Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Description of Business. Insignia Systems, Inc. (the “Company”) markets in-store advertising products, programs and services to retailers and consumer packaged goods manufacturers. The Company operates in a single reportable segment. The Company’s products include the Insignia Point-of-Purchase Services (POPS®) in-store marketing program, thermal sign card supplies for the Company’s Impulse Retail System, and laser printable cardstock and label supplies. In October 2014, the Company announced the introduction of a new product, The Like MachineTM. The agreement under which the Company distributes this product expires on March 31, 2017. In December 2016, the Company decided not to renew the agreement and to discontinue the sale of this product upon the expiration of the agreement. Revenue from The Like Machine was not significant in 2016 or 2015.

Revenue Recognition. Revenues are recognized by the Company when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, shipment has occurred, the price is fixed, and collectability is reasonably assured. The Company recognizes revenue from Insignia POPSigns and The Like Machine ratably over the period of service. The Company recognizes revenue related to equipment and sign card sales at the time the products are shipped to customers. Revenue associated with maintenance agreements is recognized ratably over the life of the contract. Revenue that has been billed and not yet earned is reflected as deferred revenue on the balance sheet. We account for taxes collected for customers on a net basis.

Cash and Cash Equivalents. The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity date of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates fair value. At December 31, 2016, $11,103,000 was invested in an insured sweep account and $1,164,000 was invested in a money market fund. At December 31, 2015, $7,815,000 was invested in an insured cash sweep account. The balances in cash accounts, at times, may exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts and believes it is not exposed to any significant credit risk on cash and cash equivalents. Amounts held in checking accounts and in insured cash sweep accounts during the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 were fully insured under the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”).

Fair Value of Financial Measurements. Fair value is defined as the exit price, or the amount that would be received to sell an asset, or paid to transfer a liability, in an orderly transaction between market participants as of the measurement date. ASC 820-10 also establishes a hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs are inputs market participants would use in valuing the asset or liability, developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect management’s assumptions about the factors market participants would use in valuing the asset or liability developed based upon the best information available in the circumstances.

The hierarchy is divided into three levels. Level 1 inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 inputs include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active and inputs (other than quoted prices) that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability. Categorization within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

The Company records certain financial assets and liabilities at their carrying amounts that approximate fair value, based on their short-term nature. These financial assets and liabilities included cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable.

At December 31, 2015, the Company had $9,490,000 of available-for-sale investments. The Company had no available-for-sale investments at December 31, 2016. Available-for-sale securities were carried at fair value with unrealized gains and losses reported as a component of shareholders’ equity as accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax. Fair value for available-for-sale securities was based on quoted prices for similar assets in active markets or quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets in which there were fewer transactions (Level 2). Amortization of premiums or discounts arising at acquisition, and gains or losses on the disposition of available-for-sale securities were reported as other income. Realized gains and losses, if any, were calculated on the specific identification method and were included in other income in the statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). 

Accounts Receivable. The majority of the Company’s accounts receivable is due from companies in the consumer packaged goods industry. Credit is extended based on evaluation of a customer’s financial condition and, generally, collateral is not required. Accounts receivable are due within 30-120 days and are stated at amounts due from customers, net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. Accounts receivable outstanding longer than the contractual payment terms are considered past due. The Company determines its allowance by considering a number of factors, including the length of time trade accounts receivable are past due, the Company’s previous loss history, the customer’s current ability to pay its obligation to the Company, and the condition of the general economy and the industry as a whole. The Company writes-off accounts receivable when they become uncollectible, and payments subsequently received on such receivables are credited to the allowance for doubtful accounts.

Changes in the Company’s allowance for doubtful accounts are as follows:

December 31	2016			2015
Beginning balance	$	79,000		$	89,000
Bad debt provision		67,000			(5,000	)
Accounts written-off		(5,000	)		(5,000	)
Ending balance	$	141,000		$	79,000

Inventories. Inventories are primarily comprised of parts and supplies for the Impulse machine, sign cards, and roll stock. Inventory is valued at the lower of cost or market using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method, and consists of the following:

December 31	2016		2015
Raw materials	$	123,000	$	69,000
Work-in-process		27,000		4,000
Finished goods		175,000		318,000
	$	325,000	$	391,000

In connection with the discontinued sale of The Like Machine, as of December 31, 2016, the Company deemed the value of the on-hand inventory related to The Like Machine to be impaired and recorded a $173,000 increase to the obsolescence reserve.

Property and Equipment. Property and equipment is recorded at cost. Significant additions or improvements extending asset lives are capitalized, while repairs and maintenance are charged to expense when incurred. Internally developed software is capitalized upon completion of preliminary project stage and when it is probable the project will be completed. Expenditures are capitalized for all development activities, while expenditures related to planning, training, and maintenance are expensed. Depreciation is provided in amounts sufficient to relate the cost of assets to operations over their estimated useful lives. The straight-line method of depreciation is used for financial reporting purposes and accelerated methods are used for tax purposes. Estimated useful lives of the assets are as follows:

Production tooling, machinery and equipment	1 - 6 years
Office furniture and fixtures	3 years
Computer equipment and software	3 years

Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the remaining term of the lease or estimated life of the asset. Internally developed software will be amortized over the estimated life of the asset, which is expected to be three to five years.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets. The Company records impairment losses on long-lived assets used in operations when indicators of impairment are present and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than the assets’ carrying amount. Impaired assets are then recorded at their estimated fair value. There were no material impairment losses during the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015. 

Income Taxes. Income taxes are accounted for under the liability method. Deferred income taxes are provided for temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities. Deferred taxes are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or the entire deferred tax asset will not be realized. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted for the effects of changes in tax laws and rates on the date of the enactment. It is the Company’s policy to provide for uncertain tax positions and the related interest and penalties based upon management’s assessment of whether a tax benefit is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by tax authorities. The Company recognizes interest and penalties accrued on any unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense (benefit).

Stock-Based Compensation. The Company measures and recognizes compensation expense for all stock-based payments at fair value. We use the Black-Scholes option pricing model to determine the weighted average fair value of options and employee stock purchase plan rights. The determination of fair value of share-based payment awards on the date of grant using an option-pricing model is affected by our stock price as well as by assumptions regarding a number of complex and subjective variables. These variables include, but are not limited to, the expected stock price volatility over the term of the awards, and actual and projected employee stock option exercise behaviors. Restricted stock units and awards are valued at the closing market price of the Company’s stock date of the grant.

The expected lives of the options and employee stock purchase plan rights are based on evaluations of historical and expected future employee exercise behavior. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury rates at the date of grant with maturity dates approximately equal to the expected term at grant date. Volatility is based on historical and expected future volatility of the Company’s stock. The Company has not historically issued any dividends beyond one-time dividends declared in 2011 and 2016 and does not expect to in the future. Forfeitures are estimated at the time of the grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from estimates.

Advertising Costs. Advertising costs are charged to operations as incurred. Advertising expenses were approximately $46,000 and $42,000 during the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Net Income (Loss) Per Share. Basic net income (loss) per share is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average shares outstanding and excludes any dilutive effects of stock options and restricted stock units. Diluted net income (loss) per share gives effect to all diluted potential common shares outstanding during the year.

Weighted average common shares outstanding for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 were as follows:

Year ended December 31	2016		2015
Denominator for basic net income (loss) per share - weighted average shares		11,629,000		12,044,000
Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock units		-		172,000
Denominator for diluted net income (loss) per share - weighted average shares		11,629,000		12,216,000

Due to the net loss incurred during the year ended December 31, 2016, all stock awards were anti-dilutive for the period. Options to purchase approximately 613,000 shares of common stock with a weighted average exercise price of $3.79 were outstanding at December 31, 2015 and were not included in the computation of common stock equivalents because their exercise prices were higher than the average fair market value of the common shares during the year.

Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

New Accounting Pronouncements. In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued guidance creating Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Section 606, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers." The new section will replace Section 605, "Revenue Recognition" and creates modifications to various other revenue accounting standards for specialized transactions and industries. The section is intended to conform revenue accounting principles with a concurrently issued International Financial Reporting Standards with previously differing treatment between United States practice and those of much of the rest of the world, as well as, to enhance disclosures related to disaggregated revenue information. The updated guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within that reporting period. Early application is permitted only as of annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods, within that reporting period. We are in the process of determining the impact that the updated accounting guidance will have on our financial statements upon adoption.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-2, Leases, under which lessees will recognize most leases on the balance sheet. This will generally increase reported assets and liabilities. For public entities, this ASU is effective for annual and interim periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. ASU 2016-2 mandates a modified retrospective transition method for all entities. We are in the process of determining the impact that the updated accounting guidance will have on our financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-9, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718) Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which simplifies several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. For public entities, this ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. The Company does not believe the standard will have a material impact on its financial statements upon adoption.