Significant Accounting Policies (Policies) | 12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2018 |
Accounting Policies [Abstract] | |
Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation | Principles of consolidation and basis of presentation The Company’s consolidated financial statements are presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and include the operating results of its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. |
Reserve Stock Split | Reverse stock split On October 12, 2016, the Company effected a 1-for-5 reverse stock split of its outstanding common stock. All share and per share amounts for all periods presented in these consolidated financial statements and notes thereto have been adjusted retrospectively, where applicable, to reflect this reverse stock split. |
Redeemable Non-controlling Interest | Redeemable non-controlling interest The Company's Japanese subsidiary (“BlackLine K.K.”) is not wholly owned. The agreements with the minority investors of BlackLine K.K. contain redemption features whereby the interest held by the minority investors are redeemable either (i) at the option of the minority investors or (ii) at the option of the Company, both beginning on the seventh anniversary of the initial capital contribution. If the interest of the minority investors were to be redeemed under these agreements, the Company would be required to redeem the interest based on a prescribed formula derived from the relative revenue of BlackLine K.K. and the Company. The balance of the redeemable non-controlling interest is reported at the greater of the initial carrying amount adjusted for the redeemable non-controlling interest's share of earnings or losses and other comprehensive income or loss, or its estimated redemption value. The resulting changes in the estimated redemption amount (increases or decreases) are recorded with corresponding adjustments against retained earnings or, in the absence of retained earnings, additional paid-in-capital. These interests are presented on the consolidated balance sheets outside of equity under the caption "Redeemable non-controlling interest." |
Use of Estimates | Use of estimates The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates its estimates, primarily those related to determining the stand alone selling price (“SSP”) for separate deliverables in the Company’s subscription revenue arrangements, allowance for doubtful accounts, fair value of assets and liabilities assumed in a business combination, recoverability of goodwill and long-lived assets, useful lives associated with long-lived assets, income taxes, contingencies, fair value of contingent consideration, and the valuation and assumptions underlying stock-based compensation and common stock warrants. These estimates are based on historical data and experience, as well as various other factors that management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ from those estimates. |
Reclassifications | Reclassifications Certain prior-period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current-period presentation. These reclassifications had no impact on the previously-reported consolidated results of operations or stockholders' equity. |
Segments | Segments Management has determined that the Company has one operating segment. The Company’s chief executive officer, who is the Company’s chief operating decision maker, reviews financial information on a consolidated and aggregate basis, together with certain operating metrics principally to make decisions about how to allocate resources and to measure the Company’s performance. |
Cash and Cash Equivalents | Cash and cash equivalents The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original or remaining maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. Cash includes cash held in checking and savings accounts. Cash equivalents are comprised of investments in money market mutual funds. The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents approximates fair value. |
Restricted Cash | Restricted cash Included in other assets at December 31, 2018 and in prepaid expenses and other current assets at 2017 was cash totaling $0.3 million and $0.4 million, respectively, which was required to be restricted as to use by the Company’s office leaseholder to collateralize a standby letter of credit. |
Investments in Marketable Securities | Investments in Marketable Securities The Company’s marketable securities consist of commercial paper, corporate bonds, U.S. treasury securities, and asset-backed securities. The Company classifies its marketable securities as available-for-sale at the time of purchase, and the Company reevaluates such classification as of each balance sheet date. All marketable securities are recorded at their estimated fair value, with any unrealized gains and losses reported as a component of stockholders’ equity until realized or until a determination is made that an other-than-temporary decline in market value has occurred. Impairments are considered to be other than temporary if they are related to deterioration in credit risk or if it is likely the Company will sell the securities before the recovery of their cost basis. Realized gains and losses and declines in value deemed to be other than temporary are determined based on the specific identification method and are reported in other income (expense), net in the consolidated statements of operations. The Company classifies its investments in marketable securities in current assets as the investments are available for use, if needed, in current operations. |
Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts | Accounts receivable and allowance for doubtful accounts Accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount, do not require collateral and do not bear interest. The Company estimates its allowance for doubtful accounts by evaluating specific accounts where information indicates the Company’s customers may have an inability to meet financial obligations, such as bankruptcy and significantly aged receivables outstanding. |
Concentration of Credit Risk and Significant Customers | Concentration of credit risk and significant customers Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to a significant concentration of credit risk consist of cash and cash equivalents, investments in marketable securities and accounts receivable. The Company maintains the majority of its cash balances with one major commercial bank in non-interest bearing accounts, which exceeds the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or FDIC, federally insured limits. The Company invests its excess cash in money market mutual funds, commercial paper, corporate bonds, U.S. treasury securities, and asset-backed securities. To date, the Company has not experienced any impairment losses on its investments. For the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, no single customer comprised 10% or more of the Company’s total revenues. No single customer had an accounts receivable balance of 10% or greater of total accounts receivable at December 31, 2018 or 2017. |
Property and Equipment | Property and equipment Property and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which is generally three to five years for machinery and equipment and purchased software and five years for furniture and fixtures. Leasehold improvements, which are included in furniture and fixtures, are amortized using the straight-line method over the shorter of the lease term or seven years. Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred, while renewals and betterments are capitalized. Depreciation expense is charged to operations on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Assets acquired under capital leases are capitalized at the present value of the related lease payments and are amortized over the shorter of the lease term or useful life of the asset. |
Capitalized Internal-Use Software Costs | Capitalized internal-use software costs The Company accounts for the costs of computer software obtained or developed for internal use in accordance with ASC 350, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other During the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, the Company amortized $3.9 million, $2.7 million, and $1.8 million, respectively, of internal-use software development costs to subscription and support cost of revenue. At December 31, 2018 and 2017, the accumulated amortization of capitalized internal-use software development costs was $9.5 million and $5.6 million, respectively. |
Business Combinations | Business combinations The results of businesses acquired in a business combination are included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements from the date of the acquisition. Purchase accounting results in assets and liabilities of an acquired business generally being recorded at their estimated fair values on the acquisition date. Any excess consideration over the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed is recognized as goodwill. Transaction costs associated with business combinations are expensed as incurred and are included in general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations. The Company performs valuations of assets acquired and liabilities assumed and allocates the purchase price to its respective assets and liabilities. Determining the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed requires management to use significant judgment and estimates, including the selection of valuation methodologies, estimates of future revenue, costs and cash flows, discount rates, and selection of comparable companies. The Company engages the assistance of valuation specialists in concluding on fair value measurements in connection with determining fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination. |
Intangible Assets | Intangible assets Intangible assets primarily consist of acquired developed technology, customer relationships, trade names and non-compete agreements, which were acquired as part of the 2013 Acquisition and the Runbook Acquisition. The Company determines the appropriate useful life of its intangible assets by performing an analysis of expected cash flows of the acquired assets. Intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives, ranging from one to ten years. |
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets | Impairment of long-lived assets Management evaluates the recoverability of the Company’s property and equipment, finite-lived intangible assets and capitalized internal-software costs when events or changes in circumstances indicate a potential impairment exists. Events and changes in circumstances considered by the Company in determining whether the carrying value of long-lived assets may not be recoverable include, but are not limited to, significant changes in performance relative to expected operating results, significant changes in the use of the assets, significant negative industry or economic trends, and changes in the Company’s business strategy. Impairment testing is performed at an asset level that represents the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities (an “asset group”). In determining if impairment exists, the Company estimates the undiscounted cash flows to be generated from the use and ultimate disposition of the asset group. If impairment is indicated based on a comparison of the assets’ carrying values and the undiscounted cash flows, the impairment loss is measured as the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets. The Company determined that there were no events or changes in circumstances that potentially indicated that the Company’s long-lived assets were impaired during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016. |
Goodwill | Goodwill Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of net assets acquired in a business combination. The Company tests goodwill for impairment in accordance with the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 350, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other ASC 350 provides that an entity has the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances leads to a determination that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If, after assessing the totality of events or circumstances, an entity determines it is not more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then additional impairment testing is not required. However, if an entity concludes otherwise, then it is required to perform the first of a two-step impairment test. The first step involves comparing the estimated fair value of a reporting unit with its book value, including goodwill. If the estimated fair value exceeds book value, goodwill is considered not to be impaired and no additional steps are necessary. If, however, the fair value of the reporting unit is less than book value, then, under the second step, the carrying amount of the goodwill is compared with its implied fair value. The estimate of implied fair value of goodwill may require valuations of certain internally-generated and unrecognized intangible assets. If the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds the implied fair value of that goodwill, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to the excess. The Company has one reporting unit and it tests its goodwill for impairment annually, during the fourth quarter of the calendar year. At December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company used the quantitative approach to perform its annual goodwill impairment test. The Company’s fair value significantly exceeded the carrying value of its net assets and, accordingly, goodwill was not impaired. |
Deferred Rent | Deferred rent Rent expense is recorded on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. The difference between rent expense and the cash paid under the lease agreement is recorded as deferred rent. Lease incentives, including tenant improvement allowances, are also recorded as deferred rent and amortized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. |
Debt Issued with Warrants To Purchase Common Stock | Debt issued with warrants to purchase common stock The Company issued warrants to purchase common stock in connection with its former credit facility. These warrants were a liability classified under ASC 815-40, Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity In May 2017, warrants to purchase 499,999 shares of common stock were net exercised resulting in the issuance of 428,033 shares of common stock and, accordingly, there will be no further changes in the fair value The initial carrying value of the debt was reduced by the fair value of the warrants. The resulting debt discount was amortized to interest expense over the life of the debt on a straight-line basis, which approximated the effective interest method. In November 2016, the Company repaid all outstanding debt and expensed the then-remaining unamortized debt discount to interest expense in the consolidated statements of operations. |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments | Fair value of financial instruments ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements Valuation techniques used to measure fair value must maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. ASC 820 describes a fair value hierarchy based on three levels of inputs, of which the first two are considered observable and the last unobservable, that may be used to measure fair value, which are the following: Level 1: Quoted prices in active markets for identical or similar assets and liabilities. Level 2: Quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active or observable inputs other than quoted prices in active markets for identical or similar assets or liabilities. Level 3: Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. At December 31, 2018 and 2017, the carrying values of cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and accrued expenses, approximate fair values due to the short-term nature of such instruments. Contingent consideration relating to the 2013 Acquisition (see Note 13) is recorded as a liability and is measured at fair value each period, based on significant inputs not observable in the market, which represents a Level 3 measurement within the fair value hierarchy. The valuation of contingent consideration uses assumptions management believes would be made by a market participant. Management assesses these estimates on an ongoing basis as additional data impacting the assumptions becomes available. Changes in the fair value of contingent consideration related to updated assumptions and estimates are recognized within general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations. The Company determined the fair value of the contingent consideration by discounting estimated future taxable income. The significant inputs used in the fair value measurement of contingent consideration are the timing and amount of taxable income in any given period and determining an appropriate discount rate, which considers the risk associated with the forecasted taxable income. Significant changes in the estimated future taxable income and the periods in which they are generated would significantly impact the fair value of the contingent consideration liability. Warrants to purchase common stock were liability classified and were measured at fair value each period. The fair value was determined using a binomial lattice valuation model. The fair value included significant inputs not observable in the market, which represented a Level 3 measurement within the fair value hierarchy. The valuation of common stock warrants used assumptions management believed would be made by a market participant. Management assessed these estimates on an ongoing basis as additional data impacting the assumptions became available. Changes in the fair value of the common stock warrant liability related to updated assumptions and estimates were recognized within other income (expense), net in the consolidated statements of operations. The significant inputs used in the fair value measurement of the common stock warrants were the estimated fair value of the Company’s common stock and, to a lesser extent, the expected stock volatility, the probability of a change in control and future stock issuances, which impacted the term of the warrants. Certain assets, including goodwill and long-lived assets, are also subject to measurement at fair value on a non-recurring basis if they are deemed to be impaired a result of an impairment review. For the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, no impairments were identified on those assets required to be measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis. |
Revenue Recognition | Revenue recognition Revenue is recognized upon transfer of control of promised products or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to receive in exchange for those products or services. The Company enters into contracts that can include various combinations of subscription and support services and professional services, which are generally capable of being distinct and accounted for as separate performance obligations. The Company’s agreements do not contain any refund provisions other than in the event of the Company’s non-performance or breach. The Company determines revenue recognition through the following steps: • Identification of the contract, or contracts, with a customer • Identification of the performance obligations in the contract • Determination of the transaction price • Allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract • Recognition of revenue when, or as, the Company satisfies a performance obligation Subscription and support revenue – Customers pay subscription and support fees for access to the Company’s SaaS platform generally for a one-year period. In more limited cases, customers may pay for up to three years in advance. Fees are based on a number of factors, including the solutions subscribed for by the customer and the number of users having access to the solutions. Subscription services, which allow customers to use hosted software over the contract period without taking possession of the software, are considered distinct performance obligations and are recognized ratably as the Company transfers control evenly over the contract period. Subscription and support revenue also includes software and related maintenance and support fees on legacy BlackLine solutions and Runbook Company B.V. (“Runbook”) software. Software licenses for legacy BlackLine solutions and Runbook software provide the customer with a right to use the software as it exists when made available to the customer. Customers may have purchased perpetual licenses or term based licenses, which provide customers with the same functionality and differ mainly in the duration over which the customer benefits from the software. Software licenses are bundled with software maintenance and support, and the transaction price of the contract is allocated between the software licenses and the software maintenance and support. Maintenance and support convey rights to new software and upgrades released over the contract period and provide support, tools, and training to help customers deploy and use products more efficiently. Software licenses are considered distinct performance obligations and revenue is recognized at a point in time when control of the license has transferred and the license period commences. Maintenance and support are distinct performance obligations that are satisfied over time, and revenue is recognized ratably over the contract period as customers simultaneously consume and receive benefits. Professional services revenue – Professional services consist of implementation and consulting services to assist the Company’s customers as they deploy its solutions. These services are considered distinct performance obligations. Professional services do not result in significant customization of the subscription service. The Company applies the practical expedient to recognize professional services revenue when it has the right to invoice based on time and materials incurred. Significant judgments – The Company’s contracts with customers often include promises to transfer multiple products and services. Determining whether products and services are considered distinct performance obligations that should be accounted for separately versus together may require significant judgment. Judgment is also required to determine the stand alone selling price (“SSP”) for each distinct performance obligation. The Company typically has more than one SSP for its SaaS solutions and professional services. Additionally, management has determined that there are no third-party offerings reasonably comparable to the Company’s solutions. Therefore, the Company determines the SSPs of subscriptions to the SaaS solutions and professional services based on numerous factors including the Company’s overall pricing objectives, geography, customer size and number of users, and discounting practices . The Company uses historical maintenance renewal fees to estimate SSP for maintenance and support fees bundled with software licenses. The Company uses the residual method to estimate SSP of software licenses, because license pricing is highly variable and not sold separately from maintenance and support. Contract balances – Timing of revenue recognition may differ from the timing of invoicing to customers. The Company records an unbilled receivable when revenue is recognized prior to invoicing, and deferred revenue when revenue is recognized subsequent to invoicing. The Company generally invoices customers annually at the beginning of each annual contract period. The Company records a receivable related to revenue recognized for multi-year agreements as it has an unconditional right to invoice and receive payment in the future related to those services. Deferred revenue is comprised mainly of billings related to the Company’s SaaS solutions in advance of revenue being recognized. Deferred revenue also includes payments for: professional services to be performed in the future; legacy BlackLine maintenance and support; Runbook maintenance, support, license, and implementation; and other offerings for which the Company has been paid in advance and earns the revenue when the Company transfers control of the product or service. Changes in deferred revenue for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016 were primarily due to additional billings in the periods, partially offset by revenue recognized of $104.2 million, $78.2 million, and $52.9 million, respectively, that was previously included in the deferred revenue balance at December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively. The transaction price is generally determined by the stated fixed fees in the contract, excluding any related sales taxes. Transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligations represents contracted revenue that has not yet been recognized (“contracted not recognized”), which includes deferred revenue and amounts that will be invoiced and recognized as revenue in future periods. Contracted not recognized revenue was $285.0 million at December 31, 2018, of which the Company expects to recognize approximately 62% over the next 12 months and the remainder thereafter. Fees are generally due and payable upon receipt of invoice or within 30 days. None of the Company’s contracts includes a significant financing component. Assets recognized from the costs to obtain a contract with a customer – The Company recognizes an asset for the incremental and recoverable costs of obtaining a contract with a customer if the Company expects the benefit of those costs to be one year or longer. The Company has determined that certain sales incentive programs to the Company’s employees ("deferred customer contract acquisition costs") and its partners ("partner referral fees") meet the requirements to be capitalized. Deferred customer acquisition costs related to new revenue contracts and upsells are deferred and then amortized straight line over the expected period of benefit, which the Company has determined to be five years, based upon both the product turnover rate and estimated customer life. Partner referral fees are deferred and then amortized on a straight-line basis over the related contractual period, as the fees for renewals are commensurate with fees incurred for the initial contract. Deferred customer acquisition costs and partner referral fees are included within other assets and prepaid expenses and other current assets, respectively, on the consolidated balance sheets. There were no impairment losses in relation to the costs capitalized for the periods presented. Amortization expense related to the asset recognized from the costs to obtain a contract with a customer is included in sales and marketing expenses in the consolidated statements of operations and was $23.6 million, $15.6 million, and $9.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively. |
Cost of revenues | Cost of revenues Cost of revenues primarily consists of costs related to hosting the Company’s cloud-based application suite, salaries and benefits of operations and support personnel, including stock-based compensation, and amortization of capitalized internal-use software costs. The Company allocates a portion of overhead, such as rent, information technology costs and depreciation and amortization to cost of revenues. Costs associated with providing professional services are expensed as incurred when the services are performed. In addition, subscription and support cost of revenues includes amortization of acquired developed technology. |
Sales and Marketing | Sales and marketing Sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of compensation and employee benefits, including stock-based compensation, of sales and marketing personnel and related sales support teams, sales and partner commissions, marketing events, advertising costs, travel, trade shows, other marketing materials, and allocated overhead. Sales and marketing expenses also include amortization of customer relationship intangible assets. Advertising costs are expensed as incurred and totaled $8.0 million, $7.7 million, and $4.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively. |
Research and Development | Research and development Research and development expenses are comprised primarily of salaries, benefits and stock-based compensation associated with the Company’s engineering, product and quality assurance personnel. Research and development expenses also include third-party contractors and supplies and allocated overhead. Other than software development costs that qualify for capitalization, as discussed above, research and development costs are expensed as incurred. |
General and Administrative | General and administrative General and administrative expenses consist primarily of personnel costs associated with the Company’s executive, finance, legal, human resources, compliance, and other administrative personnel, as well as accounting and legal professional services fees, other corporate-related expenses and allocated overhead. General and administrative expenses also include amortization of covenant not to compete and tradename intangible assets, the change in value of the contingent consideration, acquisition-related costs of business combinations, costs associated with the secondary offering, and costs associated with the shelf offerings. |
Stock-Based Compensation | Stock-based compensation The Company accounts for stock-based compensation awards granted to employees and directors based on the awards’ estimated grant date fair value. The Company estimates the fair value of its stock options using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. For awards that vest solely based on continued service (“service-only vesting conditions”), the resulting fair value is recognized on a straight-line basis over the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award, usually the vesting period, which is generally four years. The Company recognizes the fair value of stock options which contain performance conditions based upon the probability of the performance conditions being met, using the graded vesting method. On January 1, 2017, the Company changed its accounting policy to account for forfeitures when they occur rather than estimate a forfeiture rate. Determining the grant date fair value of options using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model requires management to make assumptions and judgments. These estimates involve inherent uncertainties and, if different assumptions had been used, stock-based compensation expense could have been materially different from the amounts recorded. The assumptions and estimates are as follows: Value per share of the Company’s common stock . Prior to the Company’s initial public offering in October 2016, because there was no public market for the Company’s common stock, the Company’s management, with the assistance of a third-party valuation specialist, determined the fair value of the Company’s common stock at the time of the grant of stock options by considering a number of objective and subjective factors, including the Company’s actual operating and financial performance, market conditions and performance of comparable publicly-traded companies, developments and milestones in the Company, the likelihood of achieving a liquidity event and transactions involving the Company’s common stock, among other factors. The fair value of the underlying common stock was determined by the Company’s board of directors through the date of the initial public offering. The fair value of the Company’s common stock was determined in accordance with applicable elements of the practice aid issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Valuation of Privately Held Company Equity Securities Issued as Compensation . For awards granted subsequent to the Company’s initial public offering, the fair value of common stock is based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock, as reported on the NASDAQ, on the date of grant. Expected volatility. The Company determines the expected volatility based on historical average volatilities of similar publicly-traded companies corresponding to the expected term of the awards. The Company determines expected volatility for the Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”) based on the historical volatility of its common stock. Expected term. The Company determines the expected term of awards which contain service-only vesting conditions using the simplified approach, in which the expected term of an award is presumed to be the mid-point between the vesting date and the expiration date of the award, as the Company does not have sufficient historical data relating to stock option exercises. The e xpected term for the Company’s ESPP represents the amount of time remaining in the 12-month offering period. Risk-free interest rate. The risk-free interest rate is based on the United States Treasury yield curve in effect during the period the options were granted corresponding to the expected term of the awards. Estimated dividend yield. The estimated dividend yield is zero, as the Company does not currently intend to declare dividends in the foreseeable future. The following information represents the weighted average of the assumptions used in the Black-Scholes option-pricing model for stock options granted: Year Ended December 31, 2018 2017 2016 Expected term (years) 6.1 6.2 6.3 Expected volatility 46.0 % 47.0 % 47.5 % Risk free interest rate 2.8 % 2.1 % 1.4 % Expected dividends — — — |
Income Taxes | Income taxes The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes The Company recognizes the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the consolidated financial statements from such positions are then measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized. The Company recognizes interest and penalties accrued with respect to uncertain tax positions, if any, in the provision for income taxes in the consolidated statements of operations. |
Net Loss Per Share | Net loss per share Basic and diluted loss per share is calculated by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding. As the Company has net losses for the periods presented, all potentially dilutive common stock, which are comprised of stock options and warrants, are antidilutive. |
Foreign Currency | Foreign currency The Company’s functional currency for its foreign subsidiaries is the U.S. Dollar (“USD”), with the exception of its BlackLine K.K. subsidiary, for which the Japanese Yen is the functional currency. The foreign exchange impacts of remeasuring the local currency of the foreign subsidiaries to the functional currency is recorded in general and administrative expenses in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. Monetary assets and liabilities of foreign operations are remeasured at balance sheet date exchange rates, non-monetary assets and liabilities and equity are remeasured at the historical exchange rates, while results of operations are remeasured at average exchange rates in effect for the period. Foreign currency transaction gains (losses) totaled $(0.1) million, $0.6 million, and $(28,000) for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively. The financial statements of BlackLine K.K. are translated to USD using balance sheet date exchange rates for monetary assets and liabilities, historical rates of exchange for non-monetary assets and liabilities and equity, and average exchange rates in the period for revenues and expenses. Translation gains and losses are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) as a component of stockholders’ equity in the consolidated balance sheets. |
Recent- Accounting Pronouncements | Recent accounting pronouncements Recently issued accounting pronouncements not yet adopted In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued guidance that significantly changes the accounting for leases. The guidance requires that a lessee recognize in the balance sheet a liability to make lease payments (the lease liability) and a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term. For leases with a term of 12 months or less, a lessee is permitted to make an accounting policy election by class of underlying asset not to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities. If a lessee makes this election, it should recognize lease expense for such leases generally on a straight-line basis over the lease term. For income statement purposes, the new guidance retained a dual model, requiring leases to be classified as either operating or financing. Operating leases will result in straight-line expense while finance leases will result in a front-loaded expense pattern similar to existing capital lease guidance. For statement of cash flow purposes, the new guidance also retained the existing dual method, where cash payments for operating leases are reflected in cash flows from operating activities and principal and interest payments for finance leases are reflected in cash flows from financing activities and cash flows from operating activities, respectively. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 and interim periods within those fiscal years. Although the Company is evaluating the impact of adopting this guidance on its consolidated financial statements, the Company expects that most of its operating lease commitments will be recognized as operating lease liabilities and right-of-use assets upon adoption of the new guidance. The Company’s operating leases primarily include real estate (office space), equipment, and data centers. Capital leases are not material. The Company will elect a number of practical expedients allowed under the guidance, including not reassessing lease identification, lease classification or initial direct costs for existing leases as of the adoption date. The Company will adopt the guidance as of January 1, 2019, and comparative periods will not be adjusted. The Company is implementing changes to internal controls to enable the preparation of financial information. The Company expects the adoption of the new accounting guidance to have a material impact on its consolidated balance sheet. In June 2016, the FASB issued guidance which requires that financial assets measured at amortized cost be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. This guidance amends the accounting for credit losses for available-for-sale securities and purchased financial assets with credit deterioration. This guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted for any interim or annual period after December 15, 2018. The Company has not determined the impact of this guidance on its consolidated financial statements. In February 2018, the FASB issued an Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) that provides companies with an option to reclassify stranded tax effects resulting from enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the "Tax Act") from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings. The guidance will be effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of 2019 with early adoption permitted and would be applied either in the period of adoption or retrospectively to each period (or periods) in which the effect of the change in the tax rate as a result of the Tax Act is recognized. The Company does not expect the adoption of this ASU to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements. In June 2018, the FASB issued guidance which expands the scope of Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation In August 2018, the FASB issued guidance which aligns the accounting for implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the accounting for implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software under ASC 350-40, in order to determine which costs to capitalize and recognize as an asset. The guidance will be effective for the Company for annual reporting periods, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2019, and can be applied either prospectively to implementation costs incurred after the date of adoption or retrospectively to all arrangements. The Company does not expect the adoption of this ASU to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements. In August 2018, the FASB issued guidance which modifies the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements in Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting—Chapter 8: Notes to Financial Statements Recently adopted accounting pronouncements In May 2014, the FASB issued guidance related to revenue from contracts with customers. Under this guidance, revenue is recognized when promised goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration that is expected to be received for those goods or services. In addition, the standard requires disclosure of the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. The Company adopted the new revenue guidance effective January 1, 2018 using the full retrospective method to restate each prior reporting period presented. The most significant impact of the standard relates to the Company’s accounting for the incremental costs of obtaining a contract, such as sales commissions. Under the new revenue standard, commissions are recognized over an estimated period of benefit of five years rather than over the non-cancelable contract term. The standard also impacted the Company’s accounting for on-premise solutions which includes software license, maintenance and support fees on Runbook solutions. Under the new guidance, the Company recognizes software license revenue at the time of delivery rather than over the maintenance term. Revenue recognition related to subscription, support, and professional services fees for access to the Company’s SaaS platform is substantially unchanged. Adoption of the standard using the full retrospective method required the Company to restate certain previously reported results; see Note 3 – “Revenues” for additional information regarding the impacts to previously reported results. In November 2016, the FASB issued guidance which requires that restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning and ending total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. The Company adopted this guidance effective January 1, 2018, and all prior periods have been restated, as required by the new standard. In February 2017, the FASB issued guidance which simplifies the subsequent measurement of goodwill by no longer requiring an entity to determine goodwill impairment by calculating the implied fair value of goodwill by assigning the fair value of a reporting unit to all of its assets and liabilities as if that reporting unit had been acquired in a business combination. Under this new guidance, an entity would perform its goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount and would recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value; however, the loss recognized would not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. Additionally, an entity would consider income tax effects from any tax deductible goodwill on the carrying amount of the reporting unit when measuring the goodwill impairment loss, if applicable. Under the new guidance, an entity continues to have the option to perform the qualitative assessment for a reporting unit to determine if the quantitative impairment test is necessary. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 and interim periods within those years. Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017. The Company adopted this standard effective January 1, 2018, and the adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In May 2017, the FASB issued guidance to clarify which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting. Under this guidance an entity should account for the effects of a modification unless all the following are met: 1) The fair value of the modified award is the same as the fair value of the original award immediately before the original award is modified. If the modification does not affect any of the inputs to the valuation technique that the entity uses to value the award, the entity is not required to estimate the value immediately before and after the modification; 2) The vesting conditions of the modified award are the same as the vesting conditions of the original award immediately before the original award is modified; and 3) The classification of the modified award as an equity instrument or a liability instrument is the same as the classification of the original award immediately before the original award is modified. The Company adopted this standard effective January 1, 2018, and will apply this guidance to modifications of stock-based compensation arrangements, if any, after this date. T he adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. |