A customs broker is a mandatory link in US imports. A good broker is invisible; a bad one costs time and fines.
In the US, imports are cleared by a licensed customs broker: declarations, duties, FDA and other agency checks. Formally they are hired by the importer of record, meaning your customer, but with DDP deliveries you are the one placing the order.
A good broker knows your product group: Lacey declarations for wood, FDA prior notices for food and textile requirements each have their own nuances.
Ask about experience specifically with your HS codes and request examples. Check that the broker works at your destination port or holds a nationwide permit. Compare the price per declaration, but do not optimize on that alone: one stuck container costs more than a year of broker fees.
Large freight forwarders offer broker services as part of a package, which is convenient for a beginner, though not always the cheapest.
For clients on our launch package we recommend vetted brokers who have already cleared Estonian goods. This removes the risk that the first delivery gets stuck at the border because of learning costs, and the first delivery is exactly the one that must go smoothly.
The first consultation is free: together we'll see who in the US already buys your product and how to reach them.