Revenue Recognition

6 Months Ended

Nov. 30, 2021

Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition

The following table presents Cintas' total revenue disaggregated by operating segment:

	Three Months Ended								Six Months Ended
(In thousands)	November 30, 2021				November 30, 2020				November 30, 2021				November 30, 2020
Uniform Rental and    Facility Services	$	1,535,271	79.9	%	$	1,410,488	80.3	%	$	3,043,447	79.7	%	$	2,804,899	80.0	%
First Aid and Safety    Services	202,160		10.5	%	194,419		11.0	%	401,276		10.5	%	398,899		11.4	%
Fire Protection    Services	123,254		6.4	%	104,636		6.0	%	251,472		6.6	%	212,701		6.1	%
Uniform Direct Sales	61,596		3.2	%	47,505		2.7	%	123,036		3.2	%	87,123		2.5	%
Total revenue	$	1,922,281	100.0	%	$	1,757,048	100.0	%	$	3,819,231	100.0	%	$	3,503,622	100.0	%

Fire Protection Services and Uniform Direct Sales operating segments are included within All Other as disclosed in Note 11 entitled Segment Information.

Revenue Recognition Policy

Approximately 95% of the Company's revenue is derived from fees for route servicing of Uniform Rental and Facility Services, First Aid and Safety Services and Fire Protection Services customers, performed by a Cintas employee-partner, at the customer's location of business. Revenues from our route servicing customer contracts represent a single-performance obligation. The Company recognizes revenues over time as services are performed based on the nature of services provided and contractual rates (output method) or at a point in time when the performance obligation under the terms of the contract with a customer are satisfied, at the customer's location of business. The Company's remaining revenue, primarily within the Uniform Direct Sales operating segment, and representing approximately 5% of the Company's total revenue, is recognized when the obligations under the terms of a contract with a customer are satisfied. This generally occurs when the goods are transferred to the customer.

Revenue recorded is presented net of sales and other taxes we collect on behalf of governmental authorities. Shipping and handling costs charged to customers are treated as fulfillment activities and are recorded in both revenue and cost of sales at the time control is transferred to the customer. Certain of our customer contracts, include pricing terms and conditions that include components of variable consideration. The variable consideration is typically in the form of consideration paid to a customer based on performance metrics specified within the contract. Specifically, some contracts contain discounts or rebates that the customer can earn through the achievement of specified volume levels. Each component of variable consideration is earned based on the Company's actual performance during the measurement period specified within the contract. To determine the transaction price, the Company estimates the variable consideration using the most likely amount method, based on the specific contract provisions and known performance results during the relevant measurement period. When determining if variable consideration should be constrained, the Company considers whether factors outside its control could result in a significant reversal of revenue. In making these assessments, the Company considers the likelihood and magnitude of a potential reversal. The Company's performance period generally corresponds with the monthly invoice period. No constraints on our revenue recognition were applied during the three or six months ended November 30, 2021 or 2020. The Company reassesses these estimates during each reporting period. Cintas maintains a liability for these discounts and rebates within accrued liabilities on the consolidated condensed balance sheets. Variable consideration also includes consideration paid to a customer at the beginning of a contract. Cintas capitalizes this consideration and amortizes it over the life of the contract as a reduction to revenue. These assets are included in prepaid expenses and other current assets and in other assets, net on the consolidated condensed balance sheets.

Additionally, certain Uniform Direct Sales operating segment customer contracts contain a provision with an enforceable right of payment, and the underlying product has no alternative use to Cintas. Consequently, when both aforementioned provisions are prevalent in a customer contract, the revenue is recorded for finished goods that the customer is obligated to purchase under the termination terms of the contract.

We are exposed to credit losses primarily through our trade receivables. We determine the allowance for credit losses using both an estimate, based on historical rates of collections, and reserves for specific accounts identified as uncollectible. The portion of the allowance that is an estimate based on Cintas' historical rates of collections is recorded for overdue amounts, beginning with a nominal percentage when the account is current and increasing substantially as the account ages. The amount provided as the account ages will differ slightly between the Uniform Rental and Facility Services reportable operating segment, the First Aid and Safety Services reportable operating segment and All Other because of differences in customers served and the nature of each business. We update our estimate of credit loss reserves quarterly, considering recent write-offs and collections information and underlying economic expectations.

Costs to Obtain a Contract

The Company capitalizes commission expenses paid to our employee-partners when the commissions are deemed to be incremental for obtaining the route servicing customer contract. As permitted by ASC 606, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)", the Company has elected to apply the guidance to a portfolio of contracts (or performance obligations) with similar characteristics because the Company reasonably expects that the effects on the consolidated condensed financial statements of applying this guidance to the portfolio would not differ materially from applying this guidance to the individual contracts within the portfolio. The Company also continues to expense certain costs to obtain a contract if those costs do not meet the criteria of the standard or the amortization period of the asset would have been one year or less. The deferred commissions are amortized on a straight-line basis over the expected period of benefit. We review the deferred commission balances for impairment on an ongoing basis. Deferred commissions are classified as current or noncurrent based on the timing of when we expect to recognize the expense. The current portion is included in prepaid expenses and other current assets and the noncurrent portion is included in other assets, net on the Company's consolidated condensed balance sheets. As of November 30, 2021, the current and noncurrent assets related to deferred commissions totaled $81.3 million and $228.9 million, respectively. As of May 31, 2021, the current and noncurrent assets related to deferred commissions totaled $79.4 million and $227.1 million, respectively. We recorded amortization expense related to deferred commissions of $21.7 million and $20.7 million during the three months ended November 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. During the six months ended November 30, 2021 and 2020, we recorded amortization expense related to deferred commissions of $43.1 million and $41.1 million, respectively. These expenses are classified in selling and administrative expenses on the consolidated condensed statements of income.