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COMPANY AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2025
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
COMPANY AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES COMPANY AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 Corporate Information and Nature of Business
IZEA Worldwide, Inc. (together with its wholly-owned subsidiaries, “IZEA” or the “Company”) is a Nevada corporation founded in February 2006 under the name PayPerPost, Inc. and became a public company in May 2011. In March 2016, the Company formed IZEA Canada, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary incorporated in Ontario, Canada. In December 2023, IZEA purchased all of Hoozu Holdings' outstanding shares of capital stock, which it subsequently divested in December 2024.
The Company helps power the creator economy by enabling individuals to monetize their content, creativity, and influence through global brands and marketers. IZEA compensates these creators for producing unique content, such as long and short-form text, videos, photos, status updates, and illustrations for marketers or distributing such content on behalf of marketers through their websites, blogs, and social media channels.
The Company delivers value through its Managed Services, which include custom content workflow management, creator search and targeting, bidding, analytics, and payment processing. Most marketers engage the Company to execute these services on their behalf. While the Company previously offered self-service access to its technology platform for influencer and content marketing, its current focus is on providing full-service solutions tailored to client needs.
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2025, the consolidated statements of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, the consolidated statements of stockholders' equity for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, and the consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine months September 30, 2025 and 2024 are unaudited but include all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of its financial position at such dates and its results of operations and cash flows for the periods then ended in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP"). The consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2024 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at that date but, in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC, does not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. Operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for the entire fiscal year. These unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 27, 2025.
Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of IZEA Worldwide, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries subsequent to the subsidiaries’ acquisition, merger, or formation dates, as applicable. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP 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. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less from the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. Deposits made to Company bank accounts are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) up to a maximum amount of $250,000. The Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (“CDIC”) insures deposits made to the Company’s bank accounts in Canada up to CAD 100,000. Deposit balances exceeding the various limits were approximately $50.8 million and $44.2 million as of September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively.
Investment in Debt Securities
Our investments in debt securities are carried at either amortized cost or fair value. The cost basis is determined by the specific identification method. Investments in debt securities that the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity are carried at amortized cost and classified as held-to-maturity. Investments in debt securities that are not classified as held-to-maturity are carried at fair value and classified as either trading or available-for-sale. Realized and unrealized gains and losses on trading debt securities as well as realized gains and losses on available-for-sale debt securities are included in net
income. Unrealized gains and losses, net of tax, on available-for-sale debt securities are included in our consolidated balance sheet as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). All debt securities matured as of June 30, 2025.
Accounts Receivable and Concentration of Credit Risk
The Company’s accounts receivable balance includes trade receivables, contract assets, and an allowance for doubtful accounts. Trade receivables represent customer obligations arising from standard credit terms, which contract assets reflect revenue earned but not yet invoiced. As of September 30, 2025, the Company reported net trade receivables of $3.4 million, comprised entirely of accounts receivable, with no contract assets. As of December 31, 2024, the Company had net trade receivables of $7.8 million, including $7.6 million of accounts receivable and $0.2 million in contract assets.
Management determines the collectability of accounts by regularly evaluating individual customer receivables and considering a customer’s financial condition, credit history, and current economic conditions. We will continue to monitor these factors and adjust our credit and collection policies as necessary to address evolving market conditions and potential risks to financial performance. An account is deemed delinquent when the customer has not paid an amount due by its associated due date. If a portion of the account balance is deemed uncollectible, the Company will either write off the amount owed or provide a reserve based on its best estimate of the uncollectible portion of the account. We assess collectability risk both generally and by specific aged invoices. Our loss history informs a general reserve percentage, which we apply to all invoices less than 90 days from the invoice due date, currently 1% of the outstanding balance. The general reserve, which we update periodically, recognizes that some invoices will likely become a collection risk. When an invoice ages 90 days past its due date, we consider each invoice to determine a reserve for collectability based on our prior history and recent communications with the customer, to determine a reserve amount. Generally, our reserve for such aged invoices will approach 100% of the invoice amount.
The Company had a reserve for doubtful accounts as of September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024 of $0.2 million. Management believes this estimate is reasonable, but there can be no assurance that the estimate will not change due to economic or business conditions within the industry, the individual customers, or the Company. Any adjustments to this account are reflected in the consolidated statements of operations as a general and administrative expense. The Company did not recognize any bad debt expense in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 and September 30, 2024.
     Concentrations of credit risk with respect to accounts receivable have been typically limited because a large number of geographically diverse customers make up the Company’s customer base, thus spreading the trade credit risk. The Company controls credit risk through credit approvals, credit limits, and monitoring procedures. The Company performs credit evaluations of its customers but generally does not require collateral to support accounts receivable. The Company had 3 customers that accounted for 10.9%, 18.3%, and 18.8% of total accounts receivable on September 30, 2025 and 2 customers that accounted for 14.2% and 23.5% of total accounts receivable on December 31, 2024. The Company had 3 customers that accounted for 10.3%, 11.6% and 16.2% of its revenue during the nine months September 30, 2025, and 2 customers that accounted for 10.3% and 15.2% of its revenue during the nine months ended September 30, 2024.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are recorded at cost, or if acquired in a business combination, at the acquisition date fair value. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows:
Computer Equipment3 years
Office Equipment
3 - 10 years
Furniture and Fixtures
5 - 10 years
The carrying amounts of assets sold or retired and the related accumulated depreciation are eliminated in the year of disposal, with resulting gains or losses included in general and administrative expense in the consolidated statements of operations.
Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess of the consideration transferred for an acquired business over the fair value of the underlying identifiable net assets. The Company had goodwill in connection with its acquisitions of Ebyline, ZenContent, TapInfluence, and Hoozu, which was tested annually for impairment as of October 1, or more frequently if certain indicators are present. In September 2024, the Company identified a triggering event related to the changes in executive management and Board level changes, including the Cooperation Agreement, and performed an interim assessment of Goodwill, as described in “Note 5 – Intangible Assets.”
Intangible Assets
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-08, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—Crypto Assets (Subtopic 350-60), which requires certain crypto assets to be measured at fair value each reporting period, with changes recognized in net
income. It also introduces new disclosure requirements, including asset name, fair value, units held, cost basis, and annual reconciliations. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted the guidance early and sold all digital assets in September 2024. As of September 30, 2025, no digital assets were held, and no impairments were recognized for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 or 2024.
The Company reviews long-lived assets, including capitalized software and intangible assets, for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. Impairments are recognized when the asset’s fair value is less than its carrying amount. In connection with the Company’s 2024 reorganization and divestitures, all acquired intangible assets were written off. See “Note 5 – Intangible Assets” for additional details.
Software Development Costs
In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 350-40, Internal Use Software, the Company capitalizes certain internal-use software development costs associated with creating and enhancing internally developed software related to its platforms. Software development activities generally consist of three stages (i) the research and planning stage, (ii) the application and development stage, and (iii) the post-implementation stage. Costs incurred in the research and planning stage and in the post-implementation stage of software development, or other maintenance and development expenses that do not meet the qualification for capitalization, are expensed as incurred. Costs incurred in the application and development stage, including significant enhancements and upgrades, are capitalized. These costs include personnel and related employee benefits expenses for employees or consultants directly associated with and who devote time to software projects and external direct costs of materials obtained in developing the software. The Company also capitalizes costs related to cloud computing arrangements (“CCAs”). These software developments and CCA costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of five years upon the initial release of the software or additional features. The Company reviews the software development costs for impairment when circumstances indicate their carrying amounts may not be recoverable. If the carrying value of an asset group is not recoverable, the Company recognizes an impairment loss for the excess carrying value over the fair value in its consolidated statements of operations. In December 2024, the Company reviewed its software assets, wrote off fully amortized balances no longer active, and accelerated the amortization of certain software assets no longer in use, with further details provided in "Note 6 - Software Development Costs.”
Leases
Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), established a right-of-use model that requires a lessee to record a right-of-use asset and a right-of-use liability on the balance sheet for all leases with terms longer than 12 months. Leases are classified as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement. The Company does not record leases on the balance sheet with a lease term of 12 months or less at the commencement date.
Revenue Recognition
The Company generates revenue primarily from Managed Services when a marketer (typically a brand, agency, or partner) pays us to provide custom content, influencer marketing, amplification, or other campaign management services (“Managed Services”). The Company also licenses some of its platforms and earns license revenue and fees for those services.
The Company recognizes revenue in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”). Under ASC 606, revenue is recognized based on a five-step model as follows: (i) identify the contract with the customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) performance obligations are satisfied. The core principle of ASC 606 is that revenue is recognized when the transfer of promised goods or services to customers is made in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The Company applies the five-step model to contracts when it is probable that it will collect the consideration to which it is entitled in exchange for the goods or services it transfers to the customer. At contract inception, once the contract is determined to be within the scope of ASC 606, the Company assesses the goods or services promised under each contract and identifies those that constitute distinct performance obligations.
The Company also determines whether it acts as an agent or a principal for each identified performance obligation. The determination of whether the Company acts as a principal or an agent is highly subjective and requires the Company to evaluate several indicators individually and collectively to make its determination. For transactions in which the Company acts as a principal, revenue is reported on a gross basis as the amount paid by the marketer for the purchase of content, sponsorship, promotion, and other related services, and records amounts it pays to third-party creators as a cost of revenue. While the Company generally acts as a principal in its Managed Services arrangements, certain contracts are structured such that the Company acts as an agent and therefore reports the related revenue on a net basis. Revenue from self-service marketing transactions conducted through the Company’s platforms is also reported on a net basis, reflecting the amounts retained by the Company after payments to third-party creators.
The Company maintains separate arrangements with each marketer and content creator either in the form of a master agreement or terms of service, which specify the terms of the relationship and access to its platforms, or by a statement of work, which specifies the price and the services to be performed, along with other terms. The transaction price is determined based on the fixed fee stated in the statement of work and does not include variable consideration. Marketers who contract with the Company to manage their advertising campaigns or custom content requests may prepay for services or request credit terms. Payment terms are typically 30 days from the invoice date. The agreement typically provides for a non-refundable deposit which serves as a cancellation fee if the customer terminates the agreement before the services are completed, or which is applied to the total amount due if services are completed as agreed. Billings in advance of completed services are recorded as a contract liability until earned. The Company assesses collectability based on several factors, including the customer’s creditworthiness and payment and transaction history.
The Company does not typically engage in contracts that exceed one year. Therefore, the Company does not capitalize costs to obtain its customer contracts, as these amounts would generally be recognized over a period of less than one year and are not material.
Fees for subscription or licensing services are recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the service. Other Fees Revenue is generated when fees are charged to the Company’s platform users, primarily related to monthly plan fees, which are recognized within the month to which they relate. For arrangements where the Company acts as an agent, fees are recognized on a net basis. The Company is currently evaluating its capital allocation strategies, including its commitment to its platforms and third-party licensing, which presently generate de minimis revenue.
Managed Services Revenue
For Managed Services Revenue, the Company enters into an agreement to provide services that may include multiple distinct performance obligations in the form of (i) an integrated marketing campaign to provide influencer marketing services, which may include the provision of blogs, tweets, photos, or videos shared through social network offerings and content promotion, such as click-through advertisements appearing in websites and social media channels, and (ii) custom content items, such as a research or news articles, informational material or videos. Marketers typically purchase influencer marketing services to provide public awareness or advertising buzz regarding the marketer’s brand and purchase custom content for internal and external use.
The Company views its obligation to deliver influencer marketing services, including campaign management, as a single performance obligation that is satisfied over time as the customer receives the benefits from the services. The majority of revenue is recognized using an input method, where costs incurred are compared to total expected costs to measure the progress toward satisfying the overall performance obligation of the marketing campaign.
In certain contracts, the Company’s performance obligation represents a stand-ready promise to provide influencer marketing services for an unknown or unspecified quantity of deliverables over a specified term. For such arrangements, the Company’s performance obligation is satisfied over time throughout the contract term, and revenue is recognized on a straight-line basis.
When the Company acts as a principal, revenue is reported on a gross basis as the amount billed to the customer. When the Company acts as an agent, revenue is reported on a net basis, reflecting only the amount retained as the Company’s fee. In both cases, the timing of revenue recognition is determined based on the transfer of control of services, which may occur over time using an input method or on a straight-line basis for stand-ready obligations. Delivery of custom content represents a distinct performance obligation that is satisfied at a point in time when each piece of content is delivered to the customer.
The Company may provide one type or a combination of all types of these influencer marketing services on a statement of work for a lump sum fee. When multiple performance obligations exist in a contract, the Company allocates revenue to each distinct performance obligation at contract inception based on its relative standalone selling price. These performance obligations are to be provided over a period that generally ranges from one day to one year.
Advertising Costs
Advertising costs are charged to expense as they are incurred, including payments to content creators to promote the Company. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, advertising spend was de minimis. In comparison, advertising expenses totaled approximately $0.6 million and $2.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively. Advertising costs are reflected within sales and marketing expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
Income Taxes
Deferred income taxes are accounted for using the balance sheet approach, which requires recognizing deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future consequences of temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and the assets and liabilities tax basis. A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that a deferred tax asset will
not be realized. The Company incurs state franchise tax in ten states, which is included in general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
     The Company identifies and evaluates uncertain tax positions, if any, and recognizes the impact of uncertain tax positions for which there is a less than more likely-than-not probability of the position being upheld when reviewed by the relevant taxing authority. Such positions are deemed to be unrecognized tax benefits, and a corresponding liability is established on the balance sheet. The Company has not recognized a liability for uncertain tax positions. If there were an unrecognized tax benefit, the Company would recognize interest accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits in interest expense and penalties in operating expenses. The Company’s tax years subject to examination based on the statute of limitations by the IRS is generally three years; however, the IRS may examine records and other evidence from the year the net operating loss was generated when the Company utilizes net operating loss carryforwards in future periods. The Company’s tax years subject to examination by the Canadian Revenue Agency is generally four years.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The Company’s financial instruments are recorded at fair value. Fair value is defined as the exchange 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 valuation techniques are based on observable and unobservable inputs. Observable inputs reflect readily obtainable data from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect certain market assumptions. There are three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:
Level 1 Valuation based on quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities.
Level 2 Valuation based on quoted market prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets.
Level 3 Valuation based on unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity, therefore requiring management’s best estimate of what market participants would use as fair value.
Fair value estimates discussed herein are based upon certain market assumptions and pertinent information available to management. As of September 30, 2025, the Company holds only cash and cash equivalents and no longer holds any marketable securities. Additional information is provided in “Note 3 – Financial Instruments of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.”
Stock-Based Compensation
Stock-based compensation for options granted under the 2011 Equity Incentive Plan and the 2023 Inducement Plan is measured at grant-date fair value and expensed on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. Fair value is estimated using the Black-Scholes model. The Company applies the simplified method to estimate the expected term, assuming even exercise between vesting and expiration, and uses the grant-date closing stock price as the fair value of common stock. The Company uses the risk-free interest rate on the implied yield currently available on U.S. Treasury issues with an equivalent remaining term approximately equal to the expected life of the award. The Company has never paid any cash dividends on its common stock and does not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.
The Company estimates forfeitures when recognizing compensation expense, and this estimate of forfeitures is adjusted over the requisite service period based on the extent to which actual forfeitures differ, or are expected to differ, from such estimates. Changes in estimated forfeitures are recognized through a cumulative catch-up adjustment, which is recognized in the period of change, and a revised amount of unamortized compensation expense to be recognized in future periods.
The Company may issue restricted stock or restricted stock units (“RSUs”) that vest over time, including up to 1,800,000 performance- or time-based RSUs that may be granted under the IZEA Inducement Plan adopted on November 30, 2023. The plan was established to provide equity awards to new employees hired through acquisitions transactions. These awards are recorded at fair value on the grant date and expensed on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. See “Note 10 - Stockholder’s Equity” for more details.
Business Combinations and Asset Acquisitions
The Company accounts for business combinations in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 805, “Business Combinations.” The acquisition method of accounting is applied to all business combinations, whereby the identifiable assets acquired, liabilities assumed, and any non-controlling interests in the acquiree are recognized and measured at their fair values as of the acquisition date. Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of net identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination. Goodwill is allocated to reporting units, which are expected to benefit from the synergies of the combination and is subject to annual impairment testing. Acquisition-related costs, including advisory, legal, and due diligence fees, are expensed as incurred and are included in general and administrative expenses in the period in which the acquisition occurs. The financial statements include the results of operations and the financial position of businesses acquired from their respective acquisition dates. Any adjustments to the preliminary fair
values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, known as measurement period adjustments, are recorded during the period of the adjustment.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
Segment Reporting: Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures: In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improving Reportable Segment Disclosures. This update is intended to improve reportable segment disclosure requirements, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant expenses. The ASU also requires all annual disclosures currently required by Topic 280 to be included in the interim periods. The update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within the fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted and requiring retrospective application to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. The adoption did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.
Income Taxes: Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures: In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, which requires enhanced disclosures of income tax components affecting the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid, disaggregated by applicable taxing jurisdictions. The Company adopted this ASU effective January 1, 2025. The adoption did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted
Disaggregation of Income Expenses: In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU No. 2024-03 (Subtopic 220-40) Disaggregation of Income Expenses, which requires entities to provide enhanced disclosures related to certain disclosures related to certain expense categories included in the income statement. The update is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2026 and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027. The Company is currently assessing the timing and impact of adopting the updated provisions.
Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software: In September 2025, the FASB issued ASU No. 2025-06, Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Internal-Use Software (“ASU 2025-06”), which eliminates the previous stage-based model for software development and introduces a principles-based framework for determining when capitalization of internal-use software costs is appropriate. The update also incorporates guidance on assessing significant development uncertainty and relocates the website development guidance from Subtopic 350-50 into Subtopic 350-40. The amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently assessing the timing and impact of adopting the updated provisions.