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Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Notes to Financial Statements  
Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
 
Principles of Consolidation
 
The Company consolidates its 100%-owned subsidiaries and all of its 51%-owned joint venture subsidiaries in accordance with the provisions required by the Consolidation Topic 810 of the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC"). All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.
 
Accounting for Joint Venture
Subsidiarie
s
 
For the Company's less than wholly owned subsidiaries, the Company first analyzes to determine if a joint venture subsidiary is a variable interest entity (a "VIE") in accordance with ASC 810 and if so, whether the Company is the primary beneficiary requiring consolidation. A VIE is an entity that has (i) insufficient equity to permit it to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support or (ii) equity holders that lack the characteristics of a controlling financial interest. VIEs are consolidated by the primary beneficiary, which is the entity that has both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the entity's economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from the entity that potentially could be significant to the entity. Variable interests in a VIE are contractual, ownership, or other financial interests in a VIE that change with changes in the fair value of the VIE's net assets. The Company continuously re-assesses at each level of the joint venture whether the entity is (i) a VIE, and (ii) if the Company is the primary beneficiary of the VIE. If it was determined that an entity in which the Company holds an interest qualified as a VIE and the Company was the primary beneficiary, it would be consolidated.
 
Based on the Company's analysis for each of its 51% owned joint ventures, the Company has determined that each is a VIE and that Company is the primary beneficiary. While the Company owns 51% of the equity interest in these subsidiaries while the other 49% is owned by local unrelated third parties, the joint venture agreements with those third parties generally provide them with equal voting rights. Accordingly, the Company consolidates each joint venture under the VIE rules and reflects the 49% interests in the consolidated financial statements as non-controlling interests. The Company records these non-controlling interests at their initial fair value, adjusting the basis prospectively for their share of the respective consolidated investments' net income or loss or equity contributions and distributions. These non-controlling interests are not redeemable by the equity holders and are presented as part of permanent equity. Income and losses are allocated to the non-controlling interest holder based on its economic ownership percentage.
 
Use of Estimates
 
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP") requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the amounts disclosed for contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting year. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
Cash Equivalents
 
The Company considers all highly liquid short-term investments with maturities of three months or less at the time of acquisition to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates fair value.
 
Concentration of Credit Risk
 
The Company maintains cash balances with high quality financial institutions and periodically evaluates the creditworthiness of such institutions and believes that the Company is not exposed to significant credit risk. Cash balances may be in excess of the amounts insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
 
Revenue Recognition
 
The Company's services are provided to its clients under contracts or agreements. The Company bills its clients based upon service fee or per unit fee arrangements. Revenues under service fee arrangements are recognized when the service is performed. The Company's per unit fee arrangements provide for fees to be earned based on the retail sales of a client's products to consumers. The Company recognizes per unit fees in the period such amounts become determinable and are reported to the Company. Customer deposits, which are considered advances on future work, are recorded as revenue in the period services are provided.
 
Unbilled Accounts Receivable
 
Unbilled accounts receivable represent services performed but not billed and are included as accounts receivable.
 
Doubtful Accounts and Credit Risks
 
The Company continually monitors the collectability of its accounts receivable based upon current client credit information and financial condition. Balances that are deemed to be uncollectible after the Company has attempted reasonable collection efforts are written off through a charge to the bad debt allowance and a credit to accounts receivable. Accounts receivable balances, net of any applicable reserves or allowances, are stated at the amount that management expects to collect from the outstanding balances. The Company provides for probable uncollectible amounts through a charge to earnings and a credit to bad debt allowance based in part on management's assessment of the current status of individual accounts. Based on management's assessment, the Company established an allowance for doubtful accounts of $542,000 and $259,000 at December 31, 2015, and 2014, respectively. Bad debt expense was $388,000 and $115,000 for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
 
Property and Equipment and Depreciation
 
Property and equipment, including leasehold improvements, are stated at cost. Depreciation is calculated on a straight-line basis over estimated useful lives of the related assets, which range from three to seven years. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of their estimated useful lives or lease term, using the straight-line method. Maintenance and minor repairs are charged to expense as incurred. Depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 (including amortization of capitalized software as described below) was $1.3 million and $1.2 million, respectively.
 
Internal Use Software Development Costs
 
The Company capitalizes certain costs associated with its internally developed software. Specifically, the Company capitalizes the costs of materials and services incurred in developing or obtaining internal use software. These costs include (but are not limited to) the cost to purchase software, the cost to write program code, payroll and related benefits and travel expenses for those employees who are directly involved with and who devote time to the Company's software development projects. Capitalization of such costs ceases when the project is substantially complete and ready for its intended purpose. Costs incurred during preliminary project and post-implementation stages, as well as software maintenance and training costs, are expensed in the period in which they are incurred. Capitalized software development costs are amortized over three years on a straight-line basis.
 
The Company capitalized $1,294,000 and $1,082,000 of costs related to software developed for internal use in 2015 and 2014, respectively, and recognized approximately $1,027,000 and $895,000 of amortization of capitalized software for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
 
Impairment of
Long-Lived
Assets
 
The Company continually monitors events and changes in circumstances that could indicate that the carrying amounts of the Company's property and equipment and intangible assets subjected to amortization may not be recoverable. When indicators of potential impairment exist, the Company assesses the recoverability of the assets by estimating whether the Company will recover its carrying value through the undiscounted future cash flows generated by the use of the asset and its eventual disposition. Based on this analysis, if the Company does not believe that it will be able to recover the carrying value of the asset, the Company records an impairment loss to the extent that the carrying value exceeds the estimated fair value of the asset. If any assumptions, projections or estimates regarding any asset change in the future, the Company may have to record an impairment to reduce the net book value of such individual asset.
 
Goodwill
 
Goodwill may result from our business acquisitions. Goodwill is assigned to our reporting units based on the expected benefit from the synergies arising from each business combination, determined by using certain financial metrics, including the forecast discounted cash flows associated with each reporting unit. As of December 31, 2015, we had recorded goodwill of $1.8 million. We allocate goodwill acquired in a business combination to the appropriate reporting unit as of the acquisition date.
 
Goodwill is subject to annual impairment tests and interim impairment tests, if impairment indicators are present. The impairment tests require the Company to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform a two-step quantitative goodwill impairment test. The Company is not required to calculate the fair value of a reporting unit unless it determines, based on a qualitative assessment, that it is more likely than not that its fair value is less than its carrying amount. If the qualitative assessment indicates a potential impairment, the Company performs the two step quantitative impairment test. Step one of the two step impairment test is to compare the fair value of the reporting unit with the reporting unit's carrying amount including goodwill. If the test indicates that the fair value is less than the carrying value, then step two is required to compare the implied fair value of the reporting unit's goodwill with the carrying amount of the reporting unit's goodwill. If the carrying amount of the goodwill exceeds its implied fair value, an impairment loss shall be recognized in an amount equal to that excess. The Company has determined that it has two reporting units, and that a two-step quantitative goodwill impairment test was not necessary, as of December 31, 2015 and 2014. Based on the qualitative assessment, the Company did not identify any indication of impairment of its goodwill as of December 31, 2015 and 2014.
 
Accounting for Share Based Compensation
 
The Company measures all employee share-based compensation awards using a fair value method and records the related expense in the financial statements over the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award. Excess tax benefits are realized from the exercise of stock options and are reported as a financing cash inflow rather than as a reduction of taxes paid in cash flow from operations. For each award that has a graded vesting schedule, the Company recognizes compensation cost on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the entire award. Share based employee compensation expense for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 was $434,000 and $655,000, respectively.
 
Fair Value Measurements
 
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received upon the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The generally accepted accounting principles fair value framework uses a three-tiered approach. Fair value measurements are classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories:
 
 
 
Level 1 – Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical assets or liabilities;
 
 
Level 2 – Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, and model-derived valuations in which significant inputs and significant value drivers are observable in active markets; and
 
 
Level 3 – Prices or valuation techniques where little or no market data is available that requires inputs that are significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable.
 
If the inputs used to measure the fair value fall within different levels of the hierarchy, the fair value is determined based upon the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Whenever possible, the Company uses quoted market prices to determine fair value. In the absence of quoted market prices, the Company uses independent sources and data to determine fair value. Due to their short maturity, the carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and accrued expenses approximated their fair values (Level 1) at December 31, 2015 and 2014. The carrying value of the Company’s long-term debt with variable interest rates approximates fair value based on instruments with similar terms (Level 2).
 
 
Accounting for Income Taxes
 
Income tax provisions and benefits are made for taxes currently payable or refundable, and for deferred income taxes arising from future tax consequences of events that were recognized in the Company's financial statements or tax returns and tax credit carry forwards. The effects of income taxes are measured based on enacted tax laws and rates applicable to periods in which the differences are expected to reverse. If necessary, a valuation allowance is established to reduce deferred income tax assets to an amount that will more likely than not be realized.
 
The calculation of income taxes involves dealing with uncertainties in the application of complex tax regulations. The Company recognizes liabilities for uncertain tax positions based on a two-step process. The first step involves evaluating the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained on audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. The second step involves estimating and measuring the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement. It is inherently difficult and subjective to estimate such amounts, as the Company has to determine the probability of various possible outcomes. Our evaluation of uncertain tax positions is based on factors including, but not limited to, changes in facts or circumstances, changes in tax law, effectively settled issues under audit, and new audit activity. Such a change in recognition or measurement would result in the recognition of a tax benefit or an additional charge to the tax provision.
 
Net Income Per Share
 
Basic net income per share amounts are based upon the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted net income per share amounts are based upon the weighted average number of common and potential common shares outstanding except for periods in which such potential common shares are anti-dilutive. Potential common shares outstanding include stock options and restricted stock and are calculated using the treasury stock method.
 
Translation of Foreign Currencies
 
The financial statements of the foreign entities consolidated into the Company's consolidated financial statements were translated into United States dollar equivalents at exchange rates as follows: balance sheet accounts for assets and liabilities were converted at year-end rates, equity at historical rates and income statement accounts at average exchange rates for the year. The resulting translation gains and losses are reflected in accumulated other comprehensive income or loss in the consolidated statements of equity.
 
New
Accounting Pronouncements
 
February 2016
 
The Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842)” (“ASU 2016-02”). Under ASU 2016-02, an entity will be required to recognize right-of-use assets and lease liabilities on its balance sheet and disclose key information about leasing arrangements. ASU 2016-02 offers specific accounting guidance for a lessee, a lessor and sale and leaseback transactions. Lessees and lessors are required to disclose qualitative and quantitative information about leasing arrangements to enable a user of the financial statements to assess the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. For public companies, ASU 2016-02 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that reporting period, and requires a modified retrospective adoption, with early adoption permitted. The Company is in the process of evaluating the future impact of ASU 2016-02 on our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
 
January 2016
 
The FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, “Financial Instruments — Overall: Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities” (“ASU 2016-01”). The guidance affects the accounting for equity investments, financial liabilities under the fair value option and the presentation and disclosure requirements of financial instruments. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods
within those fiscal years. The Company is evaluating the effect that ASU 2016-01 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
 
November 2015
 
The FASB issued ASU 2015-17, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes, simplifying the balance sheet classification of deferred taxes by requiring all deferred taxes, along with any related valuation allowance, to be presented as noncurrent. This ASU is effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of 2017, allows for early adoption and may be applied either prospectively or retrospectively. The Company is currently evaluating the impact the adoption of this guidance will have on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
September 2015
 
The FASB issued ASU No. 2015-16, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments, requiring that an acquirer recognize adjustments to provisional amounts that are identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined. This ASU also requires an entity to present separately on the face of the income statement, or disclose in the notes to the financial statements, the portion of the amount recorded in current-period earnings by line item that would have been recorded in previous reporting periods if the adjustment to the provisional amounts had been recognized as of the acquisition date. This ASU is effective within annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2015, including interim periods within that reporting period, and will be applied prospectively to measurement-period adjustments that occur after the effective date of this ASU. The Company believes this standard will not result in any impact on its financial statements.
 
August 2015
 
The FASB issued ASU No. 2015-15, Interest – Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of-Credit Arrangements - Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to Staff Announcement at June 18, 2015 EITF Meeting (“ASU 2015-15”). ASU 2015-15 requires that debt
issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. ASU 2015-15 then clarified that debt issuance costs related to a line-of-credit arrangement can be presented as an asset on the balance sheet, regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings on the line-of-credit arrangement. These ASUs are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and for interim periods within those fiscal years. An entity should apply this new guidance on a retrospective basis and is required to comply with applicable disclosures for a change in an accounting principle. These standards will result in a balance sheet reclassification and require related disclosure revisions in the Company’s financial statements. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of its pending adoption of ASU 2015-15 on its consolidated financial statements. These standards will not result in a balance sheet reclassification or require related disclosure revisions in the Company’s financial statements.
 
July 2015
 
The FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14, deferring the effective date of ASU 2014-09 - Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers, one year, from January 1, 2017, to January 1, 2018. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. Early adoption is not permitted. The Company is currently assessing the method under which it will adopt and the potential impact of adopting ASU 2014-09 on its financial position, results of operations, cash flows and/or disclosures.
 
February 2015
 
The FASB issued ASU No. 2015-02, “Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis” (“ASU 2015-02”). ASU 2015-02 eliminates specific consolidation guidance for limited partnerships and revises other aspects of consolidation analysis, including how kick-out rights, fee arrangements and related parties are assessed. ASU 2015-02 is effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of ASU 2015-02 on the Company’s financial statements.