Star USA

What Star USA does

Star USA, Inc. is a privately held international trade compliance consultancy and education company founded in 1996 by Peggy Easton and headquartered in Wooster, Ohio. The firm delivers professional services and training to manufacturers, retailers, and other businesses engaged in cross-border trade, with a stated footprint of 200+ clients and 5,000+ global partnerships. Its service portfolio spans import and export compliance, HTS/Schedule B classification, free trade agreement advisory (USMCA, GSP, Section 301 exclusions), CTPAT supply-chain security, customs ruling requests, drawback, value reconciliation, country-of-origin determinations, and an expanding ESG and forced-labor due-diligence practice. Analytical products include Country Risk Reports, the Global Risk Assessment, and the International Trade Compliance Scorecard, all positioned as expert-driven rather than software-driven deliverables.

The business operates three primary revenue streams. Consulting engagements are billed hourly, fixed fee, or on a retainer basis, with a published Fairness in Billing Policy that eschews preferred or contracted rates. Training revenue is anchored by the 16-week, online Customs Broker Exam Prep Course priced at $2,995 per enrollment, supplemented by free reference tools (CBLE Companion), live instructor-led programs across HTS classification, Incoterms 2020, export controls, sanctions, USMCA, CTPAT, and forced labor, recorded on-demand webinars, and paid in-person summits such as the 2026 Global Trade & Logistics Landscape event at $148 per ticket. The firm also runs the Peggy Easton Scholarship as a brand and pipeline initiative.

Go-to-market is sales-led and direct, relying on educational webinars, trade news publications, summit events, and website inquiry forms to reach enterprise and mid-market buyers across 15 listed industry verticals (Plastics, Heavy Equipment, Pharmaceuticals, Technology, Forestry, Oil & Gas, Textiles and Apparel, Automotive, Fashion and Retail, Energy and Utilities, Chemicals, Aerospace, Food and Beverage, Agriculture, and Retail and Consumer Goods). There is no reseller or distributor channel, no disclosed software platform, no API, and no external funding; the company is bootstrapped with 11–50 employees and led by President and General Manager Michael D. Easton, who joined in 2004.

Name

Star USA

Legal name

Star USA, Inc.

Website

https://starusa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Star USA is a privately held Wooster, Ohio-based consultancy and education firm that delivers import/export compliance, HTS classification, FTA, and CTPAT advisory alongside customs broker exam preparation and trade-compliance training to manufacturers, retailers, and other international trade businesses across 15 verticals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Trade Compliance Consulting

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Trade, Export Controls & Customs Compliance (BPAHAFAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Trade Compliance (Import/Export Controls, Customs) (EDABADAK), Export Controls (ITAR/EAR) Classification & Licensing (TLACAGAB), Product Regulatory Compliance for Cross-Border Trade (e.g., FDA, USDA, CPSC, CE/REACH/RoHS) (TLACAGAH), Customs Valuation & Transfer Pricing (Customs) Advisory (TLACAGAD), Global Trade & Customs / Trade Compliance (BPAHAHAG)

Keywords

• Customs compliance consulting
• Trade compliance training
• HTS classification services
• Customs broker exam prep
• Import export compliance

Headquarters

HQ city

Wooster

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Consulting Services: Professional consulting services for international trade compliance including import/export compliance, classification, FTAs, CTPAT certification, risk assessments, and customs rulings. Billed on hourly, fixed fee, or retainer basis as outlined in their Fairness in Billing Policy.
2. Training Programs: Live and recorded training programs covering HTS Classification, Import Compliance, Export Compliance, Incoterms 2020, USMCA, CTPAT, Export Controls, Country of Origin, Sanctions, Trade Documents, and Forced Labor topics. Also includes the Customs Broker Exam Prep Course.
3. Customs Broker Exam Prep Course: Comprehensive 16-week online course for preparing candidates for the U.S. Customs Broker License Exam (CBLE). Priced at $2,995 per enrollment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Star USA provides international trade compliance consulting and education services to businesses engaged in importing and exporting goods. Its consulting portfolio covers import/export compliance, HTS/Schedule B classification, free trade agreements, duty preference programs, CTPAT supply chain security certification, trade management operations, ESG and forced labor compliance, drawback, Section 301 tariffs, and customs rulings. Its education arm delivers live training across 12 trade topics, on-demand recorded webinars, and the 16-week Customs Broker Exam Prep Course (USD 2,995) for candidates pursuing the U.S. Customs Broker License.

Product overview

Star USA is a trade compliance consultancy and education company offering a comprehensive portfolio of services organized around three core areas: consulting services, training programs, and analytical products. The consulting services span import and export compliance, product classification (HTS/Schedule B), free trade agreements, duty optimization, supply chain security (CTPAT), and specialized areas like forced labor and ESG risk. The training division includes the flagship Customs Broker Exam Prep Course (a 16-week program with 80% pass rates), the free Customs Broker License Exam Companion study resource, live instructor-led sessions on various trade topics, and recorded webinar modules. Analytical products include Country Risk Reports, Global Risk Assessments, and the International Trade Compliance Scorecard. The company operates on a consulting and education model rather than a software platform, with all services delivered by in-house licensed customs brokers and expert consultants from their Wooster, Ohio headquarters.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Trade Compliance Consulting Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Clients report 95% satisfaction rate
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Sav-Quick PrintingminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partnership with Sav-Quick Printing to provide bundled reference materials for Customs Broker License Exam candidates. Sav-Quick offers testing material packages including all required CBLE reference materials in one place, complementing Star USA's exam prep offerings.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• EY Global Trade Services: EY provides customs and international trade advisory spanning classification, valuation, transfer pricing, and trade technology implementation. Highly comparable in scope to Star USA but bundled into broader enterprise consulting engagements.
• Livingston International: Livingston is one of North America's largest customs brokers with consulting and trade compliance advisory services layered on top of brokerage operations. Comparable to Star USA in client base and customs expertise but also offers software and brokerage infrastructure.
• Thomson Reuters (ONESOURCE Global Trade): Thomson Reuters ONESOURCE Global Trade offers trade compliance content, software, and advisory services to multinational corporates. Comparable to Star USA in classification, FTA, and export controls content but delivered via a SaaS platform with global enterprise footprint.
• Deloitte Global Trade Advisory: Deloitte's Global Trade Advisory offers customs compliance, export controls, trade technology, and managed services to multinational clients. Comparable to Star USA's import/export and FTZ advisory but with deeper technology and managed services capabilities.
• Crowe LLP (Trade & Customs Practice): Crowe LLP operates a global trade advisory practice providing customs and export controls consulting to mid-market and enterprise clients. Comparable to Star USA in service scope but embedded within a broader accounting/advisory platform with deeper enterprise reach.
• PwC Trade & Customs Practice: PwC provides customs and international trade services including classification, valuation, transfer pricing, and trade digitization. Comparable to Star USA in core advisory but with global delivery and enterprise-grade technology implementation.
• KPMG Trade & Customs Services: KPMG's Global Trade Advisory practice offers customs compliance, FTA optimization, and transfer pricing for multinational clients. Overlaps significantly with Star USA's service portfolio but at much larger scale with multi-jurisdictional coverage.

Emerging players

• Integration Point (E2open): Integration Point, now part of E2open, provides trade compliance software for classification, screening, and FTA management, increasingly bundled with advisory services. Represents the software-enabled direction that competes with Star USA's consulting-only model.

Direct peers

• Tradewin: Tradewin is a dedicated trade compliance consulting firm offering classification, FTA advisory, duty optimization, and customs valuation services to mid-market and enterprise clients. Closely comparable to Star USA in service mix, customer base (manufacturers/retailers), and consulting-led delivery model.
• Sandler Travis & Rosenberg (now part of Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A.): Sandler Travis & Rosenberg is a leading trade and customs law/consulting firm offering advisory on classification, export controls, FTA, and customs litigation. Comparable to Star USA in core trade compliance scope, with a larger team and broader legal capabilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights2 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Star USA