Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Company Background

(a) Company Background

Scott’s Liquid Gold-Inc. (a Colorado corporation) was incorporated on February 15, 1954. Scott’s Liquid Gold-Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”, “we”, “our”, or “us”) develop, manufacture, market and sell quality household and skin and hair care products. We are also an exclusive distributor in the United States of Montagne Jeunesse skin sachets and Batiste dry shampoo manufactured by two other companies. Our business is comprised of two segments, household products and skin and hair care products.

Principles of Consolidation

(b) Principles of Consolidation

Our consolidated financial statements include our accounts and those of our wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Basis of Presentation

(c) Basis of Presentation

The Consolidated Statements of Operations, Consolidated Balance Sheets, and the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows included in this report have been prepared by the Company. In our opinion, all adjustments (which include only normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the financial position at September 30, 2012 and results of operations and cash flow for all periods have been made.

Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our financial statements and notes thereto included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011. The results of operations for the period ended September 30, 2012 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for the full year.

Use of Estimates

(d) Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts in our financial statements of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates include, but are not limited to, the realization of deferred tax assets, reserves for slow moving and obsolete inventory, customer returns and allowances, coupon redemptions, and stock-based compensation. Actual results could differ from our estimates.

Cash Equivalents

(e) Cash Equivalents

We consider all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less at the date of acquisition to be cash equivalents.

Sale of Accounts Receivable

(f) Sale of Accounts Receivable

On November 3, 2008, effective as of October 31, 2008, we entered into a financing agreement with Summit Financial Resources, L.P. (“Summit”) for the purpose of improving working capital. The financing agreement with Summit was amended on March 12, 2009, March 16, 2011 (effective March 1, 2011) and then again on June 29, 2012 (effective July 1, 2012). The agreement has a term that expires on January 1, 2014, but it may be renewed for additional 12 month periods unless either party elects to cancel in writing at least 60 days prior to January 1, 2014 and thereafter on the anniversary date of each 12 month period.

The agreement provides for a factoring line up to $1.5 million and is secured primarily by accounts receivable, inventory, any lease in which we are a lessor and all investment property and guarantees by our active subsidiaries. Under the agreement, Summit will make loans at our request and in its discretion based on: (i) its purchases of our receivables, with recourse against us, at an advance rate of 85% (or such other percentage determined by Summit in its discretion) and (ii) our inventory not to exceed certain amounts, including an aggregate maximum of $500,000. Prior to the recent amendment on June 29, 2012, advances under the agreement had an interest rate of 1.5% over the prime rate (as published in The Wall Street Journal) for the accounts receivable portion of the advances and 4.0% over the prime rate for the inventory portion of the borrowings. The recent amendment reduced these interest rates to 1.0% over the prime rate for the accounts receivable portion and 2.5% over the prime rate for the inventory portion. Consequently, our interest cost adjusts with changes in the prime rate. At September 30, 2012, the prime rate was 3.25%.

In addition, prior to the recent amendment on June 29, 2012, there was an administrative fee of 1.0% per month on the average monthly outstanding loan on the receivable portion of any advance and 1.35% per month on the average monthly outstanding loan on the inventory portion of any advance. The recent amendment reduced these administrative fees to 0.85% per month on the average monthly outstanding loan on the receivable portion of any advance if the average quarterly loan in the prior quarter was less than or equal to $1,000,000, and to 0.75% if the average quarterly loan in the prior quarter was greater than $1,000,000 and to 1.0% per month on the average monthly outstanding loan on the inventory portion of any advance.

The agreement provides that neither we nor our active subsidiaries may engage in a change in control transaction without the prior written consent of Summit. Events of default include, but are not limited to, our failure to make a payment when due or a default occurring on any of our other indebtedness.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2012, we sold approximately $8,199,400 of our accounts receivables to Summit for approximately $6,969,500. As the advance rate on these accounts receivables was 85%, we retained an interest equal to 15% of those accounts receivables. At September 30, 2012, approximately $284,000 of this credit line was available for future factoring of accounts receivable invoices and borrowings secured by our inventory.

We report these transactions, using the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) authoritative guidance, as a secured borrowing rather than as a sale. As a result, affected accounts receivable are reported under Current Assets within our Consolidated Balance Sheets as “Trade receivables, net.” Similarly, the net liability owing to Summit appears as “Obligations collateralized by receivables and inventory” within the Current Liabilities section of our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Net proceeds received on obligations collateralized by receivables and inventory appear as cash provided by operating activities within our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow.

On March 16, 2011, under a consent agreement from Summit, we entered into a financing agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (“Wells Fargo”) for the purpose of further lowering the cost of borrowing associated with the financing of our accounts receivable. Pursuant to this agreement, we may sell accounts receivables from our largest customer at a discount to Wells Fargo; provided, however, that Wells Fargo may reject offers to purchase such receivables in its discretion. These receivables may be purchased by Wells Fargo at a cost to us equal to LIBOR plus 1.15% per annum. The LIBOR rate used depends on the days to maturity of the receivable sold, typically ranging from 102 to 105 days. At September 30, 2012, Wells Fargo used the 104-day LIBOR rate of 0.46%.

The agreement has no fixed termination date, but continues unless terminated by either party giving 30 days prior written notice to the other party. During the nine months ended September 30,2012, we sold approximately $2,705,900 of our relevant accounts receivable to Wells Fargo for approximately $2,652,600. The difference between the invoiced amount of the receivable and the cash that we received from Wells Fargo is a cost to us. This cost is in lieu of any cash discount our customer would have been allowed and, thus, is treated in a manner consistent with standard trade discounts granted to our customers.

The reporting of the sale of accounts receivables to Wells Fargo is treated as a sale rather than as a secured borrowing. As a result, affected accounts receivables are relieved from the Company’s financial statements upon receipt of the cash proceeds.

Inventories

(g) Inventories

Inventories consist of raw materials and finished goods and are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out method) or market. We record a reserve for slow moving and obsolete products and raw materials. We estimate this reserve based upon historical and anticipated sales.

Property, Plant and Equipment

(h) Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are recorded at historical cost. Depreciation is provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets ranging from three to 45 years. Building structures and building improvements are estimated to have useful lives of 35 to 45 years and three to 20 years, respectively. Production equipment and production support equipment are estimated to have useful lives of 15 to 20 years and three to 10 years, respectively. Office furniture and office machines are estimated to have useful lives of 10 to 20 and three to five years, respectively. Carpets, drapes and company vehicles are estimated to have useful lives of five to 10 years. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. Improvements that extend the useful lives of the asset or provide improved efficiency are capitalized.

Financial Instruments

(i) Financial Instruments

Financial instruments which potentially subject us to concentrations of credit risk include cash and cash equivalents and trade receivables. We maintain our cash balances in the form of bank demand deposits with financial institutions that we believe are creditworthy. Periodically throughout the year, we have maintained balances in various operating accounts in excess of federally insured limits. We establish an allowance for doubtful accounts based upon factors surrounding the credit risk of specific customers, historical trends and other information. We have no significant financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk of accounting loss, such as foreign exchange contracts, option contracts or other foreign currency hedging arrangements.

The recorded amounts for cash and cash equivalents, receivables, other current assets, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of these financial instruments. Our long-term debt bears interest at a fixed rate that adjusts annually on the anniversary date to the then prime rate. The carrying value of our long-term debt approximates fair value as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011.

Long-Lived Assets

(j) Long-Lived Assets

We follow FASB authoritative guidance as it relates to the proper accounting treatment for the impairment or disposal of long-lived assets. This guidance requires that long-lived assets and certain identifiable intangibles be reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to future net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell.

As of December 31, 2011, due to changes in the real estate market in Denver, Colorado, we conducted an evaluation into the fair value impairment of our property, plant and equipment with particular attention to our land and office, warehouse and manufacturing buildings (the “Facilities”). The Facilities have an original cost of $17,485,800 and a depreciated book value at December 31, 2011 of approximately $10,068,900. We evaluated the value of the Facilities using both an income capitalization approach and a market value approach. This evaluation returned a range of fair value estimates between approximately $10.1 million to $10.6 million. Based upon this evaluation, we found there to be no impairment in the carrying values of our long-lived assets at December 31, 2011.

However, at September 30, 2012, due to recent developments in the commercial real estate market in which our Facilities are located, we found there to be an impairment of approximately $286,900 in the carrying values of our long-lived assets. We determined the impairment amount after concluding that the low end of the range of fair value estimates at September 30, 2012 should be $9.5 million and the depreciated book value of the Facilities at September 30, 2012 was approximately $9,786,900. The valuation of our Facilities, however, can be affected by future events, including changes in the economy and the commercial real estate market in which our Facilities are located.

The impact of the impairment appears on our Consolidated Statements of Operations as an expense of $286,900 under “Loss on impairment of long-lived assets” and reduces by $286,900 our “Property, plant and equipment, net” on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Income Taxes

(k) Income Taxes

We follow FASB authoritative guidance for the accounting for income taxes which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their respective income tax bases. A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the period in which related temporary differences become deductible. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.

Taxes are reported based on tax positions that meet a more-likely-than-not standard and that are measured at the amount that is more-likely-than-not to be realized. Differences between financial and tax reporting which do not meet this threshold are required to be recorded as unrecognized tax benefits. We classify penalty and interest expense related to income tax liabilities as an income tax expense. There are no significant interest and penalties recognized in the statement of operations or accrued on the balance sheet.

Revenue Recognition

(l) Revenue Recognition

Our revenue recognition policy is significant because the amount and timing of revenue is a key component of our results of operations. We follow guidance issued by FASB, which requires that certain criteria be met in order to recognize revenue. If these criteria are not met, then the associated revenue is deferred until it is met. In our case, the criteria generally are met when we have an arrangement to sell a product, we have delivered the product in accordance with that arrangement, the sales price of the product is determinable and we believe that we will be paid for the sale.

We establish reserves for customer returns of our products and customer allowances. We estimate these reserves based upon, among other things, an assessment of historical trends, information from customers and anticipated returns related to current sales activity. These reserves are established in the period of sale and reduce our revenue in that period.

Our reserve for customer allowances includes primarily reserves for trade promotions to support price features, displays and other merchandising of our products to our customers. The actual level of returns and customer allowances are influenced by several factors, including the promotional efforts of our customers, changes in mix of our customers, changes in the mix of the products we sell and the maturity of the product. We may change our estimates based on actual results and consideration of other factors that cause returns and allowances. In the event that actual results differ from our estimates, the results of future periods may be impacted.

We also establish reserves for coupons, rebates and certain other promotional programs for consumers. We estimate these reserves based upon, among other things, an assessment of historical trends and current sales activity. These reserves are recorded as a reduction of revenue at the later of the date at which the revenue is recognized or the date at which the sale incentive is offered.

At September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 approximately $279,700 and $497,000, respectively, had been reserved for as a reduction of accounts receivable, and approximately $0.00 and $85,000, respectively, had been reserved as current liabilities. Trade promotions to our customers and incentives such as coupons to the consumer are deducted from gross sales and totaled $1,248,700 and $855,700 for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

We have also established an allowance for doubtful accounts. We estimate this allowance based upon, among other things, an assessment of the credit risk of specific customers and historical trends. We believe our allowance for doubtful accounts is adequate to absorb any losses which may arise. In the event that actual losses differ from our estimates, the results of future periods may be impacted.

Advertising Costs

(m) Advertising Costs

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred.

Stock-based Compensation

(n) Stock-based Compensation

During the nine months ended September 30, 2012, we granted 100,000 options for shares of our common stock to an executive officer at a price of $0.24 per share. The options which vest ratably over 48 months, or upon a change in control, and which expire after five years, were granted at 120% of the market value as of the date of grant. During the first nine months of 2011, we granted 30,000 options for shares of our common stock to a non-employee director at $0.37 per share. Please see Note 2 to our Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for information regarding the 598,200 fewer stock options outstanding at September 30, 2012 than at September 30, 2011.

The weighted average fair market value of the options granted in the first nine months of 2012 was estimated on the date of grant, using a Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions:

	September 30, 2012	September 30, 2011
Expected life of options (using the “simplified method)	4.5 years	4.5 years
Average risk-free interest rate	0.9%	0.9%
Average expected volatility of stock	144%	98%
Expected dividend rate	None	None

Compensation cost related to stock options recognized in operating results (included in general and administrative expenses) under authoritative guidance issued by the FASB was $40,500 and $58,100 in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Approximately $88,500 of total unrecognized compensation costs related to non-vested stock options is expected to be recognized over the next 48 months. In accordance with this same authoritative guidance, there was no tax benefit from recording the non-cash expense as it relates to the options granted to employees, as these were qualified stock options which are not normally tax deductible. With respect to the non-cash expense associated with the options granted to the non-employee directors, no tax benefit was recognized due to the existence of as yet unutilized net operating losses. At such time as these operating losses have been utilized and a tax benefit is realized from the issuance of non-qualified stock options, a corresponding tax benefit may be recognized.

Operating Costs and Expenses Classification

(o) Operating Costs and Expenses Classification

Cost of sales includes costs associated with manufacturing and distribution including labor, materials, freight-in, purchasing and receiving, quality control, internal transfer costs, repairs, maintenance and other indirect costs, as well as warehousing and distribution costs. We classify shipping and handling costs comprised primarily of freight-out and nominal outside warehousing costs as selling expenses. Other selling expenses consist primarily of wages and benefits for sales and sales support personnel, travel, brokerage commissions and promotional costs, as well as certain other indirect costs. Shipping and handling costs totaled $1,083,700 and $1,085,800 for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

General and administrative expenses consist primarily of wages and benefits associated with management and administrative support departments, business insurance costs, professional fees, office facility related expenses, and other general support costs.