XML 15 R9.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT

Significant Accounting Policies:

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

2. Significant Accounting Policies:

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Winmark Capital Corporation, Wirth Business Credit, Inc. and Grow Biz Games, Inc. All material inter-company transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The consolidated financial statements also include the Company’s investment in and share of net earnings or losses for its investment in Tomsten, Inc. (“Tomsten”), which is recorded using the equity method of accounting.

Cash Equivalents

Cash equivalents consist of highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased. Cash equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates fair value. As of December 31, 2011 and December 25, 2010, the Company had $227,000 and $156,200 of cash located in Canadian banks. The Company holds its cash and cash equivalents with financial institutions and at times, such balances may be in excess of insurance limits.

Receivables

The Company provides an allowance for doubtful accounts on trade and notes receivable. The allowance for doubtful accounts was $15,100 and $17,400 at December 31, 2011 and December 25, 2010, respectively. If receivables in excess of the provided allowance are determined uncollectible, they are charged to expense in the year the determination is made. Trade receivables are written off when they become uncollectible (which generally occurs when the franchise terminates and there is no reasonable expectation of collection), and payments subsequently received on such receivable are credited to the allowance for doubtful accounts. Historically, receivables balances written off have not exceeded allowances provided.

Investment in Leasing Operations

The Company uses the direct finance method of accounting to record income from direct financing leases. At the inception of a lease, the Company records the minimum future lease payments receivable, the estimated residual value of the leased equipment and the unearned lease income. Initial direct costs related to lease originations are deferred as part of the investment and amortized over the lease term. Unearned lease income is the amount by which the total lease receivable plus the estimated residual value exceeds the cost of the equipment.

Leasing Income Recognition

Leasing income for direct financing leases is recognized under the effective interest method. The effective interest method of income recognition applies a constant rate of interest equal to the internal rate of return on the lease. Generally, when a lease is more than 90 days delinquent (when more than three monthly payments are owed), the lease is classified as being on non-accrual and the Company stops recognizing leasing income on that date. Payments received on leases in non-accrual status generally reduce the lease receivable. Leases on non-accrual status remain classified as such until there is sustained payment performance that, in the Company’s judgment, would indicate that all contractual amounts will be collected in full.

In certain circumstances, the Company may re-lease equipment in its existing portfolio. As this equipment may have a fair value greater than its carrying amount when re-leased, the Company may be required to account for the lease as a sales-type lease. At inception of a sales-type lease, revenue is recorded that consists of the present value of the future minimum lease payments discounted at the rate implicit in the lease. In subsequent periods, the recording of income is consistent with the accounting for a direct financing lease.

For leases that are accounted for as operating leases, income is recognized on a straight-line basis when payments under the lease contract are due.

Leasing Expense

Leasing expense includes the cost of financing equipment purchases, the cost of equipment sales as well as depreciation expense for operating lease assets. Additionally, at inception of a sales-type lease, cost is recorded that consists of the equipment’s book value, less the present value of its residual and is included in leasing expense.

Initial Direct Costs

The Company defers initial direct costs incurred to originate its leases in accordance with applicable accounting guidance. The initial direct costs deferred are part of the investment in leasing operations and are amortized using the effective interest method. Initial direct costs include commissions and costs associated with credit evaluation, recording guarantees and other security arrangements, documentation and transaction closing.

Lease Residual Values

Residual values reflect the estimated amounts to be received at lease termination from lease extensions, sales or other dispositions of leased equipment. The leased equipment residual values are based on the Company’s best estimate.

Allowance for Credit Losses

The Company maintains an allowance for credit losses at an amount that it believes to be sufficient to absorb losses inherent in its existing lease portfolio as of the reporting dates. Leases are collectively evaluated for potential loss. The Company’s methodology for determining the allowance for credit losses includes consideration of the level of delinquencies and non-accrual leases, historical net charge-off amounts and review of any significant concentrations.

A provision is charged against earnings to maintain the allowance for credit losses at the appropriate level. If the actual results are different from the Company’s estimates, results could be different. The Company’s policy is to charge-off against the allowance the estimated unrecoverable portion of accounts once they reach 121 days delinquent.

Rents Received in Advance

Rents received in advance represent advance payments from customers that will be applied to future payments. For example, if the Company is holding one advance payment, it will be applied to the customer’s last payment. If the Company is holding two advance payments, they will be applied to the customer’s last two payments.

Inventories

The Company values its inventories at the lower of cost, as determined by the weighted average cost method, or market. Inventory consists of computer hardware and related accessories.

Impairment of Long-lived Assets and Investments

The Company reviews its long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. If the carrying amount of the asset exceeds expected undiscounted future cash flows, the Company measures the amount of impairment by comparing the carrying amount of the asset to its fair value.

The Company evaluates its long-term equity investments for impairment on an annual basis or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount may not be recoverable. The impairment, if any, is measured by the difference between the assets’ carrying amount and their fair value (as prescribed by applicable accounting guidance), based on the best information available, including market prices, discounted cash flow analysis or other financial metrics that management utilizes to help determine fair value.

The Company evaluates its long-term note investments for impairment on an annual basis or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that it probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the notes. The impairment, if any, is measured by the difference between the recorded investment in the notes, including accrued interest, and the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the effective interest rate of the notes (as prescribed by applicable accounting guidance), based on the best information available to management. Once a note investment is deemed impaired, any significant change in the amount or timing of the expected or actual cash flows requires recalculation of the impairment applying the procedures described above.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment is stated at cost. Depreciation and amortization for financial reporting purposes is provided on the straight-line method. Estimated useful lives used in calculating depreciation and amortization are: three years for computer and peripheral equipment, five years for furniture and equipment and the shorter of the lease term or useful life for leasehold improvements. Major repairs, refurbishments and improvements which significantly extend the useful lives of the related assets are capitalized. Maintenance and repairs, supplies and accessories are charged to expense as incurred.

Goodwill

The Company reviews its goodwill for impairment on an annual basis or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that there has been an impairment in the value of its goodwill. Goodwill of $607,500 is included in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2011 and December 25, 2010, and is all attributable to the Franchising segment.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted U.S. accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and 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. The ultimate results could differ from those estimates. The most significant estimates relate to allowance for credit losses and impairment of long-term investments. These estimates may be adjusted as more current information becomes available, and any adjustment could be significant.

Advertising

Advertising costs are charged to operating expenses as incurred. Advertising costs were $175,800 and $116,500, for fiscal years 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation

The Company recognizes the cost of all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, in the consolidated financial statements based on the grant date fair value of those awards. This cost is recognized over the period for which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award. Compensation expense of $755,700 and $725,500 relating to the vested portion of the fair value of stock options granted was expensed to “Selling, General and Administrative Expenses” in 2011 and 2010, respectively.

The Company estimates the fair value of options granted using the Black-Scholes option valuation model. The Company estimates the volatility of its common stock at the date of grant based on its historical volatility rate. The Company’s decision to use historical volatility was based upon the lack of actively traded options on its common stock. The Company estimates the expected term based upon historical option exercises. The risk-free interest rate assumption is based on observed interest rates for the expected term. The Company uses historical data to estimate pre-vesting option forfeitures and record share-based compensation expense only for those awards that are expected to vest. For options granted, the Company amortizes the fair value on a straight-line basis. All options are amortized over the vesting periods.

Revenue Recognition

The Company collects royalties from each retail franchise based on a percentage of retail store gross sales. The Company recognizes royalties as revenue when earned. The Company collects initial franchise fees when franchise agreements are signed and recognizes the initial franchise fees as revenue when the franchise is opened, which is when the Company has performed substantially all initial services required by the franchise agreement. The Company had deferred franchise fee revenue of $951,000 and $789,900 at December 31, 2011 and December 25, 2010, respectively. The Company recognizes deferred software license fees over the 10-year life of the initial franchise agreement. The Company had deferred software license fees of $1,000,700 and $899,400 at December 31, 2011 and December 25, 2010, respectively. Merchandise sales through the buying group are recognized when the product has been invoiced by the vendor.

Sales Tax

The Company’s accounting policy is to present taxes collected from customers and remitted to government authorities on a net basis.

Discounted Lease Rentals

The Company may utilize its lease rentals receivable and underlying equipment as collateral to borrow from financial institutions at fixed rates on a non-recourse basis. In the event of a default by a customer, the financial institution has a first lien on the underlying leased equipment, with no further recourse against the Company. Proceeds from discounting are recorded on the balance sheet as discounted lease rentals. As customers make payments, lease income and interest expense are recorded and discounted lease rentals are reduced by the effective interest method.

Earnings Per Share

The Company calculates earnings per share by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding to arrive at the Earnings Per Share — Basic. The Company calculates Earnings Per Share — Diluted by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares of common stock and dilutive stock equivalents from the potential exercise of stock options using the treasury stock method.

The dilutive effect of stock options equivalent to 259,376 shares and 165,619 shares for the years ended December 31, 2011 and December 25, 2010, respectively, were used in the calculation of Earnings Per Share — Diluted. Options totaling 31,614 and 38,762 shares for the year ended December 31, 2011 and December 25, 2010, respectively, were outstanding but were not included in the calculation of Earnings Per Share — Diluted because their exercise prices were greater than the average market price of the common shares and, therefore, including the options in the denominator would be anti-dilutive.

Fair Value Measurements

The Company defines fair value as the price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The Company uses three levels of inputs to measure fair value:

· Level 1 — quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities.

· Level 2 — observable inputs other than quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities.

· Level 3 — unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data available, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions.

The Company’s marketable securities were valued based on Level 1 inputs using quoted prices.

Due to their nature, the carrying value of cash equivalents, receivables, payables and debt obligations approximates fair value.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In July 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued new accounting guidance that requires new disclosures about an entity’s allowance for credit losses and the credit quality of its financing receivables. Existing disclosures were amended to require an entity to provide certain disclosures on a disaggregated basis by portfolio segment or by class of financing receivables. The new and amended disclosures that relate to information as of the end of a reporting period were effective for interim and annual reporting periods ending on or after December 15, 2010. The disclosures about activity that occurs during a reporting period are effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2010. The Company adopted the new and amended disclosures that relate to information as of the end of a reporting period in its annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 25, 2010 and adopted the new and amended disclosures that relate to information for activity that occurs during a reporting period in its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal period ended March 26, 2011. See Note 4 for disclosures related to this adoption. The adoption of these disclosure requirements has not had an impact on the consolidated results of the Company.

In June 2011, the FASB amended its accounting guidance on the presentation of other comprehensive income (OCI) in an entity’s financial statements. The amended guidance eliminates the option to present the components of OCI as part of the statement of changes in shareholders equity and provides two options for presenting OCI: in a statement included in the income statement or in a separate statement immediately following the income statement. The amendments do not change the guidance for the items that have to be reported in OCI or when an item of OCI has to be moved into net income. For public entities, the amendments are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. Adoption of this guidance will not have an impact on the consolidated results of the Company.

In September 2011, the FASB amended its accounting guidance on testing goodwill for impairment by providing entities an option to perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether further impairment testing is necessary. The amendments do not change the guidance for how goodwill is calculated or when goodwill is tested for impairment. The amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. Adoption of this guidance will not have an impact on the consolidated results of the Company.

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications of previously reported amounts have been made to conform to the current year presentation. Such reclassifications did not impact net income or shareholders’ equity as previously reported.