The short answer
Charter Brokerage is one of the largest full-service duty drawback providers in the US, part of Berkshire Hathaway, and it runs recovery for large importers directly as a service. Stable is flat-license software your brokerage runs itself, under its own POA, with a global-optimization matching engine. Choose Charter to fully outsource drawback to an established specialist; choose Stable to own the capability, the client relationship, and the recovery margin in-house.
Key takeaways
- Charter is a full-service drawback specialist (Berkshire Hathaway) that runs recovery importer-direct; Stable is software your brokerage runs.
- With a full-service provider, the recovery work and often the importer relationship sit with that provider.
- Full-service drawback is commonly priced as a percentage of recovery; a flat license keeps that margin in-house.
- Stable centers a global-optimization matching engine and MPF capture, under your own POA.
Stable vs Charter Brokerage at a glance
| Feature | Stable | Charter Brokerage |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Flat-license software you run | Full-service, done for you |
| Who files | Your brokerage, under your POA | Charter, importer-direct |
| Pricing | Flat license | Service fee (commonly a share of recovery) |
| Recovery margin | You keep it | Shared with the provider |
| Matching | Global optimization | Full-service specialist process |
| Relationship owner | Your brokerage | Charter Brokerage |
| Best-fit customer | Brokers and importers running drawback in-house | Large importers outsourcing recovery |
Choose Stable if
You are a broker or in-house team that wants to run drawback yourself, on a flat license, keeping the client relationship and the recovery margin.
Choose Charter Brokerage if
You are a large importer that would rather fully outsource drawback to an established full-service specialist and are comfortable with a service relationship and success-based pricing.
What does full-service drawback mean here?
Charter runs the drawback program for the importer: gathering data, building claims, and filing, as a service. It is an established, well-resourced option (part of Berkshire Hathaway). The trade-off is the same one every outsourced model carries: the recovery work, and often the importer relationship, sit with the provider rather than with your brokerage.
How Stable is different
Stable is not a service; it is flat-license software your brokerage runs under its own POA. The matching engine, MPF capture, and filing all happen inside your operation, so the client stays yours. For a broker, that is the structural difference: own the capability instead of referring it out.
How pricing affects economics
Full-service drawback is typically priced on success, commonly a percentage of what is recovered, often in the range of 15% to 30% (a general industry range, not a statement about any one provider). A flat license caps that cost, so as drawback volume grows the in-house model retains materially more of the recovered duty.
Owning the relationship
For a broker, the importer relationship is the asset. Handing drawback to an outside full-service provider puts that relationship, and the recurring recovery, next to a third party. Stable is designed so the drawback book stays inside your brokerage, filed under your own POA.
Which should you choose?
Choose Charter if you are a large importer that wants to fully outsource drawback to an established specialist. Choose Stable if you want to run drawback in-house on a flat license and keep the relationship and the margin. See the DutyCalc alternatives guide for the full field, including the other specialists and the contingency filers.
Related
Frequently asked questions
Charter is a full-service drawback provider that runs recovery for importers directly. Stable is flat-license software your own brokerage runs under its POA.