Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation — The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”) as determined by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) for financial information. All adjustments and disclosures necessary for a fair presentation of these consolidated financial statements have been included.

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Fathom Holdings’ wholly owned subsidiaries. All transactions and accounts between and among its subsidiaries have been eliminated. All adjustments and disclosures necessary for a fair presentation of these consolidated financial statements have been included.

Certain Significant Risks and Business Uncertainties — The Company is subject to the risks and challenges associated with companies at a similar stage of development. These include dependence on key individuals, successful development and marketing of its offerings, and competition with larger companies with greater financial, technical, and marketing resources. Furthermore, during the period required to achieve substantially higher revenue in order to become consistently profitable, the Company may require additional funds that might not be readily available or might not be on terms that are acceptable to the Company.

Liquidity — The Company has a history of negative cash flows from operations and operating losses. The Company generated net losses of approximately $1.3 million and $4.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Additionally, the Company anticipates further expenditures associated with the process of expanding the business. Management believes that existing cash from the $31.1 million in net proceeds from its IPO completed on August 4, 2020 along with its planned budget, which includes continued increases in the number of our agents and transactions at rates consistent with historical growth, and the expected ability to achieve sales volumes necessary to cover forecasted expenses, provide sufficient funding to continue as a going concern for a period of at least one year from the date of the issuance of the consolidated financial statements.

COVID‑19 Risks, Impacts and Uncertainties — On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization (“WHO”) announced a global health emergency because of a new strain of coronavirus originating in Wuhan, China (“COVID‑19”) and the risks to the international community as the virus spreads globally beyond its point of origin. In March 2020, the WHO classified COVID‑19 as a pandemic, based on the rapid increase in exposure globally.

We are subject to the risks arising from COVID‑19 including its social and economic impacts on the residential real estate industry in the United States. Our management believes that these social and economic impacts, which to date have included but not been limited to the following, could have a significant impact on the Company’s future financial condition, liquidity, and results of operations: (i) restrictions on in-person activities associated with residential real estate transactions arising from shelter-in-place, or similar isolation orders; (ii) decline in consumer demand for in-person interactions and physical home tours; and (iii) deteriorating economic conditions, such as increased unemployment rates, recessionary conditions, lower yields on individual investment portfolios, and more stringent mortgage financing conditions.

In response to COVID‑19, the Company has implemented cost-saving measures, including the elimination of non-essential travel and in-person training activities, and deferral of certain planned expenditures. Additionally, our Chief Executive Officer, Joshua Harley, and our President and Chief Financial Officer, Marco Fregenal, voluntarily took no base salary for March and April 2020. In addition, our Chief Broker Operations Officer, Samantha Giuggio, and one other senior employee voluntarily took 50% reductions in their base salary for those months. Based in part on business operations and results through the end of April, the Company resumed paying all of these salaries in full in May. Given the daily evolution of COVID‑19 and the global responses to curb its spread, the Company is not able to estimate the effects of COVID‑19 on its results of operations, financial condition, or liquidity for the year ending December 31, 2020 and beyond. If COVID‑19 continues, it may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, liquidity, and future results of operations.

Use of Estimates — The preparation of consolidated 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. The Company regularly evaluates estimates and assumptions related to provisions for doubtful accounts, legal contingencies, income taxes, deferred tax asset valuation allowances, share-based compensation, goodwill, estimated lives of intangible assets, and intangible asset impairment. The Company bases its estimates and assumptions on current facts, historical experience and various other factors that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities and the accrual of costs and expenses that are not readily apparent from other sources. The actual results experienced by the Company might differ materially and adversely from the Company’s estimates. To the extent there are material differences between the estimates and the actual results, future results of operations will be affected.

Cash and Cash Equivalents — The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents consist primarily of money market instruments. From time to time, the Company’s cash deposits exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses resulting from these excess deposits.

Restricted Cash — Restricted cash represents escrow funds held in bank accounts owned by the Company as part of facilitating the closing of real estate transactions, to which the Company does not have the right to use for any purposes, other than distributing upon close. Upon receiving escrow funds, the Company records a corresponding escrow liability.

Fair Value Measurements — FASB ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement, (“ASC 820”) defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the reporting date. The methodology establishes consistency and comparability by providing a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques into three broad levels, which are described below:

The fair value of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, agent annual fees receivable, net,  prepaid and other current assets, due from affiliates, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, and due to affiliates approximate their carrying value due to their short-term maturities. The loan and notes payable, and lease liability are presented at their carrying value, which based on borrowing rates currently available to the Company for loans and leases with similar terms, approximate their fair values.

Nonfinancial assets, such as goodwill, are accounted for at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. Goodwill is tested for impairment upon the occurrence of a triggering event. We review goodwill for impairment on a reporting unit basis annually during the fourth quarter of each year and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value of goodwill might not be recoverable.

Accounts Receivable — Accounts receivable consist of balances due from customers. The Company records no allowances due to the Company’s ability to collect substantially all receivables. In determining collectability, historical trends are evaluated, and specific customer issues are reviewed on a periodic basis to arrive at appropriate allowances.

Agent Annual Fees Receivable — Agent annual fees receivable, net of estimated allowances for uncollectible accounts of approximately $203,000 and $349,000 as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, consist of a $500 fee agents pay on their first sale or their one-year anniversary date, which is recognized as a reduction to cost of revenue ratably over the year in which the fee pertains. The Company estimates the allowance for uncollectible accounts based on historical write-off experience each period.

Property and Equipment — Property and equipment is stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense when incurred. Additions and improvements that extend the economic useful life of the asset are capitalized and depreciated over the remaining useful lives of the assets. The cost and accumulated depreciation of assets sold or retired are removed from the respective accounts, and any resulting gain or loss is reflected in current earnings. Depreciation is provided using the straight-line method in amounts considered to be sufficient to amortize the cost of the assets to operations over their estimated useful lives, as follows:

 

Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets might not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured first by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to future undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If such assets were considered to be impaired, an impairment loss would be recognized as the difference between the fair value and carrying value when the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset. To date, no such impairment has occurred.

Business Combinations — The Company accounts for its business combinations under the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 805-10, Business Combinations ("ASC 805-10"), which requires that the purchase method of accounting be used for all business combinations. Assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recorded at the date of acquisition at their respective fair values. For transactions that are business combinations, the Company evaluates the existence of goodwill. Goodwill represents the excess purchase price over the fair value of the tangible net assets and intangible assets acquired in a business combination. ASC 805-10 also specifies criteria that intangible assets acquired in a business combination must meet to be recognized and reported apart from goodwill. Acquisition-related expenses are recognized separately from the business combinations and are expensed as incurred.

The estimated fair value of net assets acquired, including the allocation of the fair value to identifiable assets and liabilities, was determined using established valuation techniques. A fair value measurement is determined as the price we would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In the context of purchase accounting, the determination of fair value often involves significant judgments and estimates by management, including the selection of valuation methodologies, estimates of future revenues, costs and cash flows, discount rates, and selection of comparable companies. The estimated fair values reflected in the purchase accounting rely on management’s judgment and the expertise of a third-party valuation firm engaged to assist in concluding on the fair value measurements. The estimated fair value of identifiable intangible assets, consisting of trade names acquired, was determined using relief from royalty method.

The most significant assumptions under the relief from royalty method used to value trade names include estimated remaining useful life, expected revenue, royalty rate, tax rate, discount rate and tax amortization benefit. Management has developed these assumptions on the basis of historical knowledge of the business and projected financial information of the Company. These assumptions may vary based on future events, perceptions of different market participants and other factors outside the control of Management, and such variations may be significant to estimated values.

Intangible Assets, Net — Intangible Assets, net is comprised of definite-lived intangibles and capitalized internal use software.

Trade names: For definite-lived intangible assets, such as trade names and trademarks, whenever impairment indicators are present, the Company performs a review for impairment. The Company calculates the undiscounted value of the projected cash flows associated with the asset, or asset group, and compares this estimated amount to the carrying amount. If the carrying amount is found to be greater, the Company will record an impairment loss for the excess of book value over the fair value. In addition, in all cases of an impairment review, the Company will re-evaluate the remaining useful lives of the assets and modify them, as appropriate. The Company’s definite-lived intangible assets primarily consist of trade names acquired as part of the business acquisition of Verus. Currently, trade names have a useful life estimated at ten years.

Capitalized internal use software: Costs incurred in the preliminary stages of website and software development are expensed as incurred. Once an application has reached the development stage, direct internal and external costs relating to upgrades or enhancements that meet the capitalization criteria are capitalized in capitalized software, net and amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. Maintenance and enhancement costs (including those costs in the post-implementation stages) are typically expensed as incurred, unless such costs relate to substantial upgrades and enhancements to the websites (or software) that result in added functionality, in which case the costs are capitalized as well.

Capitalized software costs are amortized over the expected useful lives of the applicable software. Currently, capitalized software costs for internal use have a useful life estimated at five years.

Estimated useful lives of website and software development activities are reviewed annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that intangible assets may be impaired and adjusted as appropriate to reflect upcoming development activities that may include significant upgrades or enhancements to the existing functionality.

Goodwill - Goodwill, which represents the excess of purchase price over the fair value of net assets acquired, is carried at cost. Goodwill is not amortized; rather, it is subject to a periodic assessment for impairment by applying a fair value-based test. The Company is organized in one reporting unit and evaluates the goodwill for the Company as a whole. Goodwill is assessed for impairment on an annual basis or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. Under the authoritative guidance issued by the FASB, the Company has the option to first assess the qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform a quantitative goodwill impairment test. If the Company determines that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then the goodwill impairment test is performed. The goodwill impairment test requires the Company to estimate the fair value of the reporting unit and to compare the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying amount. If the fair value exceeds the carrying amount, then no impairment is recognized. If the carrying amount recorded exceeds the fair value calculated, then an impairment charge is recognized for the difference. The judgments made in determining the projected cash flows used to estimate the fair value can materially impact the Company’s financial condition and results of operations. There was no impairment of goodwill for the year ended December 31, 2020.

Revenue Recognition — We apply the provisions of FASB ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”), and all related appropriate guidance. The Company recognizes revenue under the core principle to depict the transfer of control to the Company’s customers in an amount reflecting the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled. In order to achieve that core principle, the Company applies the following five-step approach: (1) identify the contract with a customer; (2) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (3) determine the transaction price; (4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (5) recognize revenue when a performance obligation is satisfied.

The Company’s revenue substantially consists of commissions generated from real estate brokerage services. The Company is contractually obligated to provide for the fulfillment of transfers of real estate between buyers and sellers. The Company provides these services itself and controls the services of its agents necessary to legally transfer the real estate. Correspondingly, the Company is defined as the principal. The Company, as principal, satisfies its obligation upon the closing of a real estate transaction. The Company has concluded that agents are not employees of the Company, rather deemed to be independent contractors. Upon satisfaction of its obligation, the Company recognizes revenue in the gross amount of consideration it is entitled to receive. The transaction price is calculated by applying the Company’s portion of the agreed-upon commission rate to the property’s selling price. The Company may provide services to the buyer, seller, or both parties to a transaction. When the Company provides services to the seller in a transaction, it recognizes revenue for its portion of the commission, which is calculated as the sales price multiplied by the commission rate less the commission separately distributed to the buyer’s agent, or the “sell” side portion of the commission. When the Company provides services to the buyer in a transaction, the Company recognizes revenue in an amount equal to the sales price for the property multiplied by the commission rate for the “buy” side of the transaction. In instances in which the Company represents both the buyer and the seller in a transaction, it recognizes the full commission on the transaction. Commissions revenue contains a single performance obligation that is satisfied upon the closing of a real estate transaction, at which point the entire transaction price is earned. The Company’s customers remit payment for the Company’s services to the title company or attorney closing the sale of property at the time of closing. The Company receives payment upon close of property or within days of the closing of a transaction. The Company is not entitled to any commission until the performance obligation is satisfied and is not owed any commission for unsuccessful transactions, even if services have been provided.

The Company’s revenue also includes fees charged for title search & examination, property settlement and title insurance services provided in association with property acquisitions and refinance transactions. We provide the title search and property settlement services ourselves and control the services before they are transferred to our customers since we are primarily responsible for fulfilling the promise and also have full discretion in establishing the price for the settlement services (except in states where fees are set statutorily). As such, we are defined as the principal. As principal, we satisfy our obligation upon the closing of a real estate transaction. Upon satisfaction of our obligation, we recognize revenue in the gross amount of consideration we are entitled to receive. The transaction price for title and property settlement services is determined by the fixed fees we charge for our services. We provide our services to the buyers and sellers involved in the purchase transaction, as well as to the borrower in a refinance transaction. Title and property settlement revenue contains a single performance obligation that is satisfied upon the closing of a real estate transaction, at which point the entire transaction price is earned. The Company is not entitled to any title and property settlement revenue until the performance obligation is satisfied and is not owed any consideration for unsuccessful transactions, even if services have been provided.

For title insurance services, we work in conjunction with insurance underwriters to perform these services, obtain the insurance policy premiums associated with title insurance on behalf of customers and remit the policy premium to the insurance underwriters. Since the insurance underwriter is ultimately providing the insurance policy to the borrower, we are not responsible for fulfilling the promise to provide the specified services. Additionally, we do not have discretion in dictating the price for the insurance policy, which is set by each jurisdiction and is either filed by insurance underwriters or set by the state insurance commissioners. Therefore, we do not control the specified service provided by the insurance underwriter. As such, in these circumstances, we act as an agent. As the agent, we satisfy our obligation upon the closing of a real estate transaction. Upon satisfaction of our obligation, we recognize revenue in the net amount of consideration we are entitled to receive, which is our fee for brokering the insurance policy less any consideration paid to the insurance underwriters. The transaction price for title insurance services is fixed, based on statutory rates depending on the jurisdiction. We negotiate with insurance underwriters the percentage they receive, and the rest is recognized as revenue. Title insurance revenue contains a single performance obligation that is satisfied upon the closing of a real estate transaction, at which point the entire transaction price is earned. The Company is not entitled to any title insurance revenue until the performance obligation is satisfied and is not owed any consideration for unsuccessful transactions, even if services have been provided.

The Company has utilized the practical expedient in ASC 606 and elected not to capitalize contract costs for contracts with customers with durations less than one year. The Company does not have significant remaining unfulfilled performance obligations or contract balances.

Cost of Revenue — Cost of revenue consists primarily of agent commissions less fees paid to us by our agents, order fulfillment, and title searches.

General and Administrative — General and administrative expenses consist primarily of personnel costs, share-based compensation, and fees for professional services. Professional services principally consist of external legal, audit, and tax services.

Marketing Expenses — Marketing expenses consist primarily of marketing and promotional materials. Marketing costs are expensed as they are incurred.

Leases — The Company adopted FASB ASC Topic 842, Leases, (“ASC 842”) on January 1, 2019. The Company categorizes leases at their inception as either operating or finance leases. On certain lease agreements, the Company may receive rent holidays and other incentives. The Company recognizes lease costs on a straight-line basis without regard to deferred payment terms, such as rent holidays, that defer the commencement date of required payments.

Share-based Compensation — Share-based compensation for employees and non-employees (principally independent contractor agents) is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and is recognized as expense over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period of the respective award. Forfeitures are recognized when they occur. Fully vested restricted stock awards are measured on grant date at fair value.

Common Stock Warrant  — The Company accounts for common stock warrants as either equity instruments or liabilities in accordance with ASC 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity ("ASC 480"), depending on the specific terms of the warrant agreement. If warrants are issued in exchange for services the Company evaluates whether they should be accounted for in accordance with ASC 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation ("ASC 718"). Under ASC 718, the warrants shall be classified as a liability if 1) the underlying shares are classified as liabilities or 2) the entity can be required under any circumstances to settle  the warrant by transferring cash or other assets. In accordance with ASU 2018‑07, Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting, the measurement of equity-classified nonemployee share-based payments is generally fixed on the grant date and are considered compensatory, as defined by ASC 718. For additional discussion on warrants, see Note 12 – Equity-classified Warrants.

Income Taxes — Income taxes are accounted for using an asset and liability approach that requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the combined financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities at the applicable enacted tax rates. The Company will establish a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets if it is more likely than not that these items will expire before either the Company is able to realize their benefit or that future deductibility is uncertain.

The Company believes that it is currently more likely than not that its deferred tax assets will not be realized and as such, it has recorded a full valuation allowance for these assets. The Company evaluates the likelihood of the ability to realize deferred tax assets in future periods on a quarterly basis, and when appropriate evidence indicates it would release its valuation allowance accordingly. The determination to provide a valuation allowance is dependent upon the assessment of whether it is more likely than not that sufficient taxable income will be generated to utilize the deferred tax assets. Based on the weight of the available evidence, which includes the Company’s historical operating losses, lack of taxable income, and accumulated deficit, the Company provided a full valuation allowance against the U.S. tax assets resulting from the tax losses as of December 31, 2020 and 2019.

Deferred Offering Costs — Deferred offering costs, which consist of legal, accounting, underwriting fees and other costs incurred through the balance sheet date that are directly related to the IPO, were capitalized and offset against proceeds upon the closing of the IPO, which occurred on August 4, 2020.

Revision of Prior Period Financial Statements — The line items "Revenue" and "Cost of revenue" in the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2019 have each been increased in the amount of $1,583,911 to correct an immaterial error which included transactions related to 2019. This revision had no impact on the Company's gross profit, net loss, or cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2019.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In February 2016, the FASB established Topic 842, Leases, by issuing ASU No. 2016‑02 (“ASU 2016‑02”), which requires lessees to recognize leases on balance sheet and disclose key information about leasing arrangements. The new standard establishes a right-of-use (“ROU”) model that requires a lessee to recognize a ROU asset and lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with a term longer than 12 months. Leases are classified as finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern and classification of expense recognition in the income statement.

The Company adopted ASU 2016‑02 effective January 1, 2019 using the modified retrospective approach and elected the Comparatives Under 840 Option whereby the Company will continue to present prior period financial statements and disclosures under ASC 840. In addition, the Company elected the transition package of three practical expedients permitted within the standard, among other practical expedients which allowed the Company to carry forward prior conclusions about lease identification and classification, allows not separating lease and non-lease components, and allows not recording leases with an initial term of twelve months or less on the balance sheet across all existing asset classes.

Adoption of the new standard resulted in the balance sheet recognition of additional ROU assets and lease liabilities of approximately $219,000; however, the adoption of the standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s beginning retained earnings, results from operations or cash flows. For additional information regarding the Company’s lease arrangements, see Note 13 — Leases.

In January 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2017‑04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350) ("ASU No. 2017‑04") which became effective for SEC Filers with fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. ASU No. 2017‑04 eliminates step 2 from the annual goodwill impairment test. The annual, or interim, goodwill impairment test is performed by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An impairment charge should be recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value; however, the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. In addition, income tax effects from any tax-deductible goodwill on the carrying amount of the reporting unit should be considered when measuring the goodwill impairment loss, if applicable. Effective January 1, 2020, the Company adopted the provisions of ASU No. 2017‑04 on a prospective basis. No impairment of goodwill has occurred during the periods presented.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016‑13, Financial Instruments — Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, that changes the impairment model for most financial assets and certain other instruments. For receivables, loans and other instruments, entities will be required to use a new forward-looking “expected loss” model that generally will result in the earlier recognition of allowance for losses. In addition, an entity will have to disclose significantly more information about allowances and credit quality indicators. The new standard is effective for the Company for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the pending adoption of the new standard on its consolidated financial statements and intends to adopt the standard on January 1, 2023.

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019‑12, Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes ("ASU 2019‑12"), which modifies ASC 740 to reduce complexity while maintaining or improving the usefulness of the information provided to users of financial statements. ASU 2019‑12 is effective for the Company for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2021. The Company is currently assessing the impact of ASU 2019‑12, but it is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.