What changed in this filing

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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis

2024-03-27 compared with 2023-03-08 · 124 added, 113 removed, 130 unchanged (65% of the section changed)

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS DISCLAIMER

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.

If used in this report, the words "will," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "intend," and other words or phrases of similar import are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements for many reasons, including the risks described in this report on Form 10-K and other reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements for many reasons, including the risks described in this annual report on Form 10-K and other reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Although we believe the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, they relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made.

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Our principal offices are located at 3611 Paesanos Parkway, Suite 300, San Antonio, TX 78231.

Our telephone number is (210) 249-4100. 

We provide integrated payment processing services to merchants and businesses, including all types of Automated Clearing House, or ACH, processing, credit, prepaid card and debit card-based processing services and statement preparation, presentment and mailing services.

Our telephone number is (210) 249-4100.

We serve multiple industry verticals with technology that facilitates payment acceptance and funds disbursement in a single, full-stack ecosystem.

We provide payment acceptance, card-based processing, prepaid card, payment facilitation and electronic billing products and services to businesses, merchants and consumers.

In addition, we offer customizable prepaid cards which companies use for expense management, incentives, refunds, claims and disbursements, as well as unique forms of compensation such as per diem payments, government disbursements, and similar payments.

We also offer prepaid cards to consumers for use as a tool to stay on budget, manage allowances and share money with family and friends.

Our UsioCard platform supports Apple Pay®, Samsung Pay™

and Google Pay™.

Our PIN-less debit product allows merchants to debit and credit accounts in real-time.

Our UsioCard platform supports Apple Pay®, Samsung Pay™ and Google Pay™.

Our PINless debit product allows merchants to debit and credit accounts in real-time.

In our over 25-year history, we have created a loyal customer base that relies on us for our convenient, secure, innovative and adaptive services and technology, and we have built long-standing and valuable relationships with premier banking institutions such as Fifth-Third Bank, Sunrise Bank, and Wells Fargo Bank.

Our strategy is to drive growth through a leveraged, one to many, distribution model in the software development marketplace.

We also offer payment facilitation, or PayFac services through a leveraged, one to many, distribution model.

Following the completion of the Singular Payments acquisition, we launched our payment facilitation, PayFac, platform called "PayFac-in-a-Box" in late 2018 targeting partnership opportunities with app and software developers in bill-centric verticals, such as legal, healthcare, property management, utilities and insurance.

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The added value of offering our integration partners access to credit card, debit card, ACH and prepaid card issuance capabilities through a single vendor partner relationship in face-to-face, mobile and virtual payment acceptance environments provides a true single channel commerce experience through an application programming interface, API.

With the acquisition of the assets of Information Management Solutions, LLC, or IMS, in December 2020, we now offer additional services relating to electronic bill presentment, document composition, document decomposition and printing and mailing services serving hundreds of customers representing a wide range of industry verticals, including utilities and financial institutions through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Usio Output Solutions, Inc., or Output Solutions.  This product offering provides an outsourced solution for document design, print and electronic delivery to potential customers and entities looking to reduce postage costs and increase efficiencies.

As a result of the acquisition of the assets of Information Management Solutions, LLC, or IMS, in December 2020, we also offer additional services relating to electronic bill presentment, document composition, document decomposition and printing and mailing services serving hundreds of customers representing a wide range of industry verticals, including utilities and financial institutions through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Usio Output Solutions, Inc., or Output Solutions.

This product offering provides an outsourced solution for document design, print and electronic delivery to potential customers and entities looking to reduce postage costs and increase efficiencies.

Summary of Results

We believe that our success will continue to depend in large part on our ability to (a) grow revenues, (b) manage our operating expenses, (c) add quality customers to our client base, (d) meet evolving customer requirements, (e) adapt to technological changes in an emerging market, and (f) assimilate current and future acquisitions of companies and customer portfolios.

We will continue to invest in our sales force and technology platforms to drive revenue growth.

In particular, we are focused on growing our ACH merchants, adding new software integrators, growing our electronic bill presentment, document composition, document decomposition, printing and mailing services business while providing incremental services to existing merchants.

We will continue to invest in our sales force and technology platforms to drive revenue growth, and assess the needs of the market to both enhance and maintain our existing product set, alongside the incorporation of new features and payment processing products.

In particular, we are focused on growing our ACH merchants, adding new software integrators, growing our electronic bill presentment, document composition, document decomposition, printing and mailing services business while also providing incremental services to existing merchants.

In addition to our near-term growth opportunities, we are focused on leveraging and optimizing the infrastructure of the organization allowing expansion of our payment processing and mail and printing capabilities without significantly increasing our operating costs.

We reported a net loss of $5.5 million and $0.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively.

We had an accumulated deficit of $70.9 million at December 31, 2022.

In 2022, we processed $7.2 billion for all payment types, which was down 24% from the prior year volume of $9.5 billion total dollars processed due to our exit from the crypto space.

Total transactions processed were up 16% to a record 40.8 million. ACH or electronic check transaction processing volumes for 2022 decreased by 6% compared to 2021.

Returned check transactions increased by 31% in 2022 compared to 2021.

We reported a net loss of $0.5 million and $5.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.

We had an accumulated deficit of $71.3 million at December 31, 2023.

In 2023, we processed $5.3 billion for all payment types, which was down 26% from the prior year volume of $7.2 billion total dollars processed due to our exit from the crypto space and attrition in legacy credit card processing portfolios driven by challenges competing in the Independent Sales Organization, or ISO, market while we focus on our PayFac distributed sales force and Independent Software Vendor, or ISV, market.

We believe this strategy will drive superior results over time.

Total transactions processed were down 9% to 37.2 million.

ACH or electronic check transactions processed for 2023 decreased by 20% compared to 2022.

Returned check transactions decreased by 15% in 2023 compared to 2022.

Credit card dollars processed in 2023 increased by 6% compared to 2022 and credit card transactions processed for 2023 increased by 9% compared to 2022.

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Material Trends and Uncertainties

On July 6, 2022, our largest cryptocurrency customer, Voyager Digital filed for bankruptcy protection and the cryptocurrency landscape encountered marked distress during 2022. Due to this bankruptcy, we lost a significant customer, and have pulled out of the cryptocurrency space, resulting in a meaningful loss of revenue and downturn in our ACH and complementary services business segment, which contributes substantial gross profit to the Company.

Our lost revenue in the ACH and complementary services business was approximately $0.8 million in 2022.

We continue to closely monitor the cryptocurrency environment, and the unique risks associated with cryptocurrencies, including technological, legal, and regulatory risks alongside the potentially consequential upsides associated with re-entering the market and offering our services.

On August 16, 2022, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act, or IRA, which implemented a 1% excise tax on certain corporate stock repurchases.

On May 13 2022, the Board of Directors authorized a renewal of the buy-back program, with a limit up to $4 million of the Company's common stock with a three year duration.

As of December 31, 2022 the Company has repurchased $1.3 million of stock as part of its buy back program, of which $1.1 million qualifies under the IRA's 1% excise tax. Should the company opt to continue the repurchase of its securities on the open market, and the IRA remain in effect, we may continue to qualify for this tax in 2023, and future years.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has had a notable impact on general economic conditions, including but not limited to the temporary closures of many businesses, “shelter in place”

and other governmental regulations, reduced consumer spending due to both job losses and other effects attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic.

There remain many uncertainties as a result of the pandemic.  As a result of the spread of COVID-19, economic uncertainties could continue to impact our operations.

Any potential incremental financial impact is unknown at this time.

During 2020 and 2021, the government issued several rounds of COVID-19 relief and stimulus payments and other programs to stimulate economic activity and facilitate an economic recovery.  

In  April and  May of 2020, the Company's business was adversely affected as doctor's offices, dental offices, veterinarian offices and non-bank consumer lending accounts were ordered closed in connection with curbing the spread of the pandemic. 

 As these doctors, dental and veterinarian offices re-opened, these businesses quickly recovered and returned to levels higher than pre-COVID. 

 Consumer lending merchants were adversely affected by COVID relief payments made during the pandemic and a pause placed on past due amounts owed. 

 The level of activity for consumer lending merchants continues to recover to pre-COVID levels. 

The Company recorded an increase in revenues in its prepaid business line, as it was able to work in conjunction with major cities across the U.S.

to use its prepaid debit cards to facilitate the transfer of money via its debit cards from city foundations to the local residents in need of financial assistance. 

The efforts have included the disbursement of funds to encourage vaccinations. 

Since 2020, the Company has experienced some difficulty in recruiting and retaining certain categories of employees due to limited labor availability. 

The Company continues to monitor labor availability and is taking necessary steps to retain employees and recruit employees to fill open positions.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and global economic challenges, supply chain issues have resulted in a reduced supply, and growing demand of paper and paper products utilized in our Output Solutions line of business. Sourcing inventory remains a key challenge to execute jobs and projects with existing and new customers.

While these efforts have been successful thus far, if the Company cannot continue to acquire sufficient inventory stock, the successful completion, margins, and growth of Output Solutions  may be impacted.

The impacts and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic are still a work in process. 

To date, the Company has not been adversely impacted in the magnitude that other payment processors were, as our customer base had limited exposure to retail facing businesses. 

 Within that framework, the Company will continue to monitor the overall impact on its operations and take necessary steps to ensure the safety of its employees and the well-being of its customers.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Our management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S.

On August 16, 2022, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act, or IRA, which implemented a 1% excise tax on certain corporate stock repurchases, when repurchases of stock on an established securities market exceed $1 million in a tax year.

On May 13 2022, the Board of Directors authorized a renewal of the buy-back program, with a limit up to $4 million of the Company's common stock with a three year duration.

In the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company had repurchased $0.5 million of stock as part of its buyback program.

Should the Company opt to continue the repurchase of its securities on the open market, and the IRA remain in effect, we may qualify for this tax in 2024, and future years.

The broader implications of the macroeconomic environment, including uncertainty around recent international conflicts including the Russia and Ukraine conflict, supply chain shortages, a recession globally or in markets in which we operate, higher inflation rates, higher interest rates, and other related global economic conditions, remain unknown.

A deterioration in macroeconomic conditions could continue to increase the risk of lower consumer spending, merchant and consumer bankruptcy, insolvency, business failure, higher credit losses, or other business interruption, which may adversely impact our business.

If these conditions continue or worsen, they could adversely impact our future financial and operating results.

Changes in these factors are difficult to predict, and a change in one factor could affect other factors, which could result in adverse effects to our business, results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows.

Due to the higher interest rates set by the Federal Reserve, the Company was able to increase interest income in 2023.

As interest rates fluctuate depending on the Federal Reserve's target rates to combat inflation and unemployment, we may not be able to recognize similar levels of interest income in the future.

The Company continues to invest in growth initiatives to drive increased revenues, and profitability metrics.

However, sustaining growth at existing rates may not occur.

While we recognized high levels of growth in 2023, a significant portion of this growth was due to the Prepaid card business benefitting from outsized growth in 2022 and 2023 as a result of large incentive programs brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Those programs have begun winding down, requiring new card programs and clients being brought on to replace prior revenues.

While we expect growth to continue, it is possible that we may not see similar rates of expansion moving forward.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Our management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S.

generally accepted accounting principles.

The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities.

On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates, including those related to the reported amounts of revenues and expenses, bad debt, investments, intangible assets, income taxes, contingencies and litigation.

On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates, including those related to the reported amounts of revenues and expenses, credit losses, investments, intangible assets, income taxes, contingencies and litigation.

We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources.

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Reserve for Processing Losses

We establish allowances for negative customer balances and estimated transaction losses arising from processing customer transactions, such as chargebacks for unauthorized credit card use and merchant-related chargebacks due to non-delivery or unsatisfactory delivery of purchased items, account takeovers, Automated Clearing House returns, and insolvency.

Additions to the allowance are reflected in our cost of services on our consolidated statements of income (loss). The allowances are based on known facts and circumstances, internal factors including experience with similar cases, historical trends involving collection and write-off patterns, and the mix of transaction and loss types, as well as current and projected factors such as the types of transactions processed and nature of the merchant relationship with its consumers and the Company with its prepaid card holders.

Determining appropriate current expected transactional losses is an inherently uncertain process, and final losses may vary from our current estimates.

We establish allowances for negative customer balances and estimated transaction losses arising from processing customer transactions, such as chargebacks for unauthorized credit card use and merchant-related chargebacks due to non-delivery or unsatisfactory delivery of purchased items, account takeovers, Automated Clearing House returns, and insolvency.

Additions to the allowance are reflected in our cost of services on our consolidated statements of income (loss).

The allowances are based on known facts and circumstances, internal factors including experience with similar cases, historical trends involving collection and write-off patterns, and the mix of transaction and loss types, as well as current and projected factors such as the types of transactions processed and nature of the merchant relationship with its consumers and the Company with its prepaid card holders.

Determining appropriate current expected transactional losses is an inherently uncertain process, and final losses may vary from our current estimates.

We regularly review and update our allowance estimates as new facts become known, and event occur that may impact the settlement or recovery of losses.

The allowances are maintained at a level we deem appropriate to adequately provide for current expected losses at the balance sheet date.

Reserve for Doubtful Accounts

We establish an allowance for accounts receivable, which represents our estimate of current expected allowances for doubtful accounts.

Reserve for Expected Credit Losses

We establish an allowance for accounts receivable, which represents our estimate of current expected allowances for credit losses.

This evaluation process is subject to numerous estimates and judgements.

This allowance is primarily based on expectations of unrecoverable receivables based on historical losses, as well as forecasted trends in customer instability, and general market conditions.

The Company reviews this allowance quarterly on an account-by-account basis. Projected loss rates, inclusive of historical loss data and macroeconomic factors, are applied to the principal amount of our merchant and consumer receivables.

The Company reviews this allowance quarterly on an account-by-account basis.

Projected loss rates, inclusive of historical loss data and macroeconomic factors, are applied to the principal amount of our merchant and consumer receivables.

Determining appropriate current expected losses on our accounts receivable is an inherently uncertain process, and final losses may vary from our current estimates.

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Significant judgement is required in determining our tax expense and in evaluating our tax positions, including evaluating uncertainties.

We review our tax positions yearly and adjust the balances as new information becomes available. 

Deferred tax assets represent amounts available to reduce income taxes payable on taxable income in future years.

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GAAP, pursuant to which we only recognize the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities.

As with all businesses, the Company’s tax returns are subject to periodic examination.

The Company’s federal returns for the past four years remain open to examination.

As with all businesses, the Company’s tax returns are subject to periodic examination.

The Company’s federal returns for the past four years remain open to examination.

The Company is subject to the Texas margin tax and Tennessee franchise tax.

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Key Business Metrics - Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This filing includes non-GAAP financial measures, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margins and adjusted operating cash flows, as defined in Regulation G of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

This filing includes non-GAAP financial measures, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margins and adjusted operating cash flows, as defined in Regulation G of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

The Company reports its financial results in compliance with GAAP, but believes that also discussing non-GAAP financial measures provides investors with financial measures it uses in the management of its business.

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These measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

Management uses EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, and adjusted operating cash flows as indicators of the Company's operating performance and ability to fund acquisitions, capital expenditures and other investments and, in the absence of refinancing options, to repay debt obligations. 

Management believes EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margins and adjusted operating cash flows are helpful to investors in evaluating the Company's operating performance because non-cash costs and other items that management believes are not indicative of its results of operations are excluded. 

We reported an adjusted EBITDA of  $1.0 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2022, as compared to an adjusted EBITDA of $1.3 million for the same period in the prior year.

The decrease in adjusted EBITDA in the current quarter was attributable to increases in SG&A combined with reduced profit margins.

We reported an adjusted EBITDA loss of 

$0.4 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, as compared to an adjusted EBITDA of $4.0 million for the same period in the prior year. The decrease in adjusted EBITDA in the current year was attributable to increases in SG&A combined with reduced profit margins.

The following table is a reconciliation of Net Loss to EBITDA for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2022 and 2021.

Management uses EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, and adjusted operating cash flows as indicators of the Company's operating performance and ability to fund acquisitions, capital expenditures and other investments and, in the absence of refinancing options, to repay debt obligations.

Management believes EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margins and adjusted operating cash flows are helpful to investors in evaluating the Company's operating performance because non-cash costs and other items that management believes are not indicative of its results of operations are excluded.

We reported an adjusted EBITDA of $0.3 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2023, as compared to an adjusted EBITDA of $1.0 million for the same period in the prior year.

The decrease in adjusted EBITDA in the 2023 quarter was attributable to increases in SG&A combined with reduced profit margins.

We reported an adjusted EBITDA of $2.4 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, as compared to an adjusted EBITDA loss of $0.4 million for the same period in the prior year.

The increase in adjusted EBITDA in 2023 was attributable to strong revenue growth contributing to increased gross profit versus the prior year, that outpaced our growth in SG&A.

The following table is a reconciliation of Net Loss to EBITDA for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.

Three Months Ended (unaudited)

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December 31, 2022

Reconciliation from Operating (Loss) to Adjusted EBITDA:

Operating (Loss)

Reconciliation from Operating Income/(Loss) to Adjusted EBITDA:

Operating Income/(Loss)

Depreciation and amortization

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Adjusted EBITDA margins

We reported cash provided by adjusted operating cash flows of $0.7 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022 (after adjusting for the impact of operating lease right-of-use assets, operating lease liabilities, prepaid card load obligations, customer deposits, and merchant reserves), as compared to $2.6 million provided in the twelve months ended December 31, 2021. 

Operating lease right-of-use assets, operating lease liabilities, prepaid card load obligations, customer deposits and merchant reserves are deducted from operating cash flow, as these metrics do not serve in providing a clear picture of the true operational cash used or provided in a given time period.

These adjustments to net cash provided (used) by operating activities are not inclusive of any recurring expense items which are included in the calculation of operating income (loss), and only include changes in our assets and liabilities accounts on the balance sheet. The Company believes Non-GAAP adjusted operating cash flow to be a more accurate indicator of cash contributions that can be used to sustain current and future business operations. The decrease in adjusted operating cash flows in the current year compared to the year prior was attributable to an increase the Company's net loss, due to increases in SG&A combined with reduced profit margins.

The following table is a reconciliation from operating cash flow (used) to adjusted operating cash flow (used) for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022.

We reported cash provided by adjusted operating cash flows of $2.8 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023 (after adjusting for the impact of operating lease right-of-use assets, operating lease liabilities, prepaid card load obligations, customer deposits, and merchant reserves), as compared to $0.7 million provided during the twelve months ended December 31, 2022.

Operating lease right-of-use assets, operating lease liabilities, prepaid card load obligations, customer deposits and merchant reserves are deducted from operating cash flow, as we believe that these metrics do not serve in providing a clear picture of the true operational cash used or provided in a given time period.

The Company believes Non-GAAP adjusted operating cash flow to be a more accurate indicator of cash contributions that can be used to sustain current and future business operations.

The increase in adjusted operating cash flows in the current year compared to the year prior was attributable to a decrease in the Company's net loss, due to revenue growth driving gross profit increases, at a rate that exceeded our SG&A increase versus the prior year.

The following table is a reconciliation from operating cash flow (used) to adjusted operating cash flow (used) for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023.

December 31, 2023

December 31, 2022

Reconciliation from net cash provided (used) by operating activities to Non-GAAP Adjusted Operating Cash Flow (used):

Reconciliation from Operating Cash Flow (used) to Non-GAAP Adjusted Operating Cash Flow (used):

Net cash provided (used) by operating activities

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Operating lease liabilities

Total adjustments to net cash provided (used) by operating activities

Total adjustment of cash provided (used) by operating activities

Adjusted operating cash flows (used)

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margins and adjusted operating cash flow should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. 

They are not measurements of our financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as alternatives to revenue, net income, or cash provided (used) by operating activities, as applicable, or any other performance measures derived in accordance with GAAP and may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other businesses.

EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margins and adjusted operating cash flow have limitations as analytical tools and you should not consider these Non-GAAP measures in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our operating results as reported under GAAP.

They are not measurements of our financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as alternatives to revenue, net income, or cash provided (used) by operating activities, as applicable, or any other performance measures derived in accordance with GAAP and may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other businesses.

EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margins and adjusted operating cash flow have limitations as analytical tools and you should not consider these Non-GAAP measures in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our operating results as reported under GAAP.

Results of Operations

With the acquisition of the assets of IMS in December 2020, we now offer additional output solution services relating to electronic bill presentment, document composition, document decomposition and printing and mailing services serving hundreds of customers representing a wide range of industry verticals, including utilities and financial institutions.

Our revenues are principally derived from providing integrated electronic payment services to merchants and businesses, including credit and debit card-based processing services and transaction processing via the Automated Clearing House, or ACH, network, the program management and processing of prepaid debit cards, and we also now offer additional output solution services relating to electronic bill presentment, document composition, document decomposition and printing and mailing services serving hundreds of customers representing a wide range of industry verticals, including utilities and financial institutions.

Three Months Ended December 31,

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Total Revenue

Total revenues for 2022 increased by 12% to $69.4 million from $61.9 million in 2021.

Key drivers of the revenue growth include our Prepaid business line associated with sustained, and growing relationships with major cities in the U.S.

facilitating disbursements to individuals and families in need of financial assistance.

This growth was bolstered by gains in our Output solutions business line, thanks to the capitalization of strong cross-selling efforts and execution on our well-developed pipeline of new business opportunities, along with growth in our Payfac business line due to continued traction with ISVs.

Our ACH and complementary services revenues were down slightly on the year, due to our exit from crypto following the loss of one of our largest customers, but its impact was minimized due to growth in our ACH return volume, and ancillary ACH services, such as RCC.

Total revenues for 2023 increased by 19% to $82.6 million from $69.4 million in 2022.

Key drivers of the revenue growth include growth in our Prepaid business line as a result of sustained and growing relationships with major cities in the U.S.

by facilitating disbursements to individuals and families in need of financial assistance.

This growth was bolstered by gains in our Output solutions business line, thanks to our ability to capitalize on strong cross-selling efforts and execution on our well-developed pipeline of new business opportunities, along with growth in credit card revenues due to our PayFac business line's continued traction with independent software vendors, or ISVs.

Our ACH and complementary services revenues were up slightly on the year, after recovering from our exit from crypto following the loss of one of our largest customers, thanks to net new customer relationships and growth in our ancillary ACH services, such as RCC.

Cost of Services

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We pay volume-based fees for debit, credit, ACH and prepaid transactions initiated through these processors or sponsoring banks, and pay fees for other transactions such as returns, notices of change to bank accounts and file transmission.

Cost of services expense was $54.8 million and $46.3 million for 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Cost of services expenses increased by $8.5 million, or 18%, in 2022 as compared to 2021 primarily due to increased transaction costs associated with our revenue growth.

The cost of services growth outpaced our revenue growth largely due to a shift in business mix over the year.

Cost of services expense was $64.0 million and $54.8 million for 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Cost of services expenses increased by $9.2 million, or 17%, in 2023 as compared to 2022 primarily due to increased transaction costs associated with our revenue growth.

Gross profit is the net profit after deducting the cost of services.

Gross profits were $14.6 million and $15.6 million for 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Gross profit decreased by $1.0 million, or 7%, in 2022 as compared to 2021.

The key drivers of the decreased gross profits were attributable to a decline in our ACH business unit, our highest margin portfolio, due to our exit from the crypto space in July of 2022 along with increased revenue contributions from our lower margin business lines, Prepaid, Output Solutions, and Credit Card .

Gross profit was $18.6 million and $14.6 million for 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Gross profit increased by $4.0 million, or 27%, in 2023 as compared to 2022.

The key drivers of the increased gross profit were attributable to strong revenue growth, and improved gross margin percentages due to improved profitability across our business lines with increased scale.

Stock-based Compensation

Stock-based compensation expense increased to $2.1 million in 2022 from $1.5 million in 2021. Our stock-based compensation expenses for 2022 and 2021 represented the amortization of deferred compensation expenses related to incentive stock grants to employees, officers and directors.

The increase in stock-based compensation is primarily attributable to our November 18, 2021 employee stock grant.

Please refer to Note 8 for incremental information regarding this stock grant.

Stock-based compensation expense increased marginally to $2.2 million in 2023 from $2.1 million in 2022.

Our stock-based compensation expenses for 2023 and 2022 represented the amortization of deferred compensation expenses related to incentive stock grants to employees, officers and directors.

The increase in stock-based compensation is primarily attributable to our February 8, 2023 employee stock grant.

Please refer to Note 8 to our Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this annual report for incremental information regarding these stock grants.

Other Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Other selling, general and administrative expenses, or SG&A, increased to $15.0 million in 2022 from $11.7 million in 2021.

The increase of $3.3 million, or 29%, represented continued investments in preparation for increased service requirements for growing card holders in our prepaid line of business, security and IT infrastructure, as well as staffing and employee retention.

Other selling, general and administrative expenses, or SG&A, increased to $16.2 million in 2023 from $15.0 million in 2022.

The increase of $1.2 million, or 8%, represented continued investments in the Company's security and IT infrastructure to strengthen the Company's defense from cybersecurity risks.

Further investments were made to increase our customer success, implementations of merchant onboarding processes, and partner and client integrations strategy to sustain existing operations and future growth, as well as staffing and employee retention.

Depreciation and Amortization

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These assets include property, plant, and equipment, along with intangible assets acquired through acquisition, or developed as internal use software.

Depreciation and amortization expense increased to $2.7 million in 2022 as compared to $2.6 million in 2021.

The increase of $0.09 million, or 3.5%, was primarily attributable to the depreciation of incremental intangible assets.

Interest income increased to $15,237 in 2022 from $7,643 in 2021 due to higher interest-bearing cash balances.

Other income (expense) was $0 for 2022, as compared to expense of $279 for 2021. 

Income tax expense was $280,000 in 2022 and $169,861 in 2021.

Federal income tax benefit in 2022 was $0, and $110,000 in 2021.

Depreciation and amortization expense decreased to $2.1 million in 2023 as compared to $2.7 million in 2022.

The decrease of $0.6 million, or 24%, was primarily attributable to the completed depreciation of customer list assets from our 2017 acquisition of Singular Payments.

Interest income increased to $1.7 million in 2023 from $15,237 in 2022 due to higher interest-bearing cash balances.

Other income (expense) was $44,798 for 2023, as compared to expense of $4,051 for 2022.

Income tax expense was $292,524 in 2023 and $280,000 in 2022.

The income tax expense represents amounts incurred under the Texas margin tax and Tennessee franchise tax.

Net income tax expense reported was $280,000 in 2022, and $279,861 in 2020.

Net income tax expense reported was $292,524 in 2023, and $280,000 in 2022.

Net Income (Loss)

We reported a net loss of $5.5 million and $0.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively.

The increase in net loss was primarily related to our decreased gross profits generated by a shifting business mix, alongside increases in SG&A expenses versus the prior year.

We reported a net loss of $0.5 million and $5.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.

The decrease in net loss was primarily related to our strong revenue growth driving increased gross profits versus the prior year, at a rate that outpaced our increased in SG&A alongside significant improvements in interest income.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our primary sources of liquidity are available cash and cash equivalents and cash flows provided by operations and, if an appropriate opportunity presents itself, the sale of debt or equity securities, although we may not be able to complete any financing on terms acceptable to us, if at all.

At December 31, 2022, we had $5.7 million of cash and cash equivalents, as compared to $7.3 million of cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2021. 

The decrease was primarily as a result of our repurchasing approximately $1.1 million of our stock during 2022.

For the year ended December 31, 2022 net cash used by operating activities was $17.0 million and for the year ended December 31, 2021, cash provided by operations was $29.8 million.

At December 31, 2023, we had $7.2 million of cash and cash equivalents, as compared to $5.7 million of cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2022.

The increase was primarily a result of the decrease in net loss, combined with reduced stock repurchases in 2023 versus 2022.

For the year ended December 31, 2023 net cash provided by operating activities was $14.9 million and for the year ended December 31, 2022, cash used by operations was $17.0 million.

We expect available cash and cash equivalents and internally generated funds to be sufficient to support working capital needs, capital expenditures (including acquisitions), and our debt service obligations.

We believe we have sufficient liquidity to operate for at least the next 12 months from the date of filing this report.

Cash from operating activities is dependent on our net income (loss), less depreciation, amortization, bad debt, deferred federal income tax, non-cash stock-based compensation, the amortization of warrant costs, and net of the changes in our operating assets and liabilities.

Cash from operating activities is dependent on our net income (loss), less depreciation, amortization, credit losses, deferred federal income tax, non-cash stock-based compensation, the amortization of warrant costs, and net of the changes in our operating assets and liabilities.

These assets and liabilities include our accounts receivable, prepaid expenses, operating lease right-of-use assets, inventory, other assets, accounts payable and accrued expenses, operating lease liabilities, prepaid card load obligations, merchant reserves, customer deposits, and deferred revenues.

We reported a net loss of $5.5 million and  $0.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. 

Additionally, we reported working capital of $5.8 million and $8.8 million at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

To the extent we require other sources of capital, we may seek a commercial line of credit or sell debt or equity securities, although we may not be able to complete any financing on terms acceptable to us, if at all.

We reported a net loss of $0.5 million and $5.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Additionally, we reported working capital of $8.0 million and $5.8 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

We have in the past, and may in the future, utilize equipment loans in order to finance the cost of particular pieces of equipment.

On March 20, 2021, we entered into a debt arrangement to finance $165,996 for the purchase of an Output Solutions sorter.

The loan is for a period of 36 months with a maturity date of March 20, 2024.

The repayment amount is for 36 months at $4,902 per month.

Annual payments are $58,821.

The financing is at an interest rate of 3.95%.

Payments in 2023 on this equipment loan were $54,634.

On October 1, 2023, the Company entered into a debt arrangement to finance $811,819 for the purchase of an Output Solutions folder and inserter.

The loan is for a period of 66 months with a maturity date of April 5, 2029 and annual interest of 6.75%.

Monthly principal and interest payments are required in the amount of $16,017.

Payments on this equipment loan were $9,894.

We cannot assure you that such financing may be available to us on terms acceptable to us, or at all, in the future.

From time to time we have sold shares of our common stock in order to provide us liquidity.

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We cannot assure you that we will be able to sell shares of our equity securities on terms acceptable to us or at all.

Net cash used by operating activities totaled $17.0 million for 2022 as compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $29.8 million in 2021.

After adjusting for the impact of operating lease right-of-use assets, operating lease liabilities, prepaid card load obligations and merchant reserves included in the statement of cash flows, net cash generated by adjusted operating activities was $0.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 and net cash provided by adjusted operating activities was $2.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2021.

The Company believes Non-GAAP adjusted operating cash flow to be a more accurate indicator of cash contributions that can be used to sustain current and future business operations. The decrease in net cash generated by adjusted operating activities in 2022 (after adjusting for the impact of operating lease right-of-use assets, operating lease liabilities, prepaid card load obligations and merchant reserves) was primarily attributable to increases in our net loss related to increased SG&A and reduced gross profits.

Net cash used by investing activities was $0.8 million for 2022 and $1.3 million in 2021.

Net cash provided by operating activities totaled $14.9 million for 2023 as compared to net cash used by operating activities of $17.0 million in 2022.

After adjusting for the impact of operating lease right-of-use assets, operating lease liabilities, prepaid card load obligations and merchant reserves included in the statement of cash flows, net cash provided by adjusted operating activities was $2.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 and net cash provided by adjusted operating activities was $0.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2022.

Operating lease right-of-use assets, operating lease liabilities, prepaid card load obligations, customer deposits and merchant reserves are deducted from operating cash flow, as we believe these metrics do not serve in providing a clear picture of the true operational cash used or provided in a given time period.

The Company believes Non-GAAP adjusted operating cash flow to be a more accurate indicator of cash contributions that can be used to sustain current and future business operations.

The increase in net cash generated by adjusted operating activities in 2023 (after adjusting for the impact of operating lease right-of-use assets, operating lease liabilities, prepaid card load obligations and merchant reserves) was primarily attributable to decreases in our net loss related to increased interest income, revenue, and gross profit growth.

Net cash used by investing activities was $0.8 million for 2023 and $0.8 million in 2022.

The decrease in investing activities was due to reduced expenditures on the purchase of property and equipment.

Net cash used from financing activities for 2022 was $1.4 million compared to net cash provided from financing activities of $0.9 million for 2021.

The decrease in cash provided (used) by financing activities was primarily attributable to treasury stock purchases of $1.3 million in 2022, an increase of approximately $1.1 million over 2021 and the impact of a $1.0 million private placement of our common stock in 2021.

We did not conduct any offerings of securities in 2022.

Net cash used by financing activities for 2023 was $0.5 million compared to net cash used by financing activities of $1.4 million for 2022.

The decrease in cash used by financing activities was primarily attributable to a reduction in stock repurchases in 2023, a decrease of approximately $0.9 million over 2022.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We have no off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future material effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

As a smaller reporting company as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act and in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K, we are electing scaled disclosure reporting obligations and therefore are not required to provide the information requested by this Item.

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What changed 10-K

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis