Company pursued financing via a Regulation A offering which was qualified on December 9, 2021. The Company engaged The Dalmore Group to assist as the broker dealer of record in this process, in which up to 56,818,181 shares of common stock may be sold to the public at a per share price of $1.00.

We will need to rely on sales of our common stock and other sources of financing to raise additional capital. The purchasers and manner of any share issuance will be determined according to our financial needs and the available exemptions to the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The Company is planning to utilize, as best as possible with limited financing, the services of Deutsch Marketing in order to help support the Company’s plan. The Company will also utilize the marketing capabilities of Hearst Media with its co-branding arrangement on some of its products. This provides significant support for its current retail and online distribution. 

The Company’s ultimate goal is to become a leading brand owner and third-party marketer of cutting edge technologies in the consumer products marketplace whose success is expected to increase shareholder value. The Company will continue to evaluate this and other opportunities to further set its strategy for 2022 and beyond. 

For more information, please visit our websites at www.starcobrands.com, www.breathecleaning.com, www.breathesanitizer.com, and www.whipshots.com.

Employees

The Company currently has no full-time employees but uses independent contractors and contributed services from related parties on an as needed basis.

Results of Operation for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2022 and 2021

Revenues

For the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Company recorded royalty revenues of $923,274 compared to $132,514 for the three months ended March 31, 2021, an increase of $790,760 and a percentage increase of 597%. The royalty rate that the Company is paid varies on a per product basis of wholesale sales of our branded and non-corporate owned licensed products. Revenues are from our marketing licensing agreements with TSG and other affiliated companies for various products mentioned above.

The increase in the current period is primarily due to initial volume sales of our Whipshots™, partially offset by declines in sales of Breathe cleaning and sanitizer products. For the three months ended March 31, 2022, Breathe cleaning and sanitizer products accounted for approximately 2% of total royalty revenue, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021 where Breathe cleaning and sanitizer products accounted for approximately 26% of total royalty revenue.

Operating Expenses

For the three months ended March 31, 2022, compensation expense increased $82,644, or 187%, to $126,877 compared to $44,233 for the three months ended March 31, 2021. The increase is a result of increases in independent contractors and contributed services to support the launch and growth of Whipshots™. 

For the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Company incurred $58,506 in professional fees compared to $10,555 for the three months ended March 31, 2021, an increase of $47,951, or 454%. Professional fees are mainly for accounting, auditing and legal services associated with our quarterly filings as a public company and advisory and valuation services. The increase is primarily due to an increase in corporate legal and audit fees.

For the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Company incurred $670,225 in marketing, general and administrative expense as compared to $182,743 for the three months ended March 31, 2021, an increase of $487,482, or 267%. The increase can be attributed to an increase in spending on marketing including initial license payments related to the promotional launch for Whipshots™.

Other income and expense

For the three months ended March 31, 2022, we had total other expense of $14,855 compared to other expense of $10,892 for the three months ended March 31, 2021. The increase in total other expense was primarily due to growth in interest expense.

Net income

For the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Company recorded net income of $40,949 as compared to a net loss of $115,909 in the prior year. Our increase in net income is primarily the result of the increase in revenue partially offset by increased marketing, compensation, and professional spending. 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As reflected in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, the Company had an accumulated deficit of $18,347,237 at March 31, 2022, primarily due to the issuance of stock for services when the Company reorganized in 2017 and 2018, had net income of $40,949 and used net cash for operating activities of $566,093 for the three months ended March 31, 2022.

We generated $412,888 from financing activities during the three months ended March 31, 2022 and had no net cash provided by financing activities during the three months ended March 31, 2021.

On January 24, 2020, STCB executed a promissory note for $100,000 with Ross Sklar, CEO. The note bears interest at 4% per annum, compounds monthly, is unsecured, and matures two years from the original date of issuance. On June 28, 2021, STCB executed an additional promissory note with Ross Sklar in the principal amount of $100,000 with the same terms as the January 24, 2020 note and a maturity date of June 28, 2023. On September 17, 2021, STCB executed a third promissory note with Ross Sklar in the principal amount of $500,000 with the same terms as the prior notes and a maturity date of September 17, 2023. On December 13, 2021, STCB executed a fourth promissory note with Ross Sklar in the principal amount of $500,000 with the same terms as the prior notes and a maturity date of December 12, 2023. On February 14, 2022, STCB executed a fifth promissory note in favor of Ross Sklar, CEO, in the principal sum of $472,500, in exchange for a cash advance in the amount of $300,000 and payment of Company costs in the amount of $172,500. As with the other notes between the Company and our CEO, the note bears interest at 4% per annum, is unsecured, and matures two years from the original date of issuance. This note may also convert into shares of Company common stock at the 10-day volume weighted average trading price of the Company common stock for the 10-day period prior to the issuance of the Note, which was calculated as $0.29 per share. 

Critical Accounting Estimates and Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements describes the significant accounting policies and methods used in the preparation of the Financial Statements. Estimates are used for, but not limited to, contingencies and taxes.  Actual results could differ materially from those estimates. The following critical accounting policies are impacted significantly by judgments, assumptions, and estimates used in the preparation of the Financial Statements.

We are subject to various loss contingencies arising in the ordinary course of business.  We consider the likelihood of loss or impairment of an asset or the incurrence of a liability, as well as our ability to reasonably estimate the amount of loss in determining loss contingencies.  An estimated loss contingency is accrued when management concludes that it is probable that an asset has been impaired or a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated.  We regularly evaluate current information available to us to determine whether such accruals should be adjusted.

We recognize deferred tax assets (future tax benefits) and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the book carrying amounts and the tax basis of assets and liabilities.  The deferred tax assets and liabilities represent the expected future tax return consequences of those differences, which are expected to be either deductible or taxable when the assets and liabilities are recovered or settled.  Future tax benefits have been fully offset by a 100% valuation allowance as management is unable to determine that it is more likely than not that this deferred tax asset will be realized.

Revenue recognition

The Company and its subsidiaries earn their revenue as royalties from the licensing agreements it has with TSG, a related entity, and other related parties. The Company licenses the right for TSG to manufacture and sell certain Starco Brands products. The amount of the licensing revenue received varies depending upon the product and is determined beforehand in each agreement. The Company recognizes its revenue only when sales are made by TSG or other related parties to a third party.

The Company applies the following five-step model in order to determine this amount: (i) identification of the promised goods in the contract; (ii) determination of whether the promised goods are performance obligations, including whether they are distinct in the context of the contract; (iii) measurement of the transaction price, including the constraint on variable consideration; (iv) allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations; and (v) recognition of revenue when (or as) the Company satisfies each performance obligation.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements 

We have not entered into any off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources and would be considered material to investors.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

The Company has implemented all new accounting pronouncements that are in effect. These pronouncements did not have any material impact on the financial statements unless otherwise disclosed, and the Company does not believe that there are any other new accounting pronouncements that have been issued that might have a material impact on its financial position or results of operations.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Not applicable as we are a "smaller reporting company."

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer, we have evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and Rule 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this report. The disclosure controls and procedures ensure that all information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is: (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rule and forms; and (ii) accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of March 31, 2022, these disclosure controls and procedures were not effective.

Changes in Internal Controls over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during our most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

None.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

We are a smaller reporting company as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and, as such, are not required to provide the information under this Item. For a list of risk factors, please refer to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, as filed with the SEC on May 20, 2022.

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

Issuer Purchase of Securities.

On June 13, 2021, the Company entered into Separation Agreements (the "Separation Agreements") with Sanford Lang ("Mr. Lang") and Martin Goldrod ("Mr. Goldrod") whereas, effective as of June 16, 2021, Mr. Lang and Mr. Goldrod each resigned from their positions as members of the Board of Directors in exchange for certain separation benefits (the "Separation Benefits"). As consideration for the Separation Benefits, and not in addition to same, the Company agreed to purchase an amount of the shares of the Company per month from Mr. Lang and Mr. Goldrod at a price per share that when aggregated with all shares purchased in each month would equal monthly Separation Benefit payments of $7,950 to Mr. Lang and monthly Separation Benefit payments of $3,000 to Mr. Goldrod (the "Repurchases"). The Repurchases made during the first quarter of fiscal year 2022 are set forth below.

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

None.

ITEM 4. MINING SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION.

None

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT INDEX

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Exchange Act, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.