Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Consolidation

CEN’s consolidated financial statements include the accounts of CEN, CCM, and Eastern Starr (collectively, the “Company”). CCM is a Windsor, Ontario based digital marketing, and e-commerce company. CCM’s purpose is to develop, market and sell various digital products. Additionally, CCM will provide in-house IT support functions for CEN’s activities. Eastern Starr’s purpose is to facilitate future growth opportunities in the LED lighting sector. All material intercompany transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Basis of Accounting

The Company’s consolidated financial statements are prepared using the accrual method of accounting in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The functional currency of the Company is the U.S. dollar.

Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Use of Estimates and Assumptions

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include certain estimates and assumptions which affect the reported amounts of assets and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements (including intangible assets and goodwill), and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period, including stock-based compensation. Accordingly, actual results may differ from those estimates.

Revenue from Contract with Customer [Policy Text Block]

Revenue from Contracts with Customers

The Company has agreements with third parties to provide multi-platform, internet-based products and services to their customers in the form of online marketing, business metrics, and other solutions. These services are recognized over time, as the services are performed, as the asset created has no alternative use and the Company is contractually entitled to payment for its performance to date in the event the contract is cancelled for convenience. For these contracts, revenue is recognized over time using input measures that correspond to the level of staff effort expended to satisfy the performance obligation on a rate per hour or equivalent basis. Variable consideration has not historically been significant. The Company does not include sales and other taxes in the transaction price and thus does not recognize these amounts as revenue.

The Company derived approximately 99% of its revenue from one customer during the year ended December 31, 2021. Substantially all of the accounts receivable as of December 31, 2021 are due from this customer. The loss of this customer could adversely affect short-term operating results.

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Cash and Cash Equivalents

For purposes of the consolidated balance sheet and statement of cash flows, the Company considers all highly liquid instruments with a maturity of three months or less at the time of issuance to be cash equivalents.

Accounts Receivable [Policy Text Block]

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable are customer obligations due under normal trade terms generally requiring payment within 30 to 60 days from the invoice date. Ongoing credit evaluations of customers’ financial condition are conducted and, generally, no collateral is required to support accounts receivable, which are stated at the amount management expects to collect from balances outstanding at year-end. Based on management’s assessment of the credit history with customers having outstanding balances and current relationships with them, it has estimated that realization of losses on balances outstanding at period-end will not be significant.

Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Major improvements and renewals are capitalized while ordinary maintenance and repairs are expensed. Management reviews these assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the related carrying amount may not be recoverable. Depreciation is recognized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives, which generally range from 2 to 7 years. Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the estimated useful lives or the period of the respective leases.

See Note 6 for disposal charges taken in 2020 related to property, plant and improvements.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Intangible Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Intangible Assets

Trade Names and Customer Relationships: Identifiable intangible assets with finite useful lives are being amortized over periods ranging 3 to 7 years, respectively. Management reviews these assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the related carrying amount may not be recoverable. Fair values are determined based on the discounted cash flows, or external appraisals, as applicable.

Product Technology and Capitalized Software Development Costs: The Company has adopted the provisions of ASC 985-20-25, Costs of Software to Be Sold, Leased or Marketed, whereby costs incurred to establish the technological feasibility of a computer software product to be sold, leased or marketed are research and development costs. Those costs are expressed as incurred; costs of producing product masters incurred subsequent to establishing technological feasibility are capitalized; and costs incurred when the product is available for general release to the customers are expensed as incurred. Upgrades and enhancements are capitalized if they result in added functionality which enables the software to perform tasks it was previously incapable of performing. Product technology and capitalized software development costs will be amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the project once implemented. The product technology and capitalized software has not been implemented as of December 31, 2021.

Lighting Patent: A patent for LED lighting technology with a definite useful life is being amortized over 16 years. Management annually reviews this asset for impairment when circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable based on the undiscounted cash flows of the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable, a write-down to fair value is recorded. Fair values are determined based on the discounted cash flows, or external appraisals, as applicable.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Goodwill, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Goodwill

Goodwill arising from business combinations represents the excess of purchase consideration exchanged by the Company over the estimated fair value of the net assets of acquired businesses. The Company evaluates goodwill for impairment on an annual basis. In completing this evaluation, the Company considers the profitability of Clear Com Media, Inc. and compares its best estimate of future cash flows with the net carrying value of goodwill.

Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Income Taxes

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are computed annually for differences between the financial statement and income tax bases of assets and liabilities that will result in taxable or deductible amounts in the future, based on enacted tax laws and rates applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. Income tax expense is the tax payable or refundable for the year plus or minus the change during the year in deferred tax assets and liabilities.

Foreign Currency Transactions and Translations Policy [Policy Text Block]

Foreign Currency

Foreign denominated monetary assets and liabilities of the Company are translated at the rate of exchange prevailing at the consolidated balance sheet date. Other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the exchange rates prevailing when the assets were acquired or the liabilities incurred. Sales and expenses are translated at the average exchange rate over the reporting period. Transaction gains or losses are included in the determination of net (loss) income.

The functional currency of CCM is the Canadian dollar. The accounts of CCM were translated to United States dollars equivalents at exchange rates as follows: balance sheet assets and liabilities were converted at period-end rates, equity at historical rates, and income statement accounts at average rates for the period. The resulting translation gain or loss is reflected in other comprehensive loss and accumulated other comprehensive loss in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss and consolidated statements of shareholders’ deficit, respectively.

Share-based Payment Arrangement [Policy Text Block]

Stock-Based Compensation

The fair value of restricted stock awards granted to employees and non-employees is determined on the grant date and compensation is recognized ratably over the requisite service period equal to the fair value of the award.

The Company accounts for restricted stock awards issued to employees and non-employees in accordance with the authoritative guidance in ASC Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation (ASC 718). ASC 718 requires all stock-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options and modifications to existing stock awards, to be recognized in the statements of operations and comprehensive loss based on their grant date fair values.

Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block]

(Loss) Income per Share

Net (loss) income per common share is computed pursuant to Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 260-10-45. Basic (loss) income per share is computed based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net (loss) income per share is calculated by dividing net (loss) income by the diluted weighted average common shares outstanding, which includes the effect of potentially dilutive securities. During periods when there is a net loss, all potentially dilutive shares are anti-dilutive and are excluded from the calculation of net loss per share. Diluted earnings per share is similarly computed except that the denominator includes the effect, using the treasury stock method, of unvested restricted stock and convertible notes, if including such potential shares of common stock is dilutive. For 2021, the common stock equivalents of the convertible note agreements were not included in diluted earnings per share computations because their effect was antidilutive, see Note 21.

Lessee, Leases [Policy Text Block]

Leases

The Company accounts for leases pursuant to ASC Topic 842, “Leases”. This ASU requires substantially all leases be recorded on the balance sheet as right of use assets and lease obligations. At the inception of each lease, its appropriate classification as an operating or financing lease is determined. All of the Company’s leases are operating leases. Operating lease assets and liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date. Operating lease liabilities represent the present value of lease payments not yet paid. Operating lease right of use (“ROU”) assets represent our right to use an underlying asset and are based upon the operating lease liabilities adjusted for prepayments or accrued lease payments, initial direct costs and lease incentives. During 2020, the Company entered into a mutual termination and release agreement for the 20 North Rear Road property and abandoned the leased office space in Windsor, Ontario, see Note 18.

Reclassification, Comparability Adjustment [Policy Text Block]

Reclassification

Certain amounts as reported in the 2020 consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform with the 2021 presentation.