Organization And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Organization And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies	ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Company Overview Cornerstone OnDemand, Inc. (“Cornerstone” or the “Company”) was incorporated on May 24, 1999 in the state of Delaware and began its principal operations in November 1999. The Company is a global provider of comprehensive learning and talent management solutions delivered as Software-as-a-Service (“SaaS”). The Company’s solutions are designed to enable organizations to meet the challenges they face in empowering and maximizing the productivity of their human capital. These challenges include developing employees throughout their careers, engaging all employees effectively, improving business execution, cultivating future leaders, and integrating with an organization’s extended enterprise of clients, vendors and distributors by delivering training, certification programs and other content. Management has determined that it operates in one segment as it only reports financial information on an aggregate and consolidated basis to its chief executive officer, who is the Company’s chief operating decision maker. The Company is headquartered in Santa Monica, California and has offices in Auckland, Hong Kong, London, Mumbai, Munich, Madrid, Paris, Sydney and Tel Aviv. On April 5, 2012, the Company completed the acquisition of Sonar Limited (“Sonar”), a New Zealand based cloud talent management solutions provider serving small business globally. Initial Public Offering In March 2011, the Company completed its initial public offering whereby it sold 7,500,000 shares of common stock at a price of $13.00 per share. The Company’s shares are traded on the NASDAQ Global Market. The Company received proceeds from its initial public offering of $90.5 million, net of underwriting discounts and commissions but before offering expenses of $3.7 million. As part of the offering, an additional 4,575,000 shares of common stock were sold by certain existing stockholders at a price of $13.00 per share. The Company did not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of such shares by the selling stockholders. Basis of Presentation The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with (i) United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and (ii) the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, such financial statements do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, the financial statements include all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for the fair statement of the interim periods presented. Results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2012, for any other interim period or for any other future year. The condensed consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2011 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date, but does not include all of the disclosures required by GAAP. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 6, 2012. Reclassifications Certain amounts in the consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2011 have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. 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 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. The Company performs valuations of assets acquired and liabilities assumed for an acquisition and allocates the purchase price to its respective net tangible and intangible assets. 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 revenues and cash flows and discount rates. The Company engages the assistance of valuation specialists in concluding on fair value measurements in connection with fair values of assets and liabilities assumed in a business combination. Transaction costs associated with business combinations are expensed as incurred, and are included in general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statement of operations. There were no transaction costs for the three months ended September 30, 2012, and transaction costs were $0.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012. There were no transaction costs for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011. Goodwill Goodwill is not amortized, but instead is required to be tested for impairment annually and under certain circumstances. The Company performs such testing of goodwill in the fourth quarter of each year, or as events occur or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount. Events or changes in circumstances which could trigger an impairment review include a significant adverse change in legal factors or in the business climate, an adverse action or assessment by a regulator, unanticipated competition, a loss of key personnel, significant changes in the manner of the Company’s use of the acquired assets or the strategy for the Company’s overall business, significant negative industry or economic trends, or significant underperformance relative to expected historical or projected future results of operations. As part of the annual impairment test, the Company conducts an assessment of qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If the Company determines that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, it then conducts the first step of a two-step impairment test. The first step of the test for goodwill impairment compares the fair value of the applicable reporting unit with its carrying value. Fair value is determined using a discounted cash flow method and/or prevailing earnings multiples for the reporting unit. The use of discounted cash flows requires the use of various economic, market and business assumptions in developing the Company’s internal forecasts, the useful life over which cash flows will occur, and determination of the Company’s weighted average cost of capital that reflect the Company’s best estimates when performing the annual impairment test. Judgment is required in selecting relevant earnings multiples. If the fair value of a reporting unit is less than the reporting unit’s carrying value, the Company performs the second step of the test for impairment of goodwill. During the second step, the Company compares the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill with the carrying value of that goodwill. The estimate of implied fair value of goodwill may require valuations of certain internally generated and unrecognized intangible assets and other assets and liabilities. If the carrying value of the goodwill exceeds the calculated implied fair value, the excess amount will be recognized as an impairment loss. Intangible Assets Identified intangible assets primarily consist of trade names and intellectual property and acquisition-related intangibles, including developed technology, customer relationships, non-compete agreements, patents, trade names and trademarks. 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 over their estimated useful lives ranging from two to ten years, generally using the straight line method which approximates the pattern in which the economic benefits are consumed. The Company evaluates the recoverability of its long-lived assets with finite useful lives, including intangible assets, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Such trigger events or changes in circumstances may include: a significant decrease in the market price of a long-lived asset, a significant adverse change in the extent or manner in which a long-lived asset is being used, a significant adverse change in legal factors or in the business climate, the impact of competition or other factors that could affect the value of a long-lived asset, a significant adverse deterioration in the amount of revenue or cash flows expected to be generated from an asset group, an accumulation of costs significantly in excess of the amount originally expected for the acquisition or development of a long-lived asset, current or future operating or cash flow losses that demonstrate continuing losses associated with the use of a long-lived asset, or a current expectation that, more likely than not, a long-lived asset will be sold or otherwise disposed of significantly before the end of its previously estimated useful life. The Company performs impairment testing at the asset group level that represents the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities. If events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset group may not be recoverable and the expected undiscounted future cash flows attributable to the asset group are less than the carrying amount of the asset group, an impairment loss equal to the excess of the asset’s carrying value over its fair value is recorded. Fair value is determined based upon estimated discounted future cash flows. There were no impairment charges related to identified intangible assets in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and the year ended December 31, 2011. Recent Accounting Pronouncements In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-4, “Fair Value Measurement.” The primary focus of this standard is the convergence of accounting requirements for fair value measurements and related financial statement disclosures under U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). While this ASU does not significantly change existing guidance for measuring fair value, it does require additional disclosures about fair value measurements and changes the wording of certain requirements in the guidance to achieve consistency with IFRS. This guidance was effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company adopted this standard during the nine months ended September 30, 2012. The adoption did not have any material impact on the financial statement disclosures. In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-5, “Presentation of Comprehensive Income.” This update requires companies to present reclassification adjustments included in other comprehensive income on the face of the financial statements and allows companies to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. It also eliminates the option for companies to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders’ equity. This guidance was effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The adoption of this standard did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. The Company adopted this standard in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 by including a new separate statement labeled “Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss.” As of September 30, 2012, accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) comprises foreign currency translation adjustments. In September 2011, the FASB issued updated guidance on the periodic testing of goodwill for impairment. This guidance will allow companies to assess qualitative factors to determine if it is more-likely-than-not that goodwill might be impaired and whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test required under current accounting standards. This new guidance is effective for the Company for the annual goodwill impairment tests to be performed during the fourth quarter of 2012. The Company does not expect the adoption will have a material effect on its consolidated financial position or results of operations.

ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Company Overview

Cornerstone OnDemand, Inc. (“Cornerstone” or the “Company”) was incorporated on May 24, 1999 in the state of Delaware and began its principal operations in November 1999.

The Company is a global provider of comprehensive learning and talent management solutions delivered as Software-as-a-Service (“SaaS”). The Company’s solutions are designed to enable organizations to meet the challenges they face in empowering and maximizing the productivity of their human capital. These challenges include developing employees throughout their careers, engaging all employees effectively, improving business execution, cultivating future leaders, and integrating with an organization’s extended enterprise of clients, vendors and distributors by delivering training, certification programs and other content. Management has determined that it operates in one segment as it only reports financial information on an aggregate and consolidated basis to its chief executive officer, who is the Company’s chief operating decision maker.

The Company is headquartered in Santa Monica, California and has offices in Auckland, Hong Kong, London, Mumbai, Munich, Madrid, Paris, Sydney and Tel Aviv.

On April 5, 2012, the Company completed the acquisition of Sonar Limited (“Sonar”), a New Zealand based cloud talent management solutions provider serving small business globally.

Initial Public Offering

In March 2011, the Company completed its initial public offering whereby it sold 7,500,000 shares of common stock at a price of $13.00 per share. The Company’s shares are traded on the NASDAQ Global Market. The Company received proceeds from its initial public offering of $90.5 million, net of underwriting discounts and commissions but before offering expenses of $3.7 million.

As part of the offering, an additional 4,575,000 shares of common stock were sold by certain existing stockholders at a price of $13.00 per share. The Company did not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of such shares by the selling stockholders.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with (i) United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and (ii) the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, such financial statements do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, the financial statements include all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for the fair statement of the interim periods presented. Results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2012, for any other interim period or for any other future year.

The condensed consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2011 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date, but does not include all of the disclosures required by GAAP. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 6, 2012.

Reclassifications

Certain amounts in the consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2011 have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

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 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.

The Company performs valuations of assets acquired and liabilities assumed for an acquisition and allocates the purchase price to its respective net tangible and intangible assets. 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 revenues and cash flows and discount rates. The Company engages the assistance of valuation specialists in concluding on fair value measurements in connection with fair values of assets and liabilities assumed in a business combination.

Transaction costs associated with business combinations are expensed as incurred, and are included in general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statement of operations. There were no transaction costs for the three months ended September 30, 2012, and transaction costs were $0.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012. There were no transaction costs for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011.

Goodwill

Goodwill is not amortized, but instead is required to be tested for impairment annually and under certain circumstances. The Company performs such testing of goodwill in the fourth quarter of each year, or as events occur or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount. Events or changes in circumstances which could trigger an impairment review include a significant adverse change in legal factors or in the business climate, an adverse action or assessment by a regulator, unanticipated competition, a loss of key personnel, significant changes in the manner of the Company’s use of the acquired assets or the strategy for the Company’s overall business, significant negative industry or economic trends, or significant underperformance relative to expected historical or projected future results of operations.

As part of the annual impairment test, the Company conducts an assessment of qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If the Company determines that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, it then conducts the first step of a two-step impairment test. The first step of the test for goodwill impairment compares the fair value of the applicable reporting unit with its carrying value. Fair value is determined using a discounted cash flow method and/or prevailing earnings multiples for the reporting unit. The use of discounted cash flows requires the use of various economic, market and business assumptions in developing the Company’s internal forecasts, the useful life over which cash flows will occur, and determination of the Company’s weighted average cost of capital that reflect the Company’s best estimates when performing the annual impairment test. Judgment is required in selecting relevant earnings multiples.

If the fair value of a reporting unit is less than the reporting unit’s carrying value, the Company performs the second step of the test for impairment of goodwill. During the second step, the Company compares the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill with the carrying value of that goodwill. The estimate of implied fair value of goodwill may require valuations of certain internally generated and unrecognized intangible assets and other assets and liabilities. If the carrying value of the goodwill exceeds the calculated implied fair value, the excess amount will be recognized as an impairment loss.

Intangible Assets

Identified intangible assets primarily consist of trade names and intellectual property and acquisition-related intangibles, including developed technology, customer relationships, non-compete agreements, patents, trade names and trademarks. 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 over their estimated useful lives ranging from two to ten years, generally using the straight line method which approximates the pattern in which the economic benefits are consumed.

The Company evaluates the recoverability of its long-lived assets with finite useful lives, including intangible assets, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Such trigger events or changes in circumstances may include: a significant decrease in the market price of a long-lived asset, a significant adverse change in the extent or manner in which a long-lived asset is being used, a significant adverse change in legal factors or in the business climate, the impact of competition or other factors that could affect the value of a long-lived asset, a significant adverse deterioration in the amount of revenue or cash flows expected to be generated from an asset group, an accumulation of costs significantly in excess of the amount originally expected for the acquisition or development of a long-lived asset, current or future operating or cash flow losses that demonstrate continuing losses associated with the use of a long-lived asset, or a current expectation that, more likely than not, a long-lived asset will be sold or otherwise disposed of significantly before the end of its previously estimated useful life. The Company performs impairment testing at the asset group level that represents the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities. If events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset group may not be recoverable and the expected undiscounted future cash flows attributable to the asset group are less than the carrying amount of the asset group, an impairment loss equal to the excess of the asset’s carrying value over its fair value is recorded. Fair value is determined based upon estimated discounted future cash flows. There were no impairment charges related to identified intangible assets in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and the year ended December 31, 2011.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-4, “Fair Value Measurement.” The primary focus of this standard is the convergence of accounting requirements for fair value measurements and related financial statement disclosures under U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). While this ASU does not significantly change existing guidance for measuring fair value, it does require additional disclosures about fair value measurements and changes the wording of certain requirements in the guidance to achieve consistency with IFRS. This guidance was effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company adopted this standard during the nine months ended September 30, 2012. The adoption did not have any material impact on the financial statement disclosures.

In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-5, “Presentation of Comprehensive Income.” This update requires companies to present reclassification adjustments included in other comprehensive income on the face of the financial statements and allows companies to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. It also eliminates the option for companies to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders’ equity. This guidance was effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The adoption of this standard did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. The Company adopted this standard in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 by including a new separate statement labeled “Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss.” As of September 30, 2012, accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) comprises foreign currency translation adjustments.

In September 2011, the FASB issued updated guidance on the periodic testing of goodwill for impairment. This guidance will allow companies to assess qualitative factors to determine if it is more-likely-than-not that goodwill might be impaired and whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test required under current accounting standards. This new guidance is effective for the Company for the annual goodwill impairment tests to be performed during the fourth quarter of 2012. The Company does not expect the adoption will have a material effect on its consolidated financial position or results of operations.