Summary of significant accounting policies | Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported period. Accordingly, actual results could differ from those estimates as more information becomes known. Cash and cash equivalents The Company maintains its cash in bank deposit accounts that, at times, may exceed federally insured limits; however, the Company has not historically experienced any losses in these accounts. The Company believes it is not exposed to any significant credit risk. The Company currently holds no financial instruments that would be considered cash equivalents. Restricted cash The Company holds premiums received from the insured, but not yet remitted to the insurance carrier in a fiduciary capacity. Premiums received but not yet remitted included in restricted cash were $923 thousand and $376 thousand as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The following is a reconciliation of our cash and restricted cash balances as presented in the consolidated statement of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 (in thousands): December 31, 2019 2019 2018 Cash and cash equivalents $ 14,337 $ 18,635 Restricted cash 923 376 Cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash $ 15,260 $ 19,011 Commissions and agency fees receivable Upon issuance of a new policy, the Company typically collects the first premium payment from the insured, and then will remit the full premium amount to the insurance carriers. The insurance carriers collect the remaining premiums directly from the insureds and remit the applicable commissions to the Company. Accordingly, as reported in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet, commissions are receivables from the insurance carriers. These direct-bill arrangements consist of a high volume of transactions with small premium amounts, with the billing controlled by the insurance carriers. The income statement and balance sheet effects of the commissions are recorded at the contract effective date and generally are based on a percentage of premiums for insurance coverage. During 2019, the Company wrote with over 100 insurance carriers, of which 35 provided national coverage. In 2019, two carriers represented more than 10% of total revenue at 16% and 10%. In 2018, two carriers represented more than 10% of total revenue at 17% and 11%. In select states, agents have the option to charge an agency fee for the placement of the insurance policy. These non-refundable fees are recorded as receivable on the date the policy is effective with the insurance carrier. Allowance for uncollectible agency fees The Company records agency fees receivable net of an allowance for estimated uncollectible accounts to reflect any loss anticipated for the related agency fees receivable balances and charge to bad debts. The agency fees receivable balance consists of numerous small-balance, homogeneous accounts. The Company calculates the allowance based on collection history and writes off all uncollected agency fee balances outstanding over ninety days. Receivable from franchisees Receivable from franchisees consists of franchise fees receivable, net of allowance for uncollectible franchise fees and unamortized discount on franchise fees, royalty fees receivable, and notes receivable from franchisees. Franchise fees receivable At the start date of the franc hise agreement, an entry to franchise fees receivable is recorded along with an entry for a contract liability, to be amortized to franchise fees within Franchise revenues over the 10-year life of the franchise contract. Franchis ees have the option to pay the full amount of franchise fees up front or to pay a deposit up front and the remaining balance by payment plan over time. The franchisees that elect to pay the initial franchise fee over a term extending greater than one year pay in total an amount that exceeds the amount due had they paid the full amount up front. As such, the payment plan option is treated as a zero-interest rate note, which creates an imputation of interest. The imputed interest is recorded as a discount on the franchise fee receivable and amortized using the interest rate method over the life of the payment plan. The amount of interest recorded in 2019 and 2018 related to franchise fees on a payment plan was $606 thousand and $418 thousand, respectively, and is included in Interest income. Allowance for uncollectible franchise fees receivable The Company records franchise fees receivable net of an allowance for estimated uncollectible accounts to reflect any loss anticipated related to the franchise fees receivable balances and charged to bad debts. The franchise fees receivable balance consists of numerous small-balance, homogeneous accounts. The Company calculates the allowance based on our history of write offs for all franchise accounts. Franchise fees receivable and the related allowance is charged off to bad debts if the franchisee owing the balance terminates. Royalty fees receivable Royalty fees are recorded at the point in time when the policy becomes effective with the insurance carrier. The royalty fees are secured by the commissions of the franchisee with no historical losses incurred for uncollectible royalty fees. As such, there is no allowance for doubtful accounts relating to royalty fees. Property & equipment The Company carries fixed assets at cost, less accumulated depreciation, as stated in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Depreciation of property and equipment is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of five years for furniture, fixtures and equipment and three years for computer equipment. Leasehold improvements are also amortized using the straight-line method and are amortized over the shorter of the remaining term of the lease or the useful life of the improvement. Expenditures for improvements are capitalized, and expenditures for maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. Upon sale or retirement, the cost and related accumulated depreciation and amortization is removed from the related accounts, and the resulting gain or loss, if any, is reflected in income. Intangible assets Intangible assets are stated at cost less accumulated amortization and reflect amounts paid for the Company’s web domain and computer software costs. The web domain is amortized over a useful life of fifteen years and software costs are amortized over a useful life of three years. Premiums payable Premiums payable represent premium payments that have been received from insureds, but not yet remitted to the insurance carriers. Unearned revenue When the Company collects Initial Franchise Fees prior to the franchisee start date, the amount collected is recognized as unearned revenue until the Company fulfills its performance obligation and is able to recognize the revenue. Prior to the adoption of Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASU 2014-09) (“Topic 606”), unearned revenue was recorded as Initial Franchise Fees received prior to the date the franchisee attended training. Amounts included in unearned revenue related to initial franchise fees were $0 and $530 thousand at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Deferred financing costs Deferred financing costs incurred in connection with the issuance of debt are capitalized and amortized to interest expense in accordance with the related debt agreements. Deferred financing costs are included as a reduction in notes payable on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Deferred rent Deferred rent consists of rent abatement affecting the timing of cash rent payments related to the Company’s corporate office leases, as well as lease incentives such as construction allowances. Deferred rent is record as a liability and is amortized over the lease term as a reduction to rent expense. Income Taxes Prior to the Offering, GF was treated as a partnership for U.S. federal and applicable state and local income tax purposes. As a partnership, GF's taxable income or loss was included in the taxable income of its members. Accordingly, no income tax expense was recorded for federal and state and local jurisdictions for periods prior to the Offering. In connection with the Offering completed on May 1, 2018, the Company became a taxable entity. The Company accounts for income taxes pursuant to the asset and liability method which requires the recognition of deferred income tax assets and liabilities related to the expected future tax consequences arising from temporary differences between the carrying amounts and tax bases of assets and liabilities based on enacted statutory tax rates applicable to the periods in which the temporary differences are expected to reverse. Any effects of changes in income tax rates or laws are included in income tax expense in the period of enactment. Advertising The Company expenses advertising costs as they are incurred. Advertising expense for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 was $812 thousand and $521 thousand. Recently issued accounting pronouncements Leases (ASU 2016-02) : This standard establishes a new lease accounting model, which introduces the recognition of lease assets and liabilities for those leases classified as operating leases under previous GAAP. It should be applied using a modified retrospective approach, with the option to elect various practical expedients. Early adoption is permitted. The standard will become effective for the Company January 1, 2021, but the Company is not required to present the impacts of the standard until it files its annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this standard will have on the Company's consolidated financial statements. However we expect the impact of this guidance on our consolidated financial statements could be significant, as our future minimum operating lease commitments totaled $22.3 million as of December 31, 2019. Recently adopted accounting pronouncements Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASU 2014-09) (“Topic 606”) : This standard supersedes the existing revenue recognition guidance and provides a new framework for recognizing revenue. The core principle of the standard is that an entity should recognize revenue for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods and services. Additionally, the guidance requires improved disclosure to help users of financial statements better understand the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue that is recognized. Guidance subsequent to ASU 2014-09 has been issued to clarify various provisions in the standard, including principal versus agent considerations, identifying performance obligations, licensing transactions, as well as various technical corrections and improvements. According to the superseding standard ASU 2015-14 that deferred the effective dates of the preceding, and because the Company is filing as an emerging growth company, the standard became effective for the Company January 1, 2019, but the Company was not required to present the impacts of the standard until this annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. This standard may be adopted using either a retrospective or modified retrospective method. The Company adopted this standard by recognizing the cumulative effect as an adjustment to opening accumulated deficit and non-controlling interests at January 1, 2019, under the modified retrospective method for contracts not completed as of the day of adoption. Under the modified retrospective method, the Company was not required to restate comparative financial information prior to the adoption of these standards and, therefore, such information presented prior to January 1, 2019 continue to be reported under the Company’s previous accounting policies. The details of the significant changes and quantitative impact of the changes are discussed below and in "Note 3. Revenues." Impact on Financial Statements The following tables summarize the impacts of adopting the revenue recognition standard on the Company’s consolidated financial statements: (in thousands) Legacy GAAP Adjustments due to Topic 606 As Reported Consolidated Statement of Income Year Ended December 31, 2019 Revenues: Commissions and agency fees 50,164 (3,798) 46,366 Franchise revenues 33,309 (2,806) 30,503 Expenses: Employee compensation and benefits 41,838 (123) 41,715 Bad debts 1,817 (1,092) 725 Income taxes 1,758 (454) 1,304 Net income 15,326 (4,944) 10,382 Earnings per share: Basic 0.36 (0.12) 0.24 Diluted 0.33 (0.11) 0.22 (in thousands) Legacy GAAP Adjustments due to Topic 606 As Reported Consolidated Balance Sheet December 31, 2019 Assets: Commissions and agency fees receivable, net 2,241 4,643 6,884 Receivable from franchisees, net 3,880 9,736 13,616 Deferred income taxes, net 15,217 320 15,537 Other assets 156 1,201 1,357 Liabilities: Accounts payable and accrued expenses 5,138 (105) 5,033 Unearned revenue 515 (515) — Contract liabilities — 22,795 22,795 Liabilities under tax receivable agreement 13,336 23 13,359 Stockholders' Equity (1) : Accumulated Deficit (21,427) (2,384) (23,811) Non-controlling interests (18,152) (3,848) (22,000) Total equity (24,768) (6,239) (31,007) |