Significant Accounting Policies (Policies) |
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| Accounting Policies [Abstract] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Going Concern |
Going Concern. The accompanying consolidated financial statements and notes have been prepared assuming we will continue as a going concern. For the year ended December 31, 2018, we incurred a net loss, generated negative cash flow from operations, had a accumulated deficit and a working capital deficit. These circumstances raise substantial doubt as to our ability to continue as a going concern. Our ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon our ability to generate profits by expanding current operations globally as well as reducing our costs and increasing our operating margins, and to sustain adequate working capital to finance our operations. The failure to achieve the necessary levels of profitability and cash flows would be detrimental to us. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might be necessary if we are unable to continue as a going concern. |
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| Cash and cash equivalents |
Cash and cash equivalents. We consider all highly liquid instruments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash or cash equivalents. We continually monitor and evaluate our investment positions and the creditworthiness of the financial institutions with which we invest and maintain deposit accounts. When appropriate, we utilize Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service (CDARS) to reduce banking risk for a portion of our cash in the United States. A CDAR consists of numerous individual investments, all below the FDIC limits, thus fully insuring that portion of our cash. At December 31, 2018 and 2017, we did not have a CDAR balance. |
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| Restricted cash |
Restricted cash. Restricted cash balances consist primarily of funds on deposit with credit card and other payment processors. These balances do not have the benefit of federal deposit insurance and are subject to the financial risk of the parties holding these funds. Restricted cash balances held by credit card processors are unavailable to us unless, and for a period of time after, we discontinue the use of their services. Because a portion of these funds can be accessed and converted to unrestricted cash in less than one year in certain circumstances, that portion is considered a current asset. Restricted cash is included with cash and cash equivalents in our consolidated statements of cash flows. |
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| Financial Instruments |
Financial Instruments. Financial instruments consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, notes receivable, accounts payable, deferred course expenses, accrued expenses, deferred revenue, and debt. U.S. GAAP requires the disclosure of the fair value of financial instruments, including assets and liabilities recognized in the balance sheets. Our only financial liabilities measured and recorded at fair value on our consolidated balance sheets on a recurring basis are derivative financial instruments. Management believes the carrying value of the other financial instruments recognized on the consolidated balance sheets (including receivables, payables and accrued liabilities) approximate their fair value. |
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| Inventory |
Inventory. Inventory consists primarily of books, videos and training materials held for sale to students enrolled in our training programs. Inventory is stated at the lower of cost or market using the first-in, first-out method. |
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| Deposits with credit card processors |
Deposits with credit card processors. The deposits with our credit card processors are held due to arrangements under which our credit card processors withhold credit card funds to cover charge backs in the event we are unable to honor our commitments. |
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| Property, equipment and Impairment of long lived assets |
Property, equipment and Impairment of long lived assets. Property and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets as presented in the following table:
Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the estimated useful asset life or the remaining term of the applicable lease.
In accordance with U.S. GAAP, we evaluate the carrying amount of our long-lived assets such as property and equipment, and finite-lived intangible assets subject to amortization for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets held and used is measured by the comparison of its carrying amount with the future net cash flows the asset is expected to generate. We look primarily to the undiscounted future cash flows in the assessment of whether or not long-lived assets have been impaired. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated undiscounted future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the estimated fair value of the asset. |
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| Revenue recognition |
Revenue recognition.
We recognize revenue when our customers obtain control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration which we expect to receive in exchange for those goods or services, in accordance with implemented Topic 606 - an update to Topic 605.
We adopted Topic 606 using the modified retrospective method applied to those contracts which were not completed as of January 1, 2018. Results for reporting periods beginning after January 1, 2018 are presented under Topic 606, while prior period amounts are not adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with our historic accounting under Topic 605. Revenue amounts presented in our condensed consolidated financial statements are recognized net of sales tax, value-added taxes, and other taxes.
In the normal course of business, we recognize revenue based on the customers' attendance of the course, mentoring training, coaching session or delivery of the software, data or course materials on-line. After a customer contract expires we record breakage revenue less a reserve for cases where we allow a customer to attend after expiration. We have deferred revenue of $57.4 million related to contractual commitments with customers where the performance obligation will be satisfied over time, which ranges from one to two years as of December 31, 2018. The revenue associated with these performance obligations is recognized as the obligation is satisfied. We did not have a material change in financial position, results of operations, or cash flows and therefore there is no cumulative impact recorded to opening equity.
The following tables disaggregate our segment revenue by revenue source:
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| Deferred course expenses |
Deferred course expenses. We defer licensing fees and commissions and fees paid to our speakers and telemarketers until such time as the revenue is earned. Our speakers, who are all independent contractors, earn commissions on the cash receipts received at our training events and are paid approximately 45 days after the training event. The deferred course expenses are expensed as the corresponding deferred revenue is recognized. We also capitalize the commissions and fees paid to our speakers and expense them as the corresponding deferred revenue is recognized. |
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| Advertising expenses |
Advertising expenses. We expense advertising as incurred. Advertising paid in advance is recorded as a prepaid expense until such time as the advertisement is published. |
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| Income taxes |
Income taxes. We account for income taxes in conformity with the requirements of ASC 740, Income Taxes (“ASC 740”). Per ASC 740, the provision for income taxes is calculated using the asset and liability approach of accounting for income taxes. We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities, at enacted income tax rates, based on the temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and the tax basis of our assets and liabilities. We include any effects of changes in income tax rates or tax laws in the provision for income taxes in the period of enactment. When it is more likely than not that a portion or all of a deferred tax asset will not be realized in the future, we provide a corresponding valuation allowance against the deferred tax asset.
ASC 740 also clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in a company’s financial statements and prescribes a recognition threshold of more likely than not and a measurement process for financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. In making this assessment, a company must determine whether it is more likely than not that a tax position will be sustained upon examination, based solely on the technical merits of the position and must assume that the tax position will be examined by taxing authorities. ASC 740 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, disclosures and transition.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Act”) was enacted on December 22, 2017 making significant changes to the Internal Revenue Code. Changes include, but are not limited to, a reduction in the US federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%, requiring companies to pay a one-time transition tax on earnings of certain foreign subsidiaries that were previously tax deferred and creating new taxes on certain foreign sourced earnings.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (The Act,) was enacted on December 22, 2017 making significant changes to the Internal Revenue Code. Changes include, but are not limited to, a reduction in the US federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%, requiring companies to pay a one-time transition tax on earnings of certain foreign subsidiaries that were previously tax deferred and creating new taxes on certain foreign sourced earnings. As of December 31, 2018, we recognized income tax expense of $0.16 million related to the remeasurement of our deferred tax balance. |
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| Foreign currency translation |
Foreign currency translation. We account for foreign currency translation in accordance with ASC 830, Foreign Currency Translation. The functional currencies of the Company's foreign operations are the reported local currencies. Translation adjustments result from translating our foreign subsidiaries' financial statements into United States dollars. The balance sheet accounts of our foreign subsidiaries are translated into United States dollars using the exchange rate in effect at the balance sheet date. Revenue and expenses are translated using average exchange rates for each month during the fiscal year. The resulting translation gains or losses are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income in stockholders' deficit. Business is generally transacted in a single currency not requiring meaningful currency transaction costs. We do not practice hedging as the risks do not warrant the costs. |
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| Share-based compensation |
Share-based compensation. We account for share-based awards under the provisions of ASC 718, "Compensation—Stock Compensation." Accordingly, share-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and we expense these costs using the straight-line method over the requisite service period. See Note 6 - Share-Based Compensation, for additional disclosures regarding our share-based compensation. |
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| Comprehensive income |
Comprehensive income. Comprehensive income includes changes to equity accounts that were not the result of transactions with stockholders. Comprehensive income is comprised of net income and other comprehensive income items. Our comprehensive income generally consists of changes in the cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment. |
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| Accounting Standards Adopted in the Current Period |
Accounting Standards Adopted in the Current Period
We have implemented all new accounting pronouncements that are in effect and that management believes would materially affect our financial statements.
In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606),” updated by ASU No. 2015-14 “Deferral of the Effective Date,” which provides a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and will supersede most current revenue recognition guidance. In August 2015, the effective date for the standard was deferred by one year and the standard is now effective for public entities for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted based on the original effective date. The standard allows companies to choose either full retrospective or modified retrospective adoption method.
We completed our analysis during 2017 and there is no material change to our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows. We adopted ASU No. 2014-09 and its amendment on a modified retrospective basis effective January 1, 2018. As a result, we have changed our accounting policy for revenue recognition and applied Topic 606 using the modified retrospective basis. Typically, this approach would result in recognizing the cumulative effect of initially applying Topic 606 as an adjustment to the opening balance of equity at January 1, 2018. The company did not have a material change in financial position, results of operations, or cash flows and therefore there is no cumulative impact recorded to opening equity.
We have expanded disclosures in our notes to our condensed consolidated financial statements related to revenue recognition under the new standard. We have implemented changes to our accounting policies and practices, business processes, systems, and controls to support the new revenue recognition and disclosure requirements. (See Note 11, “Revenue Recognition” for further discussion).
In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, “Statement of Cash Flows: Restricted Cash,” which provides guidance about the presentation of changes in restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents on the statement of cash flows. This standard is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and will be applied using a retrospective transition method to each period presented. Early adoption was permitted. Our analysis of ASU 2016-18 was completed during 2017 and there is no material change to our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows. We adopted ASU 2016-18 effective January 1, 2018.
In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230).” The ASU addresses eight specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice. The standard is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2017, and early adoption is permitted. Our analysis of ASU 2016-15 was completed during 2017 and there is no material change to our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows. We adopted ASU 2016-15 effective January 1, 2018.
In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-16, “Income Taxes: Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory,” which removes the prohibition against the immediate recognition of the current and deferred income tax effects of intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory. This standard is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and will be applied using a modified retrospective basis. Early adoption was permitted. Our analysis of ASU 2016-16 was completed during 2017 and there is no material change to our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows. We adopted ASU 2016-16 effective January 1, 2018.
In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No 2016-01, “Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities,” Financial Instruments – Overall (Subtopic 825-10). The new guidance is intended to improve the recognition and measurement of financial instruments. This guidance requires that financial assets and financial liabilities must be separately presented by measurement category and form of financial asset on the balance sheet or the accompanying notes to the financial statements. This guidance was effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The standard includes a requirement that businesses must report changes in the fair value of their own liabilities in other comprehensive income/(loss) instead of earnings. Our analysis of ASU No 2016-01 was completed during 2017 and there is no material change to our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows. We adopted ASU No 2016-01 effective January 1, 2018.
In January 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2017-01, “Business Combinations,” which clarifies the definition of a Business and improves the guidance for determining whether a transaction involves the purchase or disposal of a business or an asset. This standard was effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and should be applied prospectively on or after the effective date. Early adoption is permitted only for the transactions that have not been reported in financial statements that have been issued or made available for issuance. We adopted this standard in the first quarter of 2018. The adoption of this guidance did not have a significant impact on our financial statements. The future impact of this guidance will depend on the nature of our future activities, and fewer transactions may be treated as acquisitions (or disposals) of businesses after adoption. |
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| New Accounting Standards to be Adopted in Future Periods |
New Accounting Standards to be Adopted in Future Periods
In June 2018, an accounting update was issued to simplify the accounting for nonemployee share-based payment transactions resulting from expanding the scope of ASC Topic 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation, to include share-based payment transactions for acquiring goods and services from nonemployees. An entity should apply the requirements of ASC Topic 718 to nonemployee awards except for specific guidance on inputs to an option pricing model and the attribution of cost (that is, the period of time over which share-based payment awards vest and the pattern of cost recognition over that period). The amendments specify that ASC Topic 718 applies to all share-based payment transactions in which a grantor acquires goods or services to be used or consumed in a grantor’s own operations by issuing share-based payment awards. The amendments also clarify that ASC Topic 718 does not apply to share-based payments used to effectively provide (1) financing to the issuer or (2) awards granted in conjunction with selling goods or services to customers as part of a contract accounted for under ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The amendments in this accounting update are effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that fiscal year. Early adoption is permitted, but no earlier than an entity’s adoption date of ASC Topic 606. We adopted this accounting update effective January 1, 2019.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No 2016-02 “Leases.” The standard requires companies that lease valuable assets like aircraft, real estate, and heavy equipment to recognize on their balance sheets the assets and liabilities generated by contracts longer than a year. The standard also requires companies to disclose in the footnotes to their financial statements information about the amount, timing, and uncertainty for the payments they make for the lease agreements. This standard is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. We adopted this standard effective January 1, 2019.
In July 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2017-11, I “Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments With Down Round Features” and II “Replacement of the Indefinite Deferral for Mandatorily Redeemable Financial Instruments of Certain Nonpublic Entities and Certain Mandatorily Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests With a Scope Exception”. This standard is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the effect that the adoption of this standard will have on our financial statements and expect to adopt this standard when effective. |
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