The Company has a 52/53 week fiscal year. Fiscal years for the consolidated financial statements included herein are for the 52 weeks ended December 26, 2021, December 27, 2020, and December 29, 2019, referred to herein as Fiscal 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant estimates affecting the financial statements include allowances for credit losses, goodwill, intangible assets, lease liability, contingent consideration obligations related to acquisitions, and income taxes. Additionally, the valuation of share-based compensation expense uses a model based upon interest rates, stock prices, maturity estimates, volatility and other factors. The Company believes these estimates and assumptions are reliable. However, these estimates and assumptions may change in the future based on actual experience as well as market conditions.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have an impact on our economy as a result of measures designed to stop the spread of the virus. In light of the ultimate duration and severity of COVID-19, we face a greater degree of uncertainty than normal in making the judgments and estimates needed to apply the Company’s significant accounting policies. While the ongoing COVID-19 response continues to evolve, management may continue to make changes to these estimates and judgments over time, which could result in meaningful impacts to the Company’s financial statements in future periods. Actual results and outcomes may differ from management’s estimates and assumptions.

The Company uses fair value measurements in areas that include, but are not limited to, interest rate swap agreements used to mitigate interest rate risk, and the allocation of purchase price consideration to tangible and identifiable intangible assets and contingent consideration. The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivables, prepaid expenses, accounts payable, accrued liabilities, and other current assets and liabilities approximate their fair values because of the short-term nature of these instruments. The carrying value of bank debt approximates fair value due to the variable nature of the interest rates under the credit agreement with BMO Harris Bank, N.A. (“BMO”) that provides for a revolving credit facility and term loan and current rates available to the Company for debt with similar terms and risk. The fair value on the interest rate swap is based on quoted prices from BMO.

Concentration of credit risk is limited due to the Company’s diverse client partner base and their dispersion across many different industries and geographic locations nationwide. No single client partner accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s accounts receivable from continuing operations as of December 26, 2021 and December 27, 2020 or revenue from continuing operations in Fiscal 2021, 2020 and 2019. Geographic revenue from continuing operations in excess of 10% of the Company's consolidated revenue in Fiscal 2021 and the related percentage for Fiscal 2020 and 2019 was generated in the following areas:

The Company extends credit to its client partners in the normal course of business. Accounts receivable represents unpaid balances due from client partners. The Company maintains an allowance for credit losses for expected losses resulting from client partners’ non-payment of balances due to the Company. The Company’s determination of the allowance for uncollectible amounts is based on management’s judgments and assumptions, including general economic conditions, portfolio composition, prior loss experience, evaluation of credit risk related to certain individual client partners and the Company’s ongoing examination process. Receivables are written off after they are deemed to be uncollectible after all reasonable means of collection have been exhausted. Recoveries of receivables previously written off are recorded when received. The Company will continue to actively monitor the impact of COVID-19 on expected credit losses.


	2021		2020
Beginning balance	$	492,087	$	468,233
Provision for credit losses - EdgeRock Technology Holdings, Inc. (“EdgeRock”) acquisition	—		47,498
Provision for credit losses, net	221,240		349,362
Amounts written off, net	(264,705)		(373,006)
Ending balance	$	448,622	$	492,087

Other current assets from continuing operations includes $2.4 million of the Employee Retention Credit ("ERC") at December 26, 2021. The ERC was established by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act ("CARES Act"). The CARES Act allows relief to businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic, by providing payment to employers for qualified wages and health insurance benefits for team members. The CARES Act applies to taxes incurred from March 27, 2020, through the second quarter of 2021.

The Company depreciates the cost of property and equipment over the estimated useful lives of the assets using the straight-line method ranging from five to seven years. The costs of leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the estimated useful life or lease term. The cost of normal maintenance and repairs is charged to operating expenses as incurred. Material expenditures that increase the life of an asset are capitalized and depreciated over the estimated remaining useful life of the asset. The cost of properties sold, or otherwise disposed of, and the related accumulated depreciation or amortization, are removed from the accounts, and any gains or losses are reflected in current operations.

The Company maintains guaranteed costs policies for workers' compensation coverage in monopolistic states and minimal loss retention coverage in all other states. Under these policies, the Company is required to maintain refundable deposits of $3.9 million and $3.8 million, which are included in Deposits and other assets from continuing operations in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, as of December 26, 2021 and December 27, 2020, respectively.

The Company capitalizes direct costs incurred in the development of internal-use software. Cloud computing implementation costs incurred in hosting arrangements are capitalized and reported as a component of other assets. All other internal-use software development costs are capitalized and reported as a component of computer software within intangible assets.

The Company reviews its long-lived assets, primarily fixed assets, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recovered. The Company looks primarily to the undiscounted future cash flows in its assessment of whether or not long-lived assets have been impaired. There were no impairments with respect to long-lived assets during Fiscal 2021, 2020 or 2019.

The Company leases all their office space through operating leases, which expire at various dates through 2025. Many of the lease agreements obligate the Company to pay real estate taxes, insurance and certain maintenance costs, which are accounted for separately. Certain of the Company’s lease arrangements contain renewal provisions from 3 to 10 years, exercisable at the Company's option. The Company’s lease agreements do not contain any material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants.

The Company determines if an arrangement is an operating lease at inception. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet. All other leases are recorded on the balance sheet as right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for the lease term.

Right of use lease assets and lease liabilities are recognized at commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term and include options to extend or terminate the lease when they are reasonably certain to be exercised. The present value of lease payments is determined primarily using the incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at lease commencement date. The Company’s operating lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term and is recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses.

The Company holds intangible assets with indefinite and finite lives. Intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are not amortized. Intangible assets with finite useful lives are amortized over their respective estimated useful lives, ranging from three to ten years, based on a pattern in which the economic benefit of the respective intangible asset is realized.

Identifiable intangible assets recognized in conjunction with acquisitions are recorded at fair value. Significant unobservable inputs are used to determine the fair value of the identifiable intangible assets based on the income approach valuation model whereby the present worth and anticipated future benefits of the identifiable intangible assets are discounted back to their net present value.

The Company capitalizes purchased software and internal payroll costs directly incurred in the modification of software for internal use. Software maintenance and training costs are expensed in the period incurred.

The Company evaluates the recoverability of intangible assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that an intangible asset’s carrying amount may not be recoverable. The Company considered the current and expected future economic and market conditions surrounding COVID-19 and its impact on each of the reporting units. The Company annually evaluates the remaining useful lives of all intangible assets to determine whether events and circumstances warrant a revision to the remaining period of amortization. In the Professional segment, the Company recognized a $3.7 million trade name impairment loss and a $3.5 million client partner list impairment loss in Fiscal 2020 (see Note 7). The Company determined that there were no impairment indicators for these assets in Fiscal 2021 or 2019.

Goodwill represents the difference between the enterprise value/cash paid less the fair value of all recognized net asset fair values including identifiable intangible asset values in a business combination. The Company reviews goodwill for impairment annually during the fourth quarter or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value of goodwill may not be recoverable. The Company considered the current and expected future economic and market conditions surrounding COVID-19 and its impact on each of the reporting units. Based on annual testing, the Company has determined that there was no goodwill impairment in Fiscal 2021, 2020 or 2019.

The Company first evaluates qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not (that is, a likelihood of more than 50 percent) that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, including goodwill. If after qualitatively assessing the totality of events or circumstances, the Company determines that it is not more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then further testing is unnecessary. If after assessing the totality of events or circumstances, the Company determines that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, the Company then estimates the fair value of the reporting unit and compares the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying amount, including goodwill, as discussed below.

In assessing whether it is more likely than not that an indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired, the Company assesses relevant events and circumstances that could affect the significant inputs used to determine the fair value.

The quantitative impairment test for an indefinite-lived intangible asset consists of a comparison of the fair value of the asset with its carrying amount. If the carrying amount of an intangible asset exceeds its fair value, a reporting unit shall recognize an impairment loss in an amount equal to that excess.

The quantitative goodwill impairment test involves a two-step process. In the first step, the Company compares the fair value of each reporting unit to its carrying value. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, goodwill is not impaired and no further testing is required. If the fair value of the reporting unit is less than the carrying value, the Company must perform the second step of the impairment test to measure the amount of impairment loss. In the second step, the reporting unit's fair value is allocated to all of the assets and liabilities of the reporting unit, including any unrecognized intangible assets, in a hypothetical analysis that calculates the implied fair value of goodwill in the same manner as if the reporting unit was being acquired in a business combination. If the implied fair value of the reporting unit's goodwill is less than the carrying value, the difference is recorded as an impairment loss.

Deferred financing fees are amortized using the effective interest method over the term of the respective loans. Debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability are presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt liability.

The Company has obligations, to be paid in cash, related to its acquisitions if certain operating and financial goals are met. The fair value of this contingent consideration is determined using expected cash flows and present value technique. The fair value calculation of the expected future payments uses a discount rate commensurate with the risks of the expected cash flow. The resulting discount is amortized as interest expense over the outstanding period using the effective interest method.

The Company derives its revenues from continuing operations in Real Estate and Professional segments. The Company provides workforce solutions and placement services. Revenues are recognized when promised services are delivered to client partners, in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those services. Revenues from continuing operations as presented on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income represent services rendered to client partners less sales adjustments and allowances. Reimbursements, including those related to out-of-pocket expenses, are also included in revenues, and the related amounts of reimbursable expenses are included in cost of services.

The Company records revenue on a gross basis as a principal versus on a net basis as an agent in the presentation of revenues and expenses. The Company has concluded that gross reporting is appropriate because the Company (i) has the risk of identifying and hiring qualified field talent, (ii) has the discretion to select the field talent and establish their price and duties and (iii) bears the risk for services that are not fully paid for by client partners.

Workforce solution revenues - Field talent revenues from contracts with client partners are recognized in the amount to which the Company has a right to invoice, when the services are rendered by the Company’s field talent.

Contingent placement revenues - Any revenues associated with workforce solutions that are provided on a contingent basis are recognized once the contingency is resolved, as this is when control is transferred to the client partner, usually when employment candidates start their employment.

Retained search placement revenues - Any revenues from these workforce solutions are recognized based on the contractual amount for services completed to date which best depicts the transfer of control of services, which is less than 1% of consolidated revenues.

The Company estimates the effect of placement candidates who do not remain with its client partners through the guarantee period (generally 90 days) based on historical experience. Allowances, recorded as a liability, are established to estimate these losses. Fees to client partners are generally calculated as a percentage of the new worker’s annual compensation. No fees for placement workforce solutions are charged to employment candidates. These assumptions determine the timing of revenue recognition for the reported period.

Payment terms in the Company's contracts vary by the type and location of its client partner and the workforce solutions offered. The term between invoicing and when payment is due is not significant. There were no unsatisfied performance obligations as of December 26, 2021. There were no revenues recognized during Fiscal 2021 related to performance obligations satisfied or partially satisfied in previous periods. There are no contract costs capitalized. The Company did not recognize any contract impairments during Fiscal 2021.

The Company recognizes advertising expense in selling, general and administrative expenses as the services are incurred. Total advertising expense from continuing operations for Fiscal 2021, 2020 and 2019 was $1.3 million, $1.6 million, and $1.8 million, respectively.

The Company recognizes compensation expense in selling, general and administrative expenses over the service period for options or restricted stock that are expected to vest and records adjustments to compensation expense at the end of the service period if actual forfeitures differ from original estimates.

Basic earnings per common share are computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is calculated by dividing income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period adjusted to reflect potentially dilutive securities. Antidilutive shares are excluded from the calculation of earnings per share.


		December 26, 2021	December 27, 2020	December 29, 2019
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding:		10,367,054	10,311,606	10,238,565
Effect of dilutive securities:
	Stock options and restricted stock	49,556	26,423	90,681
	Warrants	—	—	21,529
Weighted-average number of diluted common shares outstanding		10,416,610	10,338,029	10,350,775

The current provision for income taxes represents estimated amounts payable or refundable on tax returns filed or to be filed for the year. The Company recognizes any penalties when necessary as part of selling, general and administrative expenses. As of December 26, 2021, goodwill of $29.7 million, which is limited annually, is expected to be deductible for tax purposes.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded for the estimated future tax effects of temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and amounts are classified as noncurrent in the consolidated balance sheets. Deferred tax assets are also recognized for net operating loss and tax credit carryovers. The overall change in deferred tax assets and liabilities for the period measures the deferred tax expense or benefit for the period. Effects of changes in enacted tax laws on deferred tax assets and liabilities are reflected as adjustments to tax expense in the period of enactment. As of December 26, 2021, the Company has a $5.2 million net operating loss carry forward from the 2020 EdgeRock acquisition (see Note 3) with no expiration date. These net operating losses are subject to an annual Internal Revenue Code Section 382 limitation of $1.3 million.

When appropriate, the Company will record a valuation allowance against net deferred tax assets to offset future tax benefits that may not be realized. In determining whether a valuation allowance is appropriate, the Company considers whether it is more likely than not that all or some portion of our deferred tax assets will not be realized, based in part upon management’s judgments regarding future events and past operating results. The Company believes that it is more likely than not that all deferred tax assets will be realized and thus, believes that a valuation allowance is not required as of December 26, 2021 or December 27, 2020.

The Company follows the guidance of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 740, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes. ASC Topic 740 prescribes a more-likely-than-not measurement methodology to reflect the financial statement impact of uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return.

In March 2020 and January 2021, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform: Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting (“ASU 2020-04”) and ASU No. 2021-01, Reference Rate Reform: Scope (“ASU 2021-01”), respectively. Together, ASU 2020-04 and ASU 2021-01 provide optional guidance for a limited period of time to ease the potential burden in accounting for (or recognizing the effects of) contract modifications, hedging relationships, and other arrangements that are expected to be impacted by the global transition away from certain reference rates, such as the London Interbank Offered Rate, towards new reference rates. The guidance in ASU 2020-04 and ASU 2021-01 was effective upon issuance and, once adopted, may be applied prospectively to contract modifications and hedging relationships through December 31, 2022. The Company is evaluating the impact that the guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures, if adopted, and currently does not expect that it would be material.

In November 2021, ASU No. 2021-10, Government Assistance: Disclosures by Business Entities about Government Assistance. The ASU provides for additional reporting details for entities that receive Government funds. Additional disclose will include, the type of assistance, the method for accounting used, and the effect of the assistance on the company's financials statements. The guidance was effective December 15, 2021, and once adopted, may be applied prospectively to Government funds received through December 31, 2022.