The following information should be read in conjunction with our financial statements and related notes thereto included in Part I, Item 1, above. We also urge you to review and consider our disclosures describing various risks that may affect our business, which are set forth under the heading "Risk Factors," below.





Forward Looking Statements



Certain matters discussed herein are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements contained in this Form 10-Q involve risks and uncertainties, including statements as to:





    - our future strategic plans;

     - our future operating results;

     - our business prospects;

      - our contractual arrangements and relationships with third parties;

     - the dependence of our future success on the general economy;

     - our possibility of not successfully raising future financings; and

      - the adequacy of our cash resources and working capital.


These forward-looking statements can generally be identified as such because the context of the statement will include words such as we "believe," "anticipate," "expect," "estimate" or words of similar meaning. Similarly, statements that describe our future plans, objectives or goals are also forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties which are described in close proximity to such statements and which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Shareholders, potential investors and other readers are urged to consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included herein are only made as of the date of this Form 10-Q, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.





Executive Overview


In July 2017, our Board of Directors entered into a licensing agreement with The Starco Group, located in Los Angeles, California, to pursue a new strategic marketing plan involving commercializing leading edge products with the intent to sell them through brick and mortar retailers as well as through online retailers. Management believes the Company will realize modest earnings from royalties in the short term with a stronger positive outlook over the next 12 months as the Company begins to implement stronger pull through marketing efforts and launch additional products.

Starco Brands, Inc. is 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 Starco Brands with certain products on exclusive and royalty-free basis and other products on a non-exclusive and royalty basis; in the following categories: food, household cleaning, air care, spirits and personal care. The Starco Group is predominantly an aerosol and liquid fill private label and branded manufacturer with manufacturing assets in the following verticals: DIY/Hardware, paints, coatings and adhesives, household, air care, disinfectants, automotive, motorcycle, arts & crafts, personal care cosmetics, personal care FDA, sun care, food, cooking oils, beverage, spirits and wine.

The current CEO and owner of The Starco Group, Ross Sklar, was named the CEO of Starco Brands 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, R&D 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.



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The Company conducted extensive research and has identified specific channels to penetrate with its portfolio of novel technologies. The Company intends to raise capital to assist in launching and marketing these products through debt and equity financing. The Company is now executing on this vision and is in market with four product lines, including the Breathe® Household cleaning aerosol line. Breathe 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 product 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 for 2018, a tremendous honor. Breathe also achieved the Good Housekeeping Seal of approval.

The Breathe line is predominantly in 300 to 400 stores serviced through United Natural Foods, Inc. ("UNFI") as well as in almost 500 Home Depots through a distributor called Central Garden Excel ("Central"), one of the largest distributors to the DIY/Hardware retail channel. Central will be handling all of the Company's distribution for the Breathe household cleaning aerosol line to Home Depot. The Breathe Hand Sanitizer Spray was recently named the exclusive hand sanitizer spray at all Home Depots, and the 1oz size is now at every check out. The Breathe line is available on Amazon and Walmart.com and also available at Lowes.

The Company 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 The Starco Group. The product was developed as a result of supply chains collapsing 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 is an at scale manufacturer that started approximately 50 years ago in Santa Clarita, California with personal care products including hand sanitizer. Due to the outbreak of Coronavirus, 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 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 the Company as contemplated by a 2020 memorandum of understanding between the two companies and TSG.

The product is being manufactured by BOV Solutions, a division of The Starco Group 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 The Starco Group's existing distribution footprints in the United States. The Company launched the product on April 20, 2020 via a Press Release and did so in partnership with Dollar General to be distributed in all their 15,000 stores. The Company 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 the Company's website www.breathesanitizer.com and on Amazon and Walmart.com.

The Company is also the marketer of record, but not the owner of, Betterbilt Chemical's Kleen Out® branded drain opener and for the Winona® Butter Flavor Popcorn Spray. The Company provides marketing services to these brands as per the terms of the agreement. Both products are available in all Walmart stores.

Through the Company's relationship with TSG and their marketing partner Deutsch Marketing, the Company launched a new label in June 2019 for Winona Popcorn Spray throughout all Walmart stores. The Company also launched the Winona Popcorn Spray on Amazon through our strategic partner Pattern (formally iServe), who is a shareholder in Starco Brands, Inc. Winona Popcorn Spray is also sold in H-E-B grocery stores, and the Company expects sales to continue to grow in this space.

In addition, as long as the Company can raise capital, the Company plans to launch other products in spray condiments, air care, sun care, hair care, personal care, spirits and beverages over the next 60 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.



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We will need to rely on sales of our common stock in order to raise additional capital. The purchasers and manner of issuance will be determined according to our financial needs and the available exemptions to the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933. 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 is also planning to launch new products over the next year that are viewed as disruptive in their market and leading edge, again as long as its financing plans come to fruition. The Company has now engaged and contracted with a financial advisory firm to assist the Company in procuring future financing.

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 2021 and beyond.

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

Results of Operation for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2021 and 2020

Revenues

For the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company recorded royalty revenues of $132,514 compared to $55,674 for the three months ended March 31, 2020, an increase of $76,840, a percentage gain of 138%. The current royalties equate to wholesale revenues of Starco Brands and Starco Brands represented products in excess of $1 million. The royalty rate that Starco Brands 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 The Starco Group and other affiliated companies, for various products mentioned above. The increase in the current period is due to increases of sales of our Breathe hand sanitizer spray, Kleen-out, and Winona Popcorn Spray.

Operating Expenses

For the three months ended March 31, 2021, compensation expense to Sanford Lang, Martin Goldrod and Rachel Boulds, the only people receiving cash compensation in the Company, decreased $2,290, or -7% to $32,533 compared to $34,823 for the three months ended March 31, 2020.

For the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company incurred $10,555 in professional fees compared to $1,806 in the prior period, an increase of $8,749, or 484%. 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 legal fees.

For the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company incurred $182,743 in marketing, general and administrative expense as compared to $37,647 for the three months ended March 31, 2020, an increase of $145,096, or 385%. The increase can be attributed to an increase in spending on marketing.

Other income and expense

For the three months ended March 31, 2021, we had total other expense of $10,892 compared to $3,803 for the three months ended March 31, 2020.

Net loss

For the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company recorded a net loss of $115,909 as compared to a net loss of $34,105 in the prior year. Our increase in net loss is primarily the result of increased marketing spend, partially offset by increased revenue.





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Liquidity and Capital Resources

As reflected in the accompanying unaudited financial statements, the Company has an accumulated deficit of $16,252,931 at March 31, 2021, primarily due to the issuance of stock for services when the Company reorganized in 2017 and 2018, and had a net loss of $115,909 and used net cash for operating activities of $167,933 for the three months ended March 31, 2021.

We did not have any net cash impact from financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2021, compared to $86,400 provided by financing activities during the three months ended March 31, 2020.

In the comparative period in 2020 the Company generated a net loss of $34,105 compared to the Company generating a net operating loss of $115,909 in 2021. Operating expenses include items such as compensation for two out of the four Board Members, marketing expenses, administrative costs, insurance, legal and other professional fees, compliance and website maintenance. No cash compensation has ever been paid to Ross Sklar, the CEO and Chairman of the Board.

We have an outstanding loan of approximately $289,000 from Sanford Lang that requires monthly interest payments of $2,545. This was used to pay administrative and other operating costs.

On January 24, 2020, the Company executed a promissory note for $100,000 with Ross Sklar, CEO. The unsecured note bears interest at 4% per annum, compounds monthly and matures in two years.

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 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 is recognized when a customer obtains control of promised goods or services and is recognized in an amount that reflects the consideration that an entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. In addition, the standard requires disclosure of the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. The amount of revenue that is recorded reflects the consideration that the Company expects to receive in exchange for those goods. 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.



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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 goods or services it transfers 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 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.

The Company earns its royalty revenue from the licensing agreements it has with The Starco Group, a related party. 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 it receives a report of sales made by TSG to a third party.

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.

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