JOINT Corp (JYNT) FY 2023 MD&A
This page reproduces the company's own Item 7 MD&A text from the linked SEC filing. It is filer text, not grepcent analysis, scoring, or investment advice.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis of our results of operations and financial condition for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto, and other financial information contained elsewhere in this Form 10-K. Information pertaining to fiscal year 2021 was included in our Amended Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2021 under Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Position and Results of Operations,” which was filed with the SEC on September 26, 2023.
Overview
We are a rapidly growing franchisor and operator of chiropractic clinics that uses a private pay, non-insurance, cash-based model. We seek to be the leading provider of chiropractic care in the markets we serve and to become the most recognized brand in our industry. We delivered over 13.6 million patient visits in 2023, up from 12.2 million patient visits in 2022, generating over $488.0 million and $435 million of system-wide sales, respectively, across our highly franchised network. We will continue the rapid and franchised focused expansion of chiropractic clinics in key markets throughout North America and potentially abroad. We saw over 932,000 new patients in 2023, with approximately 36% of those new patients visiting a chiropractor for the first time. We are not only increasing our percentage of market share, but are expanding the chiropractic market.
Key Performance Measures. We receive monthly performance reports from our system and our clinics, which include key performance indicators per clinic, including gross sales, comparable same-store sales growth (“Comp Sales”), number of new patients, conversion percentage and member attrition. In addition, we review monthly reporting related to system-wide sales, clinic openings, clinic license sales and various earnings metrics in the aggregate and per clinic. We believe these indicators provide us with useful data with which to measure our performance and to measure our franchisees’ and clinics’ performance. System-wide Comp Sales include the sales from both company-owned or managed clinics and franchised clinics that in each case have been open at least 13 full months and exclude any clinics that have closed. While gross sales from franchised clinics are not recorded as revenues by us, management believes the information is important in understanding the overall brand’s financial performance, because these sales are the basis on which we calculate and record royalty fees and are indicative of the financial health of the franchisee base.
Key Clinic Development Trends. As of December 31, 2023, we and our franchisees operated or managed 935 clinics, of which 800 were operated or managed by franchisees and 135 were operated as company-owned or managed clinics. We and our franchisees opened 114 clinics during 2023, 104 franchised clinics and 10 company-owned or managed clinics. This compares to 137 clinics opened in 2022, 121 franchised clinics and 16 company-owned or managed clinics. Of the 135 company-owned or managed clinics at December 31, 2023, 65 were constructed and developed by us, and 70 were acquired from franchisees.
29
Table of Contents
Our current strategy is to grow through the sale and development of additional franchises. After evaluating options for improvement, during 2023 the board authorized management to initiate a plan to re-franchise or sell the majority of our company-owned or managed clinics. This refined strategy will leverage our greatest strength – our capacity to build a franchise – to drive long-term growth for both our franchisees and The Joint as a public company. We have created a robust framework for the re-franchising effort, organizing clinics into clusters, and generating comprehensive disclosure packets for marketing efficiency. We have given initial preference to existing franchisees and have received significant interest to date. Our goal will be to generate significant proceeds that will provide us with value creating capital allocation opportunities. These opportunities could include, but are not limited to, reinvestment in the brand and related marketing, continued investment in our IT platforms, the repurchase of RD territories, and/or a stock repurchase program.
The number of franchise licenses sold for the year ended December 31, 2023 was 55, compared with 75 and 156 licenses for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. We ended 2023 with 17 regional developers who were responsible for 51% of the 55 licenses sold during the year. This strong result reflects the power of the regional developer program to accelerate the number of clinics sold, and eventually opened, across the country.
We believe that we continue to have a sound business concept and will benefit from the fundamental changes taking place in the manner in which Americans access chiropractic care and their growing interest in seeking effective, affordable natural solutions for general wellness. These trends join with the preference we have seen among chiropractic doctors to reject the insurance-based model to produce a combination that benefits the consumer and the service provider alike. We believe that these forces create an important opportunity to accelerate the growth of our network.
Default Under Credit Agreement
On September 8, 2023, JP Morgan Chase waived, on a one-time only basis, a default that occurred under the Credit Agreement. The default occurred as of the close of business on September 6, 2023. The default resulted from our inability to deliver in a timely manner the financial statements in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2023 (the “2023 Q2 10-Q”). Our inability to produce and file the 2023 Q2 10-Q in a timely manner (which filing constitutes delivery to JP Morgan Chase of our financial statements) was the result of the discovery of errors in the GAAP accounting treatment for re-acquired regional developer rights and for transfer pricing for our VIEs. JP Morgan Chase waived this default until September 30, 2023. The filing of our 2023 Q2 10-Q on September 26, 2023 cured the default.
Recent Events
Recent events that may impact our business include unfavorable global economic or political conditions, such as the Ukraine War, the Israel-Gaza conflict, labor shortages, and inflation and other cost increases. We anticipate that 2024 will continue to be a volatile macroeconomic environment.
The primary inflationary factor affecting our operations is labor costs. In 2022 and 2023, clinics owned or managed by us or our franchisees were negatively impacted by labor shortages and wage increases, which increased our general and administrative expenses. Further, should we fail to continue to increase our wages competitively in response to increasing wage rates, the quality of our workforce could decline, causing our patient service to suffer. While we anticipate that these continued headwinds can be partially mitigated by pricing actions, there can be no assurance that we will be able to continue to take such pricing actions. A continued increase in labor costs could have an adverse effect on our operating costs, financial condition and results of operations.
In addition, the increase in interest rates and the expectation that interest rates will continue to remain elevated may adversely affect patients' financial conditions, resulting in reduced spending on our services. While the impact of these factors continues to remain uncertain, we will continue to evaluate the extent to which these factors will impact our business, financial condition, or results of operations. These and other uncertainties with respect to these recent events could result in changes to our current expectations.
Significant Events and/or Recent Developments
For the year ended December 31, 2023:
•Comp Sales of clinics that have been open for at least 13 full months increased 4%.
•Comp Sales for mature clinics open 48 months or more decreased 1%.
30
Table of Contents
•System-wide sales for all clinics open for any amount of time grew 12% to $488.0 million.
We saw over 932,000 new patients in 2023, compared with 845,000 new patients in 2022, with approximately 36% of those new patients having never been to a chiropractor before. We are not only increasing our percentage of market share, but expanding the chiropractic market. These factors, along with continued leverage of our operating expenses, drove improvement in our bottom line.
On November 6, 2023, we discussed certain strategic initiatives with the Board of Directors and were authorized to initiate a plan to re-franchise the majority of our corporate-owned or managed clinics with plans to retain a small portion of high-performing clinics. Based on the timing and varied scope of the initiative, we are unable to estimate the financial impact of such plans.
In October 2023, we entered into two separate letters of intent to sell two of our company-owned or managed clinics that were part of the approximately 10% of clinics identified for sale and classified as held for sale as of September 30, 2023 for a combined total sales price of $185,000. The sales are expected to close during the first quarter of 2024, subject to customary closing conditions.
On June 15, 2023, we entered into an agreement under which we repurchased the right to develop franchises in various counties in Wisconsin. The total consideration for the transaction was $1.0 million. We carried an upfront regional developer fee liability balance associated with this transaction of $0.3 million, representing the unrecognized fee collected upon the execution of the regional developer agreement. We accounted for the termination of development rights associated with unsold or undeveloped franchises as a cancellation, and the associated upfront regional developer fee liability was netted against the aggregate purchase price. We recognized the net amount of $0.7 million as a general and administrative expense on June 15, 2023.
On May 22, 2023, we entered into an Asset and Franchise Purchase Agreement under which we repurchased from the sellers three operating franchised clinics in California. We operate the franchises as company-managed clinics. The total purchase price for the transaction was $1,188,764, less $28,997 of net deferred revenue, resulting in total purchase consideration of $1,159,767. Based on the terms of the purchase agreement, the acquisition has been treated as an asset purchase.
For the year ended December 31, 2023, we constructed and developed 10 new corporate clinics.
Factors Affecting Our Performance
Our operating results may fluctuate significantly as a result of a variety of factors, including the timing of new clinic sales, openings, closures, markets in which they are contained and related expenses, general economic conditions, cost inflation, labor shortages, consumer confidence in the economy, consumer preferences, competitive factors, and disease epidemics and other health-related concerns, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Significant Accounting Polices and Estimates
The preparation of consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. We base our accounting estimates on historical experience and other factors that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ from those estimates. We have discussed the development and selection of significant accounting policies and estimates with our Audit Committee.
Acquisitions
We allocate the purchase price of acquired companies to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on estimated fair values at the acquisition date, with the excess of purchase price over the estimated fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired recorded as goodwill. When an acquisition is accounted for in accordance with the acquisition of assets rather than a business, goodwill is not recognized and instead, any excess of the cost of the acquisition over the fair value of net assets acquired is allocated to certain assets on the basis of relative fair values. The allocation of the purchase price requires us to make significant estimates and assumptions to determine the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed and the related useful lives of the acquired assets, when applicable, as of the acquisition date.
Examples of critical estimates used in valuing certain intangible assets we have acquired or may acquire in the future include, but are not limited to, future expected cash flows and member relationships, revenue growth rates, the period of time the acquired member relationships will continue to be used, anticipated member attrition rates, and discount rates used to determine
31
Table of Contents
the present value of estimated future cash flows. We engage third-party valuation experts to assist in determining the fair value associated with our acquisitions and related identifiable intangible assets. These estimates are inherently uncertain and unpredictable, and if different estimates were used, the purchase price for the acquisition could be allocated to the acquired assets and assumed liabilities differently from the allocation that we have made.
Intangible Assets
Intangible assets consist primarily of re-acquired franchise rights and customer relationships. We amortize the fair value of re-acquired franchise rights over the remaining contractual terms of the re-acquired franchise rights at the time of the acquisition, which range from one to ten years. The fair value of customer relationships is amortized over their estimated useful life which ranges from two to four years.
Goodwill
Goodwill consists of the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired in the acquisitions of franchises treated as a business combination under GAAP. Goodwill and intangible assets deemed to have indefinite lives are not amortized but are subject to annual impairment tests. As required, we perform an annual impairment test of goodwill as of the first day of the fourth quarter or more frequently if events or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying value. No impairments of goodwill were recorded for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.
Long-Lived Assets
We review our long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recovered. We look primarily to estimated undiscounted future cash flows in the assessment of whether or not long-lived assets are recoverable. We record an impairment loss when the carrying amount of the asset is not recoverable and exceeds its fair value. During the year ended December 31, 2023, intangible assets and property and equipment, net related to a closed clinic and asset groups determined to not be recoverable with a total carrying amount of approximately $3.0 million was written down to $1.2 million. As a result, we recorded a noncash impairment loss of approximately $1.8 million during the year ended December 31, 2023. During the year ended December 31, 2022, an operating lease ROU asset related to a closed clinic with a total carrying amount of $0.2 million was written down to their fair value of zero. As a result, we recorded a noncash impairment loss of approximately $0.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2022.
Stock-Based Compensation
We account for share-based payments by recognizing compensation expense based on the estimated fair value of the awards on the date of grant. We determine the estimated grant-date fair value of restricted shares using the closing price on the date of the grant and the grant-date fair value of stock options using the Black-Scholes-Merton model. In order to calculate the fair value of the options, certain assumptions are made regarding the components of the model, including risk-free interest rate, volatility, expected dividend yield and expected option life. Changes to the assumptions could cause significant adjustments to the valuation. We recognize compensation costs ratably over the period of service using the straight-line method. Forfeitures are estimated based on historical and forecasted turnover, which is approximately 5%.
Revenue Recognition
We generate revenue through our company-owned and managed clinics and through royalties, franchise fees, advertising fund contributions, IT related income and computer software fees from our franchisees.
Revenues from Company-Owned or Managed Clinics. We earn revenue from clinics that we own and operate or manage throughout the United States. In those states where we own and operate the clinic, revenues are recognized when services are performed. We offer a variety of membership and wellness packages which feature discounted pricing as compared with our single-visit pricing. Amounts collected in advance for membership and wellness packages are recorded as deferred revenue and recognized when the service is performed. Any unused visits associated with monthly memberships are recognized on a month-to-month basis. We recognize a contract liability (or a deferred revenue liability) related to the prepaid treatment plans for which we have an ongoing performance obligation. We recognize this contract liability, and recognize revenue, as the patient consumes his or her visits related to the package and we perform the services. If we determine that it is not subject to unclaimed property laws for the portion of wellness package that we do not expect to be redeemed (referred to as “breakage”), then we recognize breakage revenue in proportion to the pattern of exercised rights by the patient.
32
Table of Contents
Royalties and Advertising Fund Revenue. We collect royalties from our franchisees, as stipulated in the franchise agreement, equal to 7% of gross sales and a marketing and advertising fee currently equal to 2% of gross sales. Royalties, including franchisee contributions to advertising funds, are calculated as a percentage of clinic sales over the term of the franchise agreement. The revenue accounting standard provides an exception for the recognition of sales-based royalties promised in exchange for a license (which generally requires a reporting entity to estimate the amount of variable consideration to which it will be entitled in the transaction price). The franchise agreement royalties, inclusive of advertising fund contributions, represent sales-based royalties that are related entirely to our performance obligation under the franchise agreement and are recognized as franchisee clinic level sales occur. Royalties and marketing and advertising fees are collected bi-monthly two working days after each sales period has ended.
Franchise Fees. We require the entire non-refundable initial franchise fee to be paid upon execution of a franchise agreement, which typically has an initial term of 10 years. Initial franchise fees are recognized ratably on a straight-line basis over the term of the franchise agreement. Our services under the franchise agreement include training of franchisees and staff, site selection, construction/vendor management and ongoing operations support. We provide no financing to franchisees and generally offer no guarantees on their behalf. The services we provide are highly interrelated with the franchise license and as such are considered to represent a single performance obligation.
Software Fees. We collect a monthly fee from our franchisees for use of our proprietary chiropractic software, computer support, and internet services support. These fees are recognized ratably on a straight-line basis over the term of the respective franchise agreement.
Regional Developer Fees
We have a regional developer program where regional developers are granted an exclusive geographical territory and commit to a minimum development obligation within that defined territory. Regional developer fees are non-refundable and amortized on a straight-line basis over the term of the regional developer agreement and recognized as a decrease to franchise and regional developer cost of revenues.
In addition, we pay regional developers fees, which are funded by the initial franchise fees collected from franchisees upon the sale of franchises within their exclusive geographical territory, and a royalty of 3% of sales generated by franchised clinics in their exclusive geographical territory. Fees related to the sale of franchises within their exclusive geographical territory are initially deferred as deferred franchise costs and are recognized as an expense in franchise cost of revenues when the respective revenue is recognized, which is generally over the term of the related franchise agreement. Royalties of 3% of gross sales generated by franchised clinics in their regions are also recognized as franchise cost of revenues as franchisee clinic level sales occur, which is funded by the 7% royalties we collect from the franchisees in their regions. Certain regional developer agreements result in the regional developer acquiring the rights to existing royalty streams from clinics already open in the respective territory. In those instances, the revenue associated from the sale of the royalty stream is recognized over the remaining life of the respective franchise agreements.
Leases
The accounting guidance for leases requires lessees to recognize an ROU asset and a lease liability in the balance sheet for most leases. The lease liability is measured at the present value of the fixed lease payments over the lease term and the ROU asset is measured at the lease liability amount, adjusted for lease prepayments, lease incentives received and the lessee’s initial direct costs. Certain leases include one or more renewal options, generally for the same period as the initial term of the lease. The exercise of lease renewal options is generally at our sole discretion and, as such, we typically determine that exercise of these renewal options is not reasonably certain. As a result, we do not include the renewal option period in the expected lease term and the associated lease payments are not included in the measurement of the ROU asset and lease liability. When available, we use the rate implicit in the lease to discount lease payments; however, the rate implicit in the lease is not readily determinable for substantially all of our leases. In such cases, we estimate our incremental borrowing rate as the interest rate we would pay to borrow an amount equal to the lease payments over a similar term, with similar collateral as in the lease, and in a similar economic environment. We estimate these rates using available evidence such as rates imposed by third-party lenders in recent financings or observable risk-free interest rate and credit spreads for commercial debt of a similar duration, with credit spreads correlating to our estimated creditworthiness.
For operating leases that include rent holidays and rent escalation clauses, we recognize lease expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term from the date it takes possession of the leased property. Pre-opening costs are recorded as incurred in general and administrative expenses. Variable lease payments, such as percentage rentals based on location sales, periodic adjustments for inflation, reimbursement of real estate taxes, any variable common area maintenance and any other variable
33
Table of Contents
costs associated with the leased property are expensed as incurred and are also included in general and administrative expenses on the consolidated income statements.
Income Taxes
We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for both the expected impact of differences between the financial statement amount and the tax basis of assets and liabilities and for the expected future tax benefit to be derived from tax losses and tax credit carryforwards.
We record a valuation allowance against deferred tax assets when it is considered more likely than not that all or a portion of our deferred tax assets will not be realized. In making this determination, we are required to give significant weight to evidence that can be objectively verified. It is generally difficult to conclude that a valuation allowance is not needed when there is significant negative evidence, such as cumulative losses in recent years. Forecasts of future taxable income are considered to be less objective than past results. Therefore, cumulative losses weigh heavily in the overall assessment.
In addition to considering forecasts of future taxable income, we are also required to evaluate and quantify other possible sources of taxable income in order to assess the realization of our deferred tax assets, namely the reversal of existing temporary differences, the carry back of losses and credits as allowed under current tax law, and the implementation of tax planning strategies. Evaluating and quantifying these amounts involves significant judgments. Each source of income must be evaluated based on all positive and negative evidence; this evaluation involves assumptions about future activity. The actual realization of deferred tax assets may differ from the amounts we have recorded.
Significant judgment is also required in evaluating our uncertain tax positions. We establish accruals for uncertain tax positions when we believe that the full amount of the associated tax benefit may not be realized. If we prevail in matters for which accruals have been established previously or pay amounts in excess of reserves, there could be an effect on our income tax provisions in the period in which such determination is made.
We regularly assess the tax risk of our tax return filing positions, and we have identified $1.2 million and $1.3 million in uncertain tax positions as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Loss Contingencies
Accounting Standards Codification 450, Contingencies (“ASC 450”), governs the disclosure of loss contingencies and accrual of loss contingencies in respect of litigation and other claims. We record an accrual for a potential loss when it is probable that a loss will occur and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. When the reasonable estimate of the potential loss is within a range of amounts, the minimum of the range of potential loss is accrued, unless a higher amount within the range is a better estimate than any other amount within the range. Moreover, even if an accrual is not required, we provide additional disclosure related to litigation and other claims when it is reasonably possible (i.e., more than remote) that the outcomes of such litigation and other claims include potential material adverse impacts on us. Legal costs to be incurred in connection with a loss contingency are expensed as such costs are incurred.
Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis of our financial results encompasses our consolidated results and results of our two business segments: Corporate Clinics and Franchise Operations.
Total Revenues
Components of revenues for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2022, were as follows:
34
Table of Contents
| Year EndedDecember 31, | Change fromPrior Year | Percent Changefrom Prior Year | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||||||
| Revenues: | ||||||||||||||
| Revenues from company-owned or managed clinics | $ | 70,718,880 | $ | 59,422,294 | $ | 11,296,586 | 19.0 | % | ||||||
| Royalty fees | 29,160,831 | 26,190,531 | 2,970,300 | 11.3 | % | |||||||||
| Franchise fees | 2,882,895 | 2,441,325 | 441,570 | 18.1 | % | |||||||||
| Advertising fund revenue | 8,321,043 | 7,456,696 | 864,347 | 11.6 | % | |||||||||
| Software fees | 5,086,562 | 4,290,739 | 795,823 | 18.5 | % | |||||||||
| Other revenues | 1,526,145 | 1,450,725 | 75,420 | 5.2 | % | |||||||||
| Total revenues | $ | 117,696,356 | $ | 101,252,310 | $ | 16,444,046 | 16.2 | % |
The reasons for the significant changes in our components of total revenues were as follows:
Consolidated Results
•Total revenues increased by $16.4 million, primarily due to the continued expansion and revenue growth of our franchise base, continued same-store sales growth and expansion of our corporate-owned or managed clinics portfolio.
Corporate Clinics
•Revenues from company-owned or managed clinics increased, primarily due to the expansion of our corporate-owned or managed clinics portfolio. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, there were 135 and 126 company-owned or managed clinics in operation, respectively.
Franchise Operations
•Royalty fees and advertising fund revenue increased due to an increase in the number of franchised clinics in operation during 2023, along with continued sales growth in existing franchised clinics. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, there were 800 and 712 franchised clinics in operation, respectively.
•Franchise fees revenue increased due to the continued increase in active franchise licenses and the impact of accelerated revenue recognition resulting from the terminated franchise license agreements, with 21 and 17 franchise license agreements terminated during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
•Software fees revenue increased due to an increase in our franchised clinic base and the related revenue recognition over the term of the franchise agreement as described above.
•Other revenues primarily consisted of merchant income associated with credit card transactions.
Cost of Revenues
| Year Ended December 31, | Change fromPrior Year | Percent Changefrom Prior Year | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||||||
| Cost of Revenues | $ | 10,546,558 | $ | 9,171,063 | $ | 1,375,495 | 15.0 | % |
For the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared with the year ended December 31, 2022, the total cost of revenues increased due to an increase in regional developer royalties and sales commissions of $1.3 million and an increase in website hosting costs of $0.1 million.
35
Table of Contents
Selling and Marketing Expenses
| Year Ended December 31, | Change fromPrior Year | Percent Changefrom Prior Year | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||||||
| Selling and Marketing Expenses | $ | 16,541,990 | $ | 13,962,709 | $ | 2,579,281 | 18.5 | % |
Selling and marketing expenses increased $2.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2022, driven by an increase in advertising fund expenditures from a larger franchise base and increased local marketing expenditures from a larger company-owned or managed clinic base.
Depreciation and Amortization Expenses
| Year Ended December 31, | Change fromPrior Year | Percent Changefrom Prior Year | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||||||
| Depreciation and Amortization Expenses | $ | 8,582,203 | $ | 6,646,622 | $ | 1,935,581 | 29.1 | % |
Depreciation and amortization expenses increased $1.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2022, primarily due to depreciation expenses associated with the expansion of our company-owned or managed clinics portfolio.
General and Administrative Expenses
| Year Ended December 31, | Change fromPrior Year | Percent Changefrom Prior Year | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||||||
| General and Administrative Expenses | $ | 81,466,088 | $ | 70,233,447 | $ | 11,232,641 | 16.0 | % |
General and administrative expenses increased during the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to the year ended December 31, 2022, primarily due to the increases in the following to support continued clinic count and revenue growth in both operating segments: (i) payroll and related expenses of $8.2 million; (ii) general overhead and administrative expenses of $2.7 million; (iii) professional and advisory fees of $1.0 million primarily related to the accounting restatement; and (iv) software and maintenance expense of $0.4 million; offset by a decrease in acquisition related expenses of $1.1 million. As a percentage of revenue, general and administrative expenses were flat at 69% during the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Net Loss on Disposition or Impairment
| Year Ended December 31, | Change fromPrior Year | Percent Changefrom Prior Year | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||||||
| Net Loss on Disposition or Impairment | $ | 2,632,604 | $ | 410,215 | $ | 2,222,389 | 541.8 | % |
Net loss on disposition or impairment increased $2.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2022, primarily due to the impairment charges of long-lived assets resulting from the planned sale or
36
Table of Contents
determined closure of certain company-owned or managed clinics classified as held for sale and those classified as held and used that were determined to not be recoverable.
(Loss) Income from Operations
| Year Ended December 31, | Change fromPrior Year | Percent Changefrom Prior Year | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||||||
| (Loss) Income from Operations | $ | (2,073,087) | $ | 828,254 | $ | (2,901,341) | (350.3) | % |
Consolidated Results
Consolidated income from operations decreased by $2.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to the year ended December 31, 2022, primarily due to the impairment charges in the corporate clinics and increases in expenses from unallocated corporate segments discussed below.
Corporate Clinics
Our corporate clinics segment had loss from operations of $2.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, a decrease in income of $2.6 million compared to income from operations of $0.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. This decrease was primarily due to:
•A $13.9 million increase in operating expenses primarily due to the increases in the following: (i) payroll-related expenses of $5.6 million due to a higher head count to support the expansion of our corporate clinic portfolio and general wage increases to remain competitive in the current labor market; (ii) depreciation and amortization expense of $1.9 million primarily associated with the expansion of our company-owned or managed clinics portfolio; (iii) selling and marketing expenses due to increased local marketing expenditures by the company-owned or managed clinics of $1.9 million; (iv) general overhead and administrative expenses to support the expansion of our corporate clinic portfolio of $2.3 million; and (v) an increase in impairment loss of $2.2 million; partially offset by
•An increase in revenues of $11.3 million from company-owned or managed clinics primarily due to the expansion of our corporate-owned or managed clinics portfolio.
Franchise Operations
Our franchise operations segment had income from operations of $20.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, an increase of $3.0 million, compared to income from operations of $17.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. This increase was primarily due to:
•An increase of $5.2 million in total revenues due to an increase in the number of franchised clinics in operation, along with continued sales growth in existing franchised clinics; partially offset by
•An increase of $1.4 million in cost of revenues, primarily due to an increase in regional developer royalties and website hosting costs. An increase of $0.8 million in operating expenses, primarily due to an increase in (i) selling and marketing expenses resulting from a larger franchise base of $0.8 million, (ii) payroll-related expenses of $1.0 million, and (iii) travel costs of $0.1 million; offset by a reduction in acquisition related expenses of $1.1 million.
Unallocated Corporate
Unallocated corporate expenses for the year ended December 31, 2023 increased by $3.3 million compared to the prior year period, primarily due an increase in (i) payroll related expenses of $1.6 million, (ii) professional and advisory fees of $1.0 million primarily related to the accounting restatement, and (iii) general overhead and administrative expenses of $0.7 million primarily related to insurance and software and maintenance expenses.
Income Tax Expense
37
Table of Contents
| Year Ended December 31, | Change fromPrior Year | Percent Changefrom Prior Year | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||||||
| Income tax expense | $ | 11,390,953 | $ | 68,448 | $ | 11,322,505 | 16,541.8 | % |
For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the effective tax rates were 695.1% and 9.8%, respectively. The fluctuation in the effective rate was primarily attributable to state taxes, including the change in rates, stock-based compensation and changes in valuation allowance during the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2022. Please see Note 9, “Income Taxes” in the Notes to consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K for further discussion.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The table below reconciles net (loss) income to Adjusted EBITDA for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||
| Non-GAAP Financial Data: | ||||||
| Net (loss) income | $ | (9,752,197) | $ | 626,705 | ||
| Net interest | 67,461 | 133,101 | ||||
| Depreciation and amortization expense | 8,582,203 | 6,646,622 | ||||
| Income tax expense | 11,390,953 | 68,448 | ||||
| EBITDA | 10,288,420 | 7,474,876 | ||||
| Stock compensation expense | 1,737,682 | 1,273,989 | ||||
| Acquisition related expenses | 873,214 | 2,356,049 | ||||
| Net loss on disposition or impairment | 2,632,604 | 410,215 | ||||
| Costs related to restatement filings | 380,221 | — | ||||
| Restructuring Costs | 72,880 | — | ||||
| Other income related to the ERC | (3,779,304) | — | ||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 12,205,717 | $ | 11,515,129 |
Adjusted EBITDA consists of net (loss) income before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, acquisition related expenses (which includes contract termination costs associated with reacquired regional developer rights), stock-based compensation expense, bargain purchase gain, (gain) loss on disposition or impairment, costs related to restatement filings, restructuring costs, and other income related to the ERC. The costs related to restatement filings of $0.4 million were incurred as of September 30, 2023 but were not included in the Q3 2023 Form 10-Q as a cost excluded from Adjusted EBITDA for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023. However, as these costs are non-recurring, we have identified them as an adjustment to EBITDA for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022. We have provided Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure of financial performance because it is commonly used for comparing companies in our industry. You should not consider Adjusted EBITDA as a substitute for operating profit as an indicator of our operating performance or as an alternative to cash flows from operating activities as a measure of liquidity. We may calculate Adjusted EBITDA differently from other companies.
We believe that the use of Adjusted EBITDA provides an additional tool for investors to use in evaluating ongoing operating results and trends and in comparing our financial measures with other outpatient medical clinics, which may present similar non-GAAP financial measures to investors. In addition, you should be aware when evaluating Adjusted EBITDA, in the future we may incur expenses similar to those excluded when calculating these measures. Our presentation of these measures should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by unusual or non-recurring items. Our computation of Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures computed by other companies, because all companies do not calculate Adjusted EBITDA in the same manner.
38
Table of Contents
Our management does not consider Adjusted EBITDA in isolation or as an alternative to financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP. The principal limitation of Adjusted EBITDA is that it excludes significant expenses and income that are required by GAAP to be recorded in our financial statements. Some of these limitations include the following:
•.Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect our cash expenditures, or future requirements, for capital expenditures or contractual commitments;
•.Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs;
•.Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the interest expense, or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments, on our debts;
•.Although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the future, and Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect any cash requirements for such replacements;
•.Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the bargain purchase gain, which represents the excess of the fair value of net assets acquired over the purchase consideration; and
•.Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the (gain) loss on disposition or impairment, which represents the impairment of assets as of the reporting date. We do not consider this to be indicative of our ongoing operations.
Because of these limitations, Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for performance measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. We compensate for these limitations by relying primarily on our GAAP results and using Adjusted EBITDA only supplementally. You should review the reconciliation of net (loss) income to Adjusted EBITDA above and not rely on any single financial measure to evaluate our business.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Sources of Liquidity
As of December 31, 2023, we had cash and short-term bank deposits of $18.2 million. We generated $14.7 million of cash flow from operating activities in the year ended December 31, 2023. While unfavorable global economic or political conditions create potential liquidity risks, as discussed further below, we believe that our existing cash and cash equivalents, our anticipated cash flows from operations and amounts available under our line of credit will be sufficient to fund our anticipated operating and investment needs for at least the next 12 months.
While the interruptions, delays and/or cost increases resulting from political instability and geopolitical tensions, economic weakness, inflationary pressures, increase in interest rates and other factors have created uncertainty as to general economic conditions for 2024, as of the date of this Form 10-K, we believe we have adequate capital resources and sufficient access to external financing sources to satisfy our current and reasonably anticipated requirements for funds to conduct our operations and meet other needs in the ordinary course of our business. For 2024, we expect to use or redeploy our cash resources to support our business within the context of prevailing market conditions, which, given the ongoing uncertainties described above, could rapidly and materially deteriorate or otherwise change. Our long-term capital requirements, primarily for acquisitions and other corporate initiatives, could be dependent on our ability to access additional funds through the debt and/or equity markets. If the equity and credit markets deteriorate, including as a result of economic weakness, political unrest or war, or any other reason, it may make any necessary equity or debt financing more difficult to obtain in a timely manner and on favorable terms, if at all, and if obtained, it may be more costly or more dilutive. From time to time, we consider and evaluate transactions related to our portfolio and capital structure, including debt financings, equity issuances, purchases and sales of assets, and other transactions. Given the ongoing uncertainties described above, the levels of our cash flows from operations for 2024 may be impacted. There can be no assurance that we will be able to generate sufficient cash flows or obtain the capital necessary to meet our short and long-term capital requirements.
Analysis of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by operating activities was $14.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $8.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase was primarily attributable to the increased net income, net of non-cash charges, in the year ended December 31, 2023 of $13.9 million versus $8.4 million in the prior year period and the changes in operating assets and liabilities of $0.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2023 versus $(0.2) million in the prior year period. The increase in operating assets and liabilities for the year ended December 31,
39
Table of Contents
2023 is primarily attributable to (i) an increase in accrued expenses of $0.8 million, mainly driven by accruals relating to the restatement and ERC consultants, (ii) an increase in payroll liabilities of $1.5 million, mostly due to the short-term incentive compensation accrual in the current year (without the comparable accrual as of December 31, 2022) and payroll cycle timing, (iii) an increase in deferred franchise cost of $0.4 million related to the commissions paid for the sale of franchise licenses during the year and (iv) an increase in deferred revenue of $0.3 million related to the amounts collected for the sale of franchise license and membership and wellness packages sold during the year (which are recorded as deferred revenue until the service is performed). These increases in operating assets and liabilities were partially offset by the decreases in (i) upfront regional developer fees of $0.6 million, (ii) accounts payable of $1.4 million due to the general increase in operating expenses and timing of payments, and (iii) prepaid expenses and other current assets of $0.3 million, mainly driven by the general increase in operating expenses.
Cash provided by operating activities is subject to variability period over period as a result of the timing of collections and payments related to accounts receivable, accrued expenses, and other operating assets and liabilities. Royalties and other fees are collected from our franchisees semi-monthly, two working days after each sales period has ended.
Net cash used in investing activities was $6.2 million and $17.9 million during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2023, this included clinic acquisitions for $1.2 million and purchases of property and equipment for $5.0 million. For the year ended December 31, 2022, this included clinic acquisitions for $12.1 million, purchases of property and equipment for $5.9 million.
Net cash provided by financing activities was $0.2 million and $0.3 million during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2023, this included proceeds from the exercise of stock options of $0.2 million. For the year ended December 31, 2022, this included proceeds from the exercise of stock options of $0.4 million.
The following table summarizes our material contractual obligations at December 31, 2023 and the effect that such obligations are expected to have on our liquidity and cash flows in future periods:
Material Contractual Cash Requirements
| Payments Due by Fiscal Year | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | Thereafter | ||||||||||||||
| Operating leases | $ | 16,694,145 | 4,424,754 | 4,052,720 | 2,753,979 | 2,026,045 | 1,202,912 | 2,233,735 | ||||||||||||
| Debt under the Credit Agreement | $ | 2,000,000 | — | — | — | 2,000,000 | — | — |
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Please see Note 1, “Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” in the Notes to consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K for information regarding recently issued accounting pronouncements that may impact our financial statements.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
During the year ended December 31, 2023, we did not have any relationships with unconsolidated organizations or financial partnerships, such as structured finance or special purpose entities that were established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements.