Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Jan. 01, 2022

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Description of Business and Basis of Presentation

RCM Technologies, Inc. (the “Company” or “RCM”) is a premier provider of business and technology solutions designed to enhance and maximize the operational performance of its customers through the adaptation and deployment of advanced engineering, life sciences and information technology services.  Additionally, the Company provides specialty health care staffing services through its Specialty Health Care Services group.  RCM’s offices are primarily located in major metropolitan centers throughout North America.

The consolidated financial statements are comprised of the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries.  All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. 

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers its holdings of highly liquid money-market instruments and certificates of deposits to be cash equivalents if the securities mature within 90 days from the date of acquisition.  These investments are carried at cost, which approximates fair value.  The Company’s cash balances are maintained in accounts held by major banks and financial institutions.  The majority of these balances may exceed federally insured amounts.  The Company held $21 and $42 of cash and cash equivalents in Canadian banks as of January 1, 2022 and January 2, 2021, respectively, which was held principally in Canadian dollars.  The Company held $169 and $246 of cash and cash equivalents in Serbian banks as of January 1, 2022 and January 2, 2021, respectively, which was held in various currencies.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company’s carrying value of financial instruments, consisting primarily of accounts receivable, transit accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses, transit accounts payable and borrowings under line of credit approximates fair value due to their liquidity or their short-term nature and the line of credit’s variable interest rate.  The Company does not have derivative products in place to manage risks related to foreign currency fluctuations for its foreign operations or for interest rate changes.

Receivable [Policy Text Block]

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

The Company’s accounts receivable are primarily due from trade customers.  Credit is extended based on evaluation of customers’ financial condition and, generally, collateral is not required.  Accounts receivable payment terms vary and are stated in the financial statements at amounts due from customers net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. Accounts outstanding longer than the payment terms are considered past due. The Company determines its allowance by considering a number of factors, including the length of time trade accounts receivable are past due, the Company’s previous loss history, the customer’s current ability to pay its obligation to the Company, and the condition of the general economy and the industry as a whole.  The Company writes off accounts receivable when they become uncollectible, and payments subsequently received on such receivables previously written off are credited to bad debt expense.

Accrued and Unbilled Accounts Receivable and Work in Process [Policy Text Block]

Accrued and Unbilled Accounts Receivable and Work-in-Process

Unbilled receivables primarily represent revenues earned whereby those services are ready to be billed as of the balance sheet ending date. Work-in-process primarily represents revenues earned under contracts which the Company is contractually precluded from invoicing until future dates as project milestones are realized.  See Note 4 for further details.

Transit Receivable and Transit Payable [Policy Text Block]

Transit Accounts Receivable and Transit Accounts Payable

From time to time, the Company’s Engineering segment enters into agreements to provide, among other things, construction management and engineering services.  Pursuant to these agreements, the Company a) may engage subcontractors to provide construction or other services; b) typically earns a fixed percentage of the total project value; and c) assumes no ownership or risks of inventory.  In such situations, the Company acts as an agent under the provisions of FASB ASC 606 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” and therefore recognizing revenue on a “net-basis.”  The Company records revenue on a “net” basis on relevant engineering and construction management projects, which require subcontractor/procurement costs or transit costs. In those situations, the Company charges the client a negotiated fee, which is reported as net revenue when earned. 

Under the terms of the agreements, the Company is typically not required to pay the subcontractor until after the corresponding payment from the Company’s end-client is received. Upon invoicing the end-client on behalf of the subcontractor or staffing agency the Company records this amount simultaneously as both a “transit account receivable” and “transit account payable” as the amount when paid to the Company is due to and generally paid to the subcontractor within a few days. The Company typically does not pay a given transit account payable until the related transit account receivable is collected. The Company is typically obligated to pay the subcontractor or staffing agency whether or not the client pays the Company.  The Company’s transit accounts payable generally exceeds the Company’s transit accounts receivable but absolute amounts and spreads fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter in the normal course of business.

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

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost and are depreciated on the straight-line method at rates calculated to provide for retirement of assets at the end of their estimated useful lives.  The annual rates are 20% for computer hardware and software as well as furniture and office equipment.  Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the estimated life of the asset or the lease term. 

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Intangible Assets

The Company’s intangible assets have been generated through acquisitions.  The Company maintains responsibility for valuing and determining the useful life of intangible assets.  As a general rule, the Company amortizes restricted covenants over four years and customer relationships over six years.  However, circumstances may dictate other amortization terms as determined by the Company and assisted by their third party advisors.

Canadian Sales Tax [Policy Text Block]

Canadian Sales Tax

The Company is required to charge and collect sales tax for all Canadian clients and remits invoiced sales tax monthly to the Canadian taxing authorities whether collected or not.  The Company does not collect the sales tax from its clients until they have paid their respective invoices.  The Company includes uncollected Canadian sales tax invoiced to clients in its prepaid and other current assets.

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

Goodwill

Goodwill is not amortized but is subject to periodic testing for impairment in accordance with FASB ASC 350 “Intangibles - Goodwill and Other.”  The Company tests goodwill for impairment on an annual basis as of the last day of the Company’s fiscal December each year or more frequently if events occur or circumstances change indicating that the fair value of the goodwill may be below its carrying amount. The Company has three reporting units.  The Company uses a market-based approach to determine the fair value of the reporting units.  This approach uses earnings/revenue multiples of similar companies recently completing acquisitions and the ability of our reporting units to generate cash flows as measures of fair value of our reporting units. The Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2017-04, “Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment” effective January 2, 2021 which has eliminated Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. Under this update, an entity should perform its goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. To satisfy the “Step 0 Test”, the Company reviewed industry and market conditions, reporting unit specific events as well as overall financial performance and found no impairment of goodwill.

The Company did not record a goodwill impairment charge in fiscal years ended January 1, 2022 and January 2, 2021.  There can be no assurance that future indicators of impairment and tests of goodwill impairment will not result in an impairment charge.

Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, Including Intangible Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Long-Lived and Intangible Assets

The Company evaluates long-lived assets and intangible assets with definite lives for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable.  When the Company determines that it is probable that undiscounted future cash flows will not be sufficient to recover an asset’s carrying amount, the asset is written down to its fair value.  Assets to be disposed of by sale, if any, are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell.  The Company’s intangible assets consist of customer relationships and non-compete agreements. 

Research, Development, and Computer Software, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Software

In accordance with FASB ASC 350-40 “Accounting for Internal Use Software,” certain costs related to the development or purchase of internal-use software are capitalized and amortized over the estimated useful life of the software. During the fiscal years ended January 1, 2022 and January 2, 2021, the Company capitalized $1,256 and $305, respectively, for software costs.  The net balance after accumulated depreciation for all software costs capitalized as of January 1, 2022 and January 2, 2021 was $1,350 and $1,389, respectively.

Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Income Taxes

The Company makes judgments and interpretations based on enacted tax laws, published tax guidance, as well as estimates of future earnings.  These judgments and interpretations affect the provision for income taxes, deferred tax assets and liabilities and the valuation allowance. The Company evaluated the deferred tax assets and determined on the basis of objective factors that the net assets will be realized through future years’ taxable income.  In the event that actual results differ from these estimates and assessments, additional valuation allowances may be required.  The Company did not have any valuation allowance as of January 1, 2022 or January 2, 2021.

The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with FASB ACS 740 “Income Taxes” (FASB ASC 740) which requires an asset and liability approach of accounting for income taxes.  FASB ASC 740 requires assessment of the likelihood of realizing benefits associated with deferred tax assets for purposes of determining whether a valuation allowance is needed for such deferred tax assets.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that are expected to be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the period that such tax rate changes are enacted. The Company measures its deferred tax assets and liabilities using the tax rates that the Company believes will apply in the years in which the temporary differences are expected to be recovered or paid. The Company and its wholly owned United States subsidiaries file a consolidated federal income tax return.  The Company also files tax returns in Canada, Puerto Rico and Serbia.

The Company also follows the provisions of FASB ASC 740 which prescribes a model for the recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return, and provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, disclosure and transition.  The Company’s policy is to record interest and penalty, if any, as interest expense.

Revenue from Contract with Customer [Policy Text Block]

Revenue Recognition

The Company records revenue under Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers.  Revenue is recognized when we satisfy a performance obligation by transferring services promised in a contract to a customer, in an amount that reflects the consideration that we expect to receive in exchange for those services.  Performance obligations in our contracts represent distinct or separate service streams that we provide to our customers.   

We evaluate our revenue contracts with customers based on the five-step model under ASC 606: (1) Identify the contract with the customer; (2) Identify the performance obligations in the contract; (3) Determine the transaction price; (4) Allocate the transaction price to separate performance obligations; and (5) Recognize revenue when (or as) each performance obligation is satisfied.

The Company derives its revenue from several sources.  The Company’s Engineering Services and Life Sciences and Information Technology segments perform consulting and project solution services.  The Healthcare segment specializes in long-term and short-term staffing and placement services to hospitals, schools and long-term care facilities amongst others.  All of the Company’s segments perform staff augmentation services and derive revenue from permanent placement fees. The majority of the Company’s revenue is invoiced on a time and materials basis.

The following table presents our revenues disaggregated by revenue source for the fifty-two week period ended January 1, 2022 and the fifty-three week period ended January 2, 2021:

	January 1, 2022		January 2, 2021
Engineering:
Time and Material	$	45,035	$	43,359
Fixed Fee		21,070		14,145
Permanent Placement Services		67		211
Total Engineering	$	66,172	$	57,715
Specialty Health Care:
Time and Material	$	97,363	$	59,692
Permanent Placement Services		1,132		789
Total Specialty Health Care	$	98,495	$	60,481
Life Sciences and Information Technology:
Time and Material	$	38,571	$	31,723
Permanent Placement Services		637		490
Total Life Sciences and Information Technology	$	39,208	$	32,213
	$	203,875	$	150,409

Time and Material

The Company’s IT and Healthcare segments predominantly recognize revenue through time and material work while its Engineering segment recognizes revenue through both time and material and fixed fee work. The Company’s time and material contracts are typically based on the number of hours worked at contractually agreed upon rates, therefore revenue associated with these time and materials contracts are recognized based on hours worked at contracted rates. 

Fixed Fee

From time to time and predominantly in our Engineering segment, the Company will enter into contracts requiring the completion of specific deliverables.  The Company has master services agreements with many of its customers that broadly define terms and conditions. Actual services performed under fixed fee arrangements are typically delivered under purchase orders that more specifically define terms and conditions related to that fixed fee project. While these master services agreements can often span several years, the Company’s fixed fee purchase orders are typically performed over six to nine month periods.  In instances where project services are provided on a fixed-price basis, revenue is recorded in accordance with the terms of each contract.  In certain instances, revenue is invoiced at the time certain milestones are reached, as defined in the contract.  Revenue under these arrangements are recognized as the costs on these contracts are incurred.  From time-to-time, amounts paid in excess of revenue earned and recognized are recorded as deferred revenue, included in accounts payable and accrued expenses on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.  Additionally, some contracts contain “Performance Fees” (bonuses) for completing a contract under budget.  Performance Fees, if any, are recorded when earned.  Some contracts also limit revenue and billings to specified maximum amounts.  Provisions for contract losses, if any, are made in the period such losses are determined.  For contracts where there is a specific deliverable and the work is not complete and the revenue is not recognized, the costs incurred are deferred as a prepaid asset.  The associated costs are expensed when the related revenue is recognized.

Permanent Placement Services

The Company earns permanent placement fees from providing permanent placement services.  These fees are typically based on a percentage of the compensation paid to the person placed with the Company’s client.  The Company guarantees its permanent placements on a prorated basis for 90 days.  In the event a candidate is not retained for the 90-day period, the Company will provide a suitable replacement candidate.  In the event a replacement candidate cannot be located, the Company will provide a prorated refund to the client.  An allowance for refunds, based upon the Company’s historical experience, is recorded in the financial statements. Permanent placement revenue was $1.8 million for the fiscal year ended January 1, 2022 and $1.5 million for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2021.

The deferred revenue balance as of January 1, 2022 and January 2, 2021 was $3.4 million and $0.4 million, respectively. These amounts are included in accounts payable and accrued expense in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets at that date.  Revenue is recognized when the service has been performed.  Deferred revenue may be recognized over a period exceeding one year from the time it was recorded on the balance sheet, although this is an infrequent occurrence.  In each of the fifty-two week period ended January 1, 2022 and the fifty-three week period ended January 2, 2021, the Company recognized revenue of $0.4 million that was included in deferred revenue at the beginning of the period.

Transit Receivables and Transit Payables

From time to time, the Company’s Engineering segment enters into agreements to provide, among other things, construction management and engineering services.  Pursuant to these agreements, the Company a) may engage subcontractors to provide construction or other services; b) typically earns a fixed percentage of the total project value; and c) assumes no ownership or risks of inventory.  Under the terms of the agreements, the Company is typically not required to pay the subcontractor until after the corresponding payment from the Company’s end-client is received. Upon invoicing the end-client on behalf of the subcontractor or staffing agency the Company records this amount simultaneously as both a “transit account receivable” and “transit account payable” as the amount when paid to the Company is due to and generally paid to the subcontractor within a few days. The Company typically does not pay a given transit account payable until the related transit account receivable is collected. The Company is typically obligated to pay the subcontractor or staffing agency whether or not the client pays the Company.  The Company’s transit accounts payable generally exceeds the Company’s transit accounts receivable but absolute amounts and spreads fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter in the normal course of business.  The transit accounts receivable was $1.0 million and related transit accounts payable was $2.1 million, for a net payable of $1.1 million, as of January 1, 2022. The transit accounts receivable was $2.5 million and related transit accounts payable was $4.9 million, for a net payable of $2.4 million, as of January 2, 2021.

Concentration Risk, Credit Risk, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Concentration

During the fiscal year ended January 1, 2022, no client accounted for 10% or more of total revenues.  As of January 1, 2022, the following clients represented more than 10.0% of the Company’s accounts receivable, net: Ginkgo Bioworks was 15.3% and Hawaii Department of Education was 14.2%.  No other customer accounted for 10% or more of the Company’s accounts receivable, net. The Company’s five, ten and twenty largest customers accounted for approximately 35.8%, 52.5% and 65.1%, respectively, of the Company’s revenues for the fiscal year ended January 1, 2022.

During the fiscal year ended January 2, 2021, New York City Board of Education represented 10.6% of the Company’s revenues.  No other client accounted for 10% or more of total revenues during the year.  As of January 2, 2021, the following clients represented more than 10.0% of the Company’s accounts receivable, net: New York City Board of Education was 11.8% and Hawaii Department of Education was 10.6%.  No other customer accounted for 10% or more of the Company’s accounts receivable, net. The Company’s five, ten and twenty largest customers accounted for approximately 33.4%, 46.6% and 60.7%, respectively, of the Company’s revenues for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2021.

Foreign Currency Transactions and Translations Policy [Policy Text Block]

Foreign Currency Translation

The functional currency of the Company’s Canadian and Serbian subsidiaries is the local currency. Assets and liabilities are translated at period-end exchange rates.  Income and expense items are translated at weighted average rates of exchange prevailing during the year.  Any translation adjustments are included in the accumulated other comprehensive income account in stockholders’ equity.  Transactions executed in different currencies resulting in exchange adjustments are translated at spot rates and resulting foreign exchange transaction gains and losses are included in the results of operations.

Comprehensive Income, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income consists of net income and foreign currency translation adjustments.

Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Per Share Data

Basic net income per share is calculated using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period.  Diluted net income per share is calculated using the weighted-average number of common shares plus dilutive potential common shares outstanding during the period.  Potential dilutive common shares consist of stock options and other stock-based awards under the Company’s stock compensation plans, when their impact is dilutive.  Because of the Company’s capital structure, all reported earnings pertain to common shareholders and no other adjustments are necessary. 

Share-based Payment Arrangement [Policy Text Block]

Share - Based Compensation

The Company recognizes share-based compensation over the vesting period of an award based on fair value at the grant date determined using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.  Certain assumptions are used to determine the fair value of stock-based payment awards on the date of grant and require subjective judgment.  Because employee stock options have characteristics significantly different from those of traded options, and because changes in the input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate, the existing models may not provide a reliable single measure of the fair value of the employee stock options.  Management assesses the assumptions and methodologies used to calculate estimated fair value of stock-based compensation when share-based awards are granted.  Circumstances may change and additional data may become available over time, which could result in changes to these assumptions and methodologies and thereby materially impact our fair value determination.  If an employee leaves the firm before the vesting period has been met, those shares are forfeited and removed from the share – based compensation expense calculation. See Note 11 for additional share-based compensation information.

Restricted share awards are recognized at their fair value.  The amount of compensation cost is measured on the grant date fair value of the equity instrument issued.  The compensation cost of the restricted share awards is recognized over the vesting period of the restricted share awards on a straight-line basis.  Restricted share awards typically include dividend accrual equivalents, which means that any dividends paid by the Company during the vesting period become due and payable after the vesting period assuming the grantee’s restricted stock unit fully vests.  Dividends for these grants are accrued on the dividend payment dates and included in accounts payable and accrued expenses on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.  Dividends for restricted share awards that ultimately do not vest are forfeited.

Advertising Cost [Policy Text Block]

Advertising Costs

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred.  Total advertising expense was $914 and $800 for the fiscal years ended January 1, 2022 and January 2, 2021, respectively.

Fair Value Measurement, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Fair Value Measurements

The Company values its financial assets and liabilities based on the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.  In order to increase consistency and comparability in fair value measurements, a fair value hierarchy was established that prioritizes observable and unobservable inputs used to measure fair value into three broad levels, which are described below:

Level 1:  Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical assets or liabilities.  The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to Level 1 inputs.

Level 2:  Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in inactive markets; or model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs are observable or can be derived principally from or corroborated with observable market data.

Level 3:  Unobservable inputs are used when little or no market data is available.  The fair value hierarchy gives the lowest priority to Level 3 inputs.

In determining fair value, the Company utilizes valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs to the extent possible as well as considers counterparty credit risk in its assessment of fair value.

Reclassification, Comparability Adjustment [Policy Text Block]

Reclassification

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform with the current year presentation.  These classifications had no effect on the previously reported results of operations.