Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Basis of Presentation The accompanying financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”). Stock Split During October 2021, the Company effected a 3.6-for-1 stock split of its outstanding common stock and convertible preferred stock. Upon the effectiveness of the stock split, all issued and outstanding shares of common stock and convertible preferred stock and related per share amounts contained in the accompanying financial statements were retroactively revised to reflect this stock split for all periods presented. The par value of the authorized stock was not adjusted as a result of the stock split. Emerging Growth Company The Company is an emerging growth company (“EGC”), as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”). Under the JOBS Act, EGCs can delay adopting new or revised accounting standards issued subsequent to the enactment of the JOBS Act until such time as those standards apply to private companies. The Company has elected to use this extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards that have different effective dates for public and private companies until the earlier of the date that it (i) is no longer an EGC or (ii) affirmatively and irrevocably opts out of the extended transition period provided in the JOBS Act. As a result, these financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with the new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates. The Company expects to use the extended transition period for any other new or revised accounting standards during the period in which it remains an EGC. Segment Information The Company has a single operating and reportable segment. In reaching this conclusion, management considers the definition of the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”), how the business is defined by the CODM, the nature of the information provided to the CODM and how that information is used to make operating decisions, allocate resources and assess performance. The Company’s chief operating decision maker is its Chief Executive Officer, who reviews financial information presented on an aggregated basis for purposes of making operating decisions, assessing financial performance and allocating resources. Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported and disclosed in the financial statements and the accompanying notes. Such estimates and assumptions include the costs to be capitalized as internal-use software and their useful life, the useful lives of other long-lived assets, impairment considerations for long-lived assets, expected lease term for capital leases, estimates related to variable consideration, valuation of the Company’s common stock prior to the IPO and stock options and accounting for taxes, including estimates for sales tax and VAT liability, deferred tax assets, valuation allowance and uncertain tax positions. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on assumptions that management considers reasonable. Future actual results could differ materially from these estimates. Risks and Uncertainties COVID-19 The worldwide spread of coronavirus (“COVID-19”) has created significant uncertainty in the global economy. There have been no comparable recent events that provide guidance as to the effect the spread of COVID-19 as a global pandemic may have, and as a result, the ultimate impact of COVID-19 and the extent to which COVID-19 continues to impact Backblaze’s business will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and difficult to predict. Starting in April 2020, Backblaze began to acquire additional hard drives and related infrastructure equipment through capital lease agreements in order to minimize the impact of potential supply chain disruptions. The additional leased hard drives resulted in a higher balance of capital equipment and related lease liability, an increase in cash used in financing activities from principal payments, as well as higher ongoing interest and depreciation expense related to these lease agreements. While the Company has not yet experienced a supply chain disruption, such a disruption may occur in the future. The Company may also experience other impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic such as the lack of availability of the Company’s key personnel, additional temporary closures of the Company’s office or the facilities of the Company’s business partners, customers, third party service providers or other vendors, the inability to travel to markets and sell its products, and the interruption of the Company’s access to liquidity and capital or financial markets. The Company does not yet know the full extent of potential impacts on its business or operations or on the global economy as a whole, particularly if the COVID-19 pandemic continues and persists for an extended period of time. As of the date of these financial statements, the Company is not aware of any specific event or circumstance that would require it to update its estimates, judgments or the carrying value of its assets or liabilities. Concentrations Credit risk. Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to credit risk primarily consist of cash, cash equivalents and accounts receivable. The Company maintains its cash and cash equivalents with high-quality financial institutions with investment-grade ratings. Deposits with these financial institutions may exceed the amount of insurance provided on such deposits. For accounts receivable, the Company is exposed to credit risk in the event of nonpayment by customers to the extent of the amount recorded on the balance sheets. Vendors. The Company acquires infrastructure equipment from third party vendors. Vendors may have limited sources of equipment and supplies which may expose the Company to potential supply and service disruptions that could harm the Company’s business. Two vendors represented in aggregate 24% of total cash disbursements during the year ended December 31, 2021, while three vendors represented 40% of the accounts payable balance as of December 31, 2021. Two vendors represented in aggregate 31% of total cash disbursements during the year ended December 31, 2020, while three vendors represented 20% of the accounts payable balance as of December 31, 2020. Revenue. The Company derives substantially all of its revenue from the services operating on its Backblaze Storage Cloud platform: its Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage (“B2 Cloud Storage”) and Backblaze Computer Backup (“Computer Backup”) offerings. The potential for severe impact to the Company’s business could result if the Company was unable to operate its platform or serve customers through its platform, for an extended period of time. Revenue Recognition The Backblaze Storage Cloud provides the core platform for the Company’s B2 Cloud Storage consumption-based offering and its Computer Backup subscription-based offering. The Company derives its revenue primarily from fees earned from customers accessing these offerings through its platform, paid monthly in arrears for consumption-based arrangements for B2 Cloud Storage, or charged upfront for subscription-based arrangements for Computer Backup. The Company provides services to its customers under subscription-based arrangements of one month, one-year and two-years, which automatically renew at the end of the respective term. The Company also recognizes revenue from products offered to its customers for the ability to securely restore data using a USB drive (“USB Restore”) and for migrating large data sets to its platform using its proprietary Fireball device. The Company refers to these products as its “Physical Media revenue”. Physical Media revenue was approximately 1% of the Company’s revenue for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020. The Company’s monthly subscription arrangements do not provide customers with refund rights. One and two-year subscription arrangements are eligible for a full refund up to 30 days after subscribing. For its Physical Media revenue, the Company offers a full refund to its customers restoring data using a USB drive, if the drives are returned to the Company within 30 days of receipt. The Company recognizes revenue net of its estimate of expected customer cancellations and returns. These estimates involve inherent uncertainties and use of management’s judgment. While the majority of the Company’s customers pay via credit card, amounts that have been invoiced are recorded in accounts receivable and in revenue, or deferred revenue, depending on whether appropriate revenue recognition criteria have been met. As the Company provides its offerings as a hosted service, it does not provide customers the contractual right to take possession of the software at any time, does not incur set up costs, nor does it charge an installation fee for its new customers. The Company adopted Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 606 on January 1, 2020 using the modified retrospective method and determines revenue recognition through the following five steps: 1. Identify the contract with a customer. The Company considers the terms and conditions of the contracts and its customary business practices in identifying its contracts under ASC 606. The Company determines it has a contract with a customer when the contract has been approved by both parties, it can identify each party’s rights regarding the services to be transferred and the payment terms for the services, it has determined the customer to have the ability and intent to pay, and the contract has commercial substance. The Company applies judgment in determining the customer’s ability and intent to pay, which is based on a variety of factors; however, as approximately 98% and 99% of the Company ’s revenue was generated from customers paying via credit card during the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, the risk of non-payment is reduced. 2 . . Identify the performance obligations in the contract. Performance obligations promised in a contract are identified based on the services and products that will be transferred to the customer that are both capable of being distinct and are distinct in the context of the contract. The Company’s contracts typically contain a single distinct performance obligation representing one of its Backblaze Storage Cloud platform offerings, which includes either B2 Cloud Storage and Computer Backup services and related customer support. Customers also have the option to purchase a USB device for USB Restore and rental of its Fireball device at the standalone selling price (“SSP”). 3. Determine the transaction price. The transaction price is determined based on the consideration the Company expects to receive in exchange for transferring services to the customer. Variable consideration is included in the transaction price if, in the Company’s judgment, it is probable that a significant future reversal of cumulative revenue recognized under the contract will not occur. The Company’s variable consideration includes consumption-based revenue and revenue arrangements that offer the right of return. The Company offers a 30 day right of ret urn for its 1 and 2-year subscription-based arrangements and records a refund liability based on historical return data. Certain fees that are considered consideration payable to a customer are accounted for as a reduction of the transaction price. None of the Company’s contracts contain a significant financing component. Revenue is recognized net of any taxes collected from customers, which are subsequently remitted to governmental entities (e.g., sales and other indirect taxes). 4. Allocate the transaction price to performance obligations in the contract. Contracts that contain multiple distinct performance obligations require an allocation of the transaction price to each performance obligation based on a relative SSP. The Company determines relative standalone selling price for performance obligations based on the price it sells a good or service separately. 5. Recognize revenue when or as the Company satisfies a performance obligation. Revenue is recognized when control of the services is transferred to the customers and in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to receive in exchange for those services. Performance obligations are satisfied over time when the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits as the entity performs. Revenue is generally recognized over the common measure of progress (i.e., time-based or consumption-based) for the entire performance obligation. Revenue from subscription-based arrangements is recognized on a straight-line basis over the contractual term beginning on the date that the service commences, as customers are entitled to the same benefits throughout the contractual term. Fees from consumption-based arrangements are recognized as services are delivered based on the amount of daily storage consumed. Revenue for USB Restore is recognized as USB devices are delivered to customers, and recognition of the Company’s Fireball device rental is time-based. The Company also offers a 15-day free trial pe riod for its subscription-based arrangements. The Company does not enter into a contract with the customer during this trial period. Under its consumption-based arrangements, the Company does not charge customers until at least 10 gigabytes of data have been stored. The Company applied the optional exemption of not disclosing the transaction price allocated to the remaining performance obligations for its consumption-based contracts and contracts with original duration of one year or less. The non-current deferred revenue balance o f $3.1 million on the Company’s balance sheet as of December 31, 2021 will be recognized in 2023. As of December 31, 2020, the Company’s non-current deferred revenue balance was $1.8 million , which will be recognized in 2022. For revenue generated from arrangements that involve third-parties, the Company evaluates whether it is the principal or the agent based on maintaining control over the services being provided and maintaining the relationship with the end-customer. Substantially all of the Company’s revenue is reported on a gross basis, as the Company is the principal. Cost of Revenue Cost of revenue includes costs directly associated with the delivery of services and products, which consists of expenses for providing Backblaze’s platform to its customers. These expenses include rent and utilities for operating in co-location facilities, network and bandwidth costs, shipping and handling for Physical Media revenue, depreciation of the Company’s equipment and capital lease assets in co-location facilities and other infrastructure expenses incurred in connection with its customers’ use of its services. Personnel-related costs associated with customer support and maintaining service availability include salaries, benefits, bonuses and stock-based compensation. Cost of revenue also includes credit card processing fees, amortization of capitalized internal-use software development costs and allocated overhead costs. Research and Development Costs Research and development costs consist primarily of personnel-related expenses associated with the Company’s research and development staff, including salaries, benefits, bonuses and stock-based compensation. Research and development costs also include consultants or professional services fees, costs related to the support and maintenance of systems used in product development, subscription services for use by its research and development organization and an allocation of its overhead costs. Research and development costs are generally expensed as incurred, unless they qualify as capitalized internal-use software. Advertising Costs Advertising costs are expensed as incurred and are included in sales and marketing expenses in the statements of operations. These costs were approximate ly $3.3 million and $1.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Income Taxes The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method. Deferred income taxes are recognized by applying the enacted statutory tax rates applicable to future years to differences between the carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the period that includes the enactment date. The measurement of deferred tax assets is reduced, if necessary, by a valuation allowance to amounts that are more likely than not to be realized. Where interpretation of the tax law may be uncertain, the Company recognizes, measures and discloses income tax uncertainties. The Company accounts for interest expense and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense in its statements of operations. The Company is subject to periodic audits by the Internal Revenue Service and other taxing authorities, which may challenge tax positions taken by the Company. Stock-based Compensation All stock-based compensation to employees is measured on the grant date, based on the fair value of the awards on the date of grant. The Company recognizes compensation cost for its awards on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is generally a vesting period of four years. The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to measure the fair value of its stock options. The Black-Scholes option pricing model requires the use of complex assumptions, which determine the fair value of stock-based awards. If an award contains a provision whereby vesting is accelerated upon a change in control, the Company recognizes stock-based compensation expense on a straight-line basis, as a change in control is considered to be outside of its control and is not considered probable until it occurs. Forfeitures are accounted for in the period in which they occur. Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash and cash equivalents include cash and certain highly liquid investments with original matur ities of 90 days or less at the date of purchase. Cash equivalents are primarily recorded at cost, which approximates fair valu e due to their generally short maturities. Fair Value of Financial Instruments The Company measures financial assets and liabilities at fair value at each reporting date. Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Fair value measurements are reported under a three-level valuation hierarchy. The classification of the Company’s financial assets within the hierarchy is as follows: Level 1—Inputs to the valuation methodology are unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. The Company’s Level 1 assets include money market funds. Level 2—Other than quoted prices included in Level 1 inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability. Level 3—Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability used to measure fair value to the extent that observable inputs are not available, thereby allowing for situations in which there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability at the measurement date. The carrying amounts reflected in the balance sheets for accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other current assets, accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other liabilities and deferred revenue approximate their respective fair values due to the short maturities of those instruments. Accounts Receivable, Net Accounts receivable are recorded net of an allowance for doubtful accounts, when the Company has an unconditional right to payment. The allowance for doubtful accounts is estimated based on the Company’s assessment of its ability to collect on customer accounts receivable and wa s not material as of December 31, 2021 and 2020. The Company regularly reviews the allowance by considering certain factors such as historical experience, credit quality, age of accounts receivable balances and other known conditions that may affect a customer’s ability to pay. In cases where the Company is aware of circumstances that may impair a specific customer’s ability to meet its financial obligations, a specific allowance is recorded against amounts due from the customer which reduces the net recognized receivable to the amount the Company reasonably believes will be collected. The Company writes-off accounts receivable against the allowance when a determination is made that the balance is uncollectible and collection of the receivable is no longer being actively pursued. Unbilled Accounts Receivable Unbilled accounts receivable represents revenue recognized on contracts for which billings have not yet been presented to customers due to consumption-based usage that is billed monthly in arrears. Substantially all of the Company’s unbilled accounts receivable is charged via a credit card upon billing. Unbilled accounts receivable is included in prepaid expenses and other current assets on the balance sheets. The balance of unbilled accounts receivable as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 is presented in Note 6. Deferred Offering Costs Deferred offering costs, which consist of direct incremental legal, accounting and consulting fees relating to the Company’s IPO, are capitalized in other assets on the balance sheet. The deferred offering costs were offset against IPO proceeds upon the consummation of the IPO. Deferred Contract Costs Commissions paid to affiliates for new customers or customer renewals are considered incremental and recoverable costs of obtaining a contract with a customer. These costs are recorded when earned and are amortized over the expected benefit period using the straight-line method. As renewal commission is commensurate with a commission in an initial sale, such amounts are capitalized and amortized over the stated contract term. Capitalized commission amounts expected to be recognized within one year of the balance sheet date are recorded as prepaid expenses and other current assets, and the remaining portion is recorded as other assets, on the Company’s balance sheets. Expense for commissions are included in sales and marketing expenses in the statements of operations. Property and Equipment, Net Property and equipment, both owned and under capital leases, are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation, which is computed on a straight-line basis over the asset’s estimated useful life. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of the useful life of the asset or expected lease term. Improvements that increase functionality of the asset are capitalized and depreciated over the asset’s remaining useful life. Construction-in-progress is not depreciated. Fully depreciated assets are retained in property and equipment until removed from service. The following table presents the estimated useful lives of property and equipment: Property and Equipment Useful life Data center equipment 3 - 5 years Machinery and equipment 3 - 5 years Computer equipment 3 - 5 years Leasehold improvements Shorter of useful life or expected lease term Capitalized Internally-Developed Software, Net The Company capitalizes qualifying software development costs related to new features and enhancements to the functionality of its platform and related products, as well as certain implementation costs. The costs consist of personnel costs (including related benefits and stock-based compensation) that are incurred during the application development stage. Capitalization of costs begins when two criteria are met: (i) the preliminary project stage is completed, and (ii) it is probable that the software will be completed and used for its intended function. Capitalization ceases when the software is substantially complete and ready for its intended use, including the completion of all significant testing. Costs related to preliminary project activities and post-implementation operating activities are expensed as incurred. The Company reviews its capitalization criteria for each project individually. Capitalized costs are amortized over the estimated useful life of the software, which is generally five years, on a straight-line basis, and represents the manner in which the expected benefit will be derived. The Company determines the useful lives of identifiable project assets after considering the specific facts and circumstances related to each project. The amortization of costs related to the platform applications is included in cost of revenue in the statements of operations. Significant judgments related to the capitalization of software costs include determining whether it is probable that projects will result in new or additional functionality, concluding on when the application development phase starts and ends and estimating which costs, especially employee compensation costs, should be capitalized. Impairment of Long-lived Assets Long-lived assets with finite lives include property and equipment, capitalized internally-developed software, and certain implementation costs incurred for cloud computing arrangements. The Company evaluates these long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets held and used is measured by comparison of the carrying amount of an asset or an asset group to estimated undiscounted future net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset or asset group. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds these estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized in the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the asset or asset group during the quarter in which the determination is made. Deferred Revenue The Company records deferred revenue when customer payments are received in advance of satisfying the performance obligations on the Company’s contracts. Subscription-based arrangements are generally billed and paid in advance of satisfaction of these performance obligations. Deferred revenue relating to the Company’s subscription-based arrangements that have a contractual expiration date of less than 12 months are classified as current. The Company classifies deferred revenue from services that will be provided in more than 12 months as non-current on its balance sheets. Leases The Company enters into capital lease arrangements for hard drives and related equipment, and operating leases for rental of co-location space in data centers and offices. The Company determines if an arrangement is or contains a lease at inception by evaluating various factors, including if the contract conveys the right to control the use of an identified asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration and other facts and circumstances. The lease term begins on the date of initial possession of the leased asset. The Company does not assume renewals in its determination of the lease term unless the renewals are deemed to be reasonably assured at lease inception. Lease classification is determined at the lease commencement date. Capital leases are included in property and equipment, net, on the Company’s balance sheets. Accounting Pronouncements Recently Adopted In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40) , which aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software (and hosting arrangements that include an internal-use software license). The accounting for the service element of a hosting arrangement that is a service contract is not affected by this new guidance. The Company adopted this standard effective January 1, 2021 on a prospective basis. The adoption did not have a material impact on the financial statements. See Note 8 for further details. In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes , which simplifies the accounting for income taxes by eliminating some exceptions to the general approach in ASC 740, Income Taxes, in order to reduce cost and complexity of its application. The Company adopted this standard effective January 1, 2021. The adoption did not have a material impact on the financial statements. Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) , which requires the recognition of lease assets and lease liabilities arising from operating leases on the balance sheet. Subsequently, the FASB also issued a series of amendments to this new lease standard that address the transition methods available and clarify the guidance for lessor costs and other aspects of the new lease standard. The Company will adopt the standard effective January 1, 2022 and expects to adopt using the modified retrospective transition method without restating comparative periods. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of this guidance on its financial statements for operating leases outstanding as of December 31, 2021 and the impact of recognition of lease assets and lease liabilities arising from operating leases on its balance sheet. In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments , which requires a financial asset measured at amortized cost basis to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected, with further clarifications made more recently. For trade receivables, loans and other financial instruments, the Company will be required to use a forward-looking expected loss model rather than the incurred loss model for recognizing credit losses which reflects losses that are probable. Credit losses relating to available-for-sale debt securities are required to be recorded through an allowance for credit losses rather than as a reduction in the amortized cost basis of the securities. This guidance is effective for the Company for its fiscal year beginning January 1, 2023 and interim periods within that fiscal year. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of this guidance on its financial statements. |