Need to File 10Qs on Veteran’s Day & All Week?

Edgar Agents will be open 24 hours on Veteran’s day and all this week, including weekends, to help with your 10Q filings due November 16, at no extra charge to you. No matter how far along you are in preparing your 10Q Forms, Edgar Agents can help you quickly expedite the filing process. We offer exceptional Edgar and XBRL conversions, which are reviewed by experienced industry professionals for accuracy and compliance. Our fast turn-around time will ensure that your Form 10Qs will get filed with the SEC on schedule. Always open 24 hours, 7 days a week, including weekends and holidays, you can count on Edgar Agents to deliver quality service every time. Because we offer a personalized approach, we provide the best custom-designed packages for your specific needs and budget. Our team of experts have been working with the EDGAR System since its inception. And, we will help you stay aware of new regulations that may require any additional disclosures or accelerated filings. Our in-house CPAs and XBRL specialists will work closely with you to help you easily manage every step of the process. We review and analyze your financials by applying the SEC compliant taxonomies to your company documents. Also, unlike other XBRL services, everything is handled in-house by Edgar Agents’ experts. We do not outsource any piece of the XBRL or EDGAR production process. We can also take your XBRL changes over the phone and send you a proof within minutes. Finally, our flat-rate pricing also means that you will NEVER be charged for rush orders or last minute changes. Be sure to ask about our XBRL Widget for your Website. The SEC requires that you post XBRL documents on your Website to make it easy for investors to find your information. We have since designed an XBRL Widget that allows you to quickly post your XBRL documents onto your corporate or investor relations website within 2 hours of filings. So remember, if you are pressed for time this week Edgar Agents will be available to assist you anytime of the day or night at no additional cost to you. To learn more about our services, visit our site at www.edgaragents,.com or call us at 732-780-5036.

SEC Approves Crowdfunding Rules, Proposals

Last week the SEC approved the new crowdfunding rules and proposed amendments, which allows companies to raise capital through crowdfunding options. The SEC approved the new rules under Title III of the JOBS Act where forms will be effective 180 days after they are published in the Federal Register, while forms for funding portals to register with the Commission will be effective January 29, 2016. The new rules state that the additional amount sold to all investors by the issuer during the 12-month period before the date of the transaction cannot exceed $1 million. Also, the dollar amounts can only be adjusted once every 5 years and must be published in the Federal Register to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index. The final ruling goes on to explain that the capital raised through other exempt transactions will not be included in the additional amount sold. And, the rules require issuers to disclose certain information about their business and securities offering. The ruling has also created a framework for broker-dealer and funding portals to facilitate the transactions. In addition, the SEC proposed amendments to the existing Securities Act Rule 147, which will update the rules for intrastate offerings. In this proposal, issuers are allowed to incorporate and make offers outside of the state as long as sales are made to residents within the state. Furthermore, the issuer’s place of business must be in-state and should include one additional piece of evidence that would prove the company’s regional operations. The proposal would also amend Securities Act Rule 504 of Regulation D to increase the additional amount of money offered and sold, which is up to $5 million, while protecting investors. For the next 60 days, the SEC is accepting comments on the proposed rules. Also, visit our website at www.edgaragents.com or call our office at 732-780-5036 to learn more about our services and how we can assist with your filing needs.

6 Wicked Trends in October

Halloween is around the corner and some interesting new trends have been creeping up this October. Technology has always been a large player in finance, but lately several articles have reported on some emerging trends in technology so I’ve compiled a list of my favorite ones. Trend 1: An article in Edelman says Wall Street’s pockets and Silicon Valley’s tech innovation show promise of extensive market opportunities. Trend 2: Bitcoin and other cyrptocurrencies will lose value, but a few companies are expected to revive the movement, says an article by Odgers Berndston. Trend 3: Popularized by the bitcoin open-source payment system, blockchain technology has the potential to improve transparency and reduce costs, according to Fidelity. It allows financial service companies to securely store identities and data and to instantly settle secure transactions, reports an article by Datamark Inc. Trend 4: Datamark also reports that Cloud Computing will increase productivity. Remote servers connected over the Internet ensure that data is available on-the-go, on a device, boosting productivity. Trend 5: Big data and deep analytics are still subjects of conversation. The sentiment is that they can be accessed with user-friendly “self-service visualizations,” according to Fidelity. There is also hope that an artificial intelligence powerful enough to sort through big data and produce time-saving ways to interpret it will soon be invented, concludes Datamark. Trend 6: Finally, I particularly like our single source platform in-house. Edgar Agents applies this technology to all its services, which means all your documents are automatically exported into Edgar HTML and hyperlinked PDF files within minutes so you everyone is working on the latest version. This eliminates overlapping, inaccurate information and saves on time. As new trends continue to lurk in the shadows, I’ll keep an eye out for the ones that look most promising. To learn more about our company, visit our site at www.edgaragents.com or call 732-780-5036. Also follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, Instagram and Blogger.

What’s New In Financial Reporting Technology?

On the anniversary of the 1989 sequel of the film “Back to the Future,” I was inspired to take a look back at modern technology to see how it has evolved since the 80s and into our everyday lives. I found that the technological assumptions made in the film are not so far off from today’s advances. And as mentioned in last week’s blog post, “technology has always been a great force in overturning the status quo, but never more so than today.” The last part of this statement couldn’t be more accurate. For example, in the field of financial reporting alone, demands made on attorneys, CPAs, CFOs, and CEOs to deliver a quality product on time, within budget, while adhering to government compliance sometimes seems humanly impossible. One would need many clones to get it all done, but there is a solution. Actually, there are several solutions, and they don’t involve clones. Edgar Agents has developed many solutions to address the challenges our clients face daily. We have based our entire operations on the customization of our services for every client individually because we believe everyone’s needs are different. Sometimes our clients, who are the attorneys, CPAs, CFOs, etc, aren’t even aware of all the options we offer until we meet for the first time and start learning about their specific situations. In one meeting with all parties involved, we’ll create a specific solution for your needs within “your” budget. We not only believe this is the best system, we think it’s the only system that works for everyone. As we dive into the future, it is quite obvious that technology is the only way to get everything done, but then again being efficient is probably just as crucial. Take our single source solution, for example. This system is designed to reflect the latest version of a document, and we apply it to all our products. Mostly useful with our typesetting service, a single source solution means all your documents are automatically exported into Edgar HTML and hyperlinked PDF files within minutes so you everyone is working on the latest version in-house. This also saves us time so you could expect to receive your document in less time that any of our competitors. Combine this solution with our customized packages and pricing, and you’ll find Edgar Agents is the only partner you need for all your financial filing services. Another example of our customized packages is to only combine the services you need at a price you can afford. For instance, say you would like to use our EA16 feature, a secure online tool that allows you to file your own Forms 3, 4 and 5 directly with the SEC. This tool lets you control your document throughout the entire filing process with no additional software to buy or install. But, you also need an SEC mandated XBRL widget to go on your site; one that updates automatically with your most current financials. Our agents will design several options for you to choose from that will include both these services for one customized price or payment plan. The possibilities are limitless. Nevertheless, many times our clients would rather we handle all their filings from start to finish, so we retain experts in-house from the financial reporting industry to handle these projects. They are available 24 hours, 7 days a week, including holidays, should you have any questions. No extra cost to you. These experts know exactly what you will need and how to stay compliant. And this is imperative because we feel our staff should be a major part of the solution. With this philosophy in mind, we’ve also developed a system that uses in-house CPA and XBRL expertise to review and analyze client financials by applying current SEC taxonomies to financial statements and notes. Our reviewers then thoroughly proofread the document once more before sending it to you for final approval. All our proofreaders are also from the financial reporting industry so they check for more than just formatting. They check for quality. Finally, technology, as always, is ever evolving, and I’ve only touched on a few of the many solutions we’ve created over the years. There are many more in the works and we’re excited to discuss them with you at your convenience. Give us a call for a casual meeting sometime to discuss your options. You can call us at 732-780-5036 to speak to an agent or peruse our website for more information about our services at www.edgaragents.com. Also follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Google+, Blogger and Instagram. We’d love to read your comments!

Let’s Talk Sustainable Growth, Technology and Common Sense

The smell of apple cider, pumpkin pancakes and Octoberfest is in the air. And as we all prepare for weather changes and holiday cheer, CPAs prepare for company growth and sustainability. An article in CPA Trendlines explains how six elements determine the growth and sustainability of a firm. Meanwhile, another article in CFO describes how a gut reaction can make all the difference. Finally, an article in AICPA Insights says technology is the key to future success. Based on our own conversations with our clients, we agree that a healthy dose of each makes for a very successful firm. In a nutshell, the six elements for growth and sustainability are as follows: leader driven, segment ownership, strategy before tactics, opportunity pursuit, team play, and no more marketing director. The last one is a bit confusing because a marketing directors’ sole purpose is to grow a company’s brand. But the article explains that the marketing director should do more than just organize sponsored events and thought leadership. They should be “leading and supporting opportunity pursuit efforts.” Again, we agree. Typically, this has always been a marketing director’s role. And yes, technology does play a large role in marketing, but technology has such a large role in today’s businesses overall. It has allowed businesses to “launch and grow at stunning speeds while using little capital,” according to the CFO article. Entrepreneurs and start-ups can compete with larger, more established companies as a result. The article states that 95% of respondents believe CPAs must be quick to embrace new technology and the capabilities that come with it. Obviously, this is true, which is why we offer our XBRL widget and EA16 technology to our clients. But, let’s not overlook the value of a gut reaction. Business Tycoon, now U.S. Presidential Candidate, Donald Trump, preached it in his first book, “Trump. The Art of the Deal.” If you know your market and are passionate enough to see your company soar, you gotta go with your gut sometimes. Steve Graham, finance executive interviewed for the article in AICPA Insights, says despite his tendency to analyze the facts and figures, many of his best decisions have come from common sense. Makes sense. Sometimes decisions that go against the grain are necessary. But if you are an expert in your field, chances are you are making the right decision for your company anyway. Finally, our clients feel the same about growth, sustainability, technology and gut reactions. In our conversations, clients claim they need some one who can keep up with their pace while offer customized services, and we make sure to deliver. We work with very successful CPAs, attorneys and CEOs from large and small firms, to name a few. And don’t forget, we are running a successful business of our own. So, we understand the challenges that can stump future development, but we always adjust to accommodate our clients with their needs. This is probably our key advice in all of this. Listen to your client first. If you would like to know more about our customized packages, visit our site at www.edgaragents.com. Or call us at 732-780-5036. We’d love to hear from you. Also follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, Blogger, and Instagram!

Thanks for meeting with us one on one

As we wrap up another successful round of conferences this season, we realize new trends are still reminiscent of the old ones but with more emphasis on customer satisfaction. We spoke one on one with several attendees at the 2015 Aegis Growth Conference and the Ladenburg Thalmann 2015 Healthcare Conference these past weeks about specific strategies that would help their public and emerging companies execute their financial reporting and investor communication requirements within compliance. And in the process, we concluded that our fixed rate pricing and custom packages continue to be exactly what these companies need. Unique to the industry, Edgar Agents offers fixed rate pricing and custom packages for its Edgar and XBRL filing, typesetting and financial printing, and IPO offerings. This enables companies to stay on budget with no extra charges for rush or overnight and weekend projects, including holidays. Because these events give us insight into our customer’s specific needs, we were proud to be sponsors of both shows. Learning directly from the industry enables us to adjust our offerings to accommodate their exact needs. We feel both events drew the kind of crowd that had a lot to say about the direction of their industries, in turn giving us a view of the types of challenges they face daily, especially in healthcare. Both shows were a success, Aegis as a veteran and Ladenburg Thalmann in its first annual break out event. We appreciate everyone who was able to come out and meet with us. We always take your considerations very seriously and look forward to working with you, our new partners and old colleagues alike. If you are interested to learn more about our services, custom packages and fixed rate pricing, please do not hesitate to call us at 732-780-5036 or peruse our site at www.edgaragents.com for more information.

Should SEC Verify Relationships Amid Filers & Companies?

A recent SEC filing scam, which victimized Warren Buffett’s company, Berkshire Hathaway, suggests that the SEC should verify the relationship between the people doing company filings and the companies themselves to prevent future scams. We agree. At Edgar Agents, we suggest working with a trust-worthy filing agent with an excellent reputation to handle your filings to stay compliant and within budget. An article in Forbes.com reported that a pair of filings on the SEC website claimed Berkshire Hathaway had taken new stakes in both Kraft Heinz and Phillips 66. The filings also claimed that the new investments were jointly owned by Berkshire and a company named LMZ, in which the SEC forms appear to have been submitted by someone named Loreto M. Zamora. The forms listed a Philippines address and listed Zamora as a director of Kraft Heinz. When asked, Buffet had no knowledge of this company or Zamora. Although accountants might take some heat for not double checking the facts, the article states that the lax rules for anyone filing with the SEC is the main problem because all that is needed to make a filing is an address and a letter signed by a notary. As a solution, the article suggests that the SEC provide a list of approved filers for companies to work with. We happen to agree with this as well. A list of approved filers would help weed out the sub-standard filing agencies that might mislead companies into serious legal problems. We are also confident that you will find Edgar Agents at the top of that list approved list. In our 18 years of experience in electronic filings, we have not once encountered a legal problem that involved illegal procedures. Our reputation has remained strong and steady in the industry since 1997. Finally, the article admits that the SEC cannot be responsible for double checking every single filing that comes through daily, but perhaps a further delay in the 10-day window it currently provides for filings would give the SEC more time to at least give them a once-over. With Edgar Agents’ quick turnaround times and 24/7 availability, including weekends, your filings will be compliant and with the SEC much sooner than that. You can be sure the SEC will have time to review your filing for sure. To learn more about Edgar Agents and our services, visit our website at www.edgaragents.com or call us at 732-780-5036.

Reducing the Use of Custom XBRL Tags

Last week’s blog post discussed XBRL tagging and the role SEC filers play in ensuring that companies are using accurate tags for their filings. This week I’d like to dig a little deeper into the issue of custom XBRL tags. Custom XBRL tags are unique metadata tags companies create to describe financial data points that do not fit into the standard XBRL GAAP taxonomy. These tags are extremely helpful when used appropriately. If a company’s data truly does not fit into one of the 17,000 approved tags then it is better to create a custom tag (or extension) than inappropriately use one of the standard tags. The downside to custom tags is they can be created quickly during the filing process and are easily overused.

Last summer the SEC issued its ‘Staff Observations of Custom Tag Rates’. According to the SEC, smaller filers accounted for 96% of filers with high custom tag rates. While the use of custom tags is decreasing from larger companies, its continued use among small cap companies diminishes the benefits of XBRL in the long-run. XBRL can be resource intensive to get right. Larger companies have had more time and experience working with XBRL. For smaller companies, where resources are tight, custom tags can be an easy and quick solution. However, they are not needed in most cases.

To avoid over use of custom tags companies can follow these simple guidelines. • Know which form you are filing and select the taxonomy section related to that specific statement you are tagging. Yes, you can select a tag from anywhere in the GAAP taxonomy but you risk selecting an incorrect one.

• If the financial data doesn’t conform exactly to the GAAP Taxonomies or SEC definition, that doesn’t necessarily mean you need to create a custom tag. If you are unsure, talk to a trained XBRL tagging expert to determine what is required.

• Your XBRL statement should contain the same information (not more or less) as the HTML statement. If the financial information is different, it’s a red flag.

• When possible, use the predefined table structure in the GAAP Taxonomy.

• Your XBRL tags should be reviewed and updated according to the latest taxonomy guidelines.

• Remember, not all SEC filing agents are created equally. Your filing agent should be an expert in XBRL, using the latest 2015 GAAP taxonomy guidelines and providing diligent proofreading services to help identify tagging errors before forms are submitted to the SEC.

To help address issues associated with tagging, XBRL US recently created the XBRL US Data Quality Committee whose goal is to provide guidance on uniform, consistent tagging of financial data and on the use of extensions (custom tags), as well as develop automated validation rules to verify compliance with the Committee’s guidance and to prevent or detect tagging errors.

At Edgar Agents we support this effort and believe that establishing best practice guidelines across the industry will help reduce the use of custom tags and eliminate errors that undermine the value XBRL can bring to the industry.

I am proud to say that at Edgar Agents, we have been working with XBRL since its early days. We have seen the standard (and the debate around) XBRL evolve. Our XBRL experts are familiar with the latest GAAP taxonomy standards and offer clients best practice advice on how to streamline their SEC reporting processes to reduce errors and stress. We offer a variety of XBRL tools and services (such as an XBRL Widget) to ensure that companies are meeting SEC guidelines. Contact us today to learn more or read our XBRL FAQ.

Are Small Companies Responsible for Inaccuracy in XBRL Tagging?

The financial industry has made it very clear that accuracy in XBRL tagging is still a major problem in financial reporting. A consortium was even created to solve this issue. Although there are a few different theories explaining why XBRL tagging contains so many inaccuracies, one obstacle we can all agree on is that smaller companies continue to outsource their work to third-party providers that have little interest in doing anything but the bare minimum to ensure compliance, according to an article in investing.com. We agree, but we also wonder why these smaller companies aren’t researching their filers more closely. The article in investing.com claims that larger companies have the resources to ensure XBRL accuracy, while smaller companies contract their XBRL work to cheap third-party providers. In our opinion, the main problem starts with the smaller companies not being aware of how their filing agents work. Not all third-party filers work under sub-par standards. Unfortunately, some quality filers get lumped in with other sub-standard ones when referring to outsourced XBRL work. So, be sure to interview your filing agent before your next filing to determine which side of the coin your filer operates. Check our blog for the right questions to ask. Last week we posted an article on our blog, listing the types of answers you should be asking your filer to ensure your documents are accurate, as well as compliant. We believe the key to accuracy in XBRL reporting lies with your filer’s proofreading skills. Be sure you know how their operations are run, even visit their office if you get a chance. Don’t rely on loyalty or even recommendations. Rely on the facts and your personal experience during a trial run. Among other factors, third party filers also use too many custom tags instead of the assigned GAAP taxonomies, the article states. There are more than 17,000 GAAP taxonomies to choose from, but because financial statements can be extremely large it is sometimes easier for the filer to create its own. This makes company comparisons much more difficult. With smaller companies, about 10% of the tags used are custom tags. Meanwhile, some tags are just completely wrong. Many times these small errors could have been avoided during the proofreading process. The article in investing.com claims that some software systems can detect these small errors, such as incorrect positive/negative signs, required values not getting reported, or a data point getting attributed to the wrong corporate entity. But, even the article admits that for now, there is a large dependence on human interaction to find and rectify the errors. Therefore, your filers’ proofreaders need to be exceptional. Before your next filing, you might want to know how your filing agent handles its daily operations. How familiar are their proofreaders with the XBRL GAAP taxonomies? You might even ask for evidence. Is their proofreading staff from the industry? What qualifications do their proofreaders have? These questions will not only ensure your documents are accurately tagged, but you will be helping the industry to improve on the XBRL tagging process. Finally, the article claims that XBRL tagging is improving, but needs more work. We can agree with this statement, but we also know our agents are highly skilled and strive to be 100% accurate every time, regardless. To learn more about our services and daily operations, speak to one of our agents at 732-780-5036. Also, visit the Edgar Agents site at www.edgaragents.com.

Let's Talk

We’d like to take a few minutes to thank you, our client, for trusting us with your filings this past season. We processed and successfully filed hundreds of Qs with the SEC, and appreciate your business. And now that August filings are done, you have time to take a break before the summer ends. But, before you head over to the tiki bar for a much needed cocktail, let us update you on the latest Edgar Agents services. Over the past year, Edgar Agents has posted several tips on our blog to help you file successfully and with less stress. We’ve also touched on legislative issues and trends that are pertinent to SEC reporting and financial printing. As we continue to gather information to help you with your filing and printing procedures, we’d like to invite you to peruse our past blog posts as a refresher. If there is anything you’d like to discuss, please do not hesitate to call or email me directly. Our office works round the clock. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays at no extra charge to you. No matter what part of the world you currently reside, if you file with the SEC we are ready to work on your documents. In addition, we offer many other services such as financial printing, typesetting and newswires, to name a few. We provide all the necessary SEC mandates such as XBRL widgets, and offer many other resources for you to stay compliant and informed. Visit our site at www.edgaragents.com to learn about our services. We also understand that you are busy growing your business so let us service your needs at your convenience. Ask about our flat rate pricing and our customized packages. We welcome any suggestions you might have that would help you succeed in your goals because we know everyone has a unique situation. We work with each of our clients individually, offering you the best customer service. So, #GetToKnowEdgarAgents today, and talk to one our agents at 732-780-5036 about our products and services.

Can You Rely on Your Filer’s Proofreading Skills?

The 10Q deadline is fast approaching, and many of you might still be working on the final changes to your document. Just remember, in the chaos of preparing your final documents, it is very possible to make mistakes. Now would be a good time to ask your filer about their proofreading strategies. Below are some questions to ask your filer before filing your 10Q. What qualifications do their proofreaders have? A proofreader’s skills can vary by industry experience, education or natural talent. If you are lucky, your filer has hired reviewers that possess all three. An educated reviewer will know how to use and read the proper proofreading marks that are necessary when dealing with handwritten edits to a document. Also, if they are experienced in the industry, they’ll quickly spot inconsistencies that might not fly with the SEC. Finally, nothing beats natural talent and attention to detail. If the proofreader is able to quickly spot inaccuracies otherwise not seen by the filing agent or client, wasted hours and money in amendments will be avoided. How long does it take to review a document? Obviously, every document is different. The time it takes to review a document depends on many factors. For instance, a document that is 200 pages might take longer to review than a 20 page document. But, the same attention to detail is pertinent in both cases. Also, a document that has been revised significantly from the original version might take longer to review as well. In any case, reviewing a document shouldn’t take more than an hour in general. Is there an extra charge to review larger documents? In a nutshell, the answer to this question should be no. Some filers might need to charge extra in order to pay for two or more reviewers to work on one large document. Although understandable, this should not be common practice. Better put, it is not good customer service. Find out if your filer hires extra help during busy seasons. This cost might be getting handed down to you. Are their proofreaders industry people? As I mentioned before, a good proofreader will consist of the three skills described earlier. So, of course it is best to have an industry person review your document. An industry person will know what to look for and what to overlook. During crunch time, this skill is especially important. You’ll need to have some one quickly, yet thoroughly, review for inaccuracies that are most significant to the SEC. In contrast, smaller details like missing commas that should have been addressed in earlier versions, will need to be overlooked when there is only five minutes left to file a document. What do proofreaders look for? Proofreaders should follow a manual created by the company that lists a number of items to look for. For example, one of the items a reviewer would check is the consistency in the dates and signatures. The dates and signatures in the document should be consistent with the date the document is filed and the signature of the person who is required to sign the document. Another detail a reviewer might notice is inaccuracies in the table of contents once the document has been formatted into EDGAR. The document might have been altered to fit into the EDGAR system, which in turn changes the page numbers. The page numbers in the table of contents will then need to be updated. There are many elements proofreaders are trained to look for, but the key is to have an in-house checklist of items that all reviewers should be required to review and address when proofreading a document. Are their proofreaders familiar with XBRL GAAP Taxonomies? Yes. Reviewers should be aware of at least the most recent and commonly used XBRL GAAP taxonomies, although knowing ALL taxonomies is not humanly possible. If anything, proofreaders should at least know where to look to verify proper taxonomies if they are not sure. Recent news has shown that too many XBRL filers use the wrong taxonomies when tagging documents. This has resulted in inaccurate reporting and difficulty comparing company financials. Industry has since requested a closer look into this problem, and XBRL US, a non-profit consortium for XBRL reporting standards, has taken the responsibility to find a solution. So as you address the final touches to your 10Q document, take a few minutes to learn more about your filer’s proofreading strategies. The effort could save you hundreds of dollars in amendments and overall aggravation. To learn more about Edgar Agents and its services, please visit our site at www.edgaragents.com. You can also call us at 732-780-5036.

Why Conduct a Regulation A+ Kick-starter Campaign?

Why should companies conduct a kick-starter campaign under Regulation A+? … Simply to raise more capital through equity crowdfunding. Title IV of the JOBS Act (Regulation A+) allows entrepreneurs to market their offerings to any investor in an equity crowdfunding campaign, despite their income or accreditation status. What does this mean for companies raising capital? Only that the pool of investors is staggering and the potential to gain significant capital is highly likely. In 2013, when Title II of the JOBS Act was introduced, an estimated $250 million in capital funding was raised online in the first year alone. This type of investing has grown to more than $16 billion worldwide in the past few years. And, because the recent legislation in Regulation A+ doesn’t discriminate against any type of investor, it is likely that these numbers will increase significantly this year. An article in Forbes predicts that the crowdfunding industry will double to $34 billion in 2015, spread across several types of funding models like rewards, donation, equity and debt/lending. And with the new crowdfunding laws opening doors to more capital, even the venture capitalist industry could see a decline this year. So why should companies conduct a kick-starter campaign? The question should be, “Why are companies NOT conducting kick-starter campaigns?” To learn more about Regulation A+, read our latest blog posts at www.edgaragents.com. To learn more about Edgar Agents and our services, do not hesitate to call us at 732-780-5036 or visit our site.

Tips to Prepare Your 10Q Filings

As summer sets in and you begin to prepare for your 10Q filings due next month, remember there are many ways to stay focused. Whatever your strategy is, keep these few tips in mind to help you execute your filings with ease. Use Online Tools First, know your deadline dates and create checklists of items that need to be done on specific dates and at specific times. Incorporate these same items into a calendar that can be shared electronically. Google and Outlook calendars have efficient online tools, such as reminders, to keep you on track. You can also share the latest updates with all parties involved. Alternatively, use the Edgar Agents free, downloadable calendar that lists the 2015 filing deadlines for your convenience. Use Proofreader’s Marks While proofreading your 10K, use the proper proofreading marks. Be sure to incorporate marks that actually request a specific edit and avoid ambiguous symbols that neither correct or give direction. If you are not familiar with proofreader marks, the Chicago Manual of Style, AP or Merriam-Webster are excellent reference guides. Although some symbols may vary, most marks are similar enough to be universally recognized. Also, double check the submission page to make sure the form type and filing period is accurate. Submit Financials First When you are ready, submit your financial statements and notes first – these take the longest to process. Statements and notes need to be formatted in Edgar while specific information needs to be tagged in XBRL throughout the document. This procedure can take some time to administer accurately. Check Signatures and Dates Make sure all signatures and dates are accurate when submitting your documents. Even if the filing date changes during the conversion process (for example if a company decides to file on another date), be sure to double check the dates and signatures before giving final approval to file. Apply Policies and Procedures Finally, if there is anything about filing electronically that you are doubtful about and your research doesn’t answer your questions, give us a call ahead of time. We can help guide you through the necessary steps so you’re prepared to file before the deadline. To learn more about our products and services, call us at 732-780-5036 or visit our site at www.edgaragents.com.

XBRL US Seeks Feedback on Proposed Rules

XBRL US has started the ball rolling with the first public review of the proposed rules that are expected to address common XBRL input errors. The proposed rules will be available for review and commentary until September 14, 2015.

The review contains seven proposed validation rules that test selected attributes reported in more than 2,400 individual elements and certain broad classes of elements (such as Document and Entity Information). Since its public debut, the proposed rules have already received comments from industry professionals. The rules are as follows:

Element Values Are Equal 

This rule tests that the value reported for the element Assets equals the value reported for the element Liabilities and Equity.

1. Dean Prinsloo says:
Wednesday, July 15, 2015 at 3:25 PM
Great rule!

2. Charles Hoffman says:
Wednesday, July 15, 2015 at 4:42 PM
This is consistent with the accounting equation, a fundamental rule of accounting.

3. Charles Hoffman says:
Wednesday, July 15, 2015 at 5:07 PM
The phrase “Element Values Are Equal” does not really describe this correctly. This is more about facts within the exact same context being equal. For example, this rule class means that the facts with the concept “us-gaap:Assets” and the fact with the concept “us-gaap:LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity” are equal in the same context (i.e. the period MUST be the same as well as any other distinguishing characteristics).

Context Dates After Period End Date 

Dates that end after reporting period end dates are limited to subsequent events, forecasts and Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding.  

Dean Prinsloo says:
Wednesday, July 15, 2015 at 3:26 PM
Context period dates should be correct.

DEI and Block Tag Date Contexts

Document and entity information, footnotes, tables, and accounting policy concepts must use reporting period dates that are consistent with the fiscal period focus of the filing (e.g. Q1, Q2, Q3 or FY). 

Dean Prinsloo says:
Wednesday, July 15, 2015 at 3:28 PM
The periods above should be updated to be a specific range for each period, plus and minus 15 days, as example rather than some specific dates based on a sample period(s).

Element A must be less than or equal to Element B

Value for element A should be less than or equal to the value for element B. Documentation includes a list of elements where this comparison is tested. 

Dean Prinsloo says:
Wednesday, July 15, 2015 at 3:30 PM
Good logic.

Negative Values 

Elements that should not be reported with negative values. Documentation includes a list of elements tested. 

Dean Prinsloo says:
Wednesday, July 15, 2015 at 3:34 PM
The XBRL “instance value” and the element concept balance attributes (debit or credit) should be verified for correctness.

Document Period End Date Context 

Document and entity information dates should match the document period end date. 

Charles Hoffman says:
Wednesday, July 15, 2015 at 4:47 PM
The value of dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate, the value of the “endDate” of the context of that concept, and the current balance sheet date should all be the same. I would propose taking this rule one step further to include the notion that these two dates should also be consistent with the current balance sheet date.

Document Period End Date Context / Fact Value Check 

The document period end date should match the date tagged with the document period end date element. 

No comments to date. 

While the public reviews a description of the rules and submits comments, developers can download the open source code and incorporate it into their own software to use as a reference against their software and provide feedback. 

To participate in the public review, go to: http://publicreview.xbrl.us To learn more about Edgar Agents and our products and services, please visit our website at www.edgaragents.com or call us at 732-580-5036.

Do You Qualify to Raise Capital Under Regulation A+?

By now you might have an idea what Regulation A+ entails, and are curious to know if your company qualifies to raise capital under this rule. To be sure, there are two sets of rules you should understand before proceeding, they are known as Tier I and Tier II. The SEC has since sent out a press release and a recent bulletin to further explain the details of the two tiers. We’ve summarized those qualifications in a few short paragraphs.

Tier 1

First, it is important to know whether an offering has been qualified. To qualify for both tiers under Regulation A+, a company can only accept payment for the sale of its securities once its offering materials have been qualified by the SEC.

Companies that are conducting a Tier 1 offering must generally have their offering materials qualified by state securities regulators in the states where they plan to sell their securities. Investors should be aware, however, that the SEC’s qualification of an offering statement does not mean that the SEC has assessed the accuracy of the offering or its merits.

Under Tier 1, a company can raise up to $20 million in any 12-month period. In connection with any offering under Regulation A+, a company must also provide all investors with access to an offering circular, which is an abbreviated prospectus for a new security listing. For Tier 1, the circular must be filed with, and subject to be reviewed and qualified by, the SEC as well as the securities regulator in the states where it is being conducted.

It should also be understood that the financial statements disclosed in a Tier 1 offering do not need to be audited by an independent accountant. Companies only need to report on the status of the offering. As a result, however, there will not be the regular flow of company information as with companies listed on the NYSE or NASDAQ, for example.

Tier 2

Under the Tier 2 option, companies can offer securities up to $50 million in any 12-month period. And as with Tier 1, all investors must be provided with an offering circular or given information to access it. For Tier 2, the offering circular is also subject to review and qualification by the SEC, but is not subject to review by state securities regulators.

The offering circular will also contain important information about the offering, but unlike the first tier, financial statements disclosed in Tier 2 have to be audited by an independent accountant. Companies raising money under Tier 2 will also file regular reports with the SEC, but are only required to file a semiannual report, annual report, or interim current report should there be certain enumerated events.

Furthermore, securities offered under Tier 2 may also be listed on a national exchange, subject to the requirements of that particular exchange. In such circumstances, the company would be required to comply with the more extensive ongoing reporting requirements, including the requirement to file quarterly reports.

Overall, and as we reported in an earlier blog post, Regulation A+ allows smaller companies to raise money more cost-effectively. If eligible, this rule could mean large savings and profits for smaller companies. To learn more about our products and services, call one of our agents at 732-580-5036 or visit our site at www.edgaragents.com.

How Do You Think XBRL Reporting Could Improve?

Posted on July 2nd, 2015 by Steve Yakubov The initial purpose of XBRL so many years ago was to improve data transparency for investors and analysts, which in turn would increase investor activity for small and large companies. Yet, somehow things went awry along the way, but as with most things it should get better with time and experience. Now, some 18 years later, industry has decided to take matters into its own hands.

 A consortium of organizations filed a letter in late May suggesting improvements to the EDGAR/XBRL reporting procedures. Part of this initiative is to develop automated validation rules to detect input errors and verify compliance. Industry believes that persistent errors in XBRL filings have stalled usage of the XBRL database. And because these concerns have not received enough consideration from the SEC, the consortium hopes to find solutions from a conglomerate of XBRL industry players, then present it to the SEC.

 Industry has also asked for simpler search options that best display data reported in XBRL. Ken Tysiac, editorial director of the Journal of Accountancy, paraphrases some of those recommendations in an article about the consortium’s letter to the SEC. Many of the suggestions mirror search features found in Internet browsers like Google or Bing. By making the overall system a lot more user friendly, usage of the XBRL database will definitely improve as a result.

For now and until the newly formed conglomerate decides what works best, we suggest working closely with a filer that hires only experienced certified XBRL operators and reviewers to file your documents accurately and within compliance. We also suggest using best practices for your next filing.

But, because we always like to hear from you, our readers, feel free to send us comments or suggestions on how you think XBRL should be improved. Email us at filings@edgaragents.com or post a comment below. 

To learn more about Edgar Agents’ products and services, call us at 732-780-5036 or visit our site at www.edgaragents.com.

A Successful 10K Season

The 10K filing season has just ended. And it was a busy 30 days. This past quarter, Edgar Agents has handled over a thousand LIVE filings.

Our agents have been working around the clock to help finalize, proof and submit 10K filings for our clients. As is typical with most filings, edits do not always come in during normal business hours. We understand that our clients have many demands and financial reporting is just one of them.

You are busy closing sales, growing the business, speaking with customers, partners and investors, managing daily business operations and much, much more. More importantly, we know you are working around the clock to ensure your company’s success. That is why we built our business to support 24/7/365 operations.

Now that the bulk of the 10K season has passed and our clients have some down time, we would like to thank our EA team for their hard work supporting each client and filing.  We are on track for an exciting year.  At this pace, we will meet and surpass our filing numbers from last year.

We would also like to thank our clients for choosing Edgar Agents. Because of you, we are one of the top 10 fastest growing SEC filers.

#GetToKnowEdgarAgents today!  Ask us about our flat rate pricing with no extra charges for weekend or off hour support.

Edgar Agents Participates in Growth Capital Expo

This year, Edgar Agents has been busy attending the industry’s leading conferences and expos. Its a great opportunity for us to meet with customers, investors, public companies, emerging companies and the law or accounting firms that support these companies. The conferences provided valuable market insights and are an opportunity for companies to share best practices regarding SEC reporting, compliance, and the IPO process.

Next week, Edgar Agents will attend the Growth Capital Expo in Las Vegas. Below is today’s press release announcing our participation in the event.  Hope to see you there!

- - -

Edgar Agents to Participate in Growth Capital Expo 2015

Leading Financial Compliance Services Firm Offers IPOs Flat Rate Pricing for Regulatory Filing, IPO Registrations, XBRL Tagging and Financial Printing Services

New York City – April 8, 2015 – Edgar Agents, LLC. (Edgar Agents), a full-service financial compliance services firm, today announces that it will participate in the Growth Capital Expo, April 12-14, 2015 in Las Vegas.

Conference attendees will learn about Edgar Agents’ full range of services to help public companies, mutual funds and emerging companies with their financial reporting and investor communication requirements. Unique to the industry, Edgar Agents offers fixed rate pricing and custom packages for its Edgar & XBRL filing, typesetting and financial printing, and IPO offerings. This enables customers to stay on budget with no extra charges for rush projects or overnight and weekend projects.

“We are extremely excited to be attending the second annual Growth Capital Expo which will showcase over 100 pre-IPO and microcap growth companies, “said Steve Yakubov, President of Edgar Agents, LLC. “Not only does the conference provide an opportunity for companies to meet with potential investors, it also provides attendees with valuable insights into the IPO and SEC reporting process.  Pre-IPO companies can count on Edgar Agents for custom IPO services that include typeset, Edgar and printing. More importantly, with our fixed fees, IPOs can trust that the final bill will not include unexpected charges.”

The Growth Capital Expo brings together the best ideas, the most promising companies and the top deal makers in emerging growth finance for three days of educational panels and presentations by the leading practitioners of investment in public and late-stage private emerging growth companies. Additionally, selected MicroCap and pre-IPO growth company management teams have been invited to showcase the best opportunities of the year for emerging growth investment. Growth Capital Expo provides face-to-face networking opportunities for building relationships and sourcing new deals.

For more information on Edgar Agents, read our Company FAQ or stop by our table at the Growth Capital Expo. To schedule a meeting at the show contact Steve Yakubov at steve@edgaragents.com.

About Edgar Agents, LLC.
Long term relationships flourish best when they are accompanied by trust and integrity. At Edgar Agents, we view trust, integrity and quality of service as our greatest asset. We manage all your financial compliance and SEC filing needs. From annual 10-Ks and quarterly 10-Qs to 8-Ks, Registration Statements and Section 16 filings, we will provide you with unparalleled customer service, accurate and prompt turn around, all at an incomparably competitive price. To learn more about Edgar Agents, please visit www.edgaragents.com.

Need Help Filing Your 10K by March 31?

By now you’ve already submitted the bulk of your 10K Report and are working with your filer to adjust the final touches. Staying on track from today until the March 31 deadline is your main priority.  Should you run into any bumps along the way, here are some last minute tips to keep you organized and focused.

Use SEC Tools
The SEC provides tools and templates for very novice filers and although many of you have probably already filed countless 10Ks before, it’s still good practice to refer back to the SEC’s tools occasionally to make sure you have addressed all necessary steps.  Try skimming through the SEC template of the Form 10K to check if any items on your Form 10K were overlooked, sections were underdeveloped or facts still need to be explained.  Compare the template to your document and check all items that have been completed or addressed.

Track Important Deadlines
Always, always keep track of your dates. Continue to keep a calendar with the most pertinent dates on hand. You might want to make fresh copies that include the latest updates for all parties involved to ensure everyone is on the same page. Edgar Agents has a free, downloadable calendar with the 2015 filing deadlines listed. Refer to this calendar often.

Proofread Titles and Submission Page
When proofing your documents, double check the submission page so the name of your exhibits match the .html file name. In addition, make sure the exhibit title description on the submission page is not too long. It will be cut off when filed and displayed on the SEC website. If possible, try shortening it to about 80 characters. When proofing documents, make sure to work off the latest draft to eliminate confusion among all parties involved.

Be Clear About Your Edits
While proofreading your 10K, use the proper proofreading marks and be clear about your instructions. Proofreader marks facilitate and reduce confusion when making edits. Be sure to incorporate marks that actually request a specific edit and avoid ambiguous symbols that neither correct or give direction. If you are not familiar with proofreader marks, the Chicago Manual of Style, AP or Merriam-Webster offer excellent reference guides. Although some symbols may vary, most marks are similar and any full-service financial filer will recognize them.

Check Signatures and Dates
Make sure all signatures and dates are accurate when submitting your documents.  Even if the filing date could change during the conversion process (for example if a company decides to file on another date), be sure to double check the dates and signatures before giving final approval to file. It’s important to remember that for Edgar/XBRL, signature requirements are satisfied with the signatory’s name typed into the electronic format, but registrants are required to retain manually signed authorizations of the typed signatures for five years.

Still have questions about filing your 10K or need advice?  The Edgar Agents team is available 24×7 to help you submit your filings on time. Or, read our “8 Tips to Prepare Your 10K Filing” blog for more helpful advice.

To learn more about our full array of SEC and XRBL filing services, contact Edgar Agents today.

How Can EA16 Help Me File Section 16 Documents?

How Can EA16 Help Me File Section 16 Documents?
Back in 2010 the SEC updated its FAQs for Section 16 rules and regulations.  The FAQs are a great resource to help companies understand the procedures for filing electronically and addresses specific questions related to a company’s officers and directors.

At Edgar Agents we often get questions related to Section 16 rules and our EA16 offering – a secure online portal that helps clients manage and file their Forms 3, 3/A, 4, 4/A, 5 and 5/A directly to the SEC. To help you learn more, we have created our own Section 16 FAQs.

What does EA16 do?
Our Section 16 portal, EA16, quickly creates, manages, and transmits XML-formatted Forms 3, 3/A, 4, 4/A, 5 and 5/A directly to the SEC. You can validate, test and file your forms to the SEC in real time. With EA16, you control the document and the entire filing process.

Can I revisit and work on a single draft before filing to the SEC?
Yes. You are able to save and re-visit current drafts and previous submissions. The EA16 portal stores a complete history of all filings so you can work on a draft, save it and come back to it later if you need to. You can also retrieve an older submission should you need it for reference.

Will I need to be trained to use the EA16 portal?
No. The EA16 portal is user friendly and includes a template that looks identical to a traditional Form , 3/A, 4, 4/A, 5 and 5/A.  With a click of a button you can file a filled out and approved template directly to the SEC. If you have any questions, an Edgar Agents representative available 24/7, to guide you through the portal submission process.

Can more than one person work on a draft at the same time?
Yes. Multiple users can work on the same draft under a single account. If necessary, users can also be assigned different administrative rights.

Is there flexibility in managing multiple issuers and reporting parties?
Yes. If you are filing for multiple reporting parties or have multiple issuers, you are can manage all parties under your own password without having to sign in for each individual party. The EA16 portal allows you to easily manage multiple issuers and reporting entities throughout the system.

Do I have to purchase software?
No. There is no software to purchase and no installation is required. You just need to call an Edgar Agent to set you up on our secure portal. The portal can be accessed directly from www.edgaragents.com.

Section 16 form filing is a critical part of reporting requirements and transparency between key stakeholders for a company and investors. As a full service compliance reporting services company, we make it easy and cost effective for companies to meet today’s financial reporting demands. To learn more about our EA16 portal for filing Section 16 forms, or to request a quote, call our office at 732-780-5036 or send us an email through our contact page.

Roth Conference Reveals IPO & Energy Investment Surge

The 27th Annual Roth Conference was buzzing as usual this year in beautiful Dana Point, CA.  It was another successful year with cutting edge presentations, keynote addresses and networking opportunities. The first thing that struck us about the show was a shift in attendee demographics. There appeared to be more investment bankers at the show, which proves that investment in emerging companies continues to grow.

With so many bankers in attendance, it’s not surprising that conversations focused on IPO activity.  Would 2015 surpass 2014’s 275 IPO filings – highest we’ve seen since the dot.com era? Although 2015 has gotten off to a slower start, the IPO trend still seems to be going strong especially with companies like Etsy, GoPro, Uber, Airbnb expected to file this year.

Concerning IPOs, attendees we spoke to were particularly interested in printing and printing costs associated with the IPO process.  We learned that some printing bills had reached several thousand dollars for recent filings. For attorneys handling IPOs we recommended that they reevaluate current printer fees in order to save their clients thousands of dollars in overall charges. Attorneys, CFOs and others involved in IPOs should be looking for financial printers that offer fixed pricing contracts. This helps IPOs stay on budget. If you want to learn more, read our recent blog post on printing costs.

The energy sector was also a hot topic at this year’s show. We saw more energy investors this year.  Last year’s attendees showed more interest in the healthcare market, while this year’s investors were looking at the clean technology, oil, gas and mining fields. But don’t sell the healthcare market short, there were still a fair share of presentations and interested parties discussing the health care and pharmaceutical market.

While the Edgar Agents team was not able to make it to every Panel discussion, there were a number of memorable ones such as shareholder activism, energy markets and IPO readiness, with a special presentation from Keynote speaker Martin E. Franklin, founder and executive chairman of Jarden Corporation.

On the lighter side, the conference offered many networking opportunities from morning yoga classes to a concert from Fall Out Boy.  With such an exciting program on educational sessions and networking opportunities, The Roth Conference remains a major event in the financial industry for attorneys, CEOs, accountants, investors and basically anyone working in the small to mid-cap space.  We look forward to seeing you at next year’s event!

The Edgar Agents Booth during the Roth Conference.

The Cro-nuts were a BIG hit at the Edgar Agents Booth during the conference.

Left to right: Teresa Cordero, Vice President, Edgar Agents; Darrin M. Ocasio, Partner at Sichenzia Ross Friedman Ference LLP; Alla Mekhtieva, Business Development, Edgar Agents.

Meet Edgar Agents: A Better Way to XBRL

Even with extensive coverage of XBRL regulations and operations, I’ve noticed there are still some basic questions about XBRL that remain unanswered. At Edgar Agents, we constantly receive calls from companies that need clarification on many aspects of XBRL and our experienced filers are always ready to assist them. We have compiled a list of the most commonly asked questions and answers to help inform our current and potential clients about our in-house XBRL procedures.

Why is the MD&A section not mapped?
Although many financial documents contain an MD&A section, it is not required by the SEC to tag this data in XBRL. The MD&A section is a useful part of the annual report, especially for investors analyzing the fundamentals, management and management styles of a company, but the MD&A section is not audited.

Do I need to post my XBRL filings to my website?
The SEC requires companies to post the last 12 months of their XBRL filings onto their website. Edgar Agents makes this easy with our XBRL Widget. The Edgar Agents widget can be easily uploaded onto your website without in-house IT assistance, and ensures that XBRL filings are available on your website within 2 hours of filing with the SEC. And, all company filing information is automatically updated.

How can I reduce the amount of time it takes to get an XBRL draft?
Most clients feel XBRL adds to their work load since they have to review both XBRL and Edgar, but clients of Edgar Agents know that both our Edgar and XBRL departments have proofreaders onboard that review the work twice before submitting it back to a client. The chance of missing something is very minimal and the amount of review work is cut in half. Trusting your filer is key and utilizing some tips to speed up the process is also good practice.

Does Edgar Agents use third-party vendors to help with XBRL conversions?
No, all of our XBRL conversions are done by experienced Edgar Agent employees. Unlike other filing agents who outsource the XBRL and work with many different third party filing firms, we take the time to address each client’s specific needs. This streamlines the reporting process.

Do you have a specific timeline companies must follow?
We understand there are several factors associated with preparing financials and work with our clients to meet the tightest of filing deadlines. Our staff is available 24×7 at no extra cost. We can make changes up until the very last minutes – even on weekends and holidays.

Leveraging best practices, we recommend that clients send the initial draft 2 weeks prior to the deadline. This enables us to update XBRL files with SEC changes and map new data with the latest information since the client’s previous filing. As part of this process, our XBRL team selects new tags for new notes and sets up the proper XBRL formatting structure to prevent SEC filing errors.

How much will my XBRL cost?
Edgar Agents offers transparent billing practices with customized packaging and pricing for our clients and their budgets, and there are no extra charges for overnight or weekend jobs. Please contact Edgar Agents at info@edgaragents.com to learn more about our services.
Follow us on Twitter @EdgarAgentsLLC and our LinkedIn page.

8 Tips to Prepare Your 10K Filing

Once again we’ve reached upon a 10K filing frenzy. Are you ready? According to the SEC’s filing calendar, the due dates for the 2014 year-end 10Ks are March 16 for accelerated filers and March 31 for non-accelerated filers. Whether you have already prepared or not, some things are bound to change at the last minute. It’s just the nature of the business, but there is no need to panic. Just be sure to follow these simple steps and you should be ready for your next 10K filing period.

Get Organized
As many of you know, preparing a 10K is a labor of love but you should still take the time to get organized to ensure your filing process goes smoothly. Create a list of items that need to be done by specific dates or times. No matter how close to the deadline you are, be sure to sort and prepare the most pertinent pieces first before executing your plan of action.  For more on getting organized, check out our blog post Preparing Your Filings in Half the Time.

Make a Checklist
As with all filings, you must always be aware of your deadline. When filing a 10K form create a checklist according to due dates. Only list the most important pieces of the puzzle so you don’t overwhelm yourself and simply address all the items on the list in an orderly fashion. As basic as it may seem, this simple task will help you stay focused when things get hectic at the final hour. Also create internal deadlines for each item to help you manage the process and meet SEC deadlines. This way you’ll be ready to file sooner than later.

For help creating your checklist, Deloitte & Touche LLP recently published a SEC Compliance Checklist for Annual Report on SEC Form 10-K.

Keep a Calendar
Keep a calendar of all important dates. Edgar Agents provides a free calendar to all its clients with all the deadline dates, SEC holidays and any other pertinent dates you should know when filing your documents (download calendar). Make copies for all parties involved in the filing. This way everyone stays on the same page and can use the calendar as a tool when discussing next steps.

Know Policies and Procedures
Anyone preparing a company filing should be familiar with Regulation 12B and Regulation S-T, which explains how to prepare and submit documents electronically. If there is anything about filing electronically that you are doubtful about and your research doesn’t answer your questions, give us a call ahead of time. We can help guide you through the necessary steps so you’re prepared to file before the deadline.

In addition, be aware that companies are required to disclose in the annual report whether periodic and current reports are available on their website. To assist with this, Edgar Agents offers its clients an XBRL widget that can be easily uploaded onto your site and updates automatically to display your latest financials. Ask about our XBRL widget when you call.

Deliver Financials First
Submit your financial statements and notes first – these take the longest to process. Statements and notes need to be formatted in Edgar while specific information needs to be tagged in XBRL throughout the document. This procedure can take some time to administer accurately. To help speed and simplify the process, Edgar Agents uses single source technology so changes reflect in both formats simultaneously. However, it is still good practice to send financials and any tables that belong in the document before the main body of the 10K.

Send Changes in Bulk
Submit all your changes at once or in one proof. If there is more than one party reviewing your documents, submit all their edits, plus your edits, in one email or in one proof if possible. This could help speed up the alteration process. Also, be sure to work off of the latest draft when making edits. Working off of an older draft can be confusing to all parties involved.

Check Signatures and Dates
Make sure all signatures and dates are accurate when submitting your documents.  Even if the filing date could change during the conversion process (for example if a company decides to file on another date), be sure to double check the dates and signatures before giving final approval to file. It’s important to remember that for Edgar/XBRL, signature requirements are satisfied with the signatory’s name typed into the electronic format, but Registrants are required to retain manually signed authorizations of the typed signatures for five years.

Trust Your SEC Filing Agent
Finally, it is critical that you trust and have confidence in your filing agent.  Is your filing agent responsive and available to you 24×7, including weekends and holidays? Do they adjust priorities to ensure that your requests are being met and all questions are being answered? If you are not satisfied with your filer, it’s time for a new one now. The Edgar Agents brand promise is to provide unparalleled customer service that is why we partner with our clients and are available 24×7. We also take on last minute projects even during heavy filing periods.

To learn more about Edgar Agents and our many services, please call us at 732-780-5036 or visit our website at www.edgaragents.com.

Get To Know Edgar Agents: Typesetting & Financial Printing Services

At Edgar Agents, we pride ourselves on being a full service financial printer that helps companies with all their compliance needs from EDGAR and XBRL to financial printing and newswire services. In fact, a number of our earlier blog posts highlight these services.

In addition to filing financial information electronically with the SEC, companies are required to provide investors with printed information from proxy statements to earnings reports. Did you know that Edgar Agents has a comprehensive financial printing and typesetting service available for public companies, mutual funds, and IPOs?

Read our Typesetting and Financial Printing FAQ to learn more:

Does Edgar Agents offer typesetting and print services?
Edgar Agents is a financial compliance services group with extensive typesetting and printing services to handle everything from Annual Reports, Proxy Statements, Quarterly reports, Prospectuses, IPO equity offerings, mutual funds and other financial information. For more than 15 years, our printing experts have helped companies manage their entire project from EDGARizing, typesetting, printing, coordinating shipping distribution to the transfer agent, and full mailing capabilities to shareholders.

Leveraging automated technology, we provide single source publishing directly from typeset to EDGAR in a matter of minutes for accurate revisions and seamless proof distributions. Our enhanced programming and quality control procedures ensure integrity that you can count on.

How does Edgar Agents distinguish itself in the competitive financial services industry?At Edgar Agents, we take pride in delivering the highest level of customer service in the industry. This includes providing a concierge-level of service where we guide customers through the entire financial printing process and take a proactive approach to meeting your internal deadlines as well as SEC deadlines. Our team is focused on quality, accuracy and timeliness for every project we work on – each and every day.

Unique to the industry, we offer fixed rate pricing and custom packages. We never charge for rush projects or overnight and weekend projects. Our team is available 24×7 to help you at no extra cost. The rate you are quoted is the rate you are charged.

What is a single source typesetting platform?Edgar Agents leverages a single source platform for typesetting and financial printing. This allows critical, market sensitive filings to be drafted and executed seamlessly.

Specifically, the term single source refers to the single data file that is used to generate the EDGAR HTML submission and the typeset print version of a document. Using a single source platform ensures that the data for both the print document and filing submission is identical.

Having a single data source provides a significant time advantage. Your company or working group can concentrate on crafting the deal, not expending valuable energy on reviewing the content.

Does the Edgar Agents typesetting platform offer “granular” SEC compliant marking?Yes, all Edgar Agents typeset projects support SEC compliant granular marking, whereby individual words and number changes are discretely marked for each group drafting session.

Draft distributions of current marked and cumulatively marked proofs will ensure that your working group will be able to clearly see how and where the document has evolved since the last working group distribution.

Does the typesetting platform support distribution of changed pages only?Yes, our current marked drafts will contain only those pages that have changed specifically to the drafting session.

Will you be able to match and follow our style specifications and work with our art director?Edgar Agents welcomes stylized annual reports and specialized typesetting projects. We are happy to work with your team to ensure content and style accuracy. Reviewing your unique style requirements before your project deadline will allow our team to prepare a proof of concept for your art director.

For example, Edgar Agents typesetting process includes creating templates and applying style sheets to generate print ready documents. We create customized style sheets that conform to any style when generating output. Because we are able to work with any typesetting software such as XPP, InDesign and QuarkXPress, we guarantee high quality visual and structured layouts that are always accurate and secure.

Can you help us with the images in our document?
Edgar Agents can recreate and redraft line charts, organizational charts, pie charts and structural diagrams ensuring that the filing and the final printed document will have sharp high resolution images that are color corrected for printing.

Do you provide high resolution PDFs for typesetting?For all typesetting projects we provide our customers with high resolution print ready PDFs, Microsoft Word write backs or HTML exports. Other formats are available on request.

If I use your typesetting services, do I have to use your printing services?Customers can choose to use Edgar Agents for just typesetting and/or printing services. Traditionally customers use both our typesetting and printing services as it is more cost effective and we can offer custom pricing packages. By combining both services you are assured the highest quality result from beginning to end.

What type of printing technology does Edgar Agents use?Edgar Agents uses state-of-the-art digital or offset web presses for all our financial printing. By working directly with our print team on your print project, Edgar Agents can get your books printed on schedule and delivered cost effectively. Many deals that clear overnight can be on the street by morning.

#GetToKnowEdgarAgents Today!  Follow us on Twitter @EdgarAgentsLLC.

Photo Album: Edgar Agents at Innovations 2015

Last week Edgar Agents attended the Brewer Sports Symposium VII which included their inaugural Innovations Conference in Miami. 

With the cold, snowy weather we are having in New York and New Jersey, the Edgar Agents sales team - led by Teresa Cordero, VP of Sales - was excited to spend a few days in sunny South Beach.

Teresa Cordero of #EdgarAgents and

Amb. Jack Brewer of @TheBrewerGroup at #Innovations2015.

Teresa Cordero of @EdgarAgentsLLC &

Thomas Tapeh, CEO of RO2T & TLC Agencies at #Innovations2015

Luisa Ingargiola, CFO of @MagneGas with 

Teresa Cordero of #EdgarAgents at #Innovations2015

Teresa Cordero of #EdgarAgents with Kelsey Quade

and Nikki Rugh of @thebrewergroup. #Innovations2015

Teresa Cordero of #EdgarAgents with 

John H. Shaw of Maxim Group at #Innovations2015

Patrick Bertagna, CEO of GTX Corp with

Teresa Cordero of #EdgarAgents at #Innovations2015 

Ambassador Jack Brewer of The Brewer Group with

Teresa Cordero of #EdgarAgents at #Innovations2015

Ritesh M. Veera of the Maxim Group with

Teresa Cordero of #EdgarAgents at #Innovations2015

Stephanie Lee of Strategic Capital Markets with

Teresa Cordero of #EdgarAgents at #Innovations2015

Teresa Cordero of #EdgarAgents with

Jada Williams of Kis LS at #Innovations2015.