China Finance Online Co. Limited (JRJCY) 20-F/A 10 Jan 17 2015 FY Annual report (foreign) (amended) Financial data

Document And Entity Information

Document And Entity Information	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015shares
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	CHINA FINANCE ONLINE CO. LTD
Entity Central Index Key	1,297,830
Trading Symbol	jrjc
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)	118,098,018
Document Type	20-F/A
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2015
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2,015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	true
Amendment Description	Amendment No. 1 to Form 20-F for period ended 12/31/15

Consolidated Balance Sheets

Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 85,734,048	$ 32,538,513
Restricted cash		5,498
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	3,488,647	8,540,863
Trust bank balances held on behalf of customers	14,167,606	11,922,216
Consideration receivable		13,400,882
Amount		10,295,800
Deferred tax assets, current	969,464	926,081
Total current assets	120,734,896	92,214,207
Property and equipment, net	5,789,534	4,862,949
Acquired intangible assets, net	1,539,534	2,185,280
Cost method investment	554,392	1,217,617
Equity method investment, net	1,228,269	0
Rental deposits	1,422,626	1,387,653
Goodwill	6,699,620	7,089,780
Guarantee fund deposits	6,076,036	4,874,332
Deferred tax assets, non-current	20,250	71,540
Total assets	144,065,157	113,903,358
Current liabilities:
Deferred revenue, current (including deferred revenue, current of the consolidated variable interest entities without recourse to China Finance Online Co. Limited $2,954,098 and $5,058,018 as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2015, respectively)	6,658,689	4,935,972
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities (including accrued expenses and othercurrent liabilities of the consolidated variable interest entities without recourse to China Finance Online Co. Limited $6,282,466 and $13,035,773 as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2015, respectively)	15,655,425	8,837,734
Amounts due to customers for the trust bank balances held on their behalf (including amounts due to customers for the trust bank balances held on their behalf of the consolidated variable interest entities without recourse to China Finance Online Co. Limited $398,936 and $565,605 as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2015, respectively)	14,167,606	11,922,216
Accounts payable (including accounts payable of the consolidated variable interest entities without recourse to China Finance Online Co. Limited $1,997,774 and $3,387,125 as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2015, respectively)	5,493,728	9,852,491
Income taxes payable (including income taxes payable of the consolidated variable interest entities without recourse to China Finance Online Co. Limited $300,679 and $1,752,812 as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2015, respectively)	1,768,347	314,270
Deferred tax liabilities, current (including deferred tax liabilities, current of the consolidated variable interest entities without recourse to China Finance Online Co. Limited $578,006 and $13,067 as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2015, respectively)	15,132	580,197
Total current liabilities	43,758,927	36,442,880
Deferred revenue, non-current (including deferred revenue, non-current of the consolidated variable interest entities without recourse to China Finance Online Co. Limited $353,035 and $187,041 as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2015, respectively)	691,922	1,372,722
Deferred tax liabilities, non-current (including deferred tax liabilities, non-current of the consolidated variable interest entities without recourse to China Finance Online Co. Limited $546,320 and $384,883 as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2015, respectively)	384,883	546,320
Total liabilities	44,835,732	38,361,922
Commitments and contingencies (Note 25)
China Finance Online Co. Limited shareholder's equity:
Ordinary shares (112,417,933 and 118,098,018 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively)	56,856,000	56,386,606
Additional paid-in capital	28,145,846	24,207,606
Accumulated other comprehensive income	8,597,295	12,064,338
Retained deficits	(5,560,770)	(28,043,186)
Total China Finance Online Co. Limited shareholders' equity	88,038,371	64,615,364
Noncontrolling interest	11,191,054	10,926,072
Total equity	99,229,425	75,541,436
Total liabilities and equity	144,065,157	113,903,358
Margin Clients [Member]
Current assets:
Accounts receivable - net of allowance for doubtful account	4,367,417	1,698,861
Others [Member]
Current assets:
Accounts receivable - net of allowance for doubtful account	$ 12,007,714	$ 12,885,493

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parentheticals) - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Deferred revenue, current of the consolidated variable interest entities without recourse to China Finance Online Co. Limited	$ 5,058,018	$ 2,954,098
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities of the consolidated variable interest entities without recourse to China Finance Online Co. Limite	13,035,773	6,282,466
Amounts due to customers for the trust bank balances held on their behalf of the consolidated variable interest entities without recourse to China Finance Online Co. Limited	565,605	398,936
Accounts payable of the consolidated variable interest entities without recourse to China Finance Online Co. Limited	3,387,125	1,997,774
Income taxes payable of the consolidated variable interest entities without recourse to China Finance Online Co. Limited	1,752,812	300,679
Deferred tax liabilities, current of the consolidated variable interest entities without recourse to China Finance Online Co. Limited	13,067	578,006
Deferred revenue, non-current of the consolidated variable interest entities without recourse to China Finance Online Co. Limited	187,041	353,035
Deferred tax liabilities, non-current of the consolidated variable interest entities without recourse to China Finance Online Co. Limited	$ 384,883	$ 546,620
Ordinary shares, shares issued (in shares)	118,098,018	112,417,933
Ordinary shares, shares outstanding (in shares)	118,098,018	112,417,933
Margin Clients [Member]
Accounts receivable - margin clients, allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 0	$ 0
Others [Member]
Accounts receivable - margin clients, allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 40,592	$ 43,077

Consolidated Statements of Comp

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Net revenues	$ 107,404,766	$ 83,695,885	$ 52,738,077
Cost of revenues	19,738,737	20,352,729	10,570,070
Gross profit	87,666,029	63,343,156	42,168,007
Operating expenses:
General and administrative (including share-based compensation of $2,985,112, $4,533,562 and $6,395,451 for 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively)	17,993,787	17,592,119	15,210,102
Product development (including share-based compensation of $39,574, $113,292 and $(217,695) for 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively)	10,738,730	11,147,873	9,032,327
Sales and marketing (including share-based compensation of $10,436 , $52,099 and $(121,723) for 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively)	46,474,107	43,761,473	30,588,236
Loss from impairment of intangible assets	250,360	1,802,125	0
Loss from impairment of goodwill	0	8,149,525	0
Total operating expenses	75,456,984	82,453,115	54,830,665
Government subsidies	251,828	659,417	11,187
Income (loss) from operations	12,460,873	(18,450,542)	(12,651,471)
Interest income	2,648,026	4,044,288	1,340,563
Interest expense	(514)	(12,311)	(196,458)
Exchange gain (loss), net	(766,162)	(112,672)	556,757
Gain on the interest sold and retained noncontrolling investment	9,999,801
Gain from sales of cost method investment	4,648,302	4,337,736
Gain (loss) from equity method investment	(66,970)		2,773,839
Short-term investment income	216,025	58,451	132,069
Other income (expense), net	(937,431)	18,236	(29,131)
Income (loss) before income tax expense	28,201,950	(10,116,814)	(8,073,832)
Income tax expense	(1,384,262)	(513,914)	(100,058)
Net income (loss)	26,817,688	(10,630,728)	(8,173,890)
Net income (loss)	4,335,272	(3,462,879)	399,238
Net income (loss) attributable to China Finance Online Co. Limited	$ 22,482,416	$ (7,167,849)	$ (8,573,128)
Net income (loss) per share attributable to China Finance Online Co. Limited
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.20	$ (0.07)	$ (0.08)
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.18	$ (0.07)	$ (0.08)
Weighted average shares used in calculating net income (loss) per share
Basic (in shares)	110,997,871	109,385,712	109,019,513
Diluted (in shares)	125,129,763	109,385,712	109,019,513
Changes in foreign currency translation adjustment	$ (3,467,043)	$ (221,277)	$ 1,195,795
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(3,467,043)	(221,277)	1,195,795
Comprehensive income (loss)	23,350,645	(10,852,005)	(6,978,095)
Less: net income (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interest	4,335,272	(3,462,879)	399,238
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to China Finance Online Co. Limited	$ 19,015,373	$ (7,389,126)	$ (7,377,333)

Consolidated Statements of Com5

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Parentheticals) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Share-based compensation	$ 6,056,033	$ 4,698,953	$ 3,035,122
General and Administrative Expense [Member]
Share-based compensation	6,395,451	4,533,562	2,985,112
Research and Development Expense [Member]
Share-based compensation	(217,695)	113,292	39,574
Selling and Marketing Expense [Member]
Share-based compensation	$ (121,726)	$ 52,099	$ 10,436

Consolidated Statements of Stoc

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($)		Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	AOCI Attributable to Parent [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Parent [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	Total
Balance as of		$ 14,328	$ 81,163,244	$ 11,089,820	$ (12,302,209)	$ 79,965,183	$ 751,368	$ 80,716,551
Balance as of December 31, 2014 (in shares)		110,955,383
Balance as of January 1, 2013 (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012		110,955,383
Balance as of at Dec. 31, 2012		$ 14,328	81,163,244	11,089,820	(12,302,209)	79,965,183	751,368	80,716,551
Exercise of share options by employees (in shares)		190,250
Exercise of share options by employees		$ 25	30,415			30,440		30,440
Share-based compensation			2,960,746			2,960,746	74,376	3,035,122
Business combination			191,861			191,861	13,421,370	13,613,231
Changes in foreign currency translation adjustment				1,195,795		1,195,795		1,195,795
Net income (loss)					(8,573,128)	(8,573,128)	399,238	(8,173,890)
Balance as of December 31, 2013 (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013		111,145,633
Balance as of		$ 14,328	81,163,244	11,089,820	(12,302,209)	79,965,183	751,368	80,716,551
Balance as of December 31, 2014 (in shares)		110,955,383
Paid-in capital from noncontrolling shareholders			1,405,963
Balance as of		$ 14,353	84,346,266	12,285,615	(20,875,337)	75,770,897	14,646,352	90,417,249
Balance as of December 31, 2014 (in shares)		111,145,633
Balance as of at Dec. 31, 2013		$ 14,353	84,346,266	12,285,615	(20,875,337)	75,770,897	14,646,352	90,417,249
Exercise of share options by employees (in shares)		1,164,300
Exercise of share options by employees		$ 654,055				654,055		654,055
Share-based compensation			4,540,257			4,540,257	158,696	4,698,953
Changes in foreign currency translation adjustment				(221,277)		(221,277)		(221,277)
Net income (loss)					(7,167,849)	(7,167,849)	(3,462,879)	(10,630,728)
Balance as of December 31, 2013 (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014		112,417,933
Balance as of		$ 14,353	84,346,266	12,285,615	(20,875,337)	75,770,897	14,646,352	90,417,249
Transfer share premium to share capital (Note)	[1]	$ 55,718,184	(55,718,184)
Restricted shares issued (in shares)		108,000
Restricted shares issued		$ 14				14		14
Business restructure			(8,960,733)			(8,960,733)	613,915	(8,348,818)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling shareholders							(1,030,012)	(1,030,012)
Balance as of December 31, 2014 (in shares)		111,145,633
Balance as of		$ 56,386,606	24,207,606	12,064,338	(28,043,186)	64,615,364	10,926,072	75,541,436
Balance as of December 31, 2014 (in shares)		112,417,933
Balance as of at Dec. 31, 2014		$ 56,386,606	24,207,606	12,064,338	(28,043,186)	64,615,364	10,926,072	75,541,436
Exercise of share options by employees (in shares)		435,000
Exercise of share options by employees		$ 293,654				293,654		293,654
Share-based compensation			5,331,748			5,331,748	724,285	6,056,033
Changes in foreign currency translation adjustment				(3,467,043)		(3,467,043)		(3,467,043)
Net income (loss)					22,482,416	22,482,416	4,335,272	26,817,688
Balance as of December 31, 2013 (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015		118,098,018
Balance as of		$ 56,386,606	24,207,606	12,064,338	(28,043,186)	64,615,364	10,926,072	75,541,436
Restricted shares issued (in shares)		150,085
Restricted shares issued		$ 20				20		20
Dividends paid to noncontrolling shareholders							(6,509,680)	(6,509,680)
Balance as of December 31, 2014 (in shares)		112,417,933
Issuance of ordinary shares for the plan of share options and restricted shares (in shares)		4,000,000
Issuance of ordinary shares for the plan of share options and restricted shares		$ 520				520		520
Exercise of share options by nonemployees (in shares)		1,095,000
Exercise of share options by nonemployees		$ 175,200				175,200		175,200
Changes in noncontrolling ownership interest			(1,393,508)			(1,393,508)	1,714,464	320,956
Paid-in capital from noncontrolling shareholders			641				641	641
Balance as of		$ 56,856,000	$ 28,145,846	$ 8,597,295	$ (5,560,770)	$ 88,038,371	$ 11,191,054	$ 99,229,425
Balance as of December 31, 2014 (in shares)		118,098,018
[1]	Under Hong Kong Companies Ordinance (Cap.622), which came into force on March 3, 2014, the concept of authorized share capital no longer exists. In accordance with the said Ordinance, the Company’s shares no longer have a par value. There is no impact on the number of shares in issue or the relevant entitlement of any of the shareholders as a result of this transition. In addition, in accordance with the transitional provisions set out in section 37 of Schedule 11 to the said Ordinance, any amount outstanding to the credit of the share premium has become part of the Company’s share capital.

Consolidated Statements of Cash

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 26,817,688	$ (10,630,728)	$ (8,173,890)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Share-based compensation	6,056,033	4,698,953	3,035,122
Depreciation and amortization	1,649,136	1,973,423	2,164,992
Provision of allowance for doubtful accounts	74	(193,832)	521,567
Gain (loss) from equity method investment	66,970		(2,773,839)
Gain from short-term investments	(216,025)	(58,451)	(132,069)
Deferred taxes	(502,052)	(106,900)	(357,014)
Loss on disposal of property and equipment	390,296	194,136	163,963
Gain from sales of cost method investment	(4,648,302)	(4,337,736)
Loss from impairment of intangible assets	250,360	1,802,125	0
Loss from impairment of goodwill	0	8,149,525	0
Gain from business restructure		(90,666)
Gain on the interest sold and retained noncontrolling investment	(9,999,801)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, others	586,009	2,371,865	(8,132,005)
Accounts receivable, margin clients	(2,666,812)	4,413,011	8,933,007
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	369,290	(1,284,341)	1,131,750
Advances to employees			1,071,769
Trust bank balances held on behalf of customers	(2,267,808)	(1,928,568)	(1,181,312)
Restricted cash	5,403	(1,560)	7,143
Rental deposits	(204,811)	(368,933)	(273,402)
Guarantee deposit funds	(1,576,128)	865,963	(4,881,966)
Amounts due from noncontrolling shareholders	2,690,941	(1,821,928)
Deferred revenue	1,794,179	(1,749,432)	(2,866,258)
Account payable	(5,182,939)	(2,671,121)	11,666,365
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	2,596,050	161,455	(1,189,465)
Amounts due to customers for the trust bank balance held on their behalf	2,267,808	1,928,568	1,181,312
Income taxes payable	1,541,421	(142,692)	242,886
Net cash provided by operating activities	19,816,980	1,172,136	158,656
Investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment	(3,350,260)	(3,158,042)	(833,921)
Purchase of intangible assets		(81,378)	(578,624)
Acquisition of businesses (net of cash acquired of $121,044, nil and $14,463 for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014, and 2015, respectively)	14,463	(705,180)	(3,627,963)
Business restructure (Note 4)	(354,284)	(2,873,988)
Proceeds from disposal of affiliates (Note 13)	8,463,170
Acquisition of equity method investment	(327,263)		(21,525,608)
Proceeds from transfer of equity method investment	12,765,427		11,445,202
Loan given to equity method investee			(20,461,773)
Repayment of loans given to equity method investee	9,807,585		10,247,235
Proceeds from transfer equity interest to noncontrolling shareholders	72,271
Advances related to disposal of subsidiaries (Note 18 (i))	5,299,758
Purchase of short-term investments	(105,354,947)	(90,694,201)	(83,911,858)
Proceeds from sales of short-term investments	105,562,667	90,764,098	86,716,413
Acquisition of cost method investment		(81,378)	(309,698)
Proceeds from sales of cost method investment	7,959,237	2,168,868
Restricted cash			29,282,705
Loan receivable			994,459
Proceeds from disposal of fixed assets		63,038	140,942
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	40,557,824	(4,598,163)	7,577,511
Financing activities:
Proceeds from stock options exercised by employees	294,193	654,069	640
Proceeds from stock options exercised by nonemployees	175,200
Proceeds from paid-in capital of noncontrolling shareholders	488,155		1,397,616
Repayment of short-term loan			(13,536,161)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling shareholders	(6,549,628)	(1,025,788)
Net cash used in financing activities	(5,592,080)	(371,719)	(12,137,905)
Effect of exchange rate changes	(1,587,189)	(34,691)	(133,308)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	53,195,535	(3,832,437)	(4,535,046)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	32,538,513	36,370,950	40,905,996
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	85,734,048	32,538,513	36,370,950
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
Income taxes paid	682,232	758,006	81,188
Interest paid	$ 514	$ 5,130	$ 174,353

Consolidated Statements of Cas8

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Parentheticals) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Acquisition of businesses, cash acquired	$ 14,463		$ 121,044

Note 1 - Organization and Princ

Note 1 - Organization and Principal Activities	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Notes to Financial Statements
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block]	1. ORGANIZATION AND PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES China Finance Online Co. Limited ("China Finance Online" or the "Company") was incorporated in Hong Kong on November 2, 1998. China Finance Online, its subsidiaries, its variable interest entities ("VIEs") and its VIEs' subsidiaries (collectively, the "Group") is a leading web-based financial services company in China. The Company provides Chinese retail investors with online access to securities, commodities and wealth management products, as well as financial database and analytics services to institutional customers. The Company's prominent flagship portal site www.jrj.com In 2015, the Company integrated its web-based trading platform, Securities Master (Zhengquantong) Yinglibao iTougu Yinglibao In addition, the Company offers basic financial software, information services and securities investment advisory services to retail investors in China. Through its subsidiary, Shenzhen Genius Information Technology Co., Ltd., the Company provides financial database and analytics to institutional customers including domestic financial, research, academic and regulatory institutions. China Finance Online also provides brokerage services in Hong Kong. Details of China Finance Online's significant subsidiaries, VIEs and VIEs' subsidiaries as of December 31, 2015 were as follows: Company name Place of establishment Date of acquisition legal interest Principal activity Subsidiaries: China Finance Online (Beijing) Co., Ltd. ("CFO Beijing") Beijing, PRC Jul. 9, 1998 100% N/A Fortune Software (Beijing) Co., Ltd. ("CFO Software") Beijing, PRC Dec. 7, 2004 100% N/A Shenzhen Genius Information Technology Co., Ltd. ("CFO Genius") Shenzhen, PRC Sep. 21, 2006 100% Subscription service Zhengyong Information & Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (“CFO Zhengyong”) Shanghai, PRC Aug. 17, 2008 100% N/A Zhengtong Information Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd ("CFO Zhengtong") Shanghai, PRC Jun. 24, 2008 100% N/A iSTAR Financial Holdings Limited ("iSTAR Financial Holdings") BVI Jul. 16, 2007 85% Investment holdings iSTAR International Securities Co. Limited ("iSTAR Securities") Hong Kong, PRC Nov. 23, 2007 85% Brokerage service iSTAR International Futures Co. Limited ("iSTAR Futures") Hong Kong, PRC Apr. 16, 2008 85% Brokerage service iSTAR International Wealth Management Co. Limited Hong Kong, PRC Oct. 8, 2008 85% Securities advising, future contract ("iSTAR Wealth Management") advising and asset management iSTAR International Credit Co. Limited ("iSTAR Credit") Hong Kong, PRC Feb. 10, 2012 85% N/A Variable interest entities: Beijing Fuhua Innovation Technology Development Co., Ltd. ("CFO Fuhua") Beijing, PRC Dec. 31, 2000 Nil Web portal and advertising service Shanghai Chongzhi Co., Ltd. ("CFO Chongzhi") Shanghai, PRC Jun. 6, 2008 Nil Subscription service Fortune (Beijing) Qicheng Technology Co., Ltd. ("CFO Qicheng") Beijing, PRC Dec. 18, 2009 Nil N/A Shenzhen Newrand Securities Advisory and Investment Co., Ltd. Shenzhen, PRC Oct. 17, 2008 Nil Securities investment advising ("CFO Newrand ") Shanghai Stockstar Wealth Management Co., Ltd. ("Stockstar Wealth Management") Shanghai, PRC Apr. 12, 2011 Nil N/A Beijing Chuangying Advisory and Investment Co., Ltd. ( "CFO Chuangying" ) Beijing, PRC Jan. 9, 2009 Nil N/A Subsidiaries of variable interest entities: Shanghai Meining Computer Software Co., Ltd. ("CFO Meining") Shanghai, PRC Oct. 1, 2006 Nil Web portal, advertising, subscription, and SMS Shenzhen Newrand Securities Training Center ("CFO Newrand Training") Shenzhen, PRC Oct. 17, 2008 Nil Securities investment training Fortune (Beijing) Huiying Investment Consulting Co., Ltd. ("CFO Huiying") Beijing, PRC Dec. 18, 2009 Nil N/A Shenzhen Tahoe Investment and Development Co., Ltd ("CFO Tahoe") Shenzhen, PRC Sep. 30, 2013 Nil N/A Shenzhen Shangtong Software Co., Ltd. ("CFO Shenzhen Shangtong") Shenzhen, PRC Sep. 23, 2009 Nil N/A Zhengjin (Fujian) Precious Metals Investment Co., Ltd. Fujian, PRC Jan. 6, 2013 Nil Commodities brokerage ("CFO Zhengjin Fujian") Zhengjin (Shanghai) Precious Metals Investment Co., Ltd. Shanghai, PRC Dec. 12, 2013 Nil Commodities brokerage ("CFO Zhengjin Shanghai") Zhengjin (Tianjin) Precious Metals Investment Co., Ltd. Tianjin, PRC Jul. 23, 2013 Nil Commodities brokerage ("CFO Zhengjin Tianjin") Henghui (Tianjin) Precious Metals Investment Co., Ltd. Tianjin, PRC Sep. 30, 2013 Nil Commodities brokerage ("CFO Henghui") Zhengjin (Beijing) Wisdom Petroleum and Chemical Investment Management Co., Ltd. ("CFO Zhengjin Beijing") Beijing, PRC Jan. 13, 2014 Nil N/A Yinglibao (Beijing) Technology Co., Ltd. ("CFO Yinglibao") Beijing, PRC Jan. 15, 2014 Nil Internet-based financial platform Zhengjin (Qingdao) Wisdom Trading Co., Ltd. ("CFO Zhengjin Qingdao") Qingdao, PRC Sep. 4, 2014 Nil N/A Zhengjin (Jiangsu) Precious Metals Co., Ltd. ("CFO Zhengjin Jiangsu") Nanjing, PRC Nov. 19, 2014 Nil Commodities brokerage iTougu (Beijing) Network Technology Co., Ltd. ("CFO iTougu") Beijing, PRC Dec. 8, 2014 Nil Investment advisory service platform Tibet Fortune Jinyuan Network Technology Co., Ltd. ("CFO Tibet") Tibet, PRC Aug. 22, 2015 Nil N/A Shanghai Guiwo Information Technology Co., Ltd. (“CFO Guiwo”) Shanghai, PRC Apr. 1, 2015 Nil N/A The consolidated financial statements of the Group include the financial statements of the Company and its controlled operating entities including the subsidiaries and the variable interest entities for which the Company is the primary beneficiary. A variable interest entity is the entity in which the Company, through contractual arrangements as the primary beneficiary, bears the risks of, and enjoys the rewards normally associated with ownership of the entity. People ' ("PRC") regulations prohibit or restrict direct foreign ownership of business entities providing certain services in PRC, such as internet content service and securities investment advisory service. In order to comply with these regulations, China Finance Online, through its subsidiaries, entered into contractual arrangements with the Company's VIEs and their equity owners who are PRC citizens. The Group made loans to the shareholders of the VIEs solely for the purposes of capitalizing the VIEs. Pursuant to the loan agreements, these loans can only be repaid by transferring all of their interests in the VIEs to the Group or a third party designated by the Group. The Group has entered into proxy agreements or power of attorney and exclusive equity purchase option agreements with the VIEs and nominee shareholders of the VIEs through the Company's wholly owned significant subsidiaries including CFO Beijing, CFO Software, CFO Zhengyong and CFO Zhengtong (collectively, the " WFOEs WFOE Despite the lack of technical majority ownership, the agreements with the VIEs provide the WFOEs with effective control over and the ability to receive substantially all of the economic benefits of its VIEs, resembling a parent-subsidiary relationship between the WFOEs and the VIEs. The shareholders of the VIEs effectively assigned all of their voting rights underlying their equity interest in the VIEs to the WFOEs. In addition, through the other exclusive agreements, which consist of strategic consulting services agreement, technical support services agreement and operating support services agreement, the WFOEs demonstrate their ability and intention to continue to exercise the ability to absorb substantially all of the profits and all of the expected losses of the VIEs. The VIEs are subject to operating risks, which determine the variability of the Company's interest in those entities. Based on these contractual arrangements, the Company consolidates the VIEs as required by SEC Regulation SX-3A-02 and Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 810 ("ASC 810") because the Company holds all the variable interests of the VIEs through the WFOEs. The principal terms of the agreements entered into amongst the VIEs, their respective shareholders and the WFOEs are further described below. Exclusive technology consulting and management service agreement Pursuant to a series of technology support and service agreements, the WOFEs retain exclusive right to provide the VIEs and their subsidiaries technology support and consulting services and exclusive management consulting service. As a result of these services, the WOFEs are entitled to charge the VIEs and their subsidiaries annual service fees. The terms of the strategic consulting services agreement, the technical support services agreement and the operating support services agreement are twenty, ten and ten years, respectively, and these agreements will be automatically renewed on applicable expiration dates, unless the contracting WOFE informs the corresponding VIE its intention to terminate such contract one month prior to the applicable expiration date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of the parties has a right to terminate the service contracts. The principal services agreements that the WOFEs have entered into with VIEs include: · strategic consulting services agreement, pursuant to which the amount of the fee to be charged is 30% of each VIE's income before tax; · technical support services agreement, pursuant to which the amount of the fee to be charged is 30% of each VIE's income before tax; and · operating support services agreement, pursuant to which the amount of the fee to be charged is 40% of each VIE's income before tax. Exclusive purchase right agreement on the equity interest of the VIEs Pursuant to the purchase option agreement, the WOFEs have the unconditional right to purchase the entire equity interest in, or all the assets of the VIEs at a price equal to the total principal amount of the loan lent by the WOFEs to the shareholders of the VIEs when and if such purchase is permitted by the PRC law or the current shareholders of the VIEs cease to be directors or employees of the VIEs. The term of the exclusive purchase right agreement is perpetual and can be terminated at the discretion of the WOFEs. Power of attorney Pursuant to the power of attorney, each of the shareholders of the VIEs have executed an irrevocable power of attorney assigning the WOFEs or individuals designated by the WOFEs as their attorney-in-fact to vote on their behalf on all matters of the VIEs requiring shareholder approval under PRC laws and regulations and the articles of association of VIEs. The Articles of Incorporation of the VIE state that the major rights of the shareholders include the right to appoint directors, the general manager and other senior management. Therefore, through the irrevocable power of attorney arrangement, the WOFEs have the ability to exercise effective control over the VIEs through shareholder votes and, through such votes, to also control the composition of the board of directors. In addition, the senior management team of the VIEs is the same as that of the WOFEs. The term of the power of attorney is twenty years and will be automatically renewed on the expiration date. The contract can be terminated at the discretion of the WOFEs. Pledge agreement Pursuant to the equity pledge agreement between the WOFEs and the shareholders of the VIEs, the shareholders of the VIEs pledged all of their equity interests in the VIEs to the WOFEs to guarantee the VIEs' performance of its obligations under the exclusive technology consulting and service agreement. If the VIEs breach their contractual obligations under that agreement, the WOFEs, as the pledge, will be entitled to certain rights, including the rights to sell the pledged equity interests. The shareholders of the VIEs agree that, without prior written consent of the WOFEs, they will not transfer, sell, and dispose of or create any encumbrance on their equity interest in the VIEs. The term of the pledge agreement is twenty years and will be automatically renewed on the expiration date, unless the WOFEs inform the VIEs of their intention to terminate the agreement one month prior to the expiration date. Through these contractual agreements, the WOFEs have the ability to effectively control the VIEs and are also able to receive substantially all the economic benefits of the VIEs. Details of significant VIEs and their counterparts which substantially control the VIEs as of December 31, 2015 were as follows: VIE name Contractual arrangement Date counterpart CFO Fuhua May 27, 2004 CFO Beijing CFO Chongzhi June 8, 2008 CFO Software CFO Newrand October 17, 2008 CFO Zhengyong CFO Qicheng November 20, 2009 CFO Chuangying Stockstar Wealth Management April 12, 2011 CFO Zhengtong Risks in relation to the VIE structure The Company's ability to control the VIEs also depends on the power of attorney the WOFEs have to vote on all matters requiring shareholder approval in the VIEs. As noted above, the Company believes this power of attorney is legally enforceable but may not be as effective as direct equity ownership. In addition, if the legal structure and contractual arrangements were found to be in violation of any existing PRC laws and regulations, the regulatory authorities may exercise their discretion and · revoke the business and operating licenses of our PRC subsidiaries or VIEs; · restrict the rights to collect revenues from any of our PRC subsidiaries; · discontinue or restrict the operations of any related-party transactions among our PRC subsidiaries or VIEs; · require our PRC subsidiaries or VIEs to restructure the relevant ownership structure or operations; · take other regulatory or enforcement actions, including levying fines that could be harmful to our business; or · impose additional conditions or requirements with which we may not be able to comply. The imposition of any of these penalties may result in a material adverse effect on the Company's ability to conduct its business. In addition, if the imposition of any of these penalties causes the Company to lose the rights to direct the activities of the VIEs and their subsidiaries or the right to receive their economic benefits, the Company would no longer be able to consolidate the VIEs. The Company does not believe that any penalties imposed or actions taken by the PRC Government would result in the liquidation of the Company, its subsidiaries, or the VIEs. The Company has consolidated its VIEs because it was the primary beneficiary of those entities. Through the contractual agreements discussed above, the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, has (1) the power to direct the activities of the VIEs that most significantly affect the entities' economic performance and (2) the right to receive benefits from the VIEs, therefore it consolidates the VIEs. The consolidated VIEs operate securities investment advisory business and commodities brokerage business. The following table presents the most important revenue-producing assets to operate commodities brokerage business, which was recognized in the Company's consolidated financial statements. December 31 , 2014 2015 Commodities brokerage business: Commodities trading right $ 1,291,061 $ 966,222 Customer relationship 894,219 573,312 $ 2,185,280 $ 1,539,534 The VIEs also hold important unrecognized revenue-producing assets, such as our domain names and Internet Content Provider Licenses with respect to www.jrj.com www.stockstar.com The following financial statement amounts and balances of the VIEs for which the Company is the primary beneficiary and their subsidiaries were before intercompany elimination as of and for the years ended: December 31, 2014 2015 Assets Current assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 17,615,035 $ 47,788,398 Consideration receivable 13,400,882 - Account receivable -others, net 22,217,745 45,278,278 Loan receivable 10,295,800 - Others 6,558,399 3,971,332 Total current assets $ 70,087,861 $ 97,038,008 Property and equipment, net 3,242,905 4,311,095 Acquired intangible assets, net 2,185,280 1,539,534 Cost method investment 907,919 554,392 Equity method investment, net - 1,228,269 Rental deposits 913,187 989,383 Guarantee fund deposits 4,604,924 5,850,623 Investment in subsidiaries 43,751,417 43,553,986 Deferred tax assets, non-current 13,328 4,982 Total assets $ 125,706,821 $ 155,070,272 Third-party liabilities Current liabilities Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 10,514,186 20,425,274 Accounts payable 18,843,147 3,387,125 Total current liabilities $ 29,357,333 $ 23,812,399 Non-current liabilities 899,356 571,924 Total third-party liabilities $ 30,256,689 $ 24,384,323 Inter-company liabilities $ 42,155,248 $ 44,591,484 Year ended December 31, 2013 2014 2015 Net revenues $ 58,549,393 $ 98,207,958 $ 136,412,062 Net income (loss) $ (5,469,402 ) $ 12,305,855 $ 49,300,399 Year ended December 31, 2013 2014 2015 Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities $ (14,469,067 ) $ 3,204,749 $ (835,965 ) Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities (9,440,165 ) (5,685,885 ) 38,523,306 Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 35,830,988 1,430,739 (6,061,473 ) Effect of exchange rate changes $ (46,900 ) $ (95,269 ) $ (1,452,505 ) There are no consolidated VIE's assets that are collateral for the VIE's obligations and can only be used to settle the VIE's obligations.

Note 2 - Summary of Significant

Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Notes to Financial Statements
Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]	2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Basis of presentation The consolidated financial statements of the Group have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP"). Basis of consolidation The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of China Finance Online, its subsidiaries, VIEs for which the Company is the primary beneficiary and those VIEs' subsidiaries. All inter-company transactions and balances have been eliminated upon consolidation. Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash on hand and highly liquid investments which are unrestricted as to withdrawal or use, and which have original maturities of three months or less when purchased. Restricted cash Restricted cash is the deposit in bank accounts for providing guarantee to subscription revenue customers by Shanghai Stockstar Securities Advisory and Investment Co., Ltd. ("CFO Securities Consulting") in accordance with the requirement of China Securities Regulatory Commission ("CSRC"). The restriction period is one year. Fair value Fair value is the price that would be received from selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. When determining the fair value measurements for assets and liabilities required or permitted to be recorded at fair value, the Group considers the principal or most advantageous market in which it would transact and it considers assumptions that market participants would use when pricing the asset or liability. Authoritative literature provides a fair value hierarchy which prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels. The level in the hierarchy within which the fair value measurement in its entirety falls is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement as follows: Level 1-inputs are based upon unadjusted quoted prices for identical instruments traded in active markets. Level 2-inputs are based upon quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active and model-based valuation techniques for which all significant assumptions are observable in the market or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. Level 3-inputs are generally unobservable and typically reflect management's estimates of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. The fair values are therefore determined using model-based techniques that include option pricing models, discounted cash flow models, and similar techniques. The Group measures certain assets, including the long-term investments and intangible assets, at fair value on a nonrecurring basis when they are deemed to be impaired. The fair values of these investments and intangible assets are determined based on valuation techniques using the best information available, and may include management judgments, future performance projections, etc. Trust bank balances held on behalf of customers Trust bank balances held on behalf of customers consist two parts: i) iSTAR Securities and iSTAR Futures receive fund from customers for purpose of buying or selling securities and futures on behalf of its customers and deposits the fund in its interest-bearing bank account; ii) The funds received by CFO Newrand from customers who purchase mutual funds and other wealth management products which are deposited in a trust bank account. The Group launched "Yinglibao", an internet-based financial platform that integrates cash management solutions and mutual fund distribution. Such bank balance represents an asset of the Group for the amounts due to customers for the trust bank balance held on their behalf and payable to customers on demand. The Group also recognizes a corresponding liability. Use of estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and revenue and expenses in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Significant accounting estimates reflected in the Group's financial statements include account receivable, cost method investment, equity method investment, impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets, income taxes, share-based compensation and purchase price allocation. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Loan receivable Loans are reported at either their outstanding principal balances. For loans reported at their outstanding principal balances, interest income is accrued on the unpaid principal balance. A loan is considered impaired when, based on current events and the financial condition of the borrower, it is probable that the company will be unable to collect all principal and interest due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Loan collectability is monitored by the Group in connection with the ongoing monitoring of the associated financial guarantee transactions. Short-term investments Short-term investments comprise marketable debt and equity securities, which are classified as trading, held-to-maturity or available-for-sale. Trading securities are securities that are bought and held principally for the purpose of selling them in the near term and are reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses recognized in earnings. Short-term investments are classified as held-to-maturity when the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold the securities to maturity. All of the Company's held-to-maturity securities are classified as short-term investments on the consolidated balance sheets based on their contractual maturity dates which are less than one year and are stated at their amortized costs. Short-term investments classified as available for sale are carried at their fair values and the unrealized gains or losses from the changes in fair values are included in accumulated other comprehensive income. Available for sale securities are classified as current assets on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets because they are available for immediate sale. The Group reviews its short-term investments for other-than-temporary impairment based on the specific identification method. The Company considers available quantitative and qualitative evidence in evaluating potential impairment of its short-term investments. If the cost of an investment exceeds the investment's fair value, the Group considers, among other factors, general market conditions, government economic plans, the duration and the extent to which the fair value of the investment is less than the cost, and the Group's intent and ability to hold the investment, in determining if impairment is needed. Property and equipment, net Property and equipment, net are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is calculated on a straight-line basis over the following estimated useful lives: Technology infrastructure (in years) 5 Computer equipment 5 Furniture, fixtures and equipment 5 Motor vehicle 5 Leasehold improvements Shorter of the lease term or 5 Acquired intangible assets, net Acquired intangible assets are estimated by management based on the fair value of assets acquired. Identifiable intangible assets are carried at cost less accumulated amortization. Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated average useful lives, which are as follows: License and related trademarks (in years) 15 Completed technology (in years) 5 Customer relationship (in years) 4 - 5 Certain trademarks resulting from the acquisitions of business and certain trading rights bought by the Group are determined to have indefinite lives. If an intangible asset is determined to have an indefinite life, it is not amortized until its useful life is determined to be no longer indefinite. Guarantee fund deposits Guarantee fund deposits consist of i) the funds deposited with Hong Kong Exchange and Clearing Limited by iSTAR Futures, to guarantee its customers' settlement obligations; ii) the funds deposited with the commodities exchanges as a result of its customers' trading. The Group needs to deposit certain percentage of its customers' trading margins with the commodities exchanges. Impairment of long-lived assets with definite lives The Group reviews its long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may no longer be recoverable. When these events occur, the Group compares the carrying value of the long-lived assets to the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use of the assets and their eventual disposition. If the sum of the expected undiscounted cash flow is less than the carrying amount of the assets, the Group would recognize an impairment loss based on the fair value of the assets. Business combinations Business combinations are recorded using the acquisition method of accounting. The assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interest of the acquiree at the acquisition date, if any, are measured at their fair values as of that date. Goodwill is recognized and measured as the excess of the total consideration transferred plus the fair value of any noncontrolling interest of the acquiree, if any, at the acquisition date over the fair values of the identifiable net assets acquired. Common forms of the consideration made in acquisitions include cash and common equity instruments. Consideration transferred in a business acquisition is measured at the fair value as at the date of acquisition. Where the consideration in an acquisition includes contingent consideration the payment of which depends on the achievement of certain specified conditions post-acquisition, the contingent consideration is recognized and measured at its fair value at the acquisition date and if recorded as a liability it is subsequently carried at fair value with changes in fair value reflected in earnings. Impairment of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets The Group performs a qualitative analysis that includes reviewing the carrying value of intangible assets not subject to amortization, including goodwill, to determine whether impairment may exist, whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may no longer be recoverable at least annually. The excess of the purchase price over the fair value of net assets acquired is recorded on the consolidated balance sheet as goodwill. After a qualitative analysis indicates an impairment test is needed, the Company completes a two-step goodwill impairment test. The first step is to compare the fair values of each reporting unit to its carrying amount, including goodwill. If the fair value of each reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, goodwill is not considered to be impaired and the second step will not be required. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the second step is to compare the implied fair value of goodwill to the carrying value of a reporting unit's goodwill. The implied fair value of goodwill is determined in a manner similar to accounting for a business combination with the allocation of the assessed fair value determined in the first step to the assets and liabilities of the reporting unit. The excess of the fair value of the reporting unit over the amounts assigned to the assets and liabilities is the implied fair value of goodwill. An impairment loss is recognized for any excess in the carrying value of goodwill over the implied fair value of goodwill. Estimating fair value is performed by utilizing various valuation techniques, with the primary technique being a discounted cash flow. The impairment test for other intangible assets not subject to amortization consists of a comparison of the fair value of the intangible asset with its carrying value. If the carrying value of the intangible asset exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to that excess. The estimates of fair values of intangible assets not subject to amortization are determined using various discounted cash flow valuation methodologies. Significant assumptions are inherent in this process, including estimates of discount rates. Discount rate assumptions are based on an assessment of the risk inherent in the respective intangible assets. The Group performed the annual impairment tests on December 31 of each year. Based on the Group's assessment, the Group recorded nil, $8,149,525 and nil goodwill impairment losses during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively. In addition, the Group recorded nil, nil and $250,360 impairment loss in relation to intangible assets with indefinite life during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015. Revenue recognition Commodities brokerage business The Group derives commission income, carrying charges and trading revenues from its commodities brokerage services. Commission income is recognized on a trade basis based on their customers' trading volumes. The commission earned is fixed no matter how the client's open positions are ultimately settled. Additionally, the Group charges carrying charges to its customers. The commissions and carrying charges are presented in net revenues in the statement of comprehensive income. Amounts are settled with the Exchange by both the Group and the customers and the exchange then settles with any counterparty. The exchange offsets the Group's gains and losses and amounts receivable and amounts payable from the exchange are presented net on the statement of financial position as the Group and the exchange settle net. Trading gains, net include brokerage fees and margins generated from derivative trades executed with customers and other counterparties and are recognized when trades are executed. Trading gains, net also include activities where the Group acts as market maker in the purchase and sale of commodities derivative instruments with customers. These transactions may be offset simultaneously with another customer or counterparty, offset with similar but not identical positions on an exchange, made from inventory, or may be aggregated with other purchases to provide liquidity intraday, for a number of days, or in some cases, particularly the commodities brokerage business, even longer periods (during which fair value may fluctuate). Therefore, trading gains, net includes activities from the Group's operations of a proprietary commodity trades. Net trading gains are recognized on a trade-date basis and include realized gains or losses and changes in unrealized gains or losses on investments at fair value. Unrealized gains/losses on open positions will be marked to market at each period end and may present trading gains and losses which comprise both realized and unrealized gains and losses, on a net basis in the statement of comprehensive income. The open transactions may lead to receivables and/or payables for open transaction which are recorded on the Statement of Financial Position. Revenue generally is recognized net of any taxes collected from customers and subsequently remitted to governmental authorities. The following table presents the totally recognized net revenue from commodities trading business, consisted of: Years ended December 31, 2014 2015 Commodities trading gains $ 38,297,005 $ 53,776,323 Commission income 17,397,978 22,913,704 Carrying charges 4,396,134 3,012,627 $ 60,091,117 $ 79,702,654 Hong Kong Brokerage services The Group also derives commission from its brokerage services provided by the subsidiaries, iSTAR Securities and iSTAR Futures which buy or sell securities and future contracts on their customers' behalf. The Group acts as an agent with their customers for these transactions. The commission income is recognized on a trade date basis as transactions occur. Financial information and advisory services The Group derives revenue from subscription fees from subscribers to their financial data, information services and investment advisory. The Group recognizes revenues when all of the following criteria are met: (1) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (2) delivery has occurred, (3) the fee is fixed or determinable and (4) collectability is probable. Upon receipt of the upfront cash payments from the subscriber, the Group will activate the subscriber's account and provide the subscriber the access code. This will commence a certain subscription period according to the customer demand and the full payment will be deferred and recognized ratably over the subscription period. The Group recognizes revenue ratably over the life of the arrangement. Estimated refund of subscription fees is recorded as deduction of revenue and deferred revenue. Advertising revenue The Group derives its advertising fees from advertising sales on their website for a fixed period of time, generally less than one year. Revenues from advertising arrangements are recognized ratably over the period the advertising is displayed. Business taxes and value added taxes Starting from January 1, 2012, the PRC Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation launched a Business Tax to value added tax ("VAT") Transformation Pilot Program(the "Pilot Program"), for certain industries in Shanghai. On September 1, 2012, the PRC Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation extended the Pilot Program to certain industries in other eight regions, including Beijing and Shenzhen. With the adoption of Pilot Program, our advertising-related revenues and certain subscription revenues were subject to VAT tax at a rate of 6%. Our advertising- related revenues, certain subscription revenues and certain commodities brokerage revenues were recognized after deducting VAT and other related surcharges. Revenue is recorded net of business taxes when incurred. The Group is subject to business taxes of 3%-5% on taxable services provided to its customers. During the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014, and 2015, business taxes and related surcharges totaled $598,044, $1,425,835 and $1,663,869, respectively. The Group's certain PRC subsidiaries, VIEs and VIEs' subsidiaries are subject to VAT at a rate of 17% on subscription-based revenue. VAT payable on subscription-based revenue is computed net of VAT paid on purchases. In respect of subscription-based revenue, however, if the net amount of VAT payable exceeds 3% of subscription-based revenue, the excess portion of value added tax can be refunded immediately. The Group therefore is subject to an effective net VAT burden of 3% from subscription-based revenue and records VAT on a net basis. Net amount of value added tax is recorded either in the line item of other current liabilities or prepaid expenses and other current assets on the face of consolidated balance sheet. Subscription-based revenue includes the benefit of the rebate of value added taxes on sale of the downloadable software received from the Chinese tax authorities as part of the PRC government policy of encouraging software development in the PRC. In 2013, 2014 and 2015, the Group recognized $639,936, $425,908 and $328,817, respectively, in VAT refunds. Government subsidies The Group records government subsidies when granted by local government authority and are not subject to future return. The government subsidies include research & development subsidy, business tax refund, innovation fund and high-tech company subsidy. Deferred revenue Payments received in advance of for our financial information and advisory service, advertising service are recorded as deferred revenue until earned and when the relevant revenue recognition requirements have been met. Cost method investment For investments in an investee over which the Group does not have significant influence, the Group carries the investment at cost and recognizes income as any dividends declared from distribution of investee's earnings. The Group reviews the cost method investments for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may no longer be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognized in earnings equal to the difference between the investment's cost and its fair value at the balance sheet date of the reporting period for which the assessment is made. The fair value of the investment would then become the new cost basis of the investment. Equity method investment Under the equity method, the Group initially records its investment at cost. The Group subsequently adjusts the carrying amount of the investment to recognize the Company's proportionate share of each equity investee's net income or loss. The Group will discontinue applying equity method if an investment (and additional financial supports to the investee, if any) has been reduced to zero. When the equity-method investment in ordinary shares is reduced to zero and further investments are made that have a higher liquidation preference than ordinary shares, the Group would recognize the loss based on its percentage of the investment with the same liquidation preference, and the loss would be applied to those investments of a lower liquidation preference first before being further applied to the investments of a higher liquidation preference. An impairment loss on the equity method investments is recognized in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income when the decline in value is determined to be other than-temporary. Foreign currency translation The functional and reporting currency of the Company is the United States dollar ("U.S. dollar"). The financial records of the Group's subsidiaries, VIEs and VIEs' subsidiaries located in the PRC, Hong Kong and British Virgin Islands are maintained in their local currencies, the Renminbi ("RMB"), Hong Kong Dollars ("HK$"), and U.S. Dollars ("US$"), respectively, which are also the functional currencies of these entities. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the functional currency are translated into the functional currency at the rates of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date. Transactions in currencies other than the functional currency during the year are converted into functional currency at the applicable rates of exchange prevailing when the transactions occurred. Transaction gains and losses are recognized in the statements of operations. The Group's entities with functional currency of RMB and HK$ translate their operating results and financial position into the US$, the Group's reporting currency. Assets and liabilities are translated using the exchange rates in effect on the balance sheet date. Revenues, expenses, gains and losses are translated using the average rate for the year. Translation adjustments are report as cumulative translation adjustments and are shown as a separate component of other comprehensive income. Foreign currency risk The RMB is not a freely convertible currency. The State Administration for Foreign Exchange, under the authority of the People's Bank of China, controls the conversion of Renminbi into foreign currencies. The value of the RMB is subject to changes in central government policies and to international economic and political developments affecting supply and demand in the China Foreign Exchange Trading System market. Cash and cash equivalents of the Group included aggregate amounts of $26,974,664, $19,726,992 and $79,461,280 at December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 which were denominated in RMB. Product development expenses Costs of product development, including investment in data capability, are expensed as incurred until technological feasibility has been established, at which time any additional costs would be capitalized. The Group essentially completed its development concurrently with the establishment of technological feasibility, and, accordingly, no costs have been capitalized. Advertising costs The Group expenses advertising costs as incurred. Total advertising expenses were $2,391,762, $7,505,506 and $4,908,593 for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively, and have been included as part of sales and marketing expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. Commissions paid Commissions paid are the commission rebates of our Hong Kong brokerage business and the commissions paid to the sales agents of our commodities brokerage business. Total commissions paid were $3,125,982, $11,546,126 and $5,049,661 for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015. Income taxes Current income taxes are provided for in accordance with the laws of the relevant tax authorities. Deferred income taxes are recognized for temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements, net operating loss carry forwards and credits by applying enacted statutory tax rates applicable to future years. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The impact of an uncertain income tax position on the income tax return is recognized at the largest amount that is more-likely-than not to be sustained upon audit by the relevant tax authority. An uncertain income tax position will not be recognized if it has less than a 50% likelihood of being sustained. Interest and penalties on income taxes will be classified as a component of the provisions for income taxes. Comprehensive income (loss) Comprehensive income (loss) includes net income (loss), unrealized gain (loss) on short-term investments and foreign currency translation adjustments. Beginning in January 1, 2012, the Group presents the components of net income, the components of other comprehensive income and total comprehensive income a single continuous consolidated statement of comprehensive income. Fair value of financial instruments Financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, cost method investment, equity method investment, loan receivable and accounts payable. The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, loan receivable and accounts payable approximate their fair value due to their short-term maturities. The carrying value of the cost method investment was $1,217,617 and $554,392 as of December 31, 2014 and 2015, which approximate the fair value of the investment based on the valuation performed by the Company. The carrying value of the equity method investment was nil and $1,228,269 as of December 31, 2014 and 2015, which approximate the fair value of the investments at the acquired date and subsequently adjusted as the net assets of the investee change through the earning of income. The Group does not use derivative instruments to manage risks. Share-based compensation Share-based compensation with employees is measured based on the grant date fair value of the equity instrument. The Group recognizes the compensation costs net of an estimated forfeiture rate using the straight-line method for performance based awards or graded vesting attribution method for service based awards, over the requisite service period of the award, which is generally the vesting period of the award. The estimate of forfeitures will be adjusted over the requisite service period to the extent that actual forfeitures differ, or are expected to differ, from such estimates. Changes in estimated forfeitures will be recognized through a cumulative catch-up adjustment in the period of change and will also impact the amount of share-based compensation expense to be recognized in future periods. Share awards issued to nonemployees are measured at fair value at the earlier of the commitment date or the date the services is completed and recognized over the period the service is provided or as goods is received. Net income (loss) per share Basic net income (loss) per share attributable to China Finance Online Co. Limited is computed by dividing net income (loss) attributable to China Finance Online Co. Limited by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per ordinary share attributable to China Finance Online Co. Limited reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue ordinary shares were exercised or converted into ordinary shares. The dilutive effect of the stock options and nonvested shares is computed using treasury stock method. Concentrations of credit risk Financial instruments that potentially expose the Group to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, short-term investments, loan receivable and accounts receivable. The Group places its cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, short-term investments in major financial institutions located in PRC and Hong Kong, which management considers to be of high credit quality. The Group conducts ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and generally does not require collateral or other security from its customers except for the accounts receivable-margin clients which represents the margin loan to customers for securities purchase. The accounts receivable-margin client was collateralized by the securities the margin client purchased. The Group manages its credit risk by collecting up-front fee from its customers and billing at regular intervals during the contract period. The Group assesses the adequacy of allowance for doubtful accounts primarily based upon the age of the receivables and factors surrounding the credit risk of specific customers. Details of clients accounting for 10% or more of accounts receivable are as follows: Year ended December 31, 2014 2015 Amount % Amount % A $ 1,963,900 13.5 $ * * B $ 5,044,178 34.6 $ * * C $ * * $ 4,245,971 25.9 * Represented less than 10% of consolidated account receivable balance. There were no customers with 10% or more of the Group's revenues during 2013, 2014, or 2015. Recently accounting pronouncements In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued ASU No. 2014-09 ("ASU 2014-09"), Revenue from Contracts with Customers. ASU 2014-09 supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in ASC 605, and requires entities to recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 is originally effective for the annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period. ASU 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, defers the effective date of ASU 2014-09 by one year. As a result, ASU 2014-09 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods therein. Early adoption is permitted to the original effective date. The Group is currently evaluating the timing of its adoption and the impact of adopting the new revenue standard on its consolidated financial statements and considering additional disclosure requirements. In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03 ("ASU 2015-03"), Interest – Imputation of Interest. ASU 2015-03 requires debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability to be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the debt liability rather than as an asset. ASU 2015-03 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015, including interim periods within that reporting period. Early adoption is permitted. The Group does not expect the adoption of ASU 2015-03 will have a significant impact on the consolidated financial statements. In September 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-16 ("ASU 2015-16"), Business Combinations (Topic 805) Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement – Period Adjustments. ASU 2015-16 requires the acquirer to recognize adjustments to provisional amounts that are identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amount is determined. The acquirer is required to also record, in the same period's financial statements, the effect on earnings of changes in depreciation, amortization, or other income effects, if a

Note 3 - Acquisitions

Note 3 - Acquisitions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Notes to Financial Statements
Business Combination Disclosure [Text Block]	3. ACQUISITIONS Acquisition of CFO Guiwo On April 1, 2015, Fortune Zhengjin Co., Ltd. ("Fortune Zhengjin", formerly known as Huifu Jinyuan , an affiliate of the Company, acquired 100% of equity interest of Shanghai Guiwo Information Technology Co., Ltd. ("CFO Guiwo"), which was not a significant acquisition. Total cash consideration was $16,278. The Company recognized $19,906 goodwill at the acquisition date. Neither the results of operations since the acquisition date nor the pro forma results of operations of CFO Guiwo were presented because of the effects of this acquisition was not significant to the Company's consolidated statement of comprehensive income. Acquisition of CFO Tahoe On September 30, 2013, Shanghai Stockstar Wealth Management Co., Ltd. ("Stockstar Wealth Management"), an affiliate of the Company, paid $6,506,181 to subscribe the newly issued shares of Shenzhen Tahoe Investment and Development Co., Ltd. ("CFO Tahoe") and acquired 60% of the equity interest. CFO Tahoe held the 55% share equity in Henghui (Tianjin) Precious Metals Investment Co., Ltd. ("CFO Henghui"), with which the Company expects to develop the commodities brokerage business in the future. With the assistance of a third party appraiser, the Company allocated the purchase price to assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the acquisition date as follows and goodwill was allocated to commodities brokerage business and other related services operating segment. The net revenue and net income of CFO Tahoe in the amount of $5,988,280 and $1,864,234, respectively, have been included in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2013. Useful life (in years) Purchase price allocation: Cash and cash equivalents $ 5,279,425 Prepaid expenses and current assets 1,135,765 Accounts receivable 2,143,957 Property and equipment, net 47,770 Rental deposit 72,431 Acquired intangible assets: Commodities trading right 699,414 Customer relationship 1,250,813 4.3 Guarantee fund deposits 1,626,545 Total assets acquired 12,256,120 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities (2,810,425 ) Deferred tax liabilities (487,557 ) Total net assets 8,958,138 Noncontrolling interest (9,508,295 ) Goodwill 7,056,338 Total purchase price $ 6,506,181 Acquisition of Champion Connection's business On July 1, 2013, Giant Bright International Holdings Limited ("CFO GB") and Mainfame Group Limited ("CFO MF"), two subsidiaries of the Company, entered into a series of contractual arrangement with Champion Connection Network H.K Limited ("Champion Connection") to acquire the packaged fixed assets, experienced personnel related to its investment advisory and institution subscription services businesses in China, respectively. For the acquisition, the purchase consideration comprised cash consideration was $4,044,980, 30% shares of CFO GB, 30% shares of CFO MF and a contingent consideration of 5% shares of CFO MF. With the assistance of a third party appraiser, the Company allocated the purchase price to assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the acquisition date as follows and goodwill was allocated to investment advisory services, institution subscription services and other related services operating unit. In addition, the fair value of the shares of CFO GB and CFO MF were determined by using the income approach. Purchase price allocation: Property and equipment, net $ 199,803 Total assets acquired 199,803 Goodwill 6,544,150 Cash consideration 4,044,980 The fair value of 30% shares of CFO GB 1,760,861 The fair value of 30% shares of CFO MF 804,142 Contingent consideration of 5% shares of CFO MF 133,970 Total purchase price $ 6,743,953 Business combination of CFO Netinfo On July 1, 2013, Zhengyong Information Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. ("CFO Zhengyong"), a subsidiary of the Company, entered into a series of contractual arrangement with Netinfo (Beijing) Technology Co., Ltd. ("CFO Netinfo") to acquire 100% of the equity interest, with which the Company expects to develop the investment advisory services in the future. For the acquisition, the total cash consideration was $808,996. With the assistance of a third party appraiser, the Company allocated the purchase price to assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the acquisition date as follows and goodwill was allocated to investment advisory services business and other related services operating segment. The net revenue and net loss of CFO Netinfo in the amount of $286,500 and $355,322, respectively, have been included in the consolidated statement of for the year ended December 31, 2013. Useful life (in years) Purchase price allocation: Cash and cash equivalents $ 121,044 Prepaid expenses and current assets 339,296 Accounts receivable 4,912 Acquired intangible assets: Security consulting license 598,657 15 Total assets acquired 1,063,909 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities (274,748 ) Deferred tax liabilities (149,664 ) Income tax payable 612 Total net assets 640,109 Goodwill 168,887 Total purchase price $ 808,996 If comparative financial statements are presented, the pro forma results as though the business combination that occurred during the current year had occurred as of the beginning of the comparable prior annual reporting period The pro forma results are prepared for comparative purposes only and do not purport to be indicative of the results of operations which actually would have resulted, nor is it indicative of future operating results. There was no significant acquisition during the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015, and then no pro forma results were presented. Fair value of acquired assets The Group measured the fair value for the assets acquired, with the assistance of an independent valuation firm, using discounted cash flow techniques, and these assets were valued using Level 3 inputs, because the Group used unobservable inputs to value them, reflecting the Group's assessment of the assumptions market participants would use in valuing these purchased intangible assets.

Note 4 - Business Restructure

Note 4 - Business Restructure	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Notes to Financial Statements
Business Restructure [Text Block]	4. BUSINESS RESTRUCTURE On June 1, 2014, the Group signed a series of contractual arrangements for the business restructure. Pursuant to the arrangements, the Group disposed (i) its entire 100% equity interest of several VIEs and subsidiaries of VIEs designated under the contract, (ii) the workforce and assets from the acquisition of Champion Connection's business related to the institutional subscription services to CFO GB and CFO MF's noncontrolling shareholders. In addition, the Group also should pay 20% net income of three subsidiaries of VIEs related to the commodities brokerage services designated under the contract, and a cash consideration of $1,620,877, to get (i) 20% equity interest of CFO Tahoe, and (ii) 40% equity interest of CFO GB and 30% CFO MF. The Group recognized a gain from the disposal with an amount of $90,666 in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2014.

Note 5 - Accounts Receivable

Note 5 - Accounts Receivable	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Notes to Financial Statements
Accounts Receivable [Text Block]	5. ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE December 31, 2014 2015 Accounts receivable-margin clients $ 1,698,861 $ 4,367,417 Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts - - Accounts receivable- margin clients, net $ 1,698,861 $ 4,367,417 Accounts receivable-others 12,928,570 12,048,306 Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts (43,077 ) (40,592 ) Accounts receivable-others, net $ 12,885,493 $ 12,007,714 Accounts receivable- margin clients represent the receivables derived in the Hong Kong brokerage service in iSTAR Securities, which is pledged by the customer's purchased securities. Accounts receivable-others represent the receivables derived in commodities brokerage business and other ordinary business without any collateral or other security from its customers.

Note 6 - Consideration Receivab

Note 6 - Consideration Receivable	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Notes to Financial Statements
Consideration Receivable [Text Block]	6. CONSIDERATION RECEIVABLE In order to enhance our return on cash during the strategic transition period, in March 2013, the Group made an equity method investment to a real estate developer in Langfang City, Hebei Province (the "Langfang Developer"). The Group invested an aggregate $22,142,400 in consideration for 49% of its equity interests. In December 2013, the Company transferred this investment to two third party companies at the consideration of $24,930,702. As of December 31, 2013, the Company has collected $11,481,244 in cash. The carrying balance of consideration receivable was $13,400,882 as of December 31, 2014. The consideration receivable was pledged by the 100% equity interests of Langfang Developer. As of December 31, 2014, based on the valuation of the 100% equity interests of Langfang Developer performed by a third party appraiser, there was no impairment loss of the consideration receivable. In December 2015, the Company fully collected the consideration receivable. The carrying balance of consideration receivable was nil as of December 31, 2015.

Note 7 - Prepaid Expenses and O

Note 7 - Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Notes to Financial Statements
Prepaid Expenses And Other Current Assets Disclosure [Text Block]	7. PREPAID EXPENSES AND OTHER CURRENT ASSETS Prepaid expenses and other current assets consist of the following: December 31, 2014 2015 Prepayment of advertising fees $ 213,837 $ 209,778 Advertising deposit 355,390 196,290 Advances to suppliers 840,308 1,272,519 VAT refund receivable 139,908 68,429 Interest receivable 1,264,075 65 Prepayment of office rental 380,325 170,536 Amount due from noncontrolling shareholders (i) 2,393,645 - Sales of cost method investment receivable (Note 11) 2,168,868 - Amounts due from equity method investee - 212,904 Other current assets 784,507 1,358,126 $ 8,540,863 $ 3,488,647 (i) The amounts due from noncontrolling shareholders represented the interest free loans to the noncontrolling shareholders. Pursuant to the agreement, all the loans were for temporary cash turnover purpose and were received in the first quarter of 2015.

Note 8 - Loan Receivable

Note 8 - Loan Receivable	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Notes to Financial Statements
Loans, Notes, Trade and Other Receivables Disclosure [Text Block]	8. LOAN RECEIVABLE The Group has loan receivable due from third parties, which consisted of the following: As of December 31, 2014 2015 Interest rate Period A(i) $ 10,295,800 $ - 1.5% per month October 9, 2013 to October 20, 2014 $ 10,295,800 $ - 19-21% per annum October 21, 2014 to December 31, 2014 (i) The loan was made to the Langfang Developer, in which the Group also made an equity method investment in 2013 (Note 6). The principal and its return are pledged by the 100% equity interests of Langfang Developer. In September 2014, the Company's board of directors approved an extension of the outstanding loan to December 31, 2014. ‎ As of December 31, 2014, based on the valuation of the 100% equity interests of Langfang Developer performed by a third party appraiser, there was no impairment loss of the loan. In March, 2015, the Group collected approximately $2.1 million (RMB13 million, equivalently) from Langfang Developer. In December 2015, the Company received the remaining outstanding loan and relative interests. The Group recorded $693,231, $3,783,929 and $2,283,875 interest income in relation to the consideration receivable and loan receivable during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively. The following table presents changes in loan receivable for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively: December 31, 2014 2015 Beginning balance $ 10,333,120 $ 10,295,800 Collection - (9,807,585 ) Exchange difference (37,320 ) (488,215 ) Ending balance $ 10,295,800 $ -

Note 9 - Short-term Investments

Note 9 - Short-term Investments	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Notes to Financial Statements
Short Term Investments [Text Block]	9. SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS The Group measured the trading securities at fair value based on quoted market prices in an active market. As a result the Group has determined the valuation of its trading securities falls within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. As of December 31, 2014 and 2015, the Group did not hold any trading securities. For the year ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015, the Group recognized a loss from the trading securities of nil, $47,941 and $18,396 in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income, respectively. The Group measured the available-for-sale securities at the fair value shown by the financial institution which the Group believes a Level 2 valuation. The following table presents changes in level 2 available-for-sale securities measured on a recurring basis for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively: December 31, 2014 2015 Beginning balance $ - $ - Purchases 90,205,903 105,334,483 Redemption (90,323,594 ) (105,560,595 ) Realized gain 106,392 234,421 Exchange difference 11,299 (8,309 ) Ending balance $ - $ - The following table provides additional information on the realized gains of the sale of available-for-sale securities as of December 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively. For purposes of determining gross realized gains, the cost of securities sold is based on specific identification. Year ended December 31, 2015 Proceeds Costs Gains Exchange Available-for-sale securities $ 105,560,595 $ 105,334,483 $ 234,421 $ (8,309 ) Total $ 105,560,595 $ 105,334,483 $ 234,421 $ (8,309 ) Year ended December 31, 2014 Proceeds Costs Gains Exchange Available-for-sale securities $ 90,323,594 $ 90,205,903 $ 106,392 $ 11,299 Total $ 90,323,594 $ 90,205,903 $ 106,392 $ 11,299 The fair values of trading securities and available-for-sale securities as measured, and held-to-maturity securities as disclosed are further discussed in Note 10.

Note 10 - Fair Value Measuremen

Note 10 - Fair Value Measurement	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Notes to Financial Statements
Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block]	10. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT Fair value disclosed or measured on a recurring basis The fair values of the Group's trading securities and available-for-sale securities as measured, held-to-maturity securities as disclosed are determined based on the discounted cash flow method. The Group measured the available-for-sale securities at the fair value shown by the financial institution which the Group believes a Level 2 valuation. The Group's financial assets measured or disclosed at fair value on a recurring basis both were nil as of December 31, 2014 and 2015. The following table presents changes in level 2 available-for-sale securities measured on a recurring basis for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively: December 31, 2014 2015 Beginning balance $ - $ - Purchases 90,205,903 105,334,483 Redemption (90,323,594 ) (105,560,595 ) Realized gain 106,392 234,421 Exchange difference 11,299 (8,309 ) Ending balance $ - $ - Fair value disclosed or measured on a non-recurring basis The Group measures certain financial assets, including equity method investments and cost method investments, at fair value on a nonrecurring basis only if an impairment charge were to be recognized. The Group's non-financial assets, such as intangible assets, goodwill and fixed assets, would be measured at fair value only if they were determined to be impaired on an other-than-temporary basis. Fair value at December 31, 2014 Total losses in the year ended December 31, 2014 Fair value at December 31, 2015 Total losses in the year ended December 31, 2015 Non- Recurring Goodwill - (8,149,525 ) - - Intangible Assets - (1,802,125 ) - (250,360 ) As of December 31, 2014 and 2015, certain goodwill (Note 16) and intangible assets (Note 15) were written off from their carrying value to fair value, which was measured using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3), with impairment loss incurred and recorded in the in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2014 and 2015.

Note 11 - Cost Method Investmen

Note 11 - Cost Method Investment	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Notes to Financial Statements
Cost and Equity Method Investments Disclosure [Text Block]	11. COST METHOD INVESTMENT In 2012, the Group made a cost method investment. The carrying amount of the cost method investments was $802,202 as of December 31, 2012. As result of an addition investment of $309,698 in 2013, the carrying balance of such investment was $1,138,899 as of December 31, 2013. In 2014, the Group made another cost method investment of $81,064. The total carrying balance of such cost method investments were $1,217,617 as of December 31, 2014. In 2014, the Group sold its equity interests in Ocean Butterflies Holdings Inc. to a third party, which was fully impaired as of December 31, 2011. Gains from the sale of cost method investment recognized in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $4,337,736, of which $2,168,868 was remained receivable as of December 31, 2014. In April, 2015, the Group collected $2,168,868, the remaining consideration related to the sale of Ocean Butterflies Holdings Inc. In May 2015, the Group sold a cost method investment to third parties, which was acquired during 2012 and 2013, and recognized a gain from the sale of cost method investment of $4,648,302 in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2015. In December 2015, the Group entered a series of arrangements to dispose its 90% equity interests in CFO Securities Consulting with third parties. With the assistance of a third party appraiser, the fair value of the 10% retained noncontrolling investment of $477,393 was recognized in the consolidated balance sheets. (Note 13) As a result, the carrying balance of cost method investment was $554,392 as of December 31, 2015. The following table presents changes in cost method investment for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively: December 31, 2014 2015 Beginning balance $ 1,138,899 $ 1,217,617 Acquisitions 81,713 - consideration of disposal (4,337,736 ) (5,790,369 ) Gain from sale of cost method investment 4,337,736 4,648,302 Fair value adjustment of retained noncontrolling investment - 477,393 Exchange difference (2,995 ) 1,449 Ending balance $ 1,217,617 $ 554,392 These investments are recorded as cost method investments, as the Group did not have a significant influence to the investee. There was no impairment of the Group's cost method investment for the year ended December 31, 2014 and 2015.

Note 12 - Equity Method Investm

Note 12 - Equity Method Investment	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Notes to Financial Statements
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures Disclosure [Text Block]	12. EQUITY METHOD INVESTMENT In June 2015, the Group paid $307,996 to acquire 20% of an investee's the equity interest. In December 2015, the Group entered a contractual arrangement with a third party to transfer its 15% equity interests in Aishang (Beijing) Fortune Technology Co., Ltd. ("CFO Aishang"), which was previously owned 55% equity interests by the Group. The remaining 40% equity interests in CFO Aishang was recorded as equity method investment at the disposal date, as the Group lost control over CFO Aishang. The fair value of the retained noncontrolling investment of $985,586 was recognized in the consolidated balance sheets, based on the valuation performed by a third party. (Note 13) The Group recognized a loss from equity method investment of $66,970 in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2015. The carrying balance of equity method investment was $1,228,269 as of December 31, 2015. The following table presents changes in equity method investment for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2015: December 31, Beginning balance $ - Acquisitions 307,996 Equity method investment losses (66,970 ) Fair value adjustment of retained noncontrolling investment 985,586 Exchange difference 1,657 Ending balance $ 1,228,269

Note 13 - Deconsolidation

Note 13 - Deconsolidation	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Notes to Financial Statements
Deconsolidation Disclosure [Text Block]	13. Deconsolidation In December, 2015, the Group entered a series of arrangements to dispose its 100% equity interests in Zhongcheng Futong Co., Ltd. ("CFO Zhongcheng") which holds 90% equity interests in CFO Securities Consulting with third parties. Pursuant to the arrangements, the cash consideration was $9,322,850. With the assistance of a third party appraiser, the fair value of the 10% retained noncontrolling investment of $477,393 was recognized as a cost method investment in the consolidated balance sheets (Note 11), as the Group did not have any significant influence over CFO Securities Consulting. The Group recorded a gain on the interest sold and the retained noncontrolling investment of $9,161,948 in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2015. In December, 2015, the Company entered a contractual arrangement with third parties to transfer its 15% equity interests in CFO Aishang, which was previously owned 55% equity interests by the Group. Pursuant to the arrangements, the cash consideration was $3,861. With the assistance of a third party appraiser, the fair value of the 40% retained noncontrolling investment of $985,586 was recognized as an equity method investment in the consolidated balance sheets (Note 12). The Group recorded a gain on the interest sold and the retained noncontrolling investment of $837,853 in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2015. The gain on the interest sold and the retained noncontrolling investment was calculated as the difference between the aggregate of (i) the fair value of the consideration transferred, (ii) the fair value of any retained noncontrolling investment in the former affiliated company on the date the affiliated company was deconsolidated, and (iii) the carrying amount of any noncontrolling interest in the former affiliated company on the date the affiliated company was deconsolidated, if applicable; and the carrying amount of the former affiliated company's net assets.

Note 14 - Property and Equipmen

Note 14 - Property and Equipment, Net	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Notes to Financial Statements
Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Text Block]	14. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET Property and equipment, net consisted of: December 31, 2014 2015 Technology infrastructure $ 9,842,789 $ 10,638,276 Computer equipment 1,995,876 2,163,506 Furniture, fixtures and equipment 4,052,425 3,800,591 Motor vehicle 929,340 875,729 Leasehold improvements 4,610,488 4,931,813 21,430,918 22,409,915 Less: accumulated depreciation (16,567,969 ) (16,620,381 ) $ 4,862,949 $ 5,789,534 Depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 were $1,732,035, $1,524,655 and $1,364,048, respectively.

Note 15 - Acquired Intangible A

Note 15 - Acquired Intangible Assets, Net	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Notes to Financial Statements
Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block]	15. ACQUIRED INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET Intangible assets as of December 31, 2014 and 2015 were as follows: December, 31 2014 2015 Gross Accumulated Impairment Disposal Net carrying Gross Accumulated Impairment Net carrying Intangible assets not subject to amortization: Commodities trading right 1,372,773 - - (81,712 ) 1,291,061 1,216,582 - (250,360 ) 966,222 Intangible assets subject to amortization: Completed technology 68,639 (27,187 ) (41,452 ) - - - - - - Customer relationship 1,256,741 (362,522 ) - - 894,219 1,184,243 (610,931 ) - 573,312 Securities consulting license and related trademarks 5,570,082 (741,279 ) (1,760,673 ) (3,068,130 ) - - - - - $ 8,268,235 $ (1,130,988 ) $ (1,802,125 ) $ (3,149,842 ) $ 2,185,280 $ 2,400,825 $ (610,931 ) $ (250,360 ) $ 1,539,534 Amortization expenses for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 were $432,957, $448,768 and $285,088, respectively. Future amortization expenses of acquired intangible assets with determinable lives are $393,460, $393,460, and $32,788 for 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively. There was no impairment on intangible assets for the year ended December 31, 2013. For the year ended December 31, 2014, the Group recorded an impairment loss on its intangible assets in the amount of $1,802,125 associated with the acquired completed technology and securities consulting license and related trademarks due to management's estimation of the expected future cash flows associated with these assets were insufficient to recover their carrying values. During 2014, the Group disposed its intangible assets in the amount of $3,149,842 associated with the acquired commodities trading right and securities consulting license and the related trademarks due to the business restructure. For the year ended December 31, 2015, the Group recorded an impairment loss of $250,360 related to commodities trading right.

Note 16 - Goodwill

Note 16 - Goodwill	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Notes to Financial Statements
Goodwill Disclosure [Text Block]	16. GOODWILL Changes in goodwill for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 were as follows: Commodities Investment services Institutional services Total Balance as of January 1, 2014 $ 7,115,479 $ 8,182,468 $ 1,676,490 $ 16,974,437 Impairment of CFO East Win - (3,112,365 ) - (3,112,365 ) Impairment of Champion Connection's business - (4,867,660 ) - (4,867,660 ) Disposal of Champion Connection's business (Note4) - - (1,676,490 ) (1,676,490 ) Impairment of CFO Netinfo - (169,500 ) - (169,500 ) Exchange difference (25,699 ) (32,943 ) - (58,642 ) Balance as of December 31, 2014 $ 7,089,780 $ - $ - $ 7,089,780 Acquisition of CFO Guiwo (Note3) 19,906 - - 19,906 Exchange difference (410,066 ) - - (410,066 ) Balance as of December 31, 2015 $ 6,699,620 $ - $ - $ 6,699,620 During the third quarter of 2013, the Group made a series of business acquisition and restructures. The Company has re-categorized its reporting units to better reflect the evolving nature of its businesses and reallocated its goodwill. The goodwill related to acquisition of CFO Tahoe was allocated to commodities brokerage reporting unit; the goodwill related to the acquisition of CFO East Win, CFO Netinfo and Champion Connection's investment advisory business were allocated to investment advisory services reporting unit and the goodwill related to the acquisition of Champion Connection's institutional subscription business were allocated to the institutional reporting unit. In the second quarter of 2014, due to the new business redirection to develop our online brokerage services "Securities Master", the Group was expected to suffer reduced cash flow in its investment advisory reporting unit. With the assistance of a third party appraiser, the Group recognized an impairment loss of $8,149,525 related to the investment advisory services reporting unit. On June 1, 2014, the Group disposed all of goodwill related to the institutional reporting unit of $1,676,490 as a result of the business restructure (Note 4). The Group also performed a goodwill impairment test related to commodities trading business as of December 31, 2014 and no impairment loss was recorded. The goodwill related to the acquisition of CFO Guiwo was allocated to commodities trading reporting unit, which was acquired in the second quarter of 2015. The Group performed a goodwill impairment test as of December 31, 2015 and no impairment loss was recorded. In the goodwill impairment test, the Group used the income approach, which it believed to be more reliable than the market approach in determining the fair value of the Group's reporting units. Accordingly, it adopted a discounted cash flow ("DCF") method under the income approach, which considers a number of factors that include expected future cash flows, growth rates, discount rates, and comparable multiples from publicly traded companies in the industry and requires the Group to make certain assumptions and estimates regarding industry economic factors and future profitability of its business unit. The assumptions are inherently uncertain and subjective. Based on the impairment tests performed, the Group recognized impairment losses of nil, $8,149,525 and nil for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively.

Note 17 - Accounts Payable

Note 17 - Accounts Payable	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Notes to Financial Statements
Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities Disclosure [Text Block]	17. Accounts payable Accounts payable consist of: December 31, 2014 2015 Amount due to customers of Hong Kong brokerage business $ 7,982,827 $ 2,388,638 Amount due to sales agents 583,367 1,722,827 Amount due to noncontrolling shareholders 876,911 910,864 Others 409,386 471,399 $ 9,852,491 $ 5,493,728

Note 18 - Accrued Expenses and

Note 18 - Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Notes to Financial Statements
Accounts Payable, Accrued Liabilities, and Other Liabilities Disclosure, Current [Text Block]	18. ACCRUED EXPENSES AND OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consist of: December 31, 2014 2015 Accrued bonus $ 3,612,689 $ 4,825,633 Accrued professional service fees 760,780 416,676 Withholding individual income tax-option exercise 61,683 61,683 Value added taxes and other taxes payable 945,471 2,219,300 Accrued raw data cost 762,492 1,285,418 Accrued bandwidth cost 127,650 38,527 Accrued welfare benefits 72,160 61,594 Amount payable related to business restructure (Note 4) 360,520 - Advances related to disposal of subsidiaries (i) - 5,081,927 Accrued sales service fees 491,981 578,910 Others 1,642,308 1,085,757 $ 8,837,734 $ 15,655,425 (i) On March 30, 2015, the Group signed a sale & purchase agreement with a third party, to transfer the 100% ordinary shares of iSTAR Futures and iSTAR Wealth Management (the Transaction ). In April 2015, the Group collected partial consideration of approximately $5.1 million. Due to the Transaction was not completed as of December 31, 2015, the agreement was expired automatically. The Group refunded the $5.1 million and entered into a new agreement in April 2016. (Note 28)

Note 19 - Stock Options and Non

Note 19 - Stock Options and Nonvested Shares	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Notes to Financial Statements
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block]	19. STOCK OPTIONS AND NONVESTED SHARES As of December 31, 2015, the Company and its subsidiaries have five share-based compensation plans, which are described below. The compensation expenses that had been charged against income for those plans were $3,035,122, $4,698,953 and $6,056,033 for 2013, 2014, and 2015, respectively. 2004 Stock incentive plan In January 2004, the Company adopted the 2004 stock incentive plan (the "2004 Plan") which allows the Company to offer a variety of incentive awards to employees, directors, officers and other eligible persons in the Group, and consultants and advisors outside the Group. We amend the 2004 Plan in September 2004, August 2006, June 2009 and June 2010. The total number of ordinary shares authorized under the 2004 Plan was 30,688,488, and all of these authorized ordinary shares were granted to directors, officers, employees and non-employees as of December 31, 2014. Options to employees During 2013, the Company granted totaling 7,740,000 stock options to directors, officers and employees at an exercise price that equaled the trading price of the stock upon the stock option grant. These options vest over 3 years except the 3,300,000 shares granted to the two officers which vest over 2 years. The fair value of employee options was estimated on the basis of the Black-Scholes Option Pricing model with the following assumptions: Years ended December 31, 2013 Weighted average risk free rate of return 1.40 % Weighted average expected option life (in years) 6.14 Expected volatility rate 76.67 % Dividend yield - (1) Expected volatility The volatility of the underlying ordinary shares during the life of the options was estimated based on the historical stock price volatility of the Company over the past years. (2) Risk-free interest rate Risk-free interest rate was estimated based on the yield to maturity of treasury bonds of the United States with a maturity period close to the expected term of the options. (3) Expected option life The expected life was estimated based on historical information. (4) Dividend yield The dividend yield was estimated by the Company based on its expected dividend policy over the expected term of the options. (5) Exercise price Options are generally granted at an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Company's shares at the date of grant. Options to non-employees During 2013, the Company granted 6,260,000 options under the 2004 Plan to consultants and strategic advisers. The fair value of non-employee options is estimated using the Black-Scholes Option Pricing model as such method provided a more accurate estimate of the fair value of services provided by the consultants and strategic advisers. The fair value of the stock options is remeasured as of the end of each reporting period until the services of these non-employees are complete under the service contracts. These options vest over two years. Summary of stock options to employees and non-employees A summary of the stock option activity is as follows: 2013 2014 2015 Number of options Weighted exercise price Number of options Weighted exercise price Number of options Weighted exercise price Outstanding at beginning of year 11,144,998 $ 0.93 24,505,348 $ 0.54 21,326,160 $ 0.57 Granted 14,000,000 0.25 - - - - Exercised (190,250 ) 0.16 (1,164,300 ) 0.54 (2,205,600 ) 0.22 Forfeited (449,400 ) 1.25 (2,014,888 ) 0.27 (1,787,800 ) 1.18 Outstanding at end of year 24,505,348 $ 0.54 21,326,160 $ 0.57 17,332,760 $ 0.55 Shares exercisable at end of year 10,500,548 $ 0.93 14,070,240 $ 0.73 14,513,528 $ 0.61 The following table summarizes information with respect to stock options outstanding at December 31, 2015: Options outstanding Option exercisable Stock option Number outstanding Weighted contractual life Weighted exercise Aggregate 31, Number exercisable Weighted exercise Aggregate 31, $1.07 700,000 700,000 $0.96 2,268,000 2,268,000 $1.318 53,600 53,600 $1.26 413,360 413,360 $1.648 10,000 10,000 $1.426 2,091,000 2,091,000 $1.43 50,000 50,000 $0.25 11,746,800 8,927,568 17,332,760 5.85 $ 0.55 $ 12,412,802 14,513,528 $ 0.61 $ 9,616,123 The weighted-average grant-date fair value of options granted during the years 2013 was $0.17. The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 was $208,895, $647,701, and $1,881,129, respectively. The total fair value of shares vested during the year ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 were $141,549, $3,080,628 and $2,067,037, respectively. The Company recognized share-based compensation expenses of $2,539,274, $2,664,317 and $546,465 for stock option in the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively. As of December 31, 2015, there were $39,183 unrecognized share-based compensation expenses relating to the stock options, which are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of one year. Restricted shares to employees On January 2, 2014, the Company granted remaining 1,100,240 ordinary shares, which were in the form of restricted shares, to employees under 2004 Plan. The vesting of the restricted shares is subject to rendering service to the Company for three years. Based on the Company's requisite service period stated in the 2004 Plan, 748,162 shares were vested as of January 2, 2016, of which 258,086 shares were issued to an employee as of December 31, 2015. The fair value of restricted shares is $1.106, which equal to the fair market value of the Company's shares at the date of grant. The Company recognized share-based compensation expenses of $762,568 and $324,496 for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015. As of December 31, 2015, there were $129,801 unrecognized share-based compensation expenses relating to the restricted shares, which are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of one year. 2007 Equity incentive plan In July 2007, the Company adopted the 2007 Equity incentive plan (the "2007 Plan") and granted nonvested shares covering 10,558,493 ordinary shares of the Company to the employees who were eligible for the 2007 Plan. The vesting of the nonvested shares are subject to achieving certain operating performance targets and rendering service to the Company for the requisite service period stated in the 2007 Plan. Based on the Company's operating performance, 8,658,048 shares were vested as of December 31, 2010. In June 2014, the Annual General Meeting approved the amendment to the 2007 Plan and the Restricted Stock Issuance and Allocation Agreement of 2007 Plan. Pursuant to such agreement, together with the remaining 1,900,445 ordinary shares which were not vested due to the operating performance targets under 2007 Plan not being achieved, 3,000,000 ordinary shares were collectively granted to the employees who were eligible. The fair value of a nonvested share on the grant date was measured at the quoted market price of the Company's equity shares. The nonvested shares shall become activated and vest during the period commencing from the grant date and ending on December 31, 2016 based on the Company's achievement of the performance targets. As of December 31, 2014, there was no nonvested shares become activated and vested due to the performance targets were not achieved, and nil share-based compensation expenses relating to the nonvested shares was recognized. As of December 31, 2015, the granted shares were activated and vested based on the Group's achievement of performance target. The fair value of granted share is $0.82, which equal to the fair market value of the Company's shares at the date of grant. The Company recognized share-based compensation expenses of $1,476,000 for the years ended December 31, 2015. As of December 31, 2015, there were $984,000 unrecognized share-based compensation expenses relating to the restricted shares, which are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of one year. A summary of the status of the nonvested shares as of December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015, and changes during the year ended December 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively is presented below. Nonvested shares Shares Weighted- date fair value Aggregate intrinsic value At the beginning of year 2014 1,900,445 $ 0.252 $ 2,390,760 Granted 1,099,555 $ 0.82 $ 901,635 Vested - - - Forfeited - - - At the end of year 2014 3,000,000 $ 1.064 $ 3,192,000 Granted - Vested 3,000,000 $ 0.82 2,460,000 Forfeited - - - At the end of year 2015 3,000,000 $ 1.082 $ 3,246,000 2010 Equity incentive plan of iSTAR Financial Holdings In November 2010, iSTAR Financial Holdings, a subsidiary of the Company, implemented the "2010 equity incentive plan" (the "2010 Plan") under which the Company transferred 1,500 nonvested shares which representing 15% of total iSTAR Financial Holdings' equity interest to its management group as a share incentive. If the grantees left the Company before the third anniversary of the grant date when the nonvested shares become vested, they should transfer the shares to the Company at no consideration. Therefore, the total share based compensation expenses are recognized ratably over the three years of vesting period. In addition, as the grantees are entitled to all the shareholder's rights, including the dividend rights since the date of grant, the 15% share of the earnings of iSTAR Financial Holdings is recognized as noncontrolling interest on the Company's consolidated financial statements since November 1, 2010, the date of grant. The fair value of the share incentive was determined to be $1,188 per share. The Group recognized $495,848 share based compensation cost in 2013. As of December 31, 2013, all compensation cost relating to nonvested shares was recognized. 2014 Stock incentive plan In July 2014, the Company adopted the 2014 stock incentive plan (the "2014 Plan") which allows the Company to offer a variety of incentive awards to employees, directors, officers and other eligible persons in the Group, and consultants and advisors outside the Group. The maximum number of ordinary Shares that may be delivered pursuant to awards granted to eligible persons under 2014 Plan during calendar year 2014 is equal to 5,000,000 ordinary shares; provided, that, as of January 1 of each calendar year thereafter during the term of 2014 plan, the maximum number of ordinary shares that may be delivered pursuant to awards granted to eligible persons under 2014 Plan shall be increased by 3,000,000 Ordinary Shares. As of result, the total number of ordinary shares authorized under the 2014 Plan was 8,000,000 as of December 31, 2015. As of December 31, 2015, 31,400 shares were available for future grant of awards. Options to employees During 2014 and 2015, the Company granted totaling 1,930,000 and 120,000 stock options to employees at an exercise price that equaled the trading price of the stock upon the stock option grant, respectively. These options vest over 3 years. The fair value of employee options was estimated on the basis of the Black-Scholes Option Price model with the following assumptions: Years ended December 31, 2014 2015 Weighted average risk free rate of return 1.39% - 1.62% 1.32% Weighted average expected option life (in years) 6.82 - 6.87 6.86 Expected volatility rate 77.74% - 79.37% 77.81% Dividend yield - - (1) Expected volatility The volatility of the underlying ordinary shares during the life of the options was estimated based on the historical stock price volatility of the Company over the past years. (2) Risk-free interest rate Risk-free interest rate was estimated based on the yield to maturity of treasury bonds of the United States with a maturity period close to the expected term of the options. (3) Expected option life The expected life was estimated based on historical information. (4) Dividend yield The dividend yield was estimated by the Company based on its expected dividend policy over the expected term of the options. (5) Exercise price Options are generally granted at an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Company's shares at the date of grant. Options to non-employees During 2014, the Company granted 30,000 options under the 2014 Plan to a consultant. The fair value of non-employee options is estimated using the Black-Scholes Option Pricing model as such method provided a more accurate estimate of the fair value of services provided by the consultants and strategic advisers. The fair value of the stock options is remeasured as of the end of each reporting period until the services of these non-employees are complete under the service contracts. These options vest over 3 years. Summary of stock options to employees and non-employees A summary of the stock option activity is as follows: 2014 2015 Number Weighted Number Weighted Outstanding at beginning of year - $ - 1,860,000 $ 0.89 Granted 1,960,000 0.90 120,000 0.87 Exercised - - (3,600 ) 0.92 Forfeited (100,000 ) 0.88 (741,400 ) 0.89 Outstanding at end of year 1,860,000 $ 0.89 1,235,000 $ 0.88 Shares exercisable at end of year - - 480,200 $ 0.89 The following table summarizes information with respect to stock options outstanding at December 31, 2015: Options outstanding Option exercisable Stock option with exercise price of: Number Weighted Weighted Aggregate Number Weighted Aggregate $0.878 985,000 433,400 $0.92 30,000 10,800 $1.03 50,000 18,000 $1.04 50,000 18,000 $0.87 120,000 - 1,235,000 8.70 $ 0.88 $ 433,540 480,200 $ 0.89 $ 168,688 The weighted-average grant-date fair value of options granted during the years 2014 and 2015 was $0.63 and $0.61, respectively. The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015 was nil and $1,159, respectively. The total fair value of shares vested during the year ended December 31, 2014 and 2015 was nil and $496,560, respectively. The Company recognized share-based compensation expenses of $148,451 and $(187,485) for stock option in the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively. As of December 31, 2015, there were $345,961 unrecognized share-based compensation expenses relating to the stock options, which are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of two year. Restricted shares to employees During 2014, the Company granted 1,780,000 restricted shares under the 2014 Plan to directors and employees. The vesting of the restricted shares is subject to rendering service to the Company for two years. Based on the Company's requisite service period stated in the 2014 Plan, there were 890,000 shares vested, of which 15,000 shares were issued as of December 31, 2015. The fair value of restricted shares was $0.878, which was the fair market value of the Company's shares at the date of grant. On November 16, 2015, the Company granted 3,800,000 restricted shares under the 2014 Plan to selected directors and employees. Subject to the agreement, the awards shall become activated and vest during the period commencing on the grant date and ending on November 16, 2018 (the "Vesting Term"), provided that the participant has achieved all the performance targets. The fair value of restricted shares was $0.742, which was the fair market value of the Company's shares at the date of grant. The Company recognized share-based compensation expenses of $310,888 and $898,903 relating to the restricted shares granted to employees in 2014 and 2015, respectively. As of December 31, 2015, there were $3,172,649 unrecognized share-based compensation expenses relating to the restricted shares granted to employees, which are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.6 year. Restricted shares to non-employees During 2014, the Company granted 1,150,000 restricted shares under the 2014 Plan to consultants. The fair value of the stock options is remeasured as of the end of each reporting period until the services of these non-employees are completed under the service contracts. These options vest over two years except 50,000 restricted shares granted to one consultant which vest over three years. The Company recognized share-based compensation expenses of $245,958 and $754,354 relating to the restricted shares granted to non-employees in 2014 and 2015, respectively. As of December 31, 2015, there were $427,988 unrecognized share-based compensation expenses relating to the restricted shares granted to non-employees, which are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of half year. Restricted shares of Shanghai Shangtong Co., Ltd. ("CFO Shangtong"), Fortune Zhengjin and CFO Tahoe On July 1, 2014, CFO Shangtong and Fortune Zhengjin, two affiliates of the Company, entered into a series of contractual arrangement with selected employees of the Group. Pursuant to the agreement, these employees were granted 10% restricted shares of CFO Shangtong and Fortune Zhengjin. The vesting of the restricted shares is subject to rendering service to the Company for five years. The fair value of restricted shares is $28,965 and $2,464,455, which equal to the fair value of the CFO Shangtong and Fortune Zhengjin's 10% net assets at the effective date of the agreement, respectively. On July 1, 2015, Fortune Zhengjin entered into an additional arrangement with selected employees of the Group. Pursuant to the agreement, these employees were granted 8% restricted shares of Fortune Zhengjin. The vesting of the restricted shares is subject to rendering service to the Company for five years. The fair value of restricted shares is $4,681,533, which equal to the fair value of Fortune Zhengjin's 8% net assets at the effective date of the agreement. CFO Tahoe also entered an arrangement with selected employees of the Group. Pursuant to the agreement, these employees were granted 1.95% restricted shares of CFO Tahoe. The fair value of restricted shares is subject to rendering service to the Company for five years. The fair value of restricted shares is $1,141,124, which equal to the fair value of CFO Tahoe's 1.95% net assets at the effective date of the agreement. The Company recognized share-based compensation expenses of $6,584 and $560,187 in 2014 relating to CFO Shangtong, Fortune Zhengjin, respectively. There were $10,200, $1,965,535 and $267,565 share-based compensation expenses recorded in 2015 relating to CFO Shangtong, Fortune Zhengjin and CFO Tahoe, respectively. As of December 31, 2015, there were $10,510 and $4,478,097 and $873,559 unrecognized share-based compensation expenses relating to CFO Shangtong, Fortune Zhengjin and CFO Tahoe, respectively, which are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 3.5 years.

Note 20 - Income Taxes

Note 20 - Income Taxes	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Notes to Financial Statements
Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block]	20. INCOME TAXES Hong Kong China Finance Online, iSTAR Securities, iSTAR Futures, iSTAR Wealth Management, iSTAR Credit and other eight subsidiaries were established in Hong Kong. These companies were subject to Hong Kong profit tax at 16.5%. In addition, companies who incorporated outside of Hong Kong and carried on a trade, profession or business in Hong Kong were also subject to Hong Kong profit tax in respect of their profits arising in or derived from Hong Kong. British Virgin Islands Companies that were incorporated in the BVI are not subject to taxation in their country of incorporation. Subsidiaries incorporated in the BVI include iSTAR Financial Holdings and other eleven subsidiaries. PRC The Group's PRC entities are subject to 25% PRC Enterprise Income Tax ("EIT") on the taxable income in accordance with the relevant PRC income tax laws, except for certain entities that enjoy preferential tax rates, which are lower than the statutory rates, as described below. Under the EIT Law and its implementing rules, an enterprise which qualifies as a "high and new technology enterprise" ("the HNTE") is entitled to a tax rate of 15%. Under the EIT law and its implementing rules, enterprises that obtain status of "Software Enterprises" are entitled to be exempted from EIT tax for the first two profit-making years and enjoy a preferential 12.5% tax rate, which is half of the standard EIT rate of 25% for the three years thereafter. A summary of the main PRC entities that subject to tax preferential policies for the year ended December 31, 2015 is as follows: PRC entities Chinese EIT rate Qualification for preferential tax rate CFO Qicheng Preferential tax rate of 12.5% in 2013 and 2014. Software Enterprises CFO Shenzhen Shangtong Preferential tax rate of 12.5% in 2013 and 2014. Software Enterprises CFO Software Preferential tax rate of 15% in 2013. HNTE CFO Meining Preferential tax rate of 15% from 2013 to 2015. HNTE CFO Genius Preferential tax rate of 15% from 2013 to 2015. HNTE CFO Tibet Preferential tax rate of 9% from 2015 to 2017 and 15% thereafter Preferential tax rate for enterprises in Tibet, China Under the EIT Law, the HNTE status is valid for three years and qualifying entities can then apply to renew for an additional three years provided their business operations continue to qualify for the HNTE status. CFO Software obtained its HNTE status in 2008 and its renewal in 2011. CFO Meining obtained its HNTE status in 2008 and obtained the renewal successfully in 2011 and 2014. In 2012, CFO Genius also obtained the HNTE status and successfully renewed it in 2015. In 2013 and 2014, CFO Chongzhi and CFO Shangtong filed their EIT by adopting the "deemed-profit method". In 2014, Shanghai Yongfu Enterprises Management Consulting Co., Ltd. adopted this method. In 2015, Zhengjin (Jiangsu) Precious Metals Co., Ltd. also adopted this method .Under this method, the qualifying entities filed their income tax by calculating as 2.5% of the gross revenues. This method is subject to be reevaluated by the local tax authority in the future. The EIT Law includes a provision specifying that legal entities organized outside of the PRC will be considered residents for PRC Income tax purposes if the place of effective management or control is within the PRC. The implementation rules to the EIT Law provide that non-resident legal entities will be considered PRC residents if substantial and overall management and control over the manufacturing and business operations, personnel, accounting, properties, etc., occurs within the PRC. Despite the present uncertainties resulting from the limited PRC tax guidance on the issue, the Group does not believe that currently the legal entities organized outside of the PRC within the Group should be treated as residents for EIT law purposes. If the PRC tax authorities subsequently determine that the Company and its subsidiaries registered outside the PRC should be deemed a resident enterprise, the Company and its subsidiaries registered outside the PRC will be subject to the PRC income tax at a rate of 25%. If the Company were to be non-resident for PRC tax purpose, dividends paid to it out of profits earned after January 1, 2008 would be subject to a withholding tax. In the case of dividends paid by PRC subsidiaries the withholding tax would be 10% not considering the arrangements for the Avoidance of Double Taxation on income and Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income between mainland and Hong Kong. Aggregate deficits of the Company's subsidiaries located in the PRC were approximately $20.3 million at December 31, 2015. And accordingly, no provision has been made for the Chinese dividend withholding taxes. Aggregate undistributed earnings of the Company's VIEs and its VIEs' subsidiaries located in the PRC that is available for distribution to the Company of approximately $30.0 million at December 31, 2015. A deferred tax liability should be recorded for taxable temporary differences attributable to the excess of financial reporting amounts over tax basis amounts, including those differences attributable to a more than 50% interest in a domestic subsidiary. However, recognition is not required in situations where the tax law provides a means by which the reported amount of that investment can be recovered tax-free and the enterprise expects that it will ultimately use that means. The Company has not recorded any such deferred tax liability attributable to the undistributed earnings of its financial interest in VIEs because it believes such excess earnings can be distributed in a manner that would not be subject to income tax. Income tax (provision) benefit was as follows: December 31, 2013 2014 2015 Current $ (478,966 ) $ (558,696 ) $ (2,071,154 ) Deferred 378,908 44,782 686,892 Total $ (100,058 ) $ (513,914 ) $ (1,384,262 ) The principal components of deferred income taxes were as follows: December 31, 2014 2015 Current deferred tax assets: Deferred revenue - current $ 594,196 $ 445,314 Accrued expenses and other liabilities 467,758 612,161 Net operating loss carrying forwards 4,233,246 4,718,396 Gross current deferred tax assets 5,295,200 5,775,871 Less: valuation allowance (4,369,119 ) (4,806,407 ) Total current deferred tax assets 926,081 969,464 Non-current deferred tax assets Deferred revenue- non-current $ 268,393 $ 121,133 Net operating loss carrying forwards 10,556,749 10,984,475 Gross non-current deferred tax assets 10,825,142 11,105,608 Less: valuation allowance (10,753,602 ) (11,085,358 ) Total non-current deferred tax assets $ 71,540 $ 20,250 Current deferred tax liabilities: Account receivable and other assets (580,197 ) (15,132 ) Total current deferred tax liabilities $ (580,197 ) $ (15,132 ) Non-current deferred tax liabilities: Intangible assets (546,320 ) (384,883 ) Total non-current deferred tax liabilities $ (546,320 ) $ (384,883 ) A valuation allowance of $15,122,721 and $15,891,765 was established as of December 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively, for the entities that have incurred losses because the Group believes that it is more likely than not that the related deferred tax assets will not be realized in the future. At December 31, 2015, operating loss carry forwards includes approximately $52.3 million which will expire by 2020, and $18.7 million which will carry forward indefinitely. Reconciliation between total income tax expense (benefit) and the amount computed by applying the PRC EIT statutory rate to income before income taxes is as follows: Years ended December 31, 2013 2014 2015 Income (loss) before tax $ (8,073,832 ) $ (10,116,814 ) $ 28,201,950 Income tax (benefits) expenses calculated at 25% (2,018,458 ) (2,529,204 ) 7,050,488 Effect of tax holiday (266,396 ) (4,125,912 ) (8,139,429 ) Effect of income tax rate difference in other jurisdictions 305,505 1,789,762 645,873 Non-deductible expenses. 267,748 1,425,655 2,559,649 Non-taxable income (439,861 ) (549,315 ) (893,950 ) Change in valuation allowance 2,251,520 4,502,928 161,631 Income tax expense $ 100,058 $ 513,914 $ 1,384,262 During the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015, if the Company's subsidiaries, VIEs and VIEs' subsidiaries in the PRC were neither in the tax holiday period nor had they been specifically allowed special tax concessions, they would have recorded additional income tax expense of $31,910, $20,851 and $1,102,399, respectively. The impact of the tax holidays on basic net income per ordinary share was an increase of $0.00, $0.00 and $0.01, for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively. The Group did not identify significant unrecognized tax benefits for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015. The Group did not incur any interest and penalties related to potential underpaid income tax expenses and also believed that the adoption of pronouncement issued by FASB regarding accounting for uncertainty in income taxes did not have a significant impact on the unrecognized tax benefits within 12 months from December 31, 2015. In accordance with relevant PRC tax administration laws, tax years from 2010 to 2015 of the Group's PRC subsidiaries and VIEs remain subject to tax audits as of December 31, 2015, at the tax authority's discretion.

Note 21 - American Depositary S

Note 21 - American Depositary Shares ("ADS") Plan	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Notes to Financial Statements
American Depositary Shares Plan [Text Block]	21. AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES ("ADS") PLAN In September 2015, the Group issued 4,000,000 ordinary shares to its American Depositary Receipt bank and in exchange received 800,000 ADSs under the 2004 Plan and 2014 Plan. As of December 31, 2015, 3,305,800 shares were available for future exercise of options and vesting of granted shares.

Note 22 - Net Income (Loss) Per

Note 22 - Net Income (Loss) Per Share	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Notes to Financial Statements
Earnings Per Share [Text Block]	22. NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted income (loss) per share for the years indicated: Years ended December 31, 2013 2014 2015 Net income (loss) attributable to China Finance Online Co. Limited $ (8,573,128 ) $ (7,167,849 ) $ 22,482,416 Weighted average ordinary shares outstanding used in computing basic net income (loss) per share 109,019,513 109,385,712 110,997,871 Plus: Incremental shares from assumed conversions of stock options and nonvested shares - - 14,131,892 Weighted average ordinary shares outstanding used in computing diluted net income (loss) per share 109,019,513 109,385,712 125,129,763 Net income (loss) per share attributable to China Finance Online Co. Limited - basic $ (0.08 ) $ (0.07 ) $ 0.20 - diluted $ (0.08 ) $ (0.07 ) $ 0.18 For the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2014, 24,505,348 options and 1,900,445 nonvested shares, 23,186,160 options, 4,030,240 restricted shares and 3,000,000 nonvested shares, were anti-dilutive, respectively, because the Group was in the loss position.

Note 23 - Mainland China Contri

Note 23 - Mainland China Contribution Plan and Profit Appropriation	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Notes to Financial Statements
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block]	23. MAINLAND CHINA CONTRIBUTION PLAN AND PROFIT APPROPRIATION Full time employees of the Group in the PRC participate in a government-mandated defined contribution plan pursuant to which certain pension benefits, medical care, unemployment insurance, employee housing fund and other welfare benefits are provided to employees. Chinese labor regulations require the Group to accrue for these benefits based on certain percentages of the employees' salaries. The total provisions for such employee benefits were $2,710,481, $3,685,654 and $4,353,944 for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively.

Note 24 - Noncontrolling Intere

Note 24 - Noncontrolling Interests	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Notes to Financial Statements
Noncontrolling Interest Disclosure [Text Block]	2 4. NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS Commodities Investment Institutional iSTAR Financial Other Total Balance as of January 1, 2013 $ - $ 688,062 $ - $ 63,306 $ - $ 751,368 Acquisition of CFO Tahoe (Note 3) 9,508,295 - - - - 9,508,295 Acquisition of Champion Connection (Note 3) - 1,760,861 938,112 - - 2,698,973 Acquisition of Nontrolling interests of CFO East Win - 586,954 - - - 586,954 Changes in ownership of subsidiaries - 289,656 (1,068,471 ) - - (778,815 ) Paid-in capital from noncontrolling shareholders 1,405,963 - - - - 1,405,963 Share-based compensation (Note 19) - - - 74,376 - 74,376 Net income (loss) 1,056,322 (419,202 ) (64,585 ) (173,297 ) - 399,238 Balance as of December 31, 2013 $ 11,970,580 $ 2,906,331 $ (194,944 ) $ (35,615 ) $ - $ 14,646,352 Business restructure (2,569,160 ) 2,384,519 786,355 - 12,201 613,915 Dividends paid to noncontrolling shareholders (1,030,012 ) - - - - (1,030,012 ) Share-based compensation (Note 19) 158,696 - - - - 158,696 Net income (loss) 2,463,956 (5,290,850 ) (591,411 ) 3,936 (48,510 ) (3,462,879 ) Balance as of December 31, 2014 $ 10,994,060 $ - $ - $ (31,679 ) $ (36,309 ) $ 10,926,072 Dividends paid to noncontrolling shareholders (6,509,680 ) - - - - (6,509,680 ) Changes in controlling ownership interest 1,393,508 - - - 320,956 1,714,464 Paid-in capital from noncontrolling shareholders 641 - - - - 641 Share-based compensation (Note 19) 724,285 - - - - 724,285 Net income (loss) 4,815,506 - - (195,587 ) (284,647 ) 4,335,272 Balance as of December 31, 2015 $ 11,418,320 $ - $ - $ (227,266 ) $ - $ 11,191,054

Note 25 - Commitments and Conti

Note 25 - Commitments and Contingencies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Notes to Financial Statements
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]	25. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Commitments The Group leases certain office premises and purchases data under non-cancelable leases. Rent expenses under operating leases for 2013, 2014 and 2015 were $4,808,894, $7,013,985 and $6,044,119, respectively. Future minimum payments under non-cancelable operating leases and data purchase agreements were as follows: Year ending 2016 $ 5,437,871 2017 3,359,212 2018 1,632,872 Total $ 10,429,955 Securities Litigation The Company and certain of its officers and directors were named as defendants in a putative securities class actions filed in Central District of California which was then transferred to Southern District of New York. The complaints allege that the Company violated Exchange Act Section 10(b) and Rule 10b-5 by failing to disclose certain its transactions as related party transaction. As the actions remain in their preliminary stages, the Company's management is unable to express any opinion on the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome or any estimate of the amount or range of any potential loss. Litigation The Group was involved in certain cases pending in some PRC courts as of December 31, 2015. These cases include a copyright infringement case, among others. Adverse results in these lawsuits may include awards of damages and may also result in a loss of revenue or otherwise harm the business of the Group. For many proceedings, the Company is currently unable to estimate the reasonably possible loss or a range of reasonably possible losses as the proceedings are in the early stages, and/or there is a lack of clear or consistent interpretation of laws specific to the industry-specific complaints among different jurisdictions. As a result, there is considerable uncertainty regarding the timing or ultimate resolution of such matters, which includes eventual loss, fine, penalty or business impact, if any, and therefore, an estimate for the reasonably possible loss or a range of reasonably possible losses cannot be made. However, the Company believes that such matters, individually and in the aggregate, when finally resolved, are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial position and cash flows.

Note 26 - Segment and Geographi

Note 26 - Segment and Geographic Information	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Notes to Financial Statements
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block]	26. SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION The Group has three operating segments (1) commodities brokerage services, (2) online financial information and advisory service, and other related services in PRC, (3) Hong Kong brokerage services. Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision-makers in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The Group's chief executive officer has been identified as the chief operating decision makers. The Group's chief operating decision maker directs the allocation of resources to operating segments based on the profitability and cash flows of each respective segment. The Group evaluates performance based on several factors, including net revenue, cost of revenue, operating expenses, income from operation. The following tables show the operations of the Group's operating segments: For the year ended December 31, 2015 Commodities Subscription Hong Kong Consolidated Net revenues $ 113,720,922 $ 27,236,753 $ 3,149,063 $ 144,106,738 Less: intersegment sales (34,018,268 ) (2,683,704 ) - (36,701,972 ) Net revenues from external customer 79,702,654 24,553,049 3,149,063 107,404,766 Cost of revenues 4,975,361 14,321,339 1,181,538 20,478,238 Less: intersegment cost of revenues - (739,501 ) - (739,501 ) Cost of revenues after elimination 4,975,361 13,581,838 1,181,538 19,738,737 Operating expenses: General and administrative 4,026,984 11,148,924 2,978,161 18,154,069 Product development 2,549,731 8,188,718 - 10,738,449 Sales and marketing 69,674,657 12,139,100 566,396 82,380,153 Loss from impairment of intangible assets 250,360 - - 250,360 Total segments operating expenses 76,501,732 31,476,742 3,544,557 111,523,031 Less: intersegment operating expenses (35,907,706 ) (47,620 ) (110,721 ) (36,066,047 ) Total operating expenses. 40,594,026 31,429,122 3,433,836 75,456,984 Government subsidies 251,828 - - 251,828 Income (loss) from operations $ 34,385,095 $ (20,457,911 ) $ (1,466,311 ) $ 12,460,873 Total segments assets. $ 109,286,634 $ 179,706,230 $ 47,011,111 $ 336,003,975 Less: intersegment assets (51,101,320 ) (122,077,495 ) (18,760,003 ) (191,938,818 ) Total assets. $ 58,185,314 $ 57,628,735 $ 28,251,108 $ 144,065,157 For the year ended December 31, 2014 Commodities Subscription Hong Kong Consolidated Net revenues $ 80,943,201 $ 25,250,486 $ 4,610,516 $ 110,804,203 Less: intersegment sales (20,852,084 ) (6,256,234 ) - (27,108,318 ) Net revenues from external customer 60,091,117 18,994,252 4,610,516 83,695,885 Cost of revenues 10,526,980 8,091,595 1,731,651 20,350,226 Less: intersegment cost of revenues - 2,503 - 2,503 Cost of revenues after elimination 10,526,980 8,094,098 1,731,651 20,352,729 Operating expenses: General and administrative 8,320,540 19,544,999 2,655,925 30,521,464 Product development 2,460,048 13,567,759 - 16,027,807 Sales and marketing 52,371,135 12,845,724 586,015 65,802,874 Loss from impairment of intangible assets - 1,802,125 - 1,802,125 Loss from impairment of goodwill - 8,149,525 - 8,149,525 Total segments operating expenses 63,151,723 55,910,132 3,241,940 122,303,795 Less: intersegment operating expenses (24,533,694 ) (15,199,246 ) (117,740 ) (39,850,680 ) Total operating expenses. 38,618,029 40,710,886 3,124,200 82,453,115 Government subsidies 655,437 3,980 - 659,417 Income (loss) from operations $ 11,601,545 $ (29,806,752 ) $ (245,335 ) $ (18,450,542 ) Total segments assets. $ 62,272,231 $ 171,870,606 $ 52,776,273 $ 286,919,110 Less: intersegment assets (26,824,659 ) (127,444,636 ) (18,746,458 ) (173,015,752 ) Total assets. $ 35,447,572 $ 44,425,970 $ 34,029,815 $ 113,903,358 For the year ended December 31, 2013 Commodities Subscription Hong Kong Consolidated Net revenues $ 30,124,245 $ 21,656,482 $ 3,404,767 $ 55,185,494 Less: intersegment sales (2,447,417 ) (2,447,417 ) Net revenues from external customer 30,124,245 19,209,065 3,404,767 52,738,077 Cost of revenues 2,613,287 7,018,379 938,404 10,570,070 Operating expenses: General and administrative 1,087,048 10,831,336 3,291,718 15,210,102 Product development 784,083 8,248,244 - 9,032,327 Sales and marketing 22,015,190 10,429,389 591,074 33,035,653 Total segments operating expenses 23,886,321 29,508,969 3,882,792 57,278,082 Less: intersegment operating expenses (2,447,417 ) (2,447,417 ) Total operating expenses 21,438,904 29,508,969 3,882,792 54,830,665 Government subsidies - 11,187 - 11,187 Income (loss) from operations $ 6,072,054 $ (17,307,096 ) $ (1,416,429 ) $ (12,651,471 ) Total segments assets 27,791,654 80,844,211 31,893,233 140,529,098 Less: intersegment balances - (7,036,363 ) - (7,036,363 ) Total assets $ 27,791,654 $ 73,807,848 $ 31,893,233 $ 133,492,735 Enterprise wide disclose The Group derives revenue from external customers for each of the following services during the years presented: Years ended December 31, 2013 2014 2015 Commodities brokerage services revenues $ 30,124,245 $ 60,091,117 $ 79,702,654 Financial information and advisory services revenues 11,122,400 10,355,732 17,205,459 Advertising revenue 6,799,109 8,160,310 7,023,399 Hong Kong brokerage services revenues 3,404,767 4,610,516 3,149,063 Others 1,287,556 478,210 324,191 Total revenue from external customers.. $ 52,738,077 $ 83,695,885 $ 107,404,766 Substantially all of the Company's revenues for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 were generated from the PRC and Hong Kong. As of December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively, substantially all of long-lived assets of the Group are located in the PRC and Hong Kong.

Note 27 - Statutory Reserves an

Note 27 - Statutory Reserves and Restricted Net Assets	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Notes to Financial Statements
Statutory Reserves And Restricted Net Assets Disclosure [Text Block]	27. STATUTORY RESERVES AND RESTRICTED NET ASSETS PRC legal restrictions permit payments of dividends by the Group's PRC entities only out of their retained earnings, if any, determined in accordance with PRC regulations. Prior to payment of dividends, pursuant to the laws applicable to the PRC Domestic Enterprises and PRC Foreign Investment Enterprises, the PRC entities must make appropriations from after-tax profit to non-distributable statutory reserve funds as determined by the Board of Directors of the Group. These reserve funds include the (1) general reserve, (2) enterprise expansion fund and (3) staff bonus and welfare fund. Subject to certain cumulative limits, the general reserve fund requires annual appropriations of not less than 10% of after-tax profit (as determined under accounting principles and financial regulations applicable to PRC enterprises at each year-end); the other two funds are to be made at the discretion of the board of directors of each of the Group's subsidiaries. These reserve funds can only be used for specific purposes and are not distributable as cash dividends. The appropriation to these reserves by the Group's PRC subsidiaries was $284,114, $679,927 and $1,820,080 in 2013, 2014 and 2015. The balance of the statutory reserves was $6,820,441 and $8,640,521 as of December 31 2014 and 2015. Such reserves have been included in the retained earnings of the Company's consolidated balance sheet. As a result of these PRC laws and regulations and the requirement that distributions by PRC entities can only be paid out of distributable profits computed in accordance with PRC GAAP, the PRC entities are restricted from transferring a portion of their net assets to the Group. Amounts restricted include paid-in capital and the statutory reserves of the Company's PRC subsidiaries and VIEs. As of December 31, 2015, the aggregate amounts restricted which represented the amount of net assets of the relevant subsidiaries and VIEs in the Group not available for distribution was $71,700,541. As a result of the above restrictions, parent-only financials are presented on financial statement Schedule I.

Note 28 - Subsequent Event

Note 28 - Subsequent Event	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Notes to Financial Statements
Subsequent Events [Text Block]	28. SUBSEQUENT EVENT In April, 2016, the Group signed a sale & purchase agreement with a third party, to transfer the 100% ordinary shares of iSTAR Wealth Management. The completion of this transaction was still subject to conditions, including but not limited to obtaining the approvals and consents of CSRC and Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong. The consideration of this transaction is approximately $2.9 million (HK$22.5 million, equivalently).

Schedule I - Financial Informat

Schedule I - Financial Information of Parent Company	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Notes to Financial Statements
Condensed Financial Information of Parent Company Only Disclosure [Text Block]	CHINA FINANCE ONLINE CO. LIMITED Financial information of Parent Company Balance sheets (In U.S. dollars, except share-related data) December 31, 2014 2015 Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,383,205 $ 971,500 Amounts due from subsidiaries, VIEs and VIE’s subsidiaries 7,492,739 7,350,974 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 2,479,810 290,603 Dividends receivable 17,541,570 16,529,639 Total current assets 28,897,324 25,142,716 Investments in subsidiaries, VIEs and VIE’s subsidiaries 48,389,562 76,682,094 Rental deposits 66,893 - Total assets $ 77,353,779 $ 101,824,810 Liabilities and shareholders' equity Current liabilities: Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 296,866 279,801 Amounts due to subsidiaries, VIEs and VIE's subsidiaries 12,441,549 13,506,638 Total current liabilities $ 12,738,415 $ 13,786,439 Shareholders' equity Ordinary shares (112,417,933 and 118,098,018 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively) 56,386,606 56,856,000 Additional paid-in capital 24,207,606 28,145,846 Accumulated other comprehensive income 12,064,338 8,597,295 Retained deficits (28,043,186 ) (5,560,770 ) Total shareholders' equity 64,615,364 88,038,371 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 77,353,779 $ 101,824,810 Financial information of Parent Company Statements of Comprehensive Income (In U.S. dollars) December 31, 2013 2013 2015 Cost of revenues $ 2,584 $ - $ - Gross loss (2,584 ) - - Operating expenses: General and administrative 1,417,843 1,418,198 1,226,800 Product development 62,914 50,859 - Sales and marketing 160,112 108,384 - Share-based compensation 2,539,274 4,132,182 3,812,733 Total operating expenses 4,180,143 5,709,623 5,039,533 Interest income 605 30 47 Equity in earnings (deficits) of subsidiaries, VIEs and VIE's subsidiaries (4,985,519 ) (6,394,055 ) 28,643,095 Exchange gain (loss), net 594,513 (76,351 ) (1,011,509 ) Other income (loss), net - 674,414 (109,684 ) Gain from sales of cost method investment - 4,337,736 - Net income (loss) $ (8,573,128 ) $ (7,167,849 ) $ 22,482,416 Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax: Changes in foreign currency translation adjustment 1,195,795 (221,070 ) (3,467,043 ) Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax 1,195,795 (221,070 ) (3,467,043 ) Comprehensive income (loss) $ (7,377,333 ) $ (7,388,919 ) $ 19,015,373 Financial Information of Parent Company Statement of Shareholders' Equity (In U.S. dollars, except share data) Ordinary shares Shares Amount Additional Accumulated other Retained Total Balance as of January 1, 2013. 110,955,383 $ 14,328 $ 81,163,243 $ 11,089,820 $ (12,302,209 ) $ 79,965,182 Exercise of share options by employees. 190,250 25 30,415 - - 30,440 Share-based compensation. - - 2,539,274 - - 2,539,274 Equity pick up from compensation of a subsidiary - - 421,473 - - 421,473 Business combination. - - 191,861 - - 191,861 Foreign currency translation adjustment - - - 1,195,795 - 1,195,795 Net loss. - - - - (8,573,128 ) (8,573,128 ) Balance as of December 31, 2013 111,145,633 $ 14,353 $ 84,346,266 $ 12,285,615 $ (20,875,337 ) $ 75,770,897 Transfer share premium to share capital - 55,718,184 (55,718,184 ) - - - Exercise of share options by employees 1,164,300 654,055 - - - 654,055 Restricted shares issued 108,000 14 - - - 14 Share-based compensation - - 4,132,182 - - 4,132,182 Equity pick up from compensation of VIE's subsidiaries - - 408,075 - - 408,075 Business restructure - - (8,960,733 ) - - (8,960,733 ) Foreign currency translation adjustment - - - (221,277 ) - (221,277 ) Net loss - - - - (7,167,849 ) (7,167,849 ) Balance as of December 31, 2014 112,417,933 $ 56,386,606 $ 24,207,606 $ 12,064,338.00 $ (28,043,186 ) $ 64,615,364 Issuance of ordinary shares for the plan of stock options and restricted shares 4,000,000 520 - - - 520 Exercise of share options by employees 435,000 293,654 - - - 293,654 Exercise of share options by nonemployees 1,095,000 175,200 - - - 175,200 Restricted shares issued 150,085 20 - - - 20 Share-based compensation - - 3,812,733 - - 3,812,733 Equity pick up from compensation of VIE's subsidiaries - - 1,519,015 - - 1,519,015 Changes of controlling ownership interest - - (1,393,508 ) - - (1,393,508 ) Foreign currency translation adjustment - - - (3,467,043 ) - (3,467,043 ) Net income - - - - 22,482,416 22,482,416 Balance as of December 31, 2015 118,098,018 $ 56,856,000 $ 28,145,846 $ 8,597,295 $ (5,560,770 ) $ 88,038,371 Financial information of Parent Company Statements of cash flows (In U.S. dollars, except share-related data) December 31, 2013 2014 2015 Operating activities: Net income (loss) $ (8,573,128 ) $ (7,167,849 ) $ 22,482,416 Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: Stock-based compensation 2,539,274 4,132,182 3,812,733 Gain from sales of cost method investment - (4,337,736 ) - Equity in deficits (earnings) of subsidiaries, VIEs and VIE’s subsidiaries 4,985,519 6,394,055 (28,643,095 ) Changes in assets and liabilities: Prepaid expenses and other current assets (63,446 ) (143,380 ) 20,339 Amounts due from subsidiaries, VIEs and VIE’s subsidiaries (4,092,500 ) 983,297 142,303 Rental deposits (271 ) - 66,893 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 34,392 10,825 (8,035 ) Amounts due to subsidiaries, VIEs and VIE’s subsidiaries 1,779,098 1,535,073 1,065,088 Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities. (3,391,062 ) 1,406,467 (1,061,358 ) Investing activities: Dividend receivable from subsidiaries 1,140,713 1,375,727 1,011,931 Capital injection to subsidiaries. - (2,774,315 ) (3,000,000 ) Proceeds from sales of cost method investment - - 2,168,868 Net cash provided (used in) by investing activities.. 1,140,713 (1,398,588 ) 180,799 Financing activities: Proceeds from stock options exercised by employees.. 30,440 654,055 293,654 Proceeds from stock options exercised by nonemployees.. - - 175,200 Net cash provided by financing activities 30,440 654,055 468,854 Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents (2,219,909 ) 661,934 (411,705 ) Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the year 2,941,180 721,271 1,383,205 Cash and cash equivalents, end of the year $ 721,271 $ 1,383,205 $ 971,500 Note: Basis for preparation The parent-company Financial Information of China Finance Online has been prepared using the same accounting policies as set out in the Group's consolidated financial statements except that China Finance Online has used equity method to account for its investments in its subsidiaries and variable interest entities.

Significant Accounting Policies

Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Basis of presentation The consolidated financial statements of the Group have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP").
Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Basis of consolidation The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of China Finance Online, its subsidiaries, VIEs for which the Company is the primary beneficiary and those VIEs' subsidiaries. All inter-company transactions and balances have been eliminated upon consolidation.
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash on hand and highly liquid investments which are unrestricted as to withdrawal or use, and which have original maturities of three months or less when purchased.
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Restricted cash Restricted cash is the deposit in bank accounts for providing guarantee to subscription revenue customers by Shanghai Stockstar Securities Advisory and Investment Co., Ltd. ("CFO Securities Consulting") in accordance with the requirement of China Securities Regulatory Commission ("CSRC"). The restriction period is one year.
Fair Value Measurement, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Fair value Fair value is the price that would be received from selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. When determining the fair value measurements for assets and liabilities required or permitted to be recorded at fair value, the Group considers the principal or most advantageous market in which it would transact and it considers assumptions that market participants would use when pricing the asset or liability. Authoritative literature provides a fair value hierarchy which prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels. The level in the hierarchy within which the fair value measurement in its entirety falls is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement as follows: Level 1-inputs are based upon unadjusted quoted prices for identical instruments traded in active markets. Level 2-inputs are based upon quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active and model-based valuation techniques for which all significant assumptions are observable in the market or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. Level 3-inputs are generally unobservable and typically reflect management's estimates of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. The fair values are therefore determined using model-based techniques that include option pricing models, discounted cash flow models, and similar techniques. The Group measures certain assets, including the long-term investments and intangible assets, at fair value on a nonrecurring basis when they are deemed to be impaired. The fair values of these investments and intangible assets are determined based on valuation techniques using the best information available, and may include management judgments, future performance projections, etc.
Trust Bank Balances Held on Behalf of Customers [Policy Text Block]	Trust bank balances held on behalf of customers Trust bank balances held on behalf of customers consist two parts: i) iSTAR Securities and iSTAR Futures receive fund from customers for purpose of buying or selling securities and futures on behalf of its customers and deposits the fund in its interest-bearing bank account; ii) The funds received by CFO Newrand from customers who purchase mutual funds and other wealth management products which are deposited in a trust bank account. The Group launched "Yinglibao", an internet-based financial platform that integrates cash management solutions and mutual fund distribution. Such bank balance represents an asset of the Group for the amounts due to customers for the trust bank balance held on their behalf and payable to customers on demand. The Group also recognizes a corresponding liability.
Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Use of estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and revenue and expenses in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Significant accounting estimates reflected in the Group's financial statements include account receivable, cost method investment, equity method investment, impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets, income taxes, share-based compensation and purchase price allocation. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Finance, Loans and Leases Receivable, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Loan receivable Loans are reported at either their outstanding principal balances. For loans reported at their outstanding principal balances, interest income is accrued on the unpaid principal balance. A loan is considered impaired when, based on current events and the financial condition of the borrower, it is probable that the company will be unable to collect all principal and interest due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Loan collectability is monitored by the Group in connection with the ongoing monitoring of the associated financial guarantee transactions.
Marketable Securities, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Short-term investments Short-term investments comprise marketable debt and equity securities, which are classified as trading, held-to-maturity or available-for-sale. Trading securities are securities that are bought and held principally for the purpose of selling them in the near term and are reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses recognized in earnings. Short-term investments are classified as held-to-maturity when the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold the securities to maturity. All of the Company's held-to-maturity securities are classified as short-term investments on the consolidated balance sheets based on their contractual maturity dates which are less than one year and are stated at their amortized costs. Short-term investments classified as available for sale are carried at their fair values and the unrealized gains or losses from the changes in fair values are included in accumulated other comprehensive income. Available for sale securities are classified as current assets on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets because they are available for immediate sale. The Group reviews its short-term investments for other-than-temporary impairment based on the specific identification method. The Company considers available quantitative and qualitative evidence in evaluating potential impairment of its short-term investments. If the cost of an investment exceeds the investment's fair value, the Group considers, among other factors, general market conditions, government economic plans, the duration and the extent to which the fair value of the investment is less than the cost, and the Group's intent and ability to hold the investment, in determining if impairment is needed.
Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Property and equipment, net Property and equipment, net are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is calculated on a straight-line basis over the following estimated useful lives: Technology infrastructure (in years) 5 Computer equipment 5 Furniture, fixtures and equipment 5 Motor vehicle 5 Leasehold improvements Shorter of the lease term or 5
Intangible Assets, Finite-Lived, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Acquired intangible assets, net Acquired intangible assets are estimated by management based on the fair value of assets acquired. Identifiable intangible assets are carried at cost less accumulated amortization. Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated average useful lives, which are as follows: License and related trademarks (in years) 15 Completed technology (in years) 5 Customer relationship (in years) 4 - 5 Certain trademarks resulting from the acquisitions of business and certain trading rights bought by the Group are determined to have indefinite lives. If an intangible asset is determined to have an indefinite life, it is not amortized until its useful life is determined to be no longer indefinite.
Guarantee Fund Deposits [Policy Text Block]	Guarantee fund deposits Guarantee fund deposits consist of i) the funds deposited with Hong Kong Exchange and Clearing Limited by iSTAR Futures, to guarantee its customers' settlement obligations; ii) the funds deposited with the commodities exchanges as a result of its customers' trading. The Group needs to deposit certain percentage of its customers' trading margins with the commodities exchanges.
Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Impairment of long-lived assets with definite lives The Group reviews its long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may no longer be recoverable. When these events occur, the Group compares the carrying value of the long-lived assets to the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use of the assets and their eventual disposition. If the sum of the expected undiscounted cash flow is less than the carrying amount of the assets, the Group would recognize an impairment loss based on the fair value of the assets.
Business Combinations Policy [Policy Text Block]	Business combinations Business combinations are recorded using the acquisition method of accounting. The assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interest of the acquiree at the acquisition date, if any, are measured at their fair values as of that date. Goodwill is recognized and measured as the excess of the total consideration transferred plus the fair value of any noncontrolling interest of the acquiree, if any, at the acquisition date over the fair values of the identifiable net assets acquired. Common forms of the consideration made in acquisitions include cash and common equity instruments. Consideration transferred in a business acquisition is measured at the fair value as at the date of acquisition. Where the consideration in an acquisition includes contingent consideration the payment of which depends on the achievement of certain specified conditions post-acquisition, the contingent consideration is recognized and measured at its fair value at the acquisition date and if recorded as a liability it is subsequently carried at fair value with changes in fair value reflected in earnings.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Goodwill, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Impairment of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets The Group performs a qualitative analysis that includes reviewing the carrying value of intangible assets not subject to amortization, including goodwill, to determine whether impairment may exist, whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may no longer be recoverable at least annually. The excess of the purchase price over the fair value of net assets acquired is recorded on the consolidated balance sheet as goodwill. After a qualitative analysis indicates an impairment test is needed, the Company completes a two-step goodwill impairment test. The first step is to compare the fair values of each reporting unit to its carrying amount, including goodwill. If the fair value of each reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, goodwill is not considered to be impaired and the second step will not be required. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the second step is to compare the implied fair value of goodwill to the carrying value of a reporting unit's goodwill. The implied fair value of goodwill is determined in a manner similar to accounting for a business combination with the allocation of the assessed fair value determined in the first step to the assets and liabilities of the reporting unit. The excess of the fair value of the reporting unit over the amounts assigned to the assets and liabilities is the implied fair value of goodwill. An impairment loss is recognized for any excess in the carrying value of goodwill over the implied fair value of goodwill. Estimating fair value is performed by utilizing various valuation techniques, with the primary technique being a discounted cash flow. The impairment test for other intangible assets not subject to amortization consists of a comparison of the fair value of the intangible asset with its carrying value. If the carrying value of the intangible asset exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to that excess. The estimates of fair values of intangible assets not subject to amortization are determined using various discounted cash flow valuation methodologies. Significant assumptions are inherent in this process, including estimates of discount rates. Discount rate assumptions are based on an assessment of the risk inherent in the respective intangible assets. The Group performed the annual impairment tests on December 31 of each year. Based on the Group's assessment, the Group recorded nil, $8,149,525 and nil goodwill impairment losses during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively. In addition, the Group recorded nil, nil and $250,360 impairment loss in relation to intangible assets with indefinite life during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015.
Revenue Recognition, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Revenue recognition Commodities brokerage business The Group derives commission income, carrying charges and trading revenues from its commodities brokerage services. Commission income is recognized on a trade basis based on their customers' trading volumes. The commission earned is fixed no matter how the client's open positions are ultimately settled. Additionally, the Group charges carrying charges to its customers. The commissions and carrying charges are presented in net revenues in the statement of comprehensive income. Amounts are settled with the Exchange by both the Group and the customers and the exchange then settles with any counterparty. The exchange offsets the Group's gains and losses and amounts receivable and amounts payable from the exchange are presented net on the statement of financial position as the Group and the exchange settle net. Trading gains, net include brokerage fees and margins generated from derivative trades executed with customers and other counterparties and are recognized when trades are executed. Trading gains, net also include activities where the Group acts as market maker in the purchase and sale of commodities derivative instruments with customers. These transactions may be offset simultaneously with another customer or counterparty, offset with similar but not identical positions on an exchange, made from inventory, or may be aggregated with other purchases to provide liquidity intraday, for a number of days, or in some cases, particularly the commodities brokerage business, even longer periods (during which fair value may fluctuate). Therefore, trading gains, net includes activities from the Group's operations of a proprietary commodity trades. Net trading gains are recognized on a trade-date basis and include realized gains or losses and changes in unrealized gains or losses on investments at fair value. Unrealized gains/losses on open positions will be marked to market at each period end and may present trading gains and losses which comprise both realized and unrealized gains and losses, on a net basis in the statement of comprehensive income. The open transactions may lead to receivables and/or payables for open transaction which are recorded on the Statement of Financial Position. Revenue generally is recognized net of any taxes collected from customers and subsequently remitted to governmental authorities. The following table presents the totally recognized net revenue from commodities trading business, consisted of: Years ended December 31, 2014 2015 Commodities trading gains $ 38,297,005 $ 53,776,323 Commission income 17,397,978 22,913,704 Carrying charges 4,396,134 3,012,627 $ 60,091,117 $ 79,702,654 Hong Kong Brokerage services The Group also derives commission from its brokerage services provided by the subsidiaries, iSTAR Securities and iSTAR Futures which buy or sell securities and future contracts on their customers' behalf. The Group acts as an agent with their customers for these transactions. The commission income is recognized on a trade date basis as transactions occur. Financial information and advisory services The Group derives revenue from subscription fees from subscribers to their financial data, information services and investment advisory. The Group recognizes revenues when all of the following criteria are met: (1) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (2) delivery has occurred, (3) the fee is fixed or determinable and (4) collectability is probable. Upon receipt of the upfront cash payments from the subscriber, the Group will activate the subscriber's account and provide the subscriber the access code. This will commence a certain subscription period according to the customer demand and the full payment will be deferred and recognized ratably over the subscription period. The Group recognizes revenue ratably over the life of the arrangement. Estimated refund of subscription fees is recorded as deduction of revenue and deferred revenue. Advertising revenue The Group derives its advertising fees from advertising sales on their website for a fixed period of time, generally less than one year. Revenues from advertising arrangements are recognized ratably over the period the advertising is displayed.
Business Taxes And Value Added Taxes [Policy Text Block]	Business taxes and value added taxes Starting from January 1, 2012, the PRC Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation launched a Business Tax to value added tax ("VAT") Transformation Pilot Program(the "Pilot Program"), for certain industries in Shanghai. On September 1, 2012, the PRC Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation extended the Pilot Program to certain industries in other eight regions, including Beijing and Shenzhen. With the adoption of Pilot Program, our advertising-related revenues and certain subscription revenues were subject to VAT tax at a rate of 6%. Our advertising- related revenues, certain subscription revenues and certain commodities brokerage revenues were recognized after deducting VAT and other related surcharges. Revenue is recorded net of business taxes when incurred. The Group is subject to business taxes of 3%-5% on taxable services provided to its customers. During the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014, and 2015, business taxes and related surcharges totaled $598,044, $1,425,835 and $1,663,869, respectively. The Group's certain PRC subsidiaries, VIEs and VIEs' subsidiaries are subject to VAT at a rate of 17% on subscription-based revenue. VAT payable on subscription-based revenue is computed net of VAT paid on purchases. In respect of subscription-based revenue, however, if the net amount of VAT payable exceeds 3% of subscription-based revenue, the excess portion of value added tax can be refunded immediately. The Group therefore is subject to an effective net VAT burden of 3% from subscription-based revenue and records VAT on a net basis. Net amount of value added tax is recorded either in the line item of other current liabilities or prepaid expenses and other current assets on the face of consolidated balance sheet. Subscription-based revenue includes the benefit of the rebate of value added taxes on sale of the downloadable software received from the Chinese tax authorities as part of the PRC government policy of encouraging software development in the PRC. In 2013, 2014 and 2015, the Group recognized $639,936, $425,908 and $328,817, respectively, in VAT refunds.
Government Subsidies [Policy Text Block]	Government subsidies The Group records government subsidies when granted by local government authority and are not subject to future return. The government subsidies include research & development subsidy, business tax refund, innovation fund and high-tech company subsidy.
Revenue Recognition, Deferred Revenue [Policy Text Block]	Deferred revenue Payments received in advance of for our financial information and advisory service, advertising service are recorded as deferred revenue until earned and when the relevant revenue recognition requirements have been met.
Cost Method Investments, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Cost method investment For investments in an investee over which the Group does not have significant influence, the Group carries the investment at cost and recognizes income as any dividends declared from distribution of investee's earnings. The Group reviews the cost method investments for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may no longer be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognized in earnings equal to the difference between the investment's cost and its fair value at the balance sheet date of the reporting period for which the assessment is made. The fair value of the investment would then become the new cost basis of the investment.
Equity Method Investments, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Equity method investment Under the equity method, the Group initially records its investment at cost. The Group subsequently adjusts the carrying amount of the investment to recognize the Company's proportionate share of each equity investee's net income or loss. The Group will discontinue applying equity method if an investment (and additional financial supports to the investee, if any) has been reduced to zero. When the equity-method investment in ordinary shares is reduced to zero and further investments are made that have a higher liquidation preference than ordinary shares, the Group would recognize the loss based on its percentage of the investment with the same liquidation preference, and the loss would be applied to those investments of a lower liquidation preference first before being further applied to the investments of a higher liquidation preference. An impairment loss on the equity method investments is recognized in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income when the decline in value is determined to be other than-temporary.
Foreign Currency Transactions and Translations Policy [Policy Text Block]	Foreign currency translation The functional and reporting currency of the Company is the United States dollar ("U.S. dollar"). The financial records of the Group's subsidiaries, VIEs and VIEs' subsidiaries located in the PRC, Hong Kong and British Virgin Islands are maintained in their local currencies, the Renminbi ("RMB"), Hong Kong Dollars ("HK$"), and U.S. Dollars ("US$"), respectively, which are also the functional currencies of these entities. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the functional currency are translated into the functional currency at the rates of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date. Transactions in currencies other than the functional currency during the year are converted into functional currency at the applicable rates of exchange prevailing when the transactions occurred. Transaction gains and losses are recognized in the statements of operations. The Group's entities with functional currency of RMB and HK$ translate their operating results and financial position into the US$, the Group's reporting currency. Assets and liabilities are translated using the exchange rates in effect on the balance sheet date. Revenues, expenses, gains and losses are translated using the average rate for the year. Translation adjustments are report as cumulative translation adjustments and are shown as a separate component of other comprehensive income.
Foregin Currency Risk [Policy Text Block]	Foreign currency risk The RMB is not a freely convertible currency. The State Administration for Foreign Exchange, under the authority of the People's Bank of China, controls the conversion of Renminbi into foreign currencies. The value of the RMB is subject to changes in central government policies and to international economic and political developments affecting supply and demand in the China Foreign Exchange Trading System market. Cash and cash equivalents of the Group included aggregate amounts of $26,974,664, $19,726,992 and $79,461,280 at December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 which were denominated in RMB.
Research, Development, and Computer Software, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Product development expenses Costs of product development, including investment in data capability, are expensed as incurred until technological feasibility has been established, at which time any additional costs would be capitalized. The Group essentially completed its development concurrently with the establishment of technological feasibility, and, accordingly, no costs have been capitalized.
Advertising Costs, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Advertising costs The Group expenses advertising costs as incurred. Total advertising expenses were $2,391,762, $7,505,506 and $4,908,593 for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively, and have been included as part of sales and marketing expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
Commissions Expense, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Commissions paid Commissions paid are the commission rebates of our Hong Kong brokerage business and the commissions paid to the sales agents of our commodities brokerage business. Total commissions paid were $3,125,982, $11,546,126 and $5,049,661 for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015.
Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Income taxes Current income taxes are provided for in accordance with the laws of the relevant tax authorities. Deferred income taxes are recognized for temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements, net operating loss carry forwards and credits by applying enacted statutory tax rates applicable to future years. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The impact of an uncertain income tax position on the income tax return is recognized at the largest amount that is more-likely-than not to be sustained upon audit by the relevant tax authority. An uncertain income tax position will not be recognized if it has less than a 50% likelihood of being sustained. Interest and penalties on income taxes will be classified as a component of the provisions for income taxes.
Comprehensive Income, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Comprehensive income (loss) Comprehensive income (loss) includes net income (loss), unrealized gain (loss) on short-term investments and foreign currency translation adjustments. Beginning in January 1, 2012, the Group presents the components of net income, the components of other comprehensive income and total comprehensive income a single continuous consolidated statement of comprehensive income.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Fair value of financial instruments Financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, cost method investment, equity method investment, loan receivable and accounts payable. The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, loan receivable and accounts payable approximate their fair value due to their short-term maturities. The carrying value of the cost method investment was $1,217,617 and $554,392 as of December 31, 2014 and 2015, which approximate the fair value of the investment based on the valuation performed by the Company. The carrying value of the equity method investment was nil and $1,228,269 as of December 31, 2014 and 2015, which approximate the fair value of the investments at the acquired date and subsequently adjusted as the net assets of the investee change through the earning of income. The Group does not use derivative instruments to manage risks.
Share-based Compensation, Option and Incentive Plans Policy [Policy Text Block]	Share-based compensation Share-based compensation with employees is measured based on the grant date fair value of the equity instrument. The Group recognizes the compensation costs net of an estimated forfeiture rate using the straight-line method for performance based awards or graded vesting attribution method for service based awards, over the requisite service period of the award, which is generally the vesting period of the award. The estimate of forfeitures will be adjusted over the requisite service period to the extent that actual forfeitures differ, or are expected to differ, from such estimates. Changes in estimated forfeitures will be recognized through a cumulative catch-up adjustment in the period of change and will also impact the amount of share-based compensation expense to be recognized in future periods. Share awards issued to nonemployees are measured at fair value at the earlier of the commitment date or the date the services is completed and recognized over the period the service is provided or as goods is received.
Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Net income (loss) per share Basic net income (loss) per share attributable to China Finance Online Co. Limited is computed by dividing net income (loss) attributable to China Finance Online Co. Limited by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per ordinary share attributable to China Finance Online Co. Limited reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue ordinary shares were exercised or converted into ordinary shares. The dilutive effect of the stock options and nonvested shares is computed using treasury stock method.
Concentration Risk, Credit Risk, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Concentrations of credit risk Financial instruments that potentially expose the Group to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, short-term investments, loan receivable and accounts receivable. The Group places its cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, short-term investments in major financial institutions located in PRC and Hong Kong, which management considers to be of high credit quality. The Group conducts ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and generally does not require collateral or other security from its customers except for the accounts receivable-margin clients which represents the margin loan to customers for securities purchase. The accounts receivable-margin client was collateralized by the securities the margin client purchased. The Group manages its credit risk by collecting up-front fee from its customers and billing at regular intervals during the contract period. The Group assesses the adequacy of allowance for doubtful accounts primarily based upon the age of the receivables and factors surrounding the credit risk of specific customers. Details of clients accounting for 10% or more of accounts receivable are as follows: Year ended December 31, 2014 2015 Amount % Amount % A $ 1,963,900 13.5 $ * * B $ 5,044,178 34.6 $ * * C $ * * $ 4,245,971 25.9 * Represented less than 10% of consolidated account receivable balance. There were no customers with 10% or more of the Group's revenues during 2013, 2014, or 2015.
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Recently accounting pronouncements In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued ASU No. 2014-09 ("ASU 2014-09"), Revenue from Contracts with Customers. ASU 2014-09 supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in ASC 605, and requires entities to recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 is originally effective for the annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period. ASU 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, defers the effective date of ASU 2014-09 by one year. As a result, ASU 2014-09 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods therein. Early adoption is permitted to the original effective date. The Group is currently evaluating the timing of its adoption and the impact of adopting the new revenue standard on its consolidated financial statements and considering additional disclosure requirements. In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03 ("ASU 2015-03"), Interest – Imputation of Interest. ASU 2015-03 requires debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability to be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the debt liability rather than as an asset. ASU 2015-03 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015, including interim periods within that reporting period. Early adoption is permitted. The Group does not expect the adoption of ASU 2015-03 will have a significant impact on the consolidated financial statements. In September 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-16 ("ASU 2015-16"), Business Combinations (Topic 805) Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement – Period Adjustments. ASU 2015-16 requires the acquirer to recognize adjustments to provisional amounts that are identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amount is determined. The acquirer is required to also record, in the same period's financial statements, the effect on earnings of changes in depreciation, amortization, or other income effects, if any, as a result of the change to the provisional amounts, calculated as if the accounting had been completed at the acquisition date. In addition, an entity is required to present separately on the face of the income statement or disclose in the notes to the financial statements the portion of the amount recorded in current-period earnings by line item that would have been recorded in previous reporting periods if the adjustment to the provisional amounts had been recognized as of the acquisition date. For public business entities, ASU 2015-16 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted. The Group does not expect the adoption of ASU 2015-16 will have a significant impact on the consolidated financial statements. In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-17 ("ASU 2015-17"), Income Taxes (Topic 740): Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes. ASU 2015-17 simplifies the presentation of deferred income taxes by eliminating the separate classification of deferred income tax liabilities and assets into current and noncurrent amounts in the consolidated balance sheet statement of financial position. The amendments in the update require that all deferred tax liabilities and assets be classified as noncurrent in the consolidated balance sheet. The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods therein and may be applied either prospectively or retrospectively to all periods presented. Early adoption is permitted. The Group does not expect the adoption of ASU 2015-17 will have a significant impact on the consolidated financial statements. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02 ("ASU 2016-02"), Leases. ASU 2016-02 specifies the accounting for leases. For operating leases, ASU 2016-02 requires a lessee to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability, initially measured at the present value of the lease payments, in its balance sheet. The standard also requires a lessee to recognize a single lease cost, calculated so that the cost of the lease is allocated over the lease term, on a generally straight-line basis. ASU 2016-02 is effective for public companies for annual reporting periods, and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. The Group is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this standard on its consolidated financial statements.

Note 1 - Organization and Pri39

Note 1 - Organization and Principal Activities (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Notes Tables
Schedule of Variable Interest Entities [Table Text Block]	Company name Place of establishment Date of acquisition legal interest Principal activity Subsidiaries: China Finance Online (Beijing) Co., Ltd. ("CFO Beijing") Beijing, PRC Jul. 9, 1998 100% N/A Fortune Software (Beijing) Co., Ltd. ("CFO Software") Beijing, PRC Dec. 7, 2004 100% N/A Shenzhen Genius Information Technology Co., Ltd. ("CFO Genius") Shenzhen, PRC Sep. 21, 2006 100% Subscription service Zhengyong Information & Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (“CFO Zhengyong”) Shanghai, PRC Aug. 17, 2008 100% N/A Zhengtong Information Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd ("CFO Zhengtong") Shanghai, PRC Jun. 24, 2008 100% N/A iSTAR Financial Holdings Limited ("iSTAR Financial Holdings") BVI Jul. 16, 2007 85% Investment holdings iSTAR International Securities Co. Limited ("iSTAR Securities") Hong Kong, PRC Nov. 23, 2007 85% Brokerage service iSTAR International Futures Co. Limited ("iSTAR Futures") Hong Kong, PRC Apr. 16, 2008 85% Brokerage service iSTAR International Wealth Management Co. Limited Hong Kong, PRC Oct. 8, 2008 85% Securities advising, future contract ("iSTAR Wealth Management") advising and asset management iSTAR International Credit Co. Limited ("iSTAR Credit") Hong Kong, PRC Feb. 10, 2012 85% N/A Variable interest entities: Beijing Fuhua Innovation Technology Development Co., Ltd. ("CFO Fuhua") Beijing, PRC Dec. 31, 2000 Nil Web portal and advertising service Shanghai Chongzhi Co., Ltd. ("CFO Chongzhi") Shanghai, PRC Jun. 6, 2008 Nil Subscription service Fortune (Beijing) Qicheng Technology Co., Ltd. ("CFO Qicheng") Beijing, PRC Dec. 18, 2009 Nil N/A Shenzhen Newrand Securities Advisory and Investment Co., Ltd. Shenzhen, PRC Oct. 17, 2008 Nil Securities investment advising ("CFO Newrand ") Shanghai Stockstar Wealth Management Co., Ltd. ("Stockstar Wealth Management") Shanghai, PRC Apr. 12, 2011 Nil N/A Beijing Chuangying Advisory and Investment Co., Ltd. ( "CFO Chuangying" ) Beijing, PRC Jan. 9, 2009 Nil N/A Subsidiaries of variable interest entities: Shanghai Meining Computer Software Co., Ltd. ("CFO Meining") Shanghai, PRC Oct. 1, 2006 Nil Web portal, advertising, subscription, and SMS Shenzhen Newrand Securities Training Center ("CFO Newrand Training") Shenzhen, PRC Oct. 17, 2008 Nil Securities investment training Fortune (Beijing) Huiying Investment Consulting Co., Ltd. ("CFO Huiying") Beijing, PRC Dec. 18, 2009 Nil N/A Shenzhen Tahoe Investment and Development Co., Ltd ("CFO Tahoe") Shenzhen, PRC Sep. 30, 2013 Nil N/A Shenzhen Shangtong Software Co., Ltd. ("CFO Shenzhen Shangtong") Shenzhen, PRC Sep. 23, 2009 Nil N/A Zhengjin (Fujian) Precious Metals Investment Co., Ltd. Fujian, PRC Jan. 6, 2013 Nil Commodities brokerage ("CFO Zhengjin Fujian") Zhengjin (Shanghai) Precious Metals Investment Co., Ltd. Shanghai, PRC Dec. 12, 2013 Nil Commodities brokerage ("CFO Zhengjin Shanghai") Zhengjin (Tianjin) Precious Metals Investment Co., Ltd. Tianjin, PRC Jul. 23, 2013 Nil Commodities brokerage ("CFO Zhengjin Tianjin") Henghui (Tianjin) Precious Metals Investment Co., Ltd. Tianjin, PRC Sep. 30, 2013 Nil Commodities brokerage ("CFO Henghui") Zhengjin (Beijing) Wisdom Petroleum and Chemical Investment Management Co., Ltd. ("CFO Zhengjin Beijing") Beijing, PRC Jan. 13, 2014 Nil N/A Yinglibao (Beijing) Technology Co., Ltd. ("CFO Yinglibao") Beijing, PRC Jan. 15, 2014 Nil Internet-based financial platform Zhengjin (Qingdao) Wisdom Trading Co., Ltd. ("CFO Zhengjin Qingdao") Qingdao, PRC Sep. 4, 2014 Nil N/A Zhengjin (Jiangsu) Precious Metals Co., Ltd. ("CFO Zhengjin Jiangsu") Nanjing, PRC Nov. 19, 2014 Nil Commodities brokerage iTougu (Beijing) Network Technology Co., Ltd. ("CFO iTougu") Beijing, PRC Dec. 8, 2014 Nil Investment advisory service platform Tibet Fortune Jinyuan Network Technology Co., Ltd. ("CFO Tibet") Tibet, PRC Aug. 22, 2015 Nil N/A Shanghai Guiwo Information Technology Co., Ltd. (“CFO Guiwo”) Shanghai, PRC Apr. 1, 2015 Nil N/A
Schedule of Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets by Major Class [Table Text Block]	December, 31 2014 2015 Gross Accumulated Impairment Disposal Net carrying Gross Accumulated Impairment Net carrying Intangible assets not subject to amortization: Commodities trading right 1,372,773 - - (81,712 ) 1,291,061 1,216,582 - (250,360 ) 966,222 Intangible assets subject to amortization: Completed technology 68,639 (27,187 ) (41,452 ) - - - - - - Customer relationship 1,256,741 (362,522 ) - - 894,219 1,184,243 (610,931 ) - 573,312 Securities consulting license and related trademarks 5,570,082 (741,279 ) (1,760,673 ) (3,068,130 ) - - - - - $ 8,268,235 $ (1,130,988 ) $ (1,802,125 ) $ (3,149,842 ) $ 2,185,280 $ 2,400,825 $ (610,931 ) $ (250,360 ) $ 1,539,534
Condensed Cash Flow Statement [Table Text Block]	Year ended December 31, 2013 2014 2015 Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities $ (14,469,067 ) $ 3,204,749 $ (835,965 ) Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities (9,440,165 ) (5,685,885 ) 38,523,306 Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 35,830,988 1,430,739 (6,061,473 ) Effect of exchange rate changes $ (46,900 ) $ (95,269 ) $ (1,452,505 )
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary, Aggregated Disclosure [Member]
Notes Tables
Schedule of Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets by Major Class [Table Text Block]	December 31 , 2014 2015 Commodities brokerage business: Commodities trading right $ 1,291,061 $ 966,222 Customer relationship 894,219 573,312 $ 2,185,280 $ 1,539,534
Condensed Balance Sheet [Table Text Block]	December 31, 2014 2015 Assets Current assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 17,615,035 $ 47,788,398 Consideration receivable 13,400,882 - Account receivable -others, net 22,217,745 45,278,278 Loan receivable 10,295,800 - Others 6,558,399 3,971,332 Total current assets $ 70,087,861 $ 97,038,008 Property and equipment, net 3,242,905 4,311,095 Acquired intangible assets, net 2,185,280 1,539,534 Cost method investment 907,919 554,392 Equity method investment, net - 1,228,269 Rental deposits 913,187 989,383 Guarantee fund deposits 4,604,924 5,850,623 Investment in subsidiaries 43,751,417 43,553,986 Deferred tax assets, non-current 13,328 4,982 Total assets $ 125,706,821 $ 155,070,272 Third-party liabilities Current liabilities Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 10,514,186 20,425,274 Accounts payable 18,843,147 3,387,125 Total current liabilities $ 29,357,333 $ 23,812,399 Non-current liabilities 899,356 571,924 Total third-party liabilities $ 30,256,689 $ 24,384,323 Inter-company liabilities $ 42,155,248 $ 44,591,484
Condensed Income Statement [Table Text Block]	Year ended December 31, 2013 2014 2015 Net revenues $ 58,549,393 $ 98,207,958 $ 136,412,062 Net income (loss) $ (5,469,402 ) $ 12,305,855 $ 49,300,399

Note 2 - Summary of Significa40

Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Notes Tables
Property and Equipment, Estimated Useful Life [Table Text Block]	Technology infrastructure (in years) 5 Computer equipment 5 Furniture, fixtures and equipment 5 Motor vehicle 5 Leasehold improvements Shorter of the lease term or 5
Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Table Text Block]	License and related trademarks (in years) 15 Completed technology (in years) 5 Customer relationship (in years) 4 - 5
Revenue Recognition,Customer Collection [Table Text Block]	Years ended December 31, 2014 2015 Commodities trading gains $ 38,297,005 $ 53,776,323 Commission income 17,397,978 22,913,704 Carrying charges 4,396,134 3,012,627 $ 60,091,117 $ 79,702,654
Schedule of Accounts Receivable by Major Customers by Reporting Segments [Table Text Block]	Year ended December 31, 2014 2015 Amount % Amount % A $ 1,963,900 13.5 $ * * B $ 5,044,178 34.6 $ * * C $ * * $ 4,245,971 25.9

Note 3 - Acquisitions (Tables)

Note 3 - Acquisitions (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Notes Tables
Schedule of Business Acquisitions, by Acquisition [Table Text Block]	Useful life (in years) Purchase price allocation: Cash and cash equivalents $ 5,279,425 Prepaid expenses and current assets 1,135,765 Accounts receivable 2,143,957 Property and equipment, net 47,770 Rental deposit 72,431 Acquired intangible assets: Commodities trading right 699,414 Customer relationship 1,250,813 4.3 Guarantee fund deposits 1,626,545 Total assets acquired 12,256,120 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities (2,810,425 ) Deferred tax liabilities (487,557 ) Total net assets 8,958,138 Noncontrolling interest (9,508,295 ) Goodwill 7,056,338 Total purchase price $ 6,506,181 Useful life (in years) Purchase price allocation: Cash and cash equivalents $ 121,044 Prepaid expenses and current assets 339,296 Accounts receivable 4,912 Acquired intangible assets: Security consulting license 598,657 15 Total assets acquired 1,063,909 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities (274,748 ) Deferred tax liabilities (149,664 ) Income tax payable 612 Total net assets 640,109 Goodwill 168,887 Total purchase price $ 808,996
Schedule of Recognized Identified Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed [Table Text Block]	Purchase price allocation: Property and equipment, net $ 199,803 Total assets acquired 199,803 Goodwill 6,544,150 Cash consideration 4,044,980 The fair value of 30% shares of CFO GB 1,760,861 The fair value of 30% shares of CFO MF 804,142 Contingent consideration of 5% shares of CFO MF 133,970 Total purchase price $ 6,743,953

Note 5 - Accounts Receivable (T

Note 5 - Accounts Receivable (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Notes Tables
Accounts Receivable [Table Text Block]	December 31, 2014 2015 Accounts receivable-margin clients $ 1,698,861 $ 4,367,417 Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts - - Accounts receivable- margin clients, net $ 1,698,861 $ 4,367,417 Accounts receivable-others 12,928,570 12,048,306 Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts (43,077 ) (40,592 ) Accounts receivable-others, net $ 12,885,493 $ 12,007,714

Note 7 - Prepaid Expenses and43

Note 7 - Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Notes Tables
Schedule of Other Assets [Table Text Block]	December 31, 2014 2015 Prepayment of advertising fees $ 213,837 $ 209,778 Advertising deposit 355,390 196,290 Advances to suppliers 840,308 1,272,519 VAT refund receivable 139,908 68,429 Interest receivable 1,264,075 65 Prepayment of office rental 380,325 170,536 Amount due from noncontrolling shareholders (i) 2,393,645 - Sales of cost method investment receivable (Note 11) 2,168,868 - Amounts due from equity method investee - 212,904 Other current assets 784,507 1,358,126 $ 8,540,863 $ 3,488,647

Note 8 - Loan Receivable (Table

Note 8 - Loan Receivable (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Notes Tables
Schedule of Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Table Text Block]	As of December 31, 2014 2015 Interest rate Period A(i) $ 10,295,800 $ - 1.5% per month October 9, 2013 to October 20, 2014 $ 10,295,800 $ - 19-21% per annum October 21, 2014 to December 31, 2014
Allowance for Credit Losses on Financing Receivables [Table Text Block]	December 31, 2014 2015 Beginning balance $ 10,333,120 $ 10,295,800 Collection - (9,807,585 ) Exchange difference (37,320 ) (488,215 ) Ending balance $ 10,295,800 $ -

Note 9 - Short-term Investmen45

Note 9 - Short-term Investments (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Notes Tables
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Table Text Block]	December 31, 2014 2015 Beginning balance $ - $ - Purchases 90,205,903 105,334,483 Redemption (90,323,594 ) (105,560,595 ) Realized gain 106,392 234,421 Exchange difference 11,299 (8,309 ) Ending balance $ - $ -
Available-for-sale Securities [Table Text Block]	Year ended December 31, 2015 Proceeds Costs Gains Exchange Available-for-sale securities $ 105,560,595 $ 105,334,483 $ 234,421 $ (8,309 ) Total $ 105,560,595 $ 105,334,483 $ 234,421 $ (8,309 ) Year ended December 31, 2014 Proceeds Costs Gains Exchange Available-for-sale securities $ 90,323,594 $ 90,205,903 $ 106,392 $ 11,299 Total $ 90,323,594 $ 90,205,903 $ 106,392 $ 11,299

Note 10 - Fair Value Measurem46

Note 10 - Fair Value Measurement (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Notes Tables
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Table Text Block]	December 31, 2014 2015 Beginning balance $ - $ - Purchases 90,205,903 105,334,483 Redemption (90,323,594 ) (105,560,595 ) Realized gain 106,392 234,421 Exchange difference 11,299 (8,309 ) Ending balance $ - $ -
Fair Value Measurements, Nonrecurring [Table Text Block]	Fair value at December 31, 2014 Total losses in the year ended December 31, 2014 Fair value at December 31, 2015 Total losses in the year ended December 31, 2015 Non- Recurring Goodwill - (8,149,525 ) - - Intangible Assets - (1,802,125 ) - (250,360 )
Available-for-sale Securities [Member]
Notes Tables
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Table Text Block]	December 31, 2014 2015 Beginning balance $ - $ - Purchases 90,205,903 105,334,483 Redemption (90,323,594 ) (105,560,595 ) Realized gain 106,392 234,421 Exchange difference 11,299 (8,309 ) Ending balance $ - $ -

Note 11 - Cost Method Investm47

Note 11 - Cost Method Investment (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Notes Tables
Schedule of Cost Method Investments [Table Text Block]	December 31, 2014 2015 Beginning balance $ 1,138,899 $ 1,217,617 Acquisitions 81,713 - consideration of disposal (4,337,736 ) (5,790,369 ) Gain from sale of cost method investment 4,337,736 4,648,302 Fair value adjustment of retained noncontrolling investment - 477,393 Exchange difference (2,995 ) 1,449 Ending balance $ 1,217,617 $ 554,392

Note 12 - Equity Method Inves48

Note 12 - Equity Method Investment (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Notes Tables
Equity Method Investments [Table Text Block]	December 31, Beginning balance $ - Acquisitions 307,996 Equity method investment losses (66,970 ) Fair value adjustment of retained noncontrolling investment 985,586 Exchange difference 1,657 Ending balance $ 1,228,269

Note 14 - Property and Equipm49

Note 14 - Property and Equipment, Net (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Notes Tables
Property, Plant and Equipment [Table Text Block]	December 31, 2014 2015 Technology infrastructure $ 9,842,789 $ 10,638,276 Computer equipment 1,995,876 2,163,506 Furniture, fixtures and equipment 4,052,425 3,800,591 Motor vehicle 929,340 875,729 Leasehold improvements 4,610,488 4,931,813 21,430,918 22,409,915 Less: accumulated depreciation (16,567,969 ) (16,620,381 ) $ 4,862,949 $ 5,789,534

Note 15 - Acquired Intangible50

Note 15 - Acquired Intangible Assets, Net (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Notes Tables
Schedule of Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets by Major Class [Table Text Block]	December, 31 2014 2015 Gross Accumulated Impairment Disposal Net carrying Gross Accumulated Impairment Net carrying Intangible assets not subject to amortization: Commodities trading right 1,372,773 - - (81,712 ) 1,291,061 1,216,582 - (250,360 ) 966,222 Intangible assets subject to amortization: Completed technology 68,639 (27,187 ) (41,452 ) - - - - - - Customer relationship 1,256,741 (362,522 ) - - 894,219 1,184,243 (610,931 ) - 573,312 Securities consulting license and related trademarks 5,570,082 (741,279 ) (1,760,673 ) (3,068,130 ) - - - - - $ 8,268,235 $ (1,130,988 ) $ (1,802,125 ) $ (3,149,842 ) $ 2,185,280 $ 2,400,825 $ (610,931 ) $ (250,360 ) $ 1,539,534

Note 16 - Goodwill (Tables)

Note 16 - Goodwill (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Notes Tables
Schedule of Goodwill [Table Text Block]	Commodities Investment services Institutional services Total Balance as of January 1, 2014 $ 7,115,479 $ 8,182,468 $ 1,676,490 $ 16,974,437 Impairment of CFO East Win - (3,112,365 ) - (3,112,365 ) Impairment of Champion Connection's business - (4,867,660 ) - (4,867,660 ) Disposal of Champion Connection's business (Note4) - - (1,676,490 ) (1,676,490 ) Impairment of CFO Netinfo - (169,500 ) - (169,500 ) Exchange difference (25,699 ) (32,943 ) - (58,642 ) Balance as of December 31, 2014 $ 7,089,780 $ - $ - $ 7,089,780 Acquisition of CFO Guiwo (Note3) 19,906 - - 19,906 Exchange difference (410,066 ) - - (410,066 ) Balance as of December 31, 2015 $ 6,699,620 $ - $ - $ 6,699,620

Note 17 - Accounts Payable (Tab

Note 17 - Accounts Payable (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Notes Tables
Schedule of Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities [Table Text Block]	December 31, 2014 2015 Accrued bonus $ 3,612,689 $ 4,825,633 Accrued professional service fees 760,780 416,676 Withholding individual income tax-option exercise 61,683 61,683 Value added taxes and other taxes payable 945,471 2,219,300 Accrued raw data cost 762,492 1,285,418 Accrued bandwidth cost 127,650 38,527 Accrued welfare benefits 72,160 61,594 Amount payable related to business restructure (Note 4) 360,520 - Advances related to disposal of subsidiaries (i) - 5,081,927 Accrued sales service fees 491,981 578,910 Others 1,642,308 1,085,757 $ 8,837,734 $ 15,655,425
Accounts Payable [Member]
Notes Tables
Schedule of Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities [Table Text Block]	December 31, 2014 2015 Amount due to customers of Hong Kong brokerage business $ 7,982,827 $ 2,388,638 Amount due to sales agents 583,367 1,722,827 Amount due to noncontrolling shareholders 876,911 910,864 Others 409,386 471,399 $ 9,852,491 $ 5,493,728

Note 18 - Accrued Expenses an53

Note 18 - Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Notes Tables
Schedule of Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities [Table Text Block]	December 31, 2014 2015 Accrued bonus $ 3,612,689 $ 4,825,633 Accrued professional service fees 760,780 416,676 Withholding individual income tax-option exercise 61,683 61,683 Value added taxes and other taxes payable 945,471 2,219,300 Accrued raw data cost 762,492 1,285,418 Accrued bandwidth cost 127,650 38,527 Accrued welfare benefits 72,160 61,594 Amount payable related to business restructure (Note 4) 360,520 - Advances related to disposal of subsidiaries (i) - 5,081,927 Accrued sales service fees 491,981 578,910 Others 1,642,308 1,085,757 $ 8,837,734 $ 15,655,425

Note 19 - Stock Options and N54

Note 19 - Stock Options and Nonvested Shares (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Notes Tables
Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Stock Options, Activity [Table Text Block]	2013 2014 2015 Number of options Weighted exercise price Number of options Weighted exercise price Number of options Weighted exercise price Outstanding at beginning of year 11,144,998 $ 0.93 24,505,348 $ 0.54 21,326,160 $ 0.57 Granted 14,000,000 0.25 - - - - Exercised (190,250 ) 0.16 (1,164,300 ) 0.54 (2,205,600 ) 0.22 Forfeited (449,400 ) 1.25 (2,014,888 ) 0.27 (1,787,800 ) 1.18 Outstanding at end of year 24,505,348 $ 0.54 21,326,160 $ 0.57 17,332,760 $ 0.55 Shares exercisable at end of year 10,500,548 $ 0.93 14,070,240 $ 0.73 14,513,528 $ 0.61 2014 2015 Number Weighted Number Weighted Outstanding at beginning of year - $ - 1,860,000 $ 0.89 Granted 1,960,000 0.90 120,000 0.87 Exercised - - (3,600 ) 0.92 Forfeited (100,000 ) 0.88 (741,400 ) 0.89 Outstanding at end of year 1,860,000 $ 0.89 1,235,000 $ 0.88 Shares exercisable at end of year - - 480,200 $ 0.89
Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, by Exercise Price Range [Table Text Block]	Options outstanding Option exercisable Stock option Number outstanding Weighted contractual life Weighted exercise Aggregate 31, Number exercisable Weighted exercise Aggregate 31, $1.07 700,000 700,000 $0.96 2,268,000 2,268,000 $1.318 53,600 53,600 $1.26 413,360 413,360 $1.648 10,000 10,000 $1.426 2,091,000 2,091,000 $1.43 50,000 50,000 $0.25 11,746,800 8,927,568 17,332,760 5.85 $ 0.55 $ 12,412,802 14,513,528 $ 0.61 $ 9,616,123 Options outstanding Option exercisable Stock option with exercise price of: Number Weighted Weighted Aggregate Number Weighted Aggregate $0.878 985,000 433,400 $0.92 30,000 10,800 $1.03 50,000 18,000 $1.04 50,000 18,000 $0.87 120,000 - 1,235,000 8.70 $ 0.88 $ 433,540 480,200 $ 0.89 $ 168,688
Schedule of Nonvested Share Activity [Table Text Block]	Nonvested shares Shares Weighted- date fair value Aggregate intrinsic value At the beginning of year 2014 1,900,445 $ 0.252 $ 2,390,760 Granted 1,099,555 $ 0.82 $ 901,635 Vested - - - Forfeited - - - At the end of year 2014 3,000,000 $ 1.064 $ 3,192,000 Granted - Vested 3,000,000 $ 0.82 2,460,000 Forfeited - - - At the end of year 2015 3,000,000 $ 1.082 $ 3,246,000
2014 Stock Incentive Plan [Member]
Notes Tables
Schedule of Share-based Payment Award, Stock Options, Valuation Assumptions [Table Text Block]	Years ended December 31, 2014 2015 Weighted average risk free rate of return 1.39% - 1.62% 1.32% Weighted average expected option life (in years) 6.82 - 6.87 6.86 Expected volatility rate 77.74% - 79.37% 77.81% Dividend yield - -
2004 Stock Incentive Plan [Member]
Notes Tables
Schedule of Share-based Payment Award, Stock Options, Valuation Assumptions [Table Text Block]	Years ended December 31, 2013 Weighted average risk free rate of return 1.40 % Weighted average expected option life (in years) 6.14 Expected volatility rate 76.67 % Dividend yield -

Note 20 - Income Taxes (Tables)

Note 20 - Income Taxes (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Notes Tables
Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit) [Table Text Block]	December 31, 2013 2014 2015 Current $ (478,966 ) $ (558,696 ) $ (2,071,154 ) Deferred 378,908 44,782 686,892 Total $ (100,058 ) $ (513,914 ) $ (1,384,262 )
Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities [Table Text Block]	December 31, 2014 2015 Current deferred tax assets: Deferred revenue - current $ 594,196 $ 445,314 Accrued expenses and other liabilities 467,758 612,161 Net operating loss carrying forwards 4,233,246 4,718,396 Gross current deferred tax assets 5,295,200 5,775,871 Less: valuation allowance (4,369,119 ) (4,806,407 ) Total current deferred tax assets 926,081 969,464 Non-current deferred tax assets Deferred revenue- non-current $ 268,393 $ 121,133 Net operating loss carrying forwards 10,556,749 10,984,475 Gross non-current deferred tax assets 10,825,142 11,105,608 Less: valuation allowance (10,753,602 ) (11,085,358 ) Total non-current deferred tax assets $ 71,540 $ 20,250 Current deferred tax liabilities: Account receivable and other assets (580,197 ) (15,132 ) Total current deferred tax liabilities $ (580,197 ) $ (15,132 ) Non-current deferred tax liabilities: Intangible assets (546,320 ) (384,883 ) Total non-current deferred tax liabilities $ (546,320 ) $ (384,883 )
Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation [Table Text Block]	Years ended December 31, 2013 2014 2015 Income (loss) before tax $ (8,073,832 ) $ (10,116,814 ) $ 28,201,950 Income tax (benefits) expenses calculated at 25% (2,018,458 ) (2,529,204 ) 7,050,488 Effect of tax holiday (266,396 ) (4,125,912 ) (8,139,429 ) Effect of income tax rate difference in other jurisdictions 305,505 1,789,762 645,873 Non-deductible expenses. 267,748 1,425,655 2,559,649 Non-taxable income (439,861 ) (549,315 ) (893,950 ) Change in valuation allowance 2,251,520 4,502,928 161,631 Income tax expense $ 100,058 $ 513,914 $ 1,384,262

Note 22 - Net Income (Loss) P56

Note 22 - Net Income (Loss) Per Share (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Notes Tables
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Table Text Block]	Years ended December 31, 2013 2014 2015 Net income (loss) attributable to China Finance Online Co. Limited $ (8,573,128 ) $ (7,167,849 ) $ 22,482,416 Weighted average ordinary shares outstanding used in computing basic net income (loss) per share 109,019,513 109,385,712 110,997,871 Plus: Incremental shares from assumed conversions of stock options and nonvested shares - - 14,131,892 Weighted average ordinary shares outstanding used in computing diluted net income (loss) per share 109,019,513 109,385,712 125,129,763 Net income (loss) per share attributable to China Finance Online Co. Limited - basic $ (0.08 ) $ (0.07 ) $ 0.20 - diluted $ (0.08 ) $ (0.07 ) $ 0.18

Note 24 - Noncontrolling Inte57

Note 24 - Noncontrolling Interests (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Notes Tables
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest [Table Text Block]	Commodities Investment Institutional iSTAR Financial Other Total Balance as of January 1, 2013 $ - $ 688,062 $ - $ 63,306 $ - $ 751,368 Acquisition of CFO Tahoe (Note 3) 9,508,295 - - - - 9,508,295 Acquisition of Champion Connection (Note 3) - 1,760,861 938,112 - - 2,698,973 Acquisition of Nontrolling interests of CFO East Win - 586,954 - - - 586,954 Changes in ownership of subsidiaries - 289,656 (1,068,471 ) - - (778,815 ) Paid-in capital from noncontrolling shareholders 1,405,963 - - - - 1,405,963 Share-based compensation (Note 19) - - - 74,376 - 74,376 Net income (loss) 1,056,322 (419,202 ) (64,585 ) (173,297 ) - 399,238 Balance as of December 31, 2013 $ 11,970,580 $ 2,906,331 $ (194,944 ) $ (35,615 ) $ - $ 14,646,352 Business restructure (2,569,160 ) 2,384,519 786,355 - 12,201 613,915 Dividends paid to noncontrolling shareholders (1,030,012 ) - - - - (1,030,012 ) Share-based compensation (Note 19) 158,696 - - - - 158,696 Net income (loss) 2,463,956 (5,290,850 ) (591,411 ) 3,936 (48,510 ) (3,462,879 ) Balance as of December 31, 2014 $ 10,994,060 $ - $ - $ (31,679 ) $ (36,309 ) $ 10,926,072 Dividends paid to noncontrolling shareholders (6,509,680 ) - - - - (6,509,680 ) Changes in controlling ownership interest 1,393,508 - - - 320,956 1,714,464 Paid-in capital from noncontrolling shareholders 641 - - - - 641 Share-based compensation (Note 19) 724,285 - - - - 724,285 Net income (loss) 4,815,506 - - (195,587 ) (284,647 ) 4,335,272 Balance as of December 31, 2015 $ 11,418,320 $ - $ - $ (227,266 ) $ - $ 11,191,054

Note 25 - Commitments and Con58

Note 25 - Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Notes Tables
Schedule of Future Minimum Rental Payments for Operating Leases [Table Text Block]	Year ending 2016 $ 5,437,871 2017 3,359,212 2018 1,632,872 Total $ 10,429,955

Note 26 - Segment and Geograp59

Note 26 - Segment and Geographic Information (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Notes Tables
Reconciliation of Revenue from Segments to Consolidated [Table Text Block]	Years ended December 31, 2013 2014 2015 Commodities brokerage services revenues $ 30,124,245 $ 60,091,117 $ 79,702,654 Financial information and advisory services revenues 11,122,400 10,355,732 17,205,459 Advertising revenue 6,799,109 8,160,310 7,023,399 Hong Kong brokerage services revenues 3,404,767 4,610,516 3,149,063 Others 1,287,556 478,210 324,191 Total revenue from external customers.. $ 52,738,077 $ 83,695,885 $ 107,404,766
Three Operating Segments [Member]
Notes Tables
Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block]	Commodities Subscription Hong Kong Consolidated Net revenues $ 113,720,922 $ 27,236,753 $ 3,149,063 $ 144,106,738 Less: intersegment sales (34,018,268 ) (2,683,704 ) - (36,701,972 ) Net revenues from external customer 79,702,654 24,553,049 3,149,063 107,404,766 Cost of revenues 4,975,361 14,321,339 1,181,538 20,478,238 Less: intersegment cost of revenues - (739,501 ) - (739,501 ) Cost of revenues after elimination 4,975,361 13,581,838 1,181,538 19,738,737 Operating expenses: General and administrative 4,026,984 11,148,924 2,978,161 18,154,069 Product development 2,549,731 8,188,718 - 10,738,449 Sales and marketing 69,674,657 12,139,100 566,396 82,380,153 Loss from impairment of intangible assets 250,360 - - 250,360 Total segments operating expenses 76,501,732 31,476,742 3,544,557 111,523,031 Less: intersegment operating expenses (35,907,706 ) (47,620 ) (110,721 ) (36,066,047 ) Total operating expenses. 40,594,026 31,429,122 3,433,836 75,456,984 Government subsidies 251,828 - - 251,828 Income (loss) from operations $ 34,385,095 $ (20,457,911 ) $ (1,466,311 ) $ 12,460,873 Total segments assets. $ 109,286,634 $ 179,706,230 $ 47,011,111 $ 336,003,975 Less: intersegment assets (51,101,320 ) (122,077,495 ) (18,760,003 ) (191,938,818 ) Total assets. $ 58,185,314 $ 57,628,735 $ 28,251,108 $ 144,065,157 Commodities Subscription Hong Kong Consolidated Net revenues $ 80,943,201 $ 25,250,486 $ 4,610,516 $ 110,804,203 Less: intersegment sales (20,852,084 ) (6,256,234 ) - (27,108,318 ) Net revenues from external customer 60,091,117 18,994,252 4,610,516 83,695,885 Cost of revenues 10,526,980 8,091,595 1,731,651 20,350,226 Less: intersegment cost of revenues - 2,503 - 2,503 Cost of revenues after elimination 10,526,980 8,094,098 1,731,651 20,352,729 Operating expenses: General and administrative 8,320,540 19,544,999 2,655,925 30,521,464 Product development 2,460,048 13,567,759 - 16,027,807 Sales and marketing 52,371,135 12,845,724 586,015 65,802,874 Loss from impairment of intangible assets - 1,802,125 - 1,802,125 Loss from impairment of goodwill - 8,149,525 - 8,149,525 Total segments operating expenses 63,151,723 55,910,132 3,241,940 122,303,795 Less: intersegment operating expenses (24,533,694 ) (15,199,246 ) (117,740 ) (39,850,680 ) Total operating expenses. 38,618,029 40,710,886 3,124,200 82,453,115 Government subsidies 655,437 3,980 - 659,417 Income (loss) from operations $ 11,601,545 $ (29,806,752 ) $ (245,335 ) $ (18,450,542 ) Total segments assets. $ 62,272,231 $ 171,870,606 $ 52,776,273 $ 286,919,110 Less: intersegment assets (26,824,659 ) (127,444,636 ) (18,746,458 ) (173,015,752 ) Total assets. $ 35,447,572 $ 44,425,970 $ 34,029,815 $ 113,903,358 Commodities Subscription Hong Kong Consolidated Net revenues $ 30,124,245 $ 21,656,482 $ 3,404,767 $ 55,185,494 Less: intersegment sales (2,447,417 ) (2,447,417 ) Net revenues from external customer 30,124,245 19,209,065 3,404,767 52,738,077 Cost of revenues 2,613,287 7,018,379 938,404 10,570,070 Operating expenses: General and administrative 1,087,048 10,831,336 3,291,718 15,210,102 Product development 784,083 8,248,244 - 9,032,327 Sales and marketing 22,015,190 10,429,389 591,074 33,035,653 Total segments operating expenses 23,886,321 29,508,969 3,882,792 57,278,082 Less: intersegment operating expenses (2,447,417 ) (2,447,417 ) Total operating expenses 21,438,904 29,508,969 3,882,792 54,830,665 Government subsidies - 11,187 - 11,187 Income (loss) from operations $ 6,072,054 $ (17,307,096 ) $ (1,416,429 ) $ (12,651,471 ) Total segments assets 27,791,654 80,844,211 31,893,233 140,529,098 Less: intersegment balances - (7,036,363 ) - (7,036,363 ) Total assets $ 27,791,654 $ 73,807,848 $ 31,893,233 $ 133,492,735

Schedule I - Financial Inform60

Schedule I - Financial Information of Parent Company (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Notes Tables
Condensed Cash Flow Statement [Table Text Block]	Year ended December 31, 2013 2014 2015 Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities $ (14,469,067 ) $ 3,204,749 $ (835,965 ) Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities (9,440,165 ) (5,685,885 ) 38,523,306 Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 35,830,988 1,430,739 (6,061,473 ) Effect of exchange rate changes $ (46,900 ) $ (95,269 ) $ (1,452,505 )
Parent Company [Member]
Notes Tables
Condensed Balance Sheet [Table Text Block]	December 31, 2014 2015 Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,383,205 $ 971,500 Amounts due from subsidiaries, VIEs and VIE’s subsidiaries 7,492,739 7,350,974 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 2,479,810 290,603 Dividends receivable 17,541,570 16,529,639 Total current assets 28,897,324 25,142,716 Investments in subsidiaries, VIEs and VIE’s subsidiaries 48,389,562 76,682,094 Rental deposits 66,893 - Total assets $ 77,353,779 $ 101,824,810 Liabilities and shareholders' equity Current liabilities: Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 296,866 279,801 Amounts due to subsidiaries, VIEs and VIE's subsidiaries 12,441,549 13,506,638 Total current liabilities $ 12,738,415 $ 13,786,439 Shareholders' equity Ordinary shares (112,417,933 and 118,098,018 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively) 56,386,606 56,856,000 Additional paid-in capital 24,207,606 28,145,846 Accumulated other comprehensive income 12,064,338 8,597,295 Retained deficits (28,043,186 ) (5,560,770 ) Total shareholders' equity 64,615,364 88,038,371 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 77,353,779 $ 101,824,810
Condensed Income Statement [Table Text Block]	December 31, 2013 2013 2015 Cost of revenues $ 2,584 $ - $ - Gross loss (2,584 ) - - Operating expenses: General and administrative 1,417,843 1,418,198 1,226,800 Product development 62,914 50,859 - Sales and marketing 160,112 108,384 - Share-based compensation 2,539,274 4,132,182 3,812,733 Total operating expenses 4,180,143 5,709,623 5,039,533 Interest income 605 30 47 Equity in earnings (deficits) of subsidiaries, VIEs and VIE's subsidiaries (4,985,519 ) (6,394,055 ) 28,643,095 Exchange gain (loss), net 594,513 (76,351 ) (1,011,509 ) Other income (loss), net - 674,414 (109,684 ) Gain from sales of cost method investment - 4,337,736 - Net income (loss) $ (8,573,128 ) $ (7,167,849 ) $ 22,482,416 Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax: Changes in foreign currency translation adjustment 1,195,795 (221,070 ) (3,467,043 ) Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax 1,195,795 (221,070 ) (3,467,043 ) Comprehensive income (loss) $ (7,377,333 ) $ (7,388,919 ) $ 19,015,373
Schedule of Stockholders Equity [Table Text Block]	Ordinary shares Shares Amount Additional Accumulated other Retained Total Balance as of January 1, 2013. 110,955,383 $ 14,328 $ 81,163,243 $ 11,089,820 $ (12,302,209 ) $ 79,965,182 Exercise of share options by employees. 190,250 25 30,415 - - 30,440 Share-based compensation. - - 2,539,274 - - 2,539,274 Equity pick up from compensation of a subsidiary - - 421,473 - - 421,473 Business combination. - - 191,861 - - 191,861 Foreign currency translation adjustment - - - 1,195,795 - 1,195,795 Net loss. - - - - (8,573,128 ) (8,573,128 ) Balance as of December 31, 2013 111,145,633 $ 14,353 $ 84,346,266 $ 12,285,615 $ (20,875,337 ) $ 75,770,897 Transfer share premium to share capital - 55,718,184 (55,718,184 ) - - - Exercise of share options by employees 1,164,300 654,055 - - - 654,055 Restricted shares issued 108,000 14 - - - 14 Share-based compensation - - 4,132,182 - - 4,132,182 Equity pick up from compensation of VIE's subsidiaries - - 408,075 - - 408,075 Business restructure - - (8,960,733 ) - - (8,960,733 ) Foreign currency translation adjustment - - - (221,277 ) - (221,277 ) Net loss - - - - (7,167,849 ) (7,167,849 ) Balance as of December 31, 2014 112,417,933 $ 56,386,606 $ 24,207,606 $ 12,064,338.00 $ (28,043,186 ) $ 64,615,364 Issuance of ordinary shares for the plan of stock options and restricted shares 4,000,000 520 - - - 520 Exercise of share options by employees 435,000 293,654 - - - 293,654 Exercise of share options by nonemployees 1,095,000 175,200 - - - 175,200 Restricted shares issued 150,085 20 - - - 20 Share-based compensation - - 3,812,733 - - 3,812,733 Equity pick up from compensation of VIE's subsidiaries - - 1,519,015 - - 1,519,015 Changes of controlling ownership interest - - (1,393,508 ) - - (1,393,508 ) Foreign currency translation adjustment - - - (3,467,043 ) - (3,467,043 ) Net income - - - - 22,482,416 22,482,416 Balance as of December 31, 2015 118,098,018 $ 56,856,000 $ 28,145,846 $ 8,597,295 $ (5,560,770 ) $ 88,038,371
Condensed Cash Flow Statement [Table Text Block]	December 31, 2013 2014 2015 Operating activities: Net income (loss) $ (8,573,128 ) $ (7,167,849 ) $ 22,482,416 Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: Stock-based compensation 2,539,274 4,132,182 3,812,733 Gain from sales of cost method investment - (4,337,736 ) - Equity in deficits (earnings) of subsidiaries, VIEs and VIE’s subsidiaries 4,985,519 6,394,055 (28,643,095 ) Changes in assets and liabilities: Prepaid expenses and other current assets (63,446 ) (143,380 ) 20,339 Amounts due from subsidiaries, VIEs and VIE’s subsidiaries (4,092,500 ) 983,297 142,303 Rental deposits (271 ) - 66,893 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 34,392 10,825 (8,035 ) Amounts due to subsidiaries, VIEs and VIE’s subsidiaries 1,779,098 1,535,073 1,065,088 Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities. (3,391,062 ) 1,406,467 (1,061,358 ) Investing activities: Dividend receivable from subsidiaries 1,140,713 1,375,727 1,011,931 Capital injection to subsidiaries. - (2,774,315 ) (3,000,000 ) Proceeds from sales of cost method investment - - 2,168,868 Net cash provided (used in) by investing activities.. 1,140,713 (1,398,588 ) 180,799 Financing activities: Proceeds from stock options exercised by employees.. 30,440 654,055 293,654 Proceeds from stock options exercised by nonemployees.. - - 175,200 Net cash provided by financing activities 30,440 654,055 468,854 Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents (2,219,909 ) 661,934 (411,705 ) Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the year 2,941,180 721,271 1,383,205 Cash and cash equivalents, end of the year $ 721,271 $ 1,383,205 $ 971,500

Note 1 - Organization and Pri61

Note 1 - Organization and Principal Activities (Details Textual)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Strategic Consulting Services Agreement [Member]
Term of Agreement	20 years
Agreement Fee as a Percentage of VIEs Income Before Tax	30.00%
Technical Support Services Agreement [Member]
Term of Agreement	10 years
Agreement Fee as a Percentage of VIEs Income Before Tax	30.00%
Operating Support Services Agreement [Member]
Term of Agreement	10 years
Agreement Fee as a Percentage of VIEs Income Before Tax	40.00%

Note 1 - Organization and Pri62

Note 1 - Organization and Principal Activities - Significant Subsidiaries, VIEs and VIEs' Subsidiaries (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015Rate
CFO Meining [Member]
Subsidiary, date of incorporation or acquisition	Oct. 1, 2006
CFO Newrand Training [Member]
Subsidiary, date of incorporation or acquisition	Oct. 17, 2008
CFO Huiying [Member[
Subsidiary, date of incorporation or acquisition	Dec. 18, 2009
CFO Tahoe [Member]
Subsidiary, date of incorporation or acquisition	Sep. 30, 2013
CFO Shenzhen Shangtong [Member]
Subsidiary, date of incorporation or acquisition	Sep. 23, 2009
CFO Zhengjin Fujian [Member]
Subsidiary, date of incorporation or acquisition	Jan. 6, 2013
CFO Zhengjin Shanghai [Member]
Subsidiary, date of incorporation or acquisition	Dec. 12, 2013
CFO Zhengjin Tianjin [Member]
Subsidiary, date of incorporation or acquisition	Jul. 23, 2013
CFO Henghui [Member]
Subsidiary, date of incorporation or acquisition	Sep. 30, 2013
CFO Zhengjin Beijing [Member]
Subsidiary, date of incorporation or acquisition	Jan. 13, 2014
CFO Yingliboa [Member]
Subsidiary, date of incorporation or acquisition	Jan. 15, 2014
CFO Zhengjin Qingdao [Member]
Subsidiary, date of incorporation or acquisition	Sep. 4, 2014
CFO Zhengjin Jiangsu [Member]
Subsidiary, date of incorporation or acquisition	Nov. 19, 2014
CFO iTougu [Member]
Subsidiary, date of incorporation or acquisition	Dec. 8, 2014
CFO Tibet [Member]
Subsidiary, date of incorporation or acquisition	Aug. 22, 2015
CFO Guiwo [Member]
Subsidiary, date of incorporation or acquisition	Apr. 1, 2015
CFO Fuhua [Member]
Subsidiary, date of incorporation or acquisition	Dec. 31, 2000
CFO Chongzhi [Member]
Subsidiary, date of incorporation or acquisition	Jun. 6, 2008
CFO Qicheng [Member]
Subsidiary, date of incorporation or acquisition	Dec. 18, 2009
CFO Newrand [Member]
Subsidiary, date of incorporation or acquisition	Oct. 17, 2008
Stockstar Wealth Management [Member]
Subsidiary, date of incorporation or acquisition	Apr. 12, 2011
CFO Securities Consulting [Member]
Subsidiary, date of incorporation or acquisition	Jan. 9, 2009
CFO Beijing [Member]
Subsidiary, date of incorporation or acquisition	Jul. 9, 1998
Subsidiary, legal ownership interest (Rate)	10000.00%
CFO Software [Member]
Subsidiary, date of incorporation or acquisition	Dec. 7, 2004
Subsidiary, legal ownership interest (Rate)	10000.00%
CFO Genius [Member]
Subsidiary, date of incorporation or acquisition	Sep. 21, 2006
Subsidiary, legal ownership interest (Rate)	10000.00%
CFO Zhengyong [Member]
Subsidiary, date of incorporation or acquisition	Aug. 17, 2008
Subsidiary, legal ownership interest (Rate)	10000.00%
CFO Zhengtong [Member]
Subsidiary, date of incorporation or acquisition	Jun. 24, 2008
Subsidiary, legal ownership interest (Rate)	10000.00%
iSTAR Financial Holdings [Member]
Subsidiary, date of incorporation or acquisition	Jul. 16, 2007
Subsidiary, legal ownership interest (Rate)	8500.00%
iSTAR Securities [Member]
Subsidiary, date of incorporation or acquisition	Nov. 23, 2007
Subsidiary, legal ownership interest (Rate)	8500.00%
iSTAR Futures [Member]
Subsidiary, date of incorporation or acquisition	Apr. 16, 2008
Subsidiary, legal ownership interest (Rate)	8500.00%
iSTAR Wealth Management [Member]
Subsidiary, date of incorporation or acquisition	Oct. 8, 2008
Subsidiary, legal ownership interest (Rate)	8500.00%
iSTAR Credit [Member]
Subsidiary, date of incorporation or acquisition	Feb. 10, 2012
Subsidiary, legal ownership interest (Rate)	8500.00%

Note 1 - Organization and Pri63

Note 1 - Organization and Principal Activities - Consolidated VIEs Revenue Producing Assets (Details) - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Intangible assets	$ 1,539,534	$ 2,185,280
Precious Metals Trading Right [Member] | Precious Metals Business [Member]
Intangible assets	966,222	1,291,061
Customer Relationships [Member] | Precious Metals Business [Member]
Intangible assets	$ 573,312	$ 894,219

Note 1 - Organization and Pri64

Note 1 - Organization and Principal Activities - Assets and Liabilities of the VIEs and Their Subsidiaries, Before Intercompany Elimination (Details) - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 85,734,048	$ 32,538,513	$ 36,370,950	$ 40,905,996
Consideration receivable		13,400,882
Other current assets	1,358,126	784,507
Total current assets	120,734,896	92,214,207
Property and equipment, net	5,789,534	4,862,949
Acquired intangible assets, net	1,539,534	2,185,280
Cost method investment	554,392	1,217,617	1,138,899	$ 802,202
Equity method investment, net	1,228,269	0
Rental deposits	1,422,626	1,387,653
Guarantee fund deposits	6,076,036	4,874,332
Assets	144,065,157	113,903,358	$ 133,492,735
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable (including accounts payable of the consolidated variable interest entities without recourse to China Finance Online Co. Limited $1,997,774 and $3,387,125 as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2015, respectively)	5,493,728	9,852,491
Total current liabilities	43,758,927	36,442,880
Total liabilities	44,835,732	38,361,922
VIEs And Their Subsidiaries, Before Intercompany Elimination [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	47,788,398	17,615,035
Consideration receivable		13,400,882
Account receivable -others, net	45,278,278	22,217,745
Loan receivable		10,295,800
Other current assets	3,971,332	6,558,399
Total current assets	97,038,008	70,087,861
Property and equipment, net	4,311,095	3,242,905
Acquired intangible assets, net	1,539,534	2,185,280
Cost method investment	554,392	907,919
Equity method investment, net	1,228,269
Rental deposits	989,383	913,187
Guarantee fund deposits	5,850,623	4,604,924
Investment in subsidiaries	43,553,986	43,751,417
Deferred tax assets, non-current	4,982	13,328
Assets	155,070,272	125,706,821
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable (including accounts payable of the consolidated variable interest entities without recourse to China Finance Online Co. Limited $1,997,774 and $3,387,125 as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2015, respectively)	20,425,274	10,514,186
Accounts payable	3,387,125	18,843,147
Total current liabilities	23,812,399	29,357,333
Non-current liabilities	571,924	899,356
Total liabilities	24,384,323	30,256,689
VIEs And Their Subsidiaries, Before Intercompany Elimination [Member] | Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Current liabilities:
Total liabilities	$ 44,591,484	$ 42,155,248

Note 1 - Organization and Pri65

Note 1 - Organization and Principal Activities - Net Revenue and Net Income (Loss) of the VIEs and Their Subsidiaries, Before Intercompany Elimination (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Net revenues	$ 107,404,766	$ 83,695,885	$ 52,738,077
Net income (loss)	22,482,416	(7,167,849)	(8,573,128)
VIEs And Their Subsidiaries, Before Intercompany Elimination [Member]
Net revenues	136,412,062	98,207,958	58,549,393
Net income (loss)	$ 49,300,399	$ 12,305,855	$ (5,469,402)

Note 1 - Organization and Pri66

Note 1 - Organization and Principal Activities - Net Cash Provided By (Used In) of the VIEs and Their Subsidiaries, Before Intercompany Elimination (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	$ 19,816,980	$ 1,172,136	$ 158,656
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	40,557,824	(4,598,163)	7,577,511
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(5,592,080)	(371,719)	(12,137,905)
Effect of exchange rate changes	(1,587,189)	(34,691)	(133,308)
VIEs And Their Subsidiaries, Before Intercompany Elimination [Member]
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(835,965)	3,204,749	(14,469,067)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	38,523,306	(5,685,885)	(9,440,165)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(6,061,473)	1,430,739	35,830,988
Effect of exchange rate changes	$ (1,452,505)	$ (95,269)	$ (46,900)

Note 2 - Summary of Significa67

Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details Textual)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015CNY (¥)	Dec. 31, 2014CNY (¥)	Dec. 31, 2013CNY (¥)	Dec. 31, 2012USD ($)
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use	$ 0	$ 1,802,125	$ 0
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	0	8,149,525	0
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Indefinite-lived (Excluding Goodwill)	250,360	0	0
Equity Method Investments	$ 1,228,269	0
Value Added Tax, Rate	6.00%
Business Tax On Services Provided, Expense	$ 1,663,869	1,425,835	598,044
Value Added Tax Payable, As A Percentage of Subscription-Based Revenue, Threshold For Refund Of Excess Value Added Tax	3.00%
Value Added Tax Receivable	$ 328,817	425,908	639,936
Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value | ¥				¥ 79,461,280	¥ 19,726,992	¥ 26,974,664
Advertising Expense	4,908,593	7,505,506	2,391,762
Payments for Commissions	5,049,661	11,546,126	3,125,982
Cost Method Investments	$ 554,392	$ 1,217,617	$ 1,138,899				$ 802,202
Value Added Tax On Subscription-Based Revenue [Member] | The Group's PRC Subsidiaries, VIEs and VIEs' Subsidiaries [Member]
Value Added Tax, Rate	17.00%
Minimum [Member]
Business Tax On Services Provided	3.00%
Maximum [Member]
Business Tax On Services Provided	5.00%

Note 2 - Summary of Significa68

Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Property and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Technology Infrastructure [Member]
Property and equipment, useful life (Year)	5 years
Computer Equipment [Member]
Property and equipment, useful life (Year)	5 years
Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment [Member]
Property and equipment, useful life (Year)	5 years
Vehicles [Member]
Property and equipment, useful life (Year)	5 years
Leasehold Improvements [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property and equipment, useful life (Year)	5 years

Note 2 - Summary of Significa69

Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Amortization of Definite-Lived Intangible Assets (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Securities Consulting License And Related Trademarks [Member]
Acquired intangible assets (Year)	15 years
Completed Technology [Member]
Acquired intangible assets (Year)	5 years
Customer Relationships [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Acquired intangible assets (Year)	4 years
Customer Relationships [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Acquired intangible assets (Year)	5 years

Note 2 - Summary of Significa70

Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Revenue Recognition (Details) - Precious Metal Trading Securities [Member] - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Commodities trading gains	$ 53,776,323	$ 38,297,005
Commission income	22,913,704	17,397,978
Carrying charges	3,012,627	4,396,134
Total	$ 79,702,654	$ 60,091,117

Note 2 - Summary of Significa71

Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Clients Accounting For 10% or More of Accounts Receivable (Details) - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014
Client A [Member]
Amount		[1]	$ 1,963,900
Percentage (Dimensionless number)		[1]	13.50%
Client B [Member]
Amount		[1]	$ 5,044,178
Percentage (Dimensionless number)		[1]	34.60%
Client C [Member]
Amount	$ 4,245,971			[1]
Percentage (Dimensionless number)	25.90%			[1]
[1]	Represented less than 10% of consolidated account receivable balance.

Note 3 - Acquisitions (Details

Note 3 - Acquisitions (Details Textual) - USD ($)	Apr. 01, 2015	Sep. 30, 2013	Jul. 01, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Jun. 01, 2014
Goodwill				$ 16,974,437	$ 6,699,620	$ 7,089,780
CFO Tahoe [Member]
Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired		60.00%					20.00%
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross		$ 6,506,181
Goodwill		$ 7,056,338
Business Combination, Pro Forma Information, Revenue of Acquiree since Acquisition Date, Actual				5,988,280
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Net Income (Loss)				1,864,234
Henghui (Tianjin) Precious Metals Investment Co., Ltd [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Noncontrolling Owners		55.00%
CFO GB [Member]
Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired							40.00%
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross			$ 4,044,980
Business Acquisition Percentage Of Voting Interests Transferred			30.00%
CFO MF [Member]
Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired							30.00%
Business Acquisition Percentage Of Voting Interests Transferred			30.00%
CFO MF [Member] | Contingent Consideration [Member]
Business Acquisition Percentage Of Voting Interests Transferred			5.00%
CFO Netinfo [Member]
Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired			100.00%
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross			$ 808,996
Goodwill			$ 168,887
Business Combination, Pro Forma Information, Revenue of Acquiree since Acquisition Date, Actual				286,500
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Net Income (Loss)				$ (355,322)
Fortune Zhengjin [Member] | CFO Guiwo [Member]
Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired	100.00%
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross	$ 16,278
Goodwill	$ 19,906

Note 3 - Acquisitions - Busines

Note 3 - Acquisitions - Business Acquisitions Purchase Price Allocation (Details) - USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013	Jul. 01, 2013	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Goodwill			$ 6,699,620	$ 7,089,780	$ 16,974,437
CFO Tahoe [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 5,279,425
Prepaid expenses and current assets	1,135,765
Accounts receivable	2,143,957
Property and equipment, net	47,770
Rental deposit	72,431
Guarantee fund deposits	1,626,545
Total assets acquired	12,256,120
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	(2,810,425)
Deferred tax liabilities	(487,557)
Total net assets	8,958,138
Noncontrolling interest	(9,508,295)
Goodwill	7,056,338
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross	6,506,181
CFO Tahoe [Member] | Precious Metals Trading Right [Member]
Commodities trading right	699,414
CFO Tahoe [Member] | Customer Relationships [Member]
Finite lived intangible assets	$ 1,250,813
Finite lived Intangible assets, useful life (Year)	4 years 109 days
CFO Netinfo [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 121,044
Prepaid expenses and current assets		339,296
Accounts receivable		4,912
Total assets acquired		1,063,909
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		(274,748)
Deferred tax liabilities		(149,664)
Total net assets		640,109
Goodwill		168,887
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross		808,996
Income tax payable		612
CFO Netinfo [Member] | Securities Consulting License [Member]
Finite lived intangible assets		$ 598,657
Finite lived Intangible assets, useful life (Year)		15 years

Note 3 - Acquisitions - Acquisi

Note 3 - Acquisitions - Acquisition of Champion Connection Purchase Price Allocation (Details) - USD ($)	Jul. 01, 2013	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Goodwill		$ 6,699,620	$ 7,089,780	$ 16,974,437
Champion Connection [Member]
Property and equipment, net	$ 199,803
Total assets acquired	199,803
Goodwill	6,544,150
Cash consideration	4,044,980
Total purchase price	6,743,953
Champion Connection [Member] | CFO GB [Member]
The fair value of 30% shares of CFO GB	1,760,861
Champion Connection [Member] | CFO MF [Member]
The fair value of 30% shares of CFO GB	804,142
Contingent consideration of 5% shares of CFO MF	$ 133,970

Note 3 - Acquisitions - Acqui75

Note 3 - Acquisitions - Acquisition of Champion Connection Purchase Price Allocation (Details) (Parentheticals)	Jul. 01, 2013
CFO GB [Member]
% shares (Dimensionless number)	30.00%
CFO MF [Member]
% shares (Dimensionless number)	30.00%
CFO MF [Member] | Contingent Consideration [Member]
% shares (Dimensionless number)	5.00%

Note 4 - Business Restructure (

Note 4 - Business Restructure (Details Textual)	Jun. 01, 2014USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013USD ($)	Jul. 01, 2013USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013USD ($)
Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) from Disposal of Discontinued Operation, before Income Tax					$ 90,666
CFO Tahoe [Member]
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross		$ 6,506,181
Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired	20.00%	60.00%
CFO GB [Member]
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross			$ 4,044,980
Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired	40.00%
CFO MF [Member]
Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired	30.00%
CFO GB and CFO MF [Member]
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross	$ 1,620,877
Precious Metal Trading Securities [Member]
Number of VIE Subsidiaries	3
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]
VIE Equity Interest Percentage Sold	100.00%
Subsidiary of VIE [Member] | Precious Metal Trading Securities [Member]
Percentage of Net Income Sold	20.00%

Note 5 - Accounts Receivable -

Note 5 - Accounts Receivable - Accounts Receivable (Details) - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Margin Clients [Member]
Accounts receivable-margin clients	$ 4,367,417	$ 1,698,861
Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts	0	0
Accounts receivable - net of allowance for doubtful account	4,367,417	1,698,861
Others [Member]
Accounts receivable-margin clients	12,048,306	12,928,570
Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts	(40,592)	(43,077)
Accounts receivable - net of allowance for doubtful account	12,007,714	12,885,493
Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts	$ (40,592)	$ (43,077)

Note 6 - Consideration Receiv78

Note 6 - Consideration Receivable (Details Textual) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Nov. 30, 2015	Mar. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2013
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	40.00%			55.00%	20.00%
Proceeds from Sale of Equity Method Investments	$ 12,765,427		$ 11,445,202
Consideration Receivable		13,400,882
Equity Method Investment, Other than Temporary Impairment		0
Lang Fang Developer [Member]
Equity Method Investment, Aggregate Cost						$ 22,142,400
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage						49.00%
Equity Method Investment, Amount Sold			24,930,702
Proceeds from Sale of Equity Method Investments			$ 11,481,244
Consideration Receivable		$ 13,400,882
Equity Interest Pledged as Collateral, Percentage		100.00%
Equity Method Investment, Other than Temporary Impairment		$ 0

Note 7 - Prepaid Expenses and79

Note 7 - Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets - Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets (Details) - USD ($)		Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Prepayment of advertising fees		$ 209,778	$ 213,837
Advertising deposit		196,290	355,390
Advances to suppliers		1,272,519	840,308
VAT refund receivable		68,429	139,908
Interest receivable		65	1,264,075
Prepayment of office rental		170,536	380,325
Amount due from noncontrolling shareholders (i)	[1]		2,393,645
Sales of cost method investment receivable (Note 11)			2,168,868
Amounts due from equity method investee		212,904
Other current assets		1,358,126	784,507
Total		$ 3,488,647	$ 8,540,863
[1]	The amounts due from noncontrolling shareholders represented the interest free loans to the noncontrolling shareholders. Pursuant to the agreement, all the loans were for temporary cash turnover purpose and were received in the first quarter of 2015.

Note 8 - Loan Receivable (Detai

Note 8 - Loan Receivable (Details Textual) ¥ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2013USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015CNY (¥)	Dec. 31, 2015USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014USD ($)
Equity Method Investment, Other than Temporary Impairment					$ 0
Interest Income, Consideration and Loan Receivable	$ 693,231			$ 2,283,875	$ 3,783,929
Lang Fang Developer [Member]
Equity Interest Pledged as Collateral, Percentage					100.00%
Equity Method Investment, Other than Temporary Impairment					$ 0
Proceeds from Collection of Loans Receivable		$ 2,100,000	¥ 13

Note 8 - Loan Receivable - Loan

Note 8 - Loan Receivable - Loan Receivable Due From Third Parties (Details) - USD ($)		Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Amount			$ 10,295,800	$ 10,333,120
Minimum [Member]
Interest rate (Dimensionless number)		19.00%
Maximum [Member]
Interest rate (Dimensionless number)		21.00%
A [Member]
Amount	[1]		$ 10,295,800
Interest rate (Dimensionless number)	[1]	1.50%
[1]	The loan was made to the Langfang Developer, in which the Group also made an equity method investment in 2013 (Note 6). The principal and its return are pledged by the 100% equity interests of Langfang Developer.

Note 8 - Loan Receivable - Chan

Note 8 - Loan Receivable - Changes in Loan Receivable (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Beginning balance	$ 10,295,800	$ 10,333,120
Collection	(9,807,585)
Exchange difference	(488,215)	(37,320)
Ending balance		$ 10,295,800

Note 9 - Short-term Investmen83

Note 9 - Short-term Investments (Details Textual) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Trading Securities	$ 0	$ 0
Trading Securities, Realized Gain (Loss)	$ 18,396	$ 47,941

Note 9 - Short-term Investmen84

Note 9 - Short-term Investments - Changes in Level 2 Available-for-sale Securities Measured On a Recurring Basis (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Redemption	$ (105,560,595)	$ (90,323,594)
Exchange difference	(8,309)	11,299
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Beginning balance
Purchases	105,334,483	90,205,903
Redemption	(105,560,595)	(90,323,594)
Realized gain	234,421	106,392
Exchange difference	(8,309)	11,299
Ending balance

Note 9 - Short-term Investmen85

Note 9 - Short-term Investments - Realized Gains of the Sale of Available-for-sale Securities (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Proceeds	$ 105,560,595	$ 90,323,594
Costs	105,334,483	90,205,903
Gains	234,421	106,392
Exchange difference	$ (8,309)	$ 11,299

Note 10 - Fair Value Measurem86

Note 10 - Fair Value Measurement (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring	$ 0	$ 0

Note 10 - Fair Value Measurem87

Note 10 - Fair Value Measurement - Changes in Level 2 Available-for-sale Securities Measured On a Recurring Basis (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Redemption	$ (105,560,595)	$ (90,323,594)
Exchange difference	(8,309)	11,299
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Available-for-sale Securities [Member]
Beginning balance
Purchases	105,334,483
Redemption	(105,560,595)
Realized gain	234,421
Exchange difference	(8,309)
Ending balance
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Beginning balance
Purchases	105,334,483	90,205,903
Redemption	(105,560,595)	(90,323,594)
Realized gain	234,421	106,392
Exchange difference	(8,309)	11,299
Ending balance

Note 10 - Fair Value Measurem88

Note 10 - Fair Value Measurement - Non-financial Assets, Measured at Non-recurring Basis (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended			24 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2015
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	$ 0	$ 8,149,525	$ 0
Impairment of Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	250,360	1,802,125	$ 0	$ 250,360
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member]
Goodwill, Impairment Loss		(8,149,525)
Impairment of Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	$ (250,360)	$ (1,802,125)

Note 11 - Cost Method Investm89

Note 11 - Cost Method Investment (Details Textual) - USD ($)	1 Months Ended		5 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Apr. 30, 2015	May 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Cost Method Investments	$ 554,392			$ 554,392	$ 1,217,617	$ 1,138,899	$ 802,202
Increase (Decrease) in Cost Method Investments					81,064	309,698
Cost-method Investments, Realized Gains			$ 4,648,302	4,648,302	4,337,736
Cost-method Investments, Other than Temporary Impairment				$ 0	0	$ 0
CFO Securities Consulting [Member]
Deconsolidation, Ownership Percentage, Disposed	90.00%
Ocean Butterflies Holdings [Member]
Cost-method Investments, Realized Gains					4,337,736
Sales of Cost Method Investment Receivable					$ 2,168,868
Proceeds from Collection of Consideration Receivable		$ 2,168,868
CFO Securities Consulting [Member]
Cost Method Investments, Ownership Percentage	10.00%			10.00%
Cost Method Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 477,393			$ 477,393

Note 11 - Cost Method Investm90

Note 11 - Cost Method Investment - Changes in Cost Method Investment (Details) - USD ($)	5 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	May 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Beginning balance	$ 1,217,617	$ 1,217,617	$ 1,138,899	$ 802,202
Acquisitions			81,713
consideration of disposal		(5,790,369)	(4,337,736)
Cost-method Investments, Realized Gains	$ 4,648,302	4,648,302	4,337,736
Fair value adjustment of retained noncontrolling investment		477,393
Exchange difference		1,449	(2,995)
Ending balance		$ 554,392	$ 1,217,617	$ 1,138,899

Note 12 - Equity Method Inves91

Note 12 - Equity Method Investment (Details Textual) - USD ($)	1 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Nov. 30, 2015	Mar. 30, 2015
Payments to Acquire Equity Method Investments		$ 307,996	$ 327,263		$ 21,525,608
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	40.00%		40.00%			55.00%	20.00%
Equity Method Investment Ownership Transferred Percentage	15.00%
Equity Method Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 985,586		$ 985,586
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments			(66,970)		$ 2,773,839
Equity Method Investments	$ 1,228,269		$ 1,228,269	$ 0

Note 12 - Equity Method Inves92

Note 12 - Equity Method Investment - Changes in Equity Method Investment (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Beginning balance	$ 0
Acquisitions	307,996
Equity method investment losses	(66,970)		$ 2,773,839
Fair value adjustment of retained noncontrolling investment	985,586
Exchange difference	1,657
Ending balance	$ 1,228,269	$ 0

Note 13 - Deconsolidation (Deta

Note 13 - Deconsolidation (Details Textual) - USD ($)	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Nov. 30, 2015	Mar. 30, 2015
Proceeds from Divestiture of Interest in Subsidiaries and Affiliates		$ 8,463,170
Equity Method Investment Ownership Transferred Percentage	15.00%
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	40.00%	40.00%			55.00%	20.00%
Proceeds from Sale of Equity Method Investments		$ 12,765,427		$ 11,445,202
Equity Method Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 985,586	985,586
CFO Zhongcheng [Member]
Deconsolidation, Ownership Percentage, Disposed	100.00%
Proceeds from Divestiture of Interest in Subsidiaries and Affiliates	$ 9,322,850
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Stock in Subsidiary or Equity Method Investee		$ 9,161,948
CFO Securities Consulting [Member]
Cost Method Investments, Ownership Percentage	10.00%	10.00%
Cost Method Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 477,393	$ 477,393
CFO Securities Consulting [Member] | CFO Zhongcheng [Member]
Ownership Interest of Subsidiary	90.00%	90.00%
CFO Aishang [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Stock in Subsidiary or Equity Method Investee		$ 837,853
Equity Method Investment Ownership Transferred Percentage	15.00%
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	40.00%	40.00%			55.00%
Proceeds from Sale of Equity Method Investments	$ 3,861
Equity Method Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 985,586	$ 985,586

Note 14 - Property and Equipm94

Note 14 - Property and Equipment, Net (Details Textual) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Depreciation	$ 1,364,048	$ 1,524,655	$ 1,732,035

Note 14 - Property and Equipm95

Note 14 - Property and Equipment, Net - Property and Equipment (Details) - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Property and Equipment, Gross	$ 22,409,915	$ 21,430,918
Less: accumulated depreciation	(16,620,381)	(16,567,969)
	5,789,534	4,862,949
Technology Equipment [Member]
Property and Equipment, Gross	10,638,276	9,842,789
Computer Equipment [Member]
Property and Equipment, Gross	2,163,506	1,995,876
Furniture and Fixtures [Member]
Property and Equipment, Gross	3,800,591	4,052,425
Vehicles [Member]
Property and Equipment, Gross	875,729	929,340
Leasehold Improvements [Member]
Property and Equipment, Gross	$ 4,931,813	$ 4,610,488

Note 15 - Acquired Intangible96

Note 15 - Acquired Intangible Assets, Net (Details Textual) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended			24 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2015
Amortization of Intangible Assets	$ 285,088	$ 448,768	$ 432,957
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Next Twelve Months	393,460			$ 393,460
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Two	393,460			393,460
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Three	32,788			32,788
Impairment of Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	250,360	1,802,125	0	250,360
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets Written Off Related to Sale of Business Unit		3,149,842
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Indefinite-lived (Excluding Goodwill)	250,360	0	$ 0
Commodity Trading Right [Member]
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Indefinite-lived (Excluding Goodwill)	$ 250,360			$ 250,360

Note 15 - Acquired Intangible97

Note 15 - Acquired Intangible Assets, Net - Acquired Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended			24 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2015
Impairment of Intangible Assets Not Subject to Amortization	$ (250,360)	$ 0	$ 0
Accumulated Amortization of Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization	(610,931)	(1,130,988)		$ (610,931)
Disposal of Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization		(3,149,842)
	2,400,825	8,268,235		2,400,825
	(250,360)	(1,802,125)	$ 0	(250,360)
		(3,149,842)
	1,539,534	2,185,280		1,539,534
Completed Technology [Member]
Gross Carrying Amount of Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization		68,639
Accumulated Amortization of Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization		(27,187)
Impairment of Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization		(41,452)
Disposal of Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization
Net Carrying Amount of Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization
Customer Relationships [Member]
Gross Carrying Amount of Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization	1,184,243	1,256,741		1,184,243
Accumulated Amortization of Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization	(610,931)	(362,522)		(610,931)
Impairment of Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization
Disposal of Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization
Net Carrying Amount of Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization	573,312	894,219		573,312
Securities Consulting License And Related Trademarks [Member]
Gross Carrying Amount of Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization		5,570,082
Accumulated Amortization of Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization		(741,279)
Impairment of Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization		(1,760,673)
Disposal of Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization		(3,068,130)
Net Carrying Amount of Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization
Commodity Trading Right [Member]
Gross Carrying Amount of Intangible Assets Not Subject to Amortization	1,216,582	1,372,773		1,216,582
Impairment of Intangible Assets Not Subject to Amortization	(250,360)			(250,360)
Disposal of Intangible Assets Not Subject to Amortization		(81,712)
Net Carrying Amount of Intangible Assets Not Subject to Amortization	$ 966,222	$ 1,291,061		$ 966,222

Note 16 - Goodwill (Details Tex

Note 16 - Goodwill (Details Textual) - USD ($)	Jun. 01, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Goodwill, Impairment Loss			$ 0	$ 8,149,525	$ 0
CFO Guiwo [Member]
Goodwill, Impairment Loss			$ 0
Investment Advisory Services [Member]
Goodwill, Impairment Loss		$ 8,149,525
Institutional Subscription Services [Member]
Goodwill, Written off Related to Sale of Business Unit	$ 1,676,490

Note 16 - Goodwill - Changes in

Note 16 - Goodwill - Changes in Goodwill (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Balance	$ 7,089,780	$ 16,974,437
Impairment	0	(8,149,525)	$ 0
Exchange difference	(410,066)	(58,642)
Balance	6,699,620	7,089,780	16,974,437
CFO East Win [Member]
Impairment		(3,112,365)
Champion Connection [Member]
Impairment		(4,867,660)
Disposal of Champion Connection's business (Note4)		(1,676,490)
CFO Netinfo [Member]
Impairment		(169,500)
CFO Guiwo [Member]
Impairment	0
Acquisition of CFO Guiwo (Note3)	19,906
Precious Metal Trading [Member]
Balance	7,089,780	7,115,479
Exchange difference	(410,066)	(25,699)
Balance	6,699,620	7,089,780	7,115,479
Precious Metal Trading [Member] | CFO East Win [Member]
Impairment
Precious Metal Trading [Member] | Champion Connection [Member]
Impairment
Disposal of Champion Connection's business (Note4)
Precious Metal Trading [Member] | CFO Netinfo [Member]
Impairment
Precious Metal Trading [Member] | CFO Guiwo [Member]
Acquisition of CFO Guiwo (Note3)	19,906
Investment Advisory Services [Member]
Balance		8,182,468
Exchange difference		(32,943)
Balance			8,182,468
Investment Advisory Services [Member] | CFO East Win [Member]
Impairment		(3,112,365)
Investment Advisory Services [Member] | Champion Connection [Member]
Impairment		(4,867,660)
Disposal of Champion Connection's business (Note4)
Investment Advisory Services [Member] | CFO Netinfo [Member]
Impairment		(169,500)
Investment Advisory Services [Member] | CFO Guiwo [Member]
Acquisition of CFO Guiwo (Note3)
Institutional Subscription Services [Member]
Balance		1,676,490
Exchange difference
Balance			$ 1,676,490
Institutional Subscription Services [Member] | CFO East Win [Member]
Impairment
Institutional Subscription Services [Member] | Champion Connection [Member]
Impairment
Disposal of Champion Connection's business (Note4)		(1,676,490)
Institutional Subscription Services [Member] | CFO Netinfo [Member]
Impairment
Institutional Subscription Services [Member] | CFO Guiwo [Member]
Acquisition of CFO Guiwo (Note3)

Note 17 - Accounts Payable - Ac

Note 17 - Accounts Payable - Accounts Payable (Details) - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Amount due to customers of Hong Kong brokerage business	$ 5,493,728	$ 9,852,491
Amount due to noncontrolling shareholders	910,864	876,911
Others	471,399	409,386
Amount Due to Customers of H.K. Brokerage Business [Member]
Amount due to customers of Hong Kong brokerage business	2,388,638	7,982,827
Amount Due to Sales Agents [Member]
Amount due to customers of Hong Kong brokerage business	$ 1,722,827	$ 583,367

Note 18 - Accrued Expenses a101

Note 18 - Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities (Details Textual) - iSTAR Futures and iSTAR Wealth Management [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2016	Apr. 30, 2015
Sale of Stock, Percentage of Ownership before Transaction	100.00%
Proceeds from Collection of Consideration Receivable			$ 5.1
Subsequent Event [Member]
Refund, Agreement Expired		$ 5.1

Note 18 - Accrued Expenses a102

Note 18 - Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities - Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities (Details) - USD ($)		Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Accrued bonus		$ 4,825,633	$ 3,612,689
Accrued professional service fees		416,676	760,780
Withholding individual income tax-option exercise		61,683	61,683
Value added taxes and other taxes payable		2,219,300	945,471
Accrued raw data cost		1,285,418	762,492
Accrued bandwidth cost		38,527	127,650
Accrued welfare benefits		61,594	72,160
Amount payable related to business restructure (Note 4)			360,520
Advances related to disposal of subsidiaries (i)	[1]	5,081,927
Accrued sales service fees		578,910	491,981
Others		1,085,757	1,642,308
Total		$ 15,655,425	$ 8,837,734
[1]	On March 30, 2015, the Group signed a sale & purchase agreement with a third party, to transfer the 100% ordinary shares of iSTAR Futures and iSTAR Wealth Management (the "Transaction"). In April 2015, the Group collected partial consideration of approximately $5.1 million. Due to the Transaction was not completed as of December 31, 2015, the agreement was expired automatically. The Group refunded the $5.1 million and entered into a new agreement in April 2016. (Note 28)

Note 19 - Stock Options and 103

Note 19 - Stock Options and Nonvested Shares (Details Textual) - USD ($)

Jan. 02, 2016

Nov. 16, 2015

Jul. 01, 2015

Jul. 01, 2014

Jan. 02, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Nov. 30, 2010

Jul. 31, 2007

Dec. 31, 2015

Dec. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2010

Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense

$ 6,056,033

$ 4,698,953

$ 3,035,122

Fortune Zhengjin [Member]

Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense

1,965,535

560,187

CFO Tahoe [Member]

Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense

267,565

CFO Shangtong [Member]

Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense

$ 10,200

6,584

Restricted Stock [Member]

Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition

3 years 182 days

Restricted Stock [Member] | Fortune Zhengjin [Member]

Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Not yet Recognized, Share-based Awards Other than Options

$ 4,478,097

Restricted Stock [Member] | CFO Tahoe [Member]

Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Not yet Recognized, Share-based Awards Other than Options

873,559

Restricted Stock [Member] | CFO Shangtong [Member]

Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Not yet Recognized, Share-based Awards Other than Options

10,510

Restricted Stock [Member] | Employee [Member] | CFO Huifu [Member]

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Percentage of Net Assets Granted

10.00%

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Percentage of Shares Granted

10.00%

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period, Fair Value

$ 2,464,455

Restricted Stock [Member] | Employee [Member] | CFO Shenzhen Shangtong [Member]

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period

5 years

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Percentage of Net Assets Granted

10.00%

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Percentage of Shares Granted

10.00%

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period, Fair Value

$ 28,965

Restricted Stock [Member] | Employee [Member] | Fortune Zhengjin [Member]

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period

5 years

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Percentage of Net Assets Granted

8.00%

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Percentage of Shares Granted

8.00%

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period, Fair Value

$ 4,681,533

Restricted Stock [Member] | Employee [Member] | CFO Tahoe [Member]

Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition

5 years

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Percentage of Net Assets Granted

1.95%

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Percentage of Shares Granted

1.95%

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period, Fair Value

$ 1,141,124

2004 Stock Incentive Plan [Member]

Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense

$ 546,465

$ 2,664,317

$ 2,539,274

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Authorized

30,688,488

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Gross

14,000,000

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period, Intrinsic Value

$ 1,881,129

$ 647,701

$ 208,895

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested in Period, Fair Value

$ 2,067,037

3,080,628

$ 141,549

Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition

1 year

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value

$ 0.17

Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Not yet Recognized, Stock Options

$ 39,183

2004 Stock Incentive Plan [Member] | Consultants and Strategic Advisers [Member]

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Gross

6,260,000

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period

2 years

2004 Stock Incentive Plan [Member] | Employee Stock Option [Member]

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Gross

7,740,000

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period

3 years

2004 Stock Incentive Plan [Member] | Employee Stock Option [Member] | Two Officers [Member]

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Gross

3,300,000

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period

2 years

2004 Stock Incentive Plan [Member] | Restricted Stock [Member]

Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense

$ 324,496

$ 762,568

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period

3 years

Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition

1 year

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period

1,100,240

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value

$ 1.106

Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Not yet Recognized, Share-based Awards Other than Options

$ 129,801

2004 Stock Incentive Plan [Member] | Restricted Stock [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period

748,162

2004 Stock Incentive Plan [Member] | Restricted Stock [Member] | Employee [Member]

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period

258,086

2007 Equity Incentive Plan [Member]

Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense

$ 1,476,000

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period

0

8,658,048

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value

$ 0.82

2007 Equity Incentive Plan [Member] | Nonvested Ordinary Shares [Member]

Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense

$ 0

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period

3,000,000

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period

10,558,493

1,099,555

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value

$ 0.82

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value

$ 0.82

2007 Equity Incentive Plan [Member] | Restricted Stock [Member]

Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition

1 year

Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Not yet Recognized, Share-based Awards Other than Options

$ 984,000

2014 Stock Incentive Plan [Member]

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Authorized

8,000,000

5,000,000

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Gross

120,000

1,960,000

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period, Intrinsic Value

$ 1,159

$ 0

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested in Period, Fair Value

$ 496,560

$ 0

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value

$ 0.61

$ 0.63

Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Not yet Recognized, Stock Options

$ 345,961

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Additional Shares Authorized

3,000,000

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Available for Grant

31,400

2014 Stock Incentive Plan [Member] | Consultant [Member]

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Gross

30,000

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period

3 years

2014 Stock Incentive Plan [Member] | Employee Stock Option [Member]

Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense

$ 148,451

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Gross

120,000

1,930,000

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period

3 years

Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition

2 years

Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense, Reversal

$ (187,485)

2014 Stock Incentive Plan [Member] | Restricted Stock [Member]

Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense

$ 898,903

$ 310,888

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period

2 years

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period

890,000

Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition

2 years 219 days

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period

3,800,000

15,000

1,780,000

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value

$ 0.742

$ 0.878

Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Not yet Recognized, Share-based Awards Other than Options

$ 3,172,649

2014 Stock Incentive Plan [Member] | Restricted Stock [Member] | Consultant [Member]

Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense

$ 754,354

$ 245,958

Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition

182 days

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period

1,150,000

Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Not yet Recognized, Share-based Awards Other than Options

$ 427,988

2014 Stock Incentive Plan [Member] | Restricted Stock [Member] | Consultant [Member] | Share-based Compensation Award, Tranche One [Member]

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period

2 years

2014 Stock Incentive Plan [Member] | Restricted Stock [Member] | Consultant [Member] | Share-based Compensation Award, Tranche Two [Member]

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period

3 years

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period

50,000

Restricted Stock Issuance and Allocation Agreement of 2007 Equity Incentive Plan [Member] | Nonvested Ordinary Shares [Member]

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period

3,000,000

Restricted Stock Issuance and Allocation Agreement of 2007 Equity Incentive Plan [Member] | Nonvested Ordinary Shares [Member] | Not Vested Under 2007 Plan [Member]

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period

1,900,445

2010 Equity Incentive Plan of iSTAR Financial Holdings [Member] | Nonvested Shares - iSTAR Financial Holdings' Equity Interest [Member]

Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense

$ 495,848

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period

3 years

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period

1,500

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value

$ 1,188

Nonvested Shares Granted, Percentage of Total Equity Interest

15.00%

Nonvested Shares Granted Percentage of Earnings

15.00%

Note 19 - Stock Options and 104

Note 19 - Stock Options and Nonvested Shares - Fair Value Assumptions (Details) - 2004 Stock Incentive Plan [Member]	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Weighted average risk free rate of return (Dimensionless number)	1.40%
Weighted average expected option life (in years) (Year)	6 years 51 days
Expected volatility rate (Dimensionless number)	76.67%

Note 19 - Stock Options and 105

Note 19 - Stock Options and Nonvested Shares - Summary of the Stock Option Activity (Details) - $ / shares	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
2004 Stock Incentive Plan [Member]
Outstanding at beginning of year (in shares)	21,326,160	24,505,348	11,144,998
Outstanding at beginning of year (in dollars per share)	$ 0.57	$ 0.54	$ 0.93
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Gross			14,000,000
Granted (in dollars per share)			$ 0.25
Exercised (in shares)	(2,205,600)	(1,164,300)	(190,250)
Exercised (in dollars per share)	$ 0.22	$ 0.54	$ 0.16
Forfeited (in shares)	(1,787,800)	(2,014,888)	(449,400)
Forfeited (in dollars per share)	$ 1.18	$ 0.27	$ 1.25
Outstanding at end of year (in shares)	17,332,760	21,326,160	24,505,348
Outstanding at end of year (in dollars per share)	$ 0.55	$ 0.57	$ 0.54
Number exercisable (in shares)	14,513,528	14,070,240	10,500,548
Shares exercisable at end of year (in dollars per share)	$ 0.61	$ 0.73	$ 0.93
2014 Stock Incentive Plan [Member]
Outstanding at beginning of year (in shares)	1,860,000
Outstanding at beginning of year (in dollars per share)	$ 0.89
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Gross	120,000	1,960,000
Granted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.87	$ 0.90
Exercised (in shares)	(3,600)
Exercised (in dollars per share)	$ 0.92
Forfeited (in shares)	(741,400)	(100,000)
Forfeited (in dollars per share)	$ 0.89	$ 0.88
Outstanding at end of year (in shares)	1,235,000	1,860,000
Outstanding at end of year (in dollars per share)	$ 0.88	$ 0.89
Number exercisable (in shares)	480,200
Shares exercisable at end of year (in dollars per share)	$ 0.89

Note 19 - Stock Options and 106

Note 19 - Stock Options and Nonvested Shares - Summary of Information with Respect to Stock Options Outstanding (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
2004 Stock Incentive Plan [Member]
Number outstanding (in shares)	17,332,760	21,326,160	24,505,348	11,144,998
Number exercisable (in shares)	14,513,528	14,070,240	10,500,548
Weighted average remaining contractual life, outstanding (Year)	5 years 310 days
Weighted average exercise price, outstanding (in dollars per share)	$ 0.55	$ 0.57	$ 0.54	$ 0.93
Aggregate intrinsic value, outstanding	$ 12,412,802
Weighted average exercise price, exercisable (in dollars per share)	$ 0.61	$ 0.73	$ 0.93
Aggregate intrinsic value, exercisable	$ 9,616,123
Aggregate intrinsic value, exercisable	$ 9,616,123
2004 Stock Incentive Plan [Member] | $1.07 [Member]
Stock option exercise price (in dollars per share)	$ 1.07
Number outstanding (in shares)	700,000
Number exercisable (in shares)	700,000
2004 Stock Incentive Plan [Member] | $0.96 [Member]
Stock option exercise price (in dollars per share)	$ 0.96
Number outstanding (in shares)	2,268,000
Number exercisable (in shares)	2,268,000
2004 Stock Incentive Plan [Member] | $1.318 [Member]
Stock option exercise price (in dollars per share)	$ 1.318
Number outstanding (in shares)	53,600
Number exercisable (in shares)	53,600
2004 Stock Incentive Plan [Member] | $1.26 [Member]
Stock option exercise price (in dollars per share)	$ 1.26
Number outstanding (in shares)	413,360
Number exercisable (in shares)	413,360
2004 Stock Incentive Plan [Member] | $1.648 [Member]
Stock option exercise price (in dollars per share)	$ 1.648
Number outstanding (in shares)	10,000
Number exercisable (in shares)	10,000
2004 Stock Incentive Plan [Member] | $1.426 [Member]
Stock option exercise price (in dollars per share)	$ 1.426
Number outstanding (in shares)	2,091,000
Number exercisable (in shares)	2,091,000
2004 Stock Incentive Plan [Member] | $1.43 [Member]
Stock option exercise price (in dollars per share)	$ 1.43
Number outstanding (in shares)	50,000
Number exercisable (in shares)	50,000
2004 Stock Incentive Plan [Member] | $0.25 [Member]
Stock option exercise price (in dollars per share)	$ 0.25
Number outstanding (in shares)	11,746,800
Number exercisable (in shares)	8,927,568
2014 Stock Incentive Plan [Member]
Number outstanding (in shares)	1,235,000	1,860,000
Number exercisable (in shares)	480,200
Weighted average remaining contractual life, outstanding (Year)	8 years 255 days
Weighted average exercise price, outstanding (in dollars per share)	$ 0.88	$ 0.89
Aggregate intrinsic value, outstanding	$ 433,540
Weighted average exercise price, exercisable (in dollars per share)	$ 0.89
Aggregate intrinsic value, exercisable	$ 168,688
Aggregate intrinsic value, exercisable	$ 168,688
2014 Stock Incentive Plan [Member] | $0.878 [Member]
Stock option exercise price (in dollars per share)	$ 0.878
Number outstanding (in shares)	985,000
Number exercisable (in shares)	433,400
2014 Stock Incentive Plan [Member] | $0.92 [Member]
Stock option exercise price (in dollars per share)	$ 0.92
Number outstanding (in shares)	30,000
Number exercisable (in shares)	10,800
2014 Stock Incentive Plan [Member] | $1.03 [Member]
Stock option exercise price (in dollars per share)	$ 1.03
Number outstanding (in shares)	50,000
Number exercisable (in shares)	18,000
2014 Stock Incentive Plan [Member] | $1.04 [Member]
Stock option exercise price (in dollars per share)	$ 1.04
Number outstanding (in shares)	50,000
Number exercisable (in shares)	18,000
2014 Stock Incentive Plan [Member] | $0.87 [Member]
Stock option exercise price (in dollars per share)	$ 0.87
Number outstanding (in shares)	120,000
Number exercisable (in shares)

Note 19 - Stock Options and 107

Note 19 - Stock Options and Nonvested Shares - Nonvested Shares (Details) - 2007 Equity Incentive Plan [Member] - USD ($)	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2007	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2010
Vested (in shares)			0	8,658,048
Vested (in dollars per share)		$ 0.82
Nonvested Ordinary Shares [Member]
At the beginning of (in shares)		3,000,000	1,900,445
At the beginning of (in dollars per share)		$ 1.064	$ 0.252
At the beginning of		$ 3,192,000	$ 2,390,760
Granted (in shares)	10,558,493		1,099,555
Granted (in dollars per share)			$ 0.82
Granted			$ 901,635
Vested (in shares)		3,000,000
Vested (in dollars per share)		$ 0.82
Vested		$ 2,460,000
Forfeited (in shares)
Forfeited (in dollars per share)
Forfeited
At the end of (in shares)		3,000,000	3,000,000
At the end of (in dollars per share)		$ 1.082	$ 1.064
At the end of		$ 3,246,000	$ 3,192,000

Note 19 - Stock Options and 108

Note 19 - Stock Options and Nonvested Shares - Fair Value Assumptions (Details) - 2014 Stock Incentive Plan [Member]	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Weighted average risk free rate of return (Dimensionless number)	1.32%
Weighted average expected option life (in years) (Year)	6 years 313 days
Expected volatility rate (Dimensionless number)	77.81%
Minimum [Member]
Weighted average risk free rate of return (Dimensionless number)		1.39%
Weighted average expected option life (in years) (Year)		6 years 299 days
Expected volatility rate (Dimensionless number)		77.74%
Maximum [Member]
Weighted average risk free rate of return (Dimensionless number)		1.62%
Weighted average expected option life (in years) (Year)		6 years 317 days
Expected volatility rate (Dimensionless number)		79.37%

Note 20 - Income Taxes (Details

Note 20 - Income Taxes (Details Textual) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended				24 Months Ended	36 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2015
Unrecognized Tax Benefits		$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0		$ 0
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Accrued		$ 0					0
Income Tax Calculation, Deemed-Profit Method, Percentage of Gross Revenues		2.50%
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)		$ (5,560,770)	(28,043,186)		(28,043,186)		(5,560,770)
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance		15,891,765	$ 15,122,721		$ 15,122,721		15,891,765
Deferred Tax Assets, Operating Loss Carryforwards, Subject to Expiration		52,300,000					52,300,000
Deferred Tax Assets, Operating Loss Carryforwards, Not Subject to Expiration		$ 18,700,000					18,700,000
Impact of The Tax Holidays on Basic Net Income per Ordinary Share		$ 0.01	$ 0	$ 0
Dividends Paid By PRC Subsidiaries [Member]
Dividends, Withholding Tax, Percentage		10.00%
Amount Avoided Due to Tax Holiday and Special Tax Concessions [Member]
Income Tax Expense, Amount Avoided		$ 1,102,399	$ 20,851	$ 31,910
Company's Subsidiary Located in the PRC [Member]
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)		(20,300,000)					(20,300,000)
Company's VIEs and Its VIEs' Subsidiaries Located in the PRC [Member]
Retained Earnings, Unappropriated		$ 30,000,000					$ 30,000,000
Inland Revenue, Hong Kong [Member]
Profit Tax		1650.00%					1650.00%
State Administration of Taxation, China [Member]
Enterprise Income Tax (EIT)		25.00%
State Administration of Taxation, China [Member] | Enterprise Qualifying As A "High and New Technology Enterprise" (the HNTE) [Member]
Enterprise Income Tax (EIT)		15.00%
State Administration of Taxation, China [Member] | "Software Enterprises" - Preferential Rate for Three Years [Member]
Enterprise Income Tax (EIT)		12.50%
State Administration of Taxation, China [Member] | Standard EIT Rate [Member]
Enterprise Income Tax (EIT)		25.00%
State Administration of Taxation, China [Member] | Preferential Tax Rate - Software Enterprises [Member] | CFO Qicheng [Member]
Enterprise Income Tax (EIT)					12.50%
State Administration of Taxation, China [Member] | Preferential Tax Rate - Software Enterprises [Member] | CFO Shenzhen Shangtong [Member]
Enterprise Income Tax (EIT)					12.50%
State Administration of Taxation, China [Member] | Preferential Tax Rate - HNTE; Transition Rules of EIT Law [Member] | CFO Software [Member]
Enterprise Income Tax (EIT)				15.00%
State Administration of Taxation, China [Member] | Preferential Tax Rate - HNTE; Transition Rules of EIT Law [Member] | CFO Meining [Member]
Enterprise Income Tax (EIT)							15.00%
State Administration of Taxation, China [Member] | Preferential Tax Rate - HNTE; Transition Rules of EIT Law [Member] | CFO Tibet [Member]
Enterprise Income Tax (EIT)	15.00%
State Administration of Taxation, China [Member] | Preferential Tax Rate for Enterprises in Tibet, China [Member] | CFO Tibet [Member]
Enterprise Income Tax (EIT)						9.00%
State Administration of Taxation, China [Member] | Company and Its Subsidiaries Registered Outside the PRC, but Deemed a Resident Enterprise [Member]
Income Tax Rate		25.00%

Note 20 - Income Taxes - Income

Note 20 - Income Taxes - Income Tax (Provision) Benefit (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Current	$ (2,071,154)	$ (558,696)	$ (478,966)
Deferred	502,052	106,900	357,014
Income tax expense	(1,384,262)	(513,914)	(100,058)
Exchange Difference [Member]
Deferred	$ 686,892	$ 44,782	$ 378,908

Note 20 - Income Taxes - The Pr

Note 20 - Income Taxes - The Principal Components of Deferred Income Taxes Were As Follows (Details) - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	$ 612,161	$ 467,758
Gross current deferred tax assets	5,775,871	5,295,200
Less: valuation allowance	(4,806,407)	(4,369,119)
Total current deferred tax assets	969,464	926,081
Gross non-current deferred tax assets	11,105,608	10,825,142
Less: valuation allowance	(11,085,358)	(10,753,602)
Total non-current deferred tax assets	20,250	71,540
Account receivable and other assets	(15,132)	(580,197)
Total current deferred tax liabilities	(15,132)	(580,197)
Intangible assets	(384,883)	(546,320)
Total non-current deferred tax liabilities	(384,883)	(546,320)
Current [Member]
Deferred revenue	445,314	594,196
Net operating loss carrying forwards	4,718,396	4,233,246
Net operating loss carrying forwards	4,718,396	4,233,246
Non-Current [Member]
Deferred revenue	121,133	268,393
Net operating loss carrying forwards	10,984,475	10,556,749
Net operating loss carrying forwards	$ 10,984,475	$ 10,556,749

Note 20 - Income Taxes - Inc112

Note 20 - Income Taxes - Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Reconciliation (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Income (loss) before tax	$ 28,201,950	$ (10,116,814)	$ (8,073,832)
Income tax (benefits) expenses calculated at 25%	7,050,488	(2,529,204)	(2,018,458)
Effect of tax holiday	(8,139,429)	(4,125,912)	(266,396)
Effect of income tax rate difference in other jurisdictions	645,873	1,789,762	305,505
Non-deductible expenses.	2,559,649	1,425,655	267,748
Non-taxable income	(893,950)	(549,315)	(439,861)
Change in valuation allowance	161,631	4,502,928	2,251,520
Income tax expense	$ 1,384,262	$ 513,914	$ 100,058

Note 20 - Income Taxes - Inc113

Note 20 - Income Taxes - Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Reconciliation (Details) (Parentheticals)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Income tax expense calculated (Dimensionless number)	25.00%	25.00%	25.00%

Note 21 - American Depositar114

Note 21 - American Depositary Shares ("ADS") Plan (Details Textual) - 2004 Plan and 2014 Plan [Member] - shares	1 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Shares Exchange for ADSs	4,000,000
ADSs Received	800,000
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Available for Grant		3,305,800

Note 22 - Net Income (Loss) 115

Note 22 - Net Income (Loss) Per Share (Details Textual) - shares	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Employee Stock Option [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	23,186,160	24,505,348
Nonvested [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	3,000,000	1,900,445
Restricted Stock [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	4,030,240

Note 22 - Net Loss Per Share -

Note 22 - Net Loss Per Share - Computation of Basic and Diluted Income (Loss) Per Share (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Net income (loss) attributable to China Finance Online Co. Limited	$ 22,482,416	$ (7,167,849)	$ (8,573,128)
Weighted average ordinary shares outstanding used in computing basic net income (loss) per share (in shares)	110,997,871	109,385,712	109,019,513
Plus: Incremental shares from assumed conversions of stock options and nonvested shares (in shares)	14,131,892
Weighted average ordinary shares outstanding used in computing diluted net income (loss) per share (in shares)	125,129,763	109,385,712	109,019,513
- basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.20	$ (0.07)	$ (0.08)
- diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.18	$ (0.07)	$ (0.08)

Note 23 - Mainland China Con117

Note 23 - Mainland China Contribution Plan and Profit Appropriation (Details Textual) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Defined Contribution Plan, Cost Recognized	$ 4,353,944	$ 3,685,654	$ 2,710,481

Note 24 - Noncontrolling Int118

Note 24 - Noncontrolling Interests - Noncontrolling Interests (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Balance as of	$ 10,926,072	$ 14,646,352	$ 751,368
Acquisition			13,613,231
Changes in ownership of subsidiaries	1,714,464		(778,815)
Paid-in capital from noncontrolling shareholders	641
Share-based compensation (Note 19)	724,285	158,696	74,376
Net income (loss)	4,335,272	(3,462,879)	399,238
Balance as of	11,191,054	10,926,072	14,646,352
Business restructure		613,915
Dividends paid to noncontrolling shareholders	(6,509,680)	(1,030,012)
Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]
Acquisition			191,861
Paid-in capital from noncontrolling shareholders	641		1,405,963
CFO Tahoe [Member]
Acquisition			9,508,295
Champion Connection [Member]
Acquisition			2,698,973
CFO East Win [Member] | Noncontrolling Interest Not Including Additional Paid In Capital [Member]
Acquisition			586,954
Precious Metal Trading Securities [Member]
Balance as of	10,994,060	11,970,580
Changes in ownership of subsidiaries	1,393,508
Share-based compensation (Note 19)	724,285	158,696
Net income (loss)	4,815,506	2,463,956	1,056,322
Balance as of	11,418,320	10,994,060	11,970,580
Business restructure		(2,569,160)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling shareholders	(6,509,680)	(1,030,012)
Precious Metal Trading Securities [Member] | Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]
Paid-in capital from noncontrolling shareholders	641		1,405,963
Precious Metal Trading Securities [Member] | CFO Tahoe [Member]
Acquisition			9,508,295
Precious Metal Trading Securities [Member] | Champion Connection [Member]
Acquisition
Precious Metal Trading Securities [Member] | CFO East Win [Member] | Noncontrolling Interest Not Including Additional Paid In Capital [Member]
Acquisition
Investment Advisory Services [Member]
Balance as of		2,906,331	688,062
Changes in ownership of subsidiaries			289,656
Share-based compensation (Note 19)
Net income (loss)		(5,290,850)	(419,202)
Balance as of			2,906,331
Business restructure		2,384,519
Dividends paid to noncontrolling shareholders
Investment Advisory Services [Member] | Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]
Paid-in capital from noncontrolling shareholders
Investment Advisory Services [Member] | CFO Tahoe [Member]
Acquisition
Investment Advisory Services [Member] | Champion Connection [Member]
Acquisition			1,760,861
Investment Advisory Services [Member] | CFO East Win [Member] | Noncontrolling Interest Not Including Additional Paid In Capital [Member]
Acquisition			586,954
Institutional Subscription Services [Member]
Balance as of		(194,944)
Changes in ownership of subsidiaries			(1,068,471)
Share-based compensation (Note 19)
Net income (loss)		(591,411)	(64,585)
Balance as of			(194,944)
Business restructure		786,355
Dividends paid to noncontrolling shareholders
Institutional Subscription Services [Member] | Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]
Paid-in capital from noncontrolling shareholders
Institutional Subscription Services [Member] | CFO Tahoe [Member]
Acquisition
Institutional Subscription Services [Member] | Champion Connection [Member]
Acquisition			938,112
Institutional Subscription Services [Member] | CFO East Win [Member] | Noncontrolling Interest Not Including Additional Paid In Capital [Member]
Acquisition
iSTAR Financial Holdings Brokerage Services [Member]
Balance as of	(31,679)	(35,615)	63,306
Changes in ownership of subsidiaries
Share-based compensation (Note 19)			74,376
Net income (loss)	(195,587)	3,936	(173,297)
Balance as of	(227,266)	(31,679)	(35,615)
Business restructure
Dividends paid to noncontrolling shareholders
iSTAR Financial Holdings Brokerage Services [Member] | Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]
Paid-in capital from noncontrolling shareholders
iSTAR Financial Holdings Brokerage Services [Member] | CFO Tahoe [Member]
Acquisition
iSTAR Financial Holdings Brokerage Services [Member] | Champion Connection [Member]
Acquisition
iSTAR Financial Holdings Brokerage Services [Member] | CFO East Win [Member] | Noncontrolling Interest Not Including Additional Paid In Capital [Member]
Acquisition
Other Segments [Member]
Balance as of	(36,309)
Changes in ownership of subsidiaries	320,956
Share-based compensation (Note 19)
Net income (loss)	(284,647)	(48,510)
Balance as of		(36,309)
Business restructure		12,201
Dividends paid to noncontrolling shareholders
Other Segments [Member] | Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]
Paid-in capital from noncontrolling shareholders
Other Segments [Member] | CFO Tahoe [Member]
Acquisition
Other Segments [Member] | Champion Connection [Member]
Acquisition
Other Segments [Member] | CFO East Win [Member] | Noncontrolling Interest Not Including Additional Paid In Capital [Member]
Acquisition

Note 25 - Commitments and Co119

Note 25 - Commitments and Contingencies (Details Textual) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Operating Leases, Rent Expense	$ 6,044,119	$ 7,013,985	$ 4,808,894

Note 25 - Commitments and Co120

Note 25 - Commitments and Contingencies - Future Minimum Payments Under Non-cancelable Operating Leases and Data Purchase Agreements (Details) - Non-Cancelable Operating Leases and Data Purchase Agreements [Member]	Dec. 31, 2015USD ($)
2,016	$ 5,437,871
2,017	3,359,212
2,018	1,632,872
Total	$ 10,429,955

Note 26 - Segment and Geogra121

Note 26 - Segment and Geographic Information (Details Textual)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
Number of Operating Segments	3

Note 26 - Segment and Geogra122

Note 26 - Segment and Geographic Information - Operations of the Group's Operating Segments (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended			24 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2015
Net revenues	$ 107,404,766	$ 83,695,885	$ 52,738,077
Cost of revenues	19,738,737	20,352,729	10,570,070
General and administrative	17,993,787	17,592,119	15,210,102
Product development	10,738,730	11,147,873	9,032,327
Sales and marketing (including share-based compensation of $10,436 , $52,099 and $(121,723) for 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively)	46,474,107	43,761,473	30,588,236
Loss from impairment of intangible assets	250,360	1,802,125	0	$ 250,360
Operating expenses	75,456,984	82,453,115	54,830,665
Operating expenses	75,456,984	82,453,115	54,830,665
Government subsidies	251,828	659,417	11,187
Income (loss) from operations	12,460,873	(18,450,542)	(12,651,471)
Assets	144,065,157	113,903,358	133,492,735	144,065,157
Loss from impairment of goodwill	0	8,149,525	0
Assets	144,065,157	113,903,358	133,492,735	144,065,157
Precious Metal Trading Services [Member]
Net revenues	79,702,654	60,091,117	30,124,245
Cost of revenues	4,975,361	10,526,980
Operating expenses	40,594,026	38,618,029	21,438,904
Operating expenses	40,594,026	38,618,029	21,438,904
Income (loss) from operations	34,385,095	11,601,545	6,072,054
Assets	58,185,314	35,447,572	27,791,654	58,185,314
Assets	58,185,314	35,447,572	27,791,654	58,185,314
Subscription Services And Other Related Services [Member]
Net revenues	24,553,049	18,994,252	19,209,065
Cost of revenues	13,581,838	8,094,098
Operating expenses	31,429,122	40,710,886	29,508,969
Operating expenses	31,429,122	40,710,886	29,508,969
Income (loss) from operations	(20,457,911)	(29,806,752)	(17,307,096)
Assets	57,628,735	44,425,970	73,807,848	57,628,735
Assets	57,628,735	44,425,970	73,807,848	57,628,735
Brokerage Services in Hong Kong [Member]
Net revenues	3,149,063	4,610,516	3,404,767
Cost of revenues	1,181,538	1,731,651
Operating expenses	3,433,836	3,124,200	3,882,792
Operating expenses	3,433,836	3,124,200	3,882,792
Income (loss) from operations	(1,466,311)	(245,335)	(1,416,429)
Assets	28,251,108	34,029,815	31,893,233	28,251,108
Assets	28,251,108	34,029,815	31,893,233	28,251,108
Operating Segments [Member]
Net revenues	144,106,738	110,804,203	55,185,494
Cost of revenues	20,478,238	20,350,226	10,570,070
General and administrative	18,154,069	30,521,464	15,210,102
Product development	10,738,449	16,027,807	9,032,327
Sales and marketing (including share-based compensation of $10,436 , $52,099 and $(121,723) for 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively)	82,380,153	65,802,874	33,035,653
Loss from impairment of intangible assets	250,360	1,802,125
Operating expenses	111,523,031	122,303,795	57,278,082
Operating expenses	111,523,031	122,303,795	57,278,082
Government subsidies	251,828	659,417	11,187
Assets	336,003,975	286,919,110	140,529,098	336,003,975
Loss from impairment of goodwill		8,149,525
Assets	336,003,975	286,919,110	140,529,098	336,003,975
Operating Segments [Member] | Precious Metal Trading Services [Member]
Net revenues	113,720,922	80,943,201	30,124,245
Cost of revenues	4,975,361	10,526,980	2,613,287
General and administrative	4,026,984	8,320,540	1,087,048
Product development	2,549,731	2,460,048	784,083
Sales and marketing (including share-based compensation of $10,436 , $52,099 and $(121,723) for 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively)	69,674,657	52,371,135	22,015,190
Loss from impairment of intangible assets	250,360
Operating expenses	76,501,732	63,151,723	23,886,321
Operating expenses	76,501,732	63,151,723	23,886,321
Government subsidies	251,828	655,437
Assets	109,286,634	62,272,231	27,791,654	109,286,634
Loss from impairment of goodwill
Assets	109,286,634	62,272,231	27,791,654	109,286,634
Operating Segments [Member] | Subscription Services And Other Related Services [Member]
Net revenues	27,236,753	25,250,486	21,656,482
Cost of revenues	14,321,339	8,091,595	7,018,379
General and administrative	11,148,924	19,544,999	10,831,336
Product development	8,188,718	13,567,759	8,248,244
Sales and marketing (including share-based compensation of $10,436 , $52,099 and $(121,723) for 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively)	12,139,100	12,845,724	10,429,389
Loss from impairment of intangible assets		1,802,125
Operating expenses	31,476,742	55,910,132	29,508,969
Operating expenses	31,476,742	55,910,132	29,508,969
Government subsidies		3,980	11,187
Assets	179,706,230	171,870,606	80,844,211	179,706,230
Loss from impairment of goodwill		8,149,525
Assets	179,706,230	171,870,606	80,844,211	179,706,230
Operating Segments [Member] | Brokerage Services in Hong Kong [Member]
Net revenues	3,149,063	4,610,516	3,404,767
Cost of revenues	1,181,538	1,731,651	938,404
General and administrative	2,978,161	2,655,925	3,291,718
Product development
Sales and marketing (including share-based compensation of $10,436 , $52,099 and $(121,723) for 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively)	566,396	586,015	591,074
Loss from impairment of intangible assets
Operating expenses	3,544,557	3,241,940	3,882,792
Operating expenses	3,544,557	3,241,940	3,882,792
Government subsidies
Assets	47,011,111	52,776,273	31,893,233	47,011,111
Loss from impairment of goodwill
Assets	47,011,111	52,776,273	31,893,233	47,011,111
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Net revenues	(36,701,972)	(27,108,318)	(2,447,417)
Cost of revenues	(739,501)	2,503
Operating expenses	(36,066,047)	(39,850,680)	(2,447,417)
Operating expenses	(36,066,047)	(39,850,680)	(2,447,417)
Assets	(191,938,818)	(173,015,752)	(7,036,363)	(191,938,818)
Assets	(191,938,818)	(173,015,752)	(7,036,363)	(191,938,818)
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | Precious Metal Trading Services [Member]
Net revenues	(34,018,268)	(20,852,084)
Cost of revenues
Operating expenses	(35,907,706)	(24,533,694)	(2,447,417)
Operating expenses	(35,907,706)	(24,533,694)	(2,447,417)
Assets	(51,101,320)	(26,824,659)		(51,101,320)
Assets	(51,101,320)	(26,824,659)		(51,101,320)
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | Subscription Services And Other Related Services [Member]
Net revenues	(2,683,704)	(6,256,234)	(2,447,417)
Cost of revenues	(739,501)	2,503
Operating expenses	(47,620)	(15,199,246)
Operating expenses	(47,620)	(15,199,246)
Assets	(122,077,495)	(127,444,636)	(7,036,363)	(122,077,495)
Assets	(122,077,495)	(127,444,636)	(7,036,363)	(122,077,495)
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | Brokerage Services in Hong Kong [Member]
Net revenues
Cost of revenues
Operating expenses	(110,721)	(117,740)
Operating expenses	(110,721)	(117,740)
Assets	(18,760,003)	(18,746,458)		(18,760,003)
Assets	$ (18,760,003)	$ (18,746,458)		$ (18,760,003)

Note 26 - Segment and Geogra123

Note 26 - Segment and Geographic Information - The Group Derives Revenue from External Customers for Each of the Following Services (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Total revenue from external customers	$ 107,404,766	$ 83,695,885	$ 52,738,077
Advertising Revenue [Member]
Total revenue from external customers	7,023,399	8,160,310	6,799,109
Others [Member]
Total revenue from external customers	324,191	478,210	1,287,556
Precious Metal Trading Services [Member]
Total revenue from external customers	79,702,654	60,091,117	30,124,245
Financial Service Revenue [Member]
Total revenue from external customers	17,205,459	10,355,732	11,122,400
Brokerage Services in Hong Kong [Member]
Total revenue from external customers	$ 3,149,063	$ 4,610,516	$ 3,404,767

Note 27 - Statutory Reserves124

Note 27 - Statutory Reserves and Restricted Net Assets (Details Textual) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Annual Appropriations, General Reserve Fund, Percent of After-Tax Profit, Minimum	10.00%
Reserve Funds, Appropriations	$ 1,820,080	$ 679,927	$ 284,114
Net Assets, Not Available For Distribution	71,700,541
Statutory Reserves [Member]
Retained Earnings, Appropriated	$ 8,640,521	$ 6,820,441

Note 28 - Subsequent Event (Det

Note 28 - Subsequent Event (Details Textual) - iSTAR Wealth Management [Member] - Subsequent Event [Member] HKD in Millions, $ in Millions	1 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2016USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2016HKD
Sale of Stock, Percentage of Ownership before Transaction	100.00%	100.00%
Sale of Stock, Consideration Received on Transaction	$ 2.9	HKD 22.5

Schedule I - Financial Infor126

Schedule I - Financial Information of Parent Company - Financial Information of Parent Company - Balance Sheets (Details) - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 85,734,048	$ 32,538,513	$ 36,370,950	$ 40,905,996
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	3,488,647	8,540,863
Total current assets	120,734,896	92,214,207
Rental deposits	1,422,626	1,387,653
Assets	144,065,157	113,903,358	133,492,735
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities (including accrued expenses and othercurrent liabilities of the consolidated variable interest entities without recourse to China Finance Online Co. Limited $6,282,466 and $13,035,773 as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2015, respectively)	15,655,425	8,837,734
Total current liabilities	43,758,927	36,442,880
Ordinary shares (112,417,933 and 118,098,018 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively)	56,856,000	56,386,606
Additional paid-in capital	28,145,846	24,207,606
Accumulated other comprehensive income	8,597,295	12,064,338
Retained deficits	(5,560,770)	(28,043,186)
Total shareholders' equity	88,038,371	64,615,364
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	144,065,157	113,903,358
Parent Company [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	971,500	1,383,205	721,271	2,941,180
Amounts due from subsidiaries, VIEs and VIE’s subsidiaries	7,350,974	7,492,739
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	290,603	2,479,810
Dividends receivable	16,529,639	17,541,570
Total current assets	25,142,716	28,897,324
Investment in subsidiaries	76,682,094	48,389,562
Rental deposits		66,893
Assets	101,824,810	77,353,779
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities (including accrued expenses and othercurrent liabilities of the consolidated variable interest entities without recourse to China Finance Online Co. Limited $6,282,466 and $13,035,773 as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2015, respectively)	279,801	296,866
Amounts due to subsidiaries, VIEs and VIE's subsidiaries	13,506,638	12,441,549
Total current liabilities	13,786,439	12,738,415
Ordinary shares (112,417,933 and 118,098,018 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively)	56,856,000	56,386,606
Additional paid-in capital	28,145,846	24,207,606
Accumulated other comprehensive income	8,597,295	12,064,338
Retained deficits	(5,560,770)	(28,043,186)
Total shareholders' equity	88,038,371	64,615,364	$ 75,770,897	$ 79,965,182
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ 101,824,810	$ 77,353,779

Schedule I - Financial Infor127

Schedule I - Financial Information of Parent Company - Financial Information of Parent Company - Balance Sheets (Details) (Parentheticals) - shares	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Ordinary shares, shares issued (in shares)	118,098,018	112,417,933
Ordinary shares, shares outstanding (in shares)	118,098,018	112,417,933
Parent Company [Member]
Ordinary shares, shares issued (in shares)	118,098,018	112,417,933
Ordinary shares, shares outstanding (in shares)	118,098,018	112,417,933

Schedule I - Financial Infor128

Schedule I - Financial Information of Parent Company - Financial Information of Parent Company - Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Cost of revenues	$ 19,738,737	$ 20,352,729	$ 10,570,070
Gross loss	87,666,029	63,343,156	42,168,007
General and administrative	17,993,787	17,592,119	15,210,102
Product development	10,738,730	11,147,873	9,032,327
Sales and marketing	46,474,107	43,761,473	30,588,236
Share-based compensation	6,056,033	4,698,953	3,035,122
Operating expenses	75,456,984	82,453,115	54,830,665
Interest income	2,648,026	4,044,288	1,340,563
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	(66,970)		2,773,839
Exchange gain (loss), net	(766,162)	(112,672)	556,757
Other income (loss), net	(937,431)	18,236	(29,131)
Gain from sales of cost method investment	0	0	0
Net income (loss)	26,817,688	(10,630,728)	(8,173,890)
Comprehensive income (loss)	19,015,373	(7,389,126)	(7,377,333)
Parent Company [Member]
Cost of revenues			2,584
Gross loss			(2,584)
General and administrative	1,226,800	1,418,198	1,417,843
Product development		50,859	62,914
Sales and marketing		108,384	160,112
Share-based compensation	3,812,733	4,132,182	2,539,274
Operating expenses	5,039,533	5,709,623	4,180,143
Interest income	47	30	605
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	28,643,095	(6,394,055)	(4,985,519)
Exchange gain (loss), net	(1,011,509)	(76,351)	594,513
Other income (loss), net	(109,684)	674,414
Gain from sales of cost method investment		4,337,736
Net income (loss)	22,482,416	(7,167,849)	(8,573,128)
Changes in foreign currency translation adjustment	(3,467,043)	(221,070)	1,195,795
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(3,467,043)	(221,070)	1,195,795
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ 19,015,373	$ (7,388,919)	$ (7,377,333)

Schedule I - Financial Infor129

Schedule I - Financial Information of Parent Company - Financial Information of Parent Company - Shareholders' Equity (Details) - USD ($)		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Balance as of January 1, 2013.		$ 64,615,364
Exercise of share options by employees		293,654	$ 654,055	$ 30,440
Share-based compensation.		6,056,033	4,698,953	3,035,122
Business combination				13,613,231
Changes in foreign currency translation adjustment		(3,467,043)	(221,277)	1,195,795
Net loss.		22,482,416	(7,167,849)	$ (8,573,128)
Balance as of December 31, 2013		88,038,371	64,615,364
Restricted shares issued		20	14
Business restructure			$ (8,348,818)
Exercise of share options by nonemployees		$ 175,200
Common Stock [Member]
Balance as of January 1, 2013 (in shares)		112,417,933	111,145,633	110,955,383
Exercise of share options by employees (in shares)		435,000	1,164,300	190,250
Exercise of share options by employees		$ 293,654	$ 654,055	$ 25
Balance as of December 31, 2013 (in shares)		118,098,018	112,417,933	111,145,633
Transfer share premium to share capital (Note)	[1]		$ 55,718,184
Restricted shares issued (in shares)		150,085	108,000
Restricted shares issued		$ 20	$ 14
Exercise of share options by nonemployees (in shares)		1,095,000
Exercise of share options by nonemployees		$ 175,200
Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]
Exercise of share options by employees				$ 30,415
Share-based compensation.		5,331,748	4,540,257	2,960,746
Business combination				191,861
Transfer share premium to share capital (Note)	[1]		(55,718,184)
Business restructure			(8,960,733)
AOCI Attributable to Parent [Member]
Changes in foreign currency translation adjustment		(3,467,043)	(221,277)	1,195,795
Parent Company [Member]
Balance as of January 1, 2013.		64,615,364	75,770,897	79,965,182
Exercise of share options by employees		293,654	654,055	30,440
Share-based compensation.		3,812,733	4,132,182	2,539,274
Equity pick up from compensation of a subsidiary		1,519,015	408,075	421,473
Business combination				191,861
Changes in foreign currency translation adjustment		(3,467,043)	(221,277)	1,195,795
Net loss.		22,482,416	(7,167,849)	(8,573,128)
Balance as of December 31, 2013		88,038,371	64,615,364	$ 75,770,897
Transfer share premium to share capital (Note)
Restricted shares issued		20	14
Business restructure			$ (8,960,733)
Issuance of ordinary shares for the plan of stock options and restricted shares		520
Exercise of share options by nonemployees		175,200
Changes of controlling ownership interest		$ (1,393,508)
Parent Company [Member] | Common Stock [Member]
Balance as of January 1, 2013 (in shares)		112,417,933	111,145,633	110,955,383
Balance as of January 1, 2013.		$ 56,386,606	$ 14,353	$ 14,328
Exercise of share options by employees (in shares)		435,000	1,164,300	190,250
Exercise of share options by employees		$ 293,654	$ 654,055	$ 25
Share-based compensation.
Equity pick up from compensation of a subsidiary
Business combination
Changes in foreign currency translation adjustment
Net loss.
Balance as of December 31, 2013 (in shares)		118,098,018	112,417,933	111,145,633
Balance as of December 31, 2013		$ 56,856,000	$ 56,386,606	$ 14,353
Transfer share premium to share capital (Note)			$ 55,718,184
Restricted shares issued (in shares)		150,085	108,000
Restricted shares issued		$ 20	$ 14
Business restructure
Issuance of ordinary shares for the plan of stock options and restricted shares (in shares)		4,000,000
Issuance of ordinary shares for the plan of stock options and restricted shares		$ 520
Exercise of share options by nonemployees (in shares)		1,095,000
Exercise of share options by nonemployees		$ 175,200
Changes of controlling ownership interest
Parent Company [Member] | Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]
Balance as of January 1, 2013.		24,207,606	84,346,266	81,163,243
Exercise of share options by employees				30,415
Share-based compensation.		3,812,733	4,132,182	2,539,274
Equity pick up from compensation of a subsidiary		1,519,015	408,075	421,473
Business combination				191,861
Changes in foreign currency translation adjustment
Net loss.
Balance as of December 31, 2013		28,145,846	24,207,606	84,346,266
Transfer share premium to share capital (Note)			(55,718,184)
Restricted shares issued
Business restructure			(8,960,733)
Issuance of ordinary shares for the plan of stock options and restricted shares
Exercise of share options by nonemployees
Changes of controlling ownership interest		(1,393,508)
Parent Company [Member] | AOCI Attributable to Parent [Member]
Balance as of January 1, 2013.		12,064,338	12,285,615	11,089,820
Exercise of share options by employees
Share-based compensation.
Equity pick up from compensation of a subsidiary
Business combination
Changes in foreign currency translation adjustment		(3,467,043)	(221,277)	1,195,795
Net loss.
Balance as of December 31, 2013		8,597,295	12,064,338	12,285,615
Transfer share premium to share capital (Note)
Restricted shares issued
Business restructure
Issuance of ordinary shares for the plan of stock options and restricted shares
Exercise of share options by nonemployees
Changes of controlling ownership interest
Parent Company [Member] | Retained Earnings [Member]
Balance as of January 1, 2013.		(28,043,186)	(20,875,337)	(12,302,209)
Exercise of share options by employees
Share-based compensation.
Equity pick up from compensation of a subsidiary
Business combination
Changes in foreign currency translation adjustment
Net loss.		22,482,416	(7,167,849)	(8,573,128)
Balance as of December 31, 2013		(5,560,770)	(28,043,186)	$ (20,875,337)
Transfer share premium to share capital (Note)
Restricted shares issued
Business restructure
Issuance of ordinary shares for the plan of stock options and restricted shares
Exercise of share options by nonemployees
Changes of controlling ownership interest
[1]	Under Hong Kong Companies Ordinance (Cap.622), which came into force on March 3, 2014, the concept of authorized share capital no longer exists. In accordance with the said Ordinance, the Company’s shares no longer have a par value. There is no impact on the number of shares in issue or the relevant entitlement of any of the shareholders as a result of this transition. In addition, in accordance with the transitional provisions set out in section 37 of Schedule 11 to the said Ordinance, any amount outstanding to the credit of the share premium has become part of the Company’s share capital.

Schedule I - Financial Infor130

Schedule I - Financial Information of Parent Company - Financial Information of Parent Company - Statement of Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Net income (loss)	$ 22,482,416	$ (7,167,849)	$ (8,573,128)
Stock-based compensation	6,056,033	4,698,953	3,035,122
Cost-method Investments, Other than Temporary Impairment	0	0	0
Equity in deficits (earnings) of subsidiaries, VIEs and VIE’s subsidiaries	66,970		(2,773,839)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	369,290	(1,284,341)	1,131,750
Rental deposits	(1,587,189)	(34,691)	(133,308)
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	2,596,050	161,455	(1,189,465)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities.	19,816,980	1,172,136	158,656
Proceeds from sales of cost method investment	7,959,237	2,168,868
Net cash provided (used in) by investing activities..	40,557,824	(4,598,163)	7,577,511
Proceeds from stock options exercised by employees..	294,193	654,069	640
Proceeds from stock options exercised by nonemployees..	175,200
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(5,592,080)	(371,719)	(12,137,905)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	53,195,535	(3,832,437)	(4,535,046)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	32,538,513	36,370,950	40,905,996
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	85,734,048	32,538,513	36,370,950
Parent Company [Member]
Net income (loss)	22,482,416	(7,167,849)	(8,573,128)
Stock-based compensation	3,812,733	4,132,182	2,539,274
Cost-method Investments, Other than Temporary Impairment		(4,337,736)
Equity in deficits (earnings) of subsidiaries, VIEs and VIE’s subsidiaries	(28,643,095)	6,394,055	4,985,519
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	20,339	(143,380)	(63,446)
Amounts due from subsidiaries, VIEs and VIE’s subsidiaries	142,303	983,297	(4,092,500)
Rental deposits	66,893		(271)
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	(8,035)	10,825	34,392
Amounts due to subsidiaries, VIEs and VIE’s subsidiaries	1,065,088	1,535,073	1,779,098
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities.	(1,061,358)	1,406,467	(3,391,062)
Dividend receivable from subsidiaries	1,011,931	1,375,727	1,140,713
Capital injection to subsidiaries.	(3,000,000)	(2,774,315)
Proceeds from sales of cost method investment	2,168,868
Net cash provided (used in) by investing activities..	180,799	(1,398,588)	1,140,713
Proceeds from stock options exercised by employees..	293,654	654,055	30,440
Proceeds from stock options exercised by nonemployees..	175,200
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	468,854	654,055	30,440
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(411,705)	661,934	(2,219,909)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	1,383,205	721,271	2,941,180
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	$ 971,500	$ 1,383,205	$ 721,271