Note 1 - Accounting Policies

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block]

1.   Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Onvia, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, collectively referred to as "Onvia" or the ”Company.”  There was no business activity in the subsidiary in the three month period ended March 31, 2013 or 2012.  The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto have been prepared pursuant to generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, or GAAP, and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Accordingly, certain information and note disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations.  The accompanying interim condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012 (“2012 Annual Report”).

The information furnished is unaudited, but reflects, in the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of only normal recurring items, necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim periods presented. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, requires the Company’s management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Significant estimates include the fair value of stock-based compensation, allowance for doubtful accounts, recoverability of long-lived assets, idle lease accrual and the valuation allowance for Onvia’s net operating losses.  The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances.  Actual results may differ significantly from the Company’s estimates.  In addition, any significant unanticipated changes in any of the Company’s assumptions could have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition, and results of operations.

New Accounting Pronouncements

There have been no recent accounting pronouncements or changes in accounting pronouncements during the three months ended March 31, 2013, as compared to the recent accounting pronouncements described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, that are of significance, or potential significance to us.