NOTE 14 – STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION AND EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN

Except as noted below, we do not have a qualified stock option plan, but have issued stock purchase warrants and stock options on a discretionary basis to employees, directors, service providers, private placement participants and outside consultants.

On November 6, 2013, the Board of Directors of the Company adopted the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2013 Plan”) and directed that it be presented to the shareholders for their adoption and approval. The 2013 Plan was not approved by the shareholders of the Company and on December 1, 2014 The Board of Directors terminated the Plan. No shares were ever issued pursuant to the 2013 Plan.

The Company utilizes ASC 718, Stock Compensation, related to accounting for share-based payments and, accordingly, records compensation expense for share-based awards based upon an assessment of the grant date fair value for stock options and restricted stock awards. The Black Scholes option pricing model was used to estimate the fair value of the options granted. This option pricing model requires a number of assumptions, of which the most significant are: expected stock price volatility, the expected pre-vesting forfeiture rate, and the expected option term (the amount of time from the grant date until the options are exercised or expire). The Company estimated a volatility factor utilizing a weighted average of comparable published volatilities. The Company applied the simplified method to determine the expected term of grants. The risk free interest rate is based on or approximates the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of the grant.

Stock compensation expense for stock options is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period of the award. The Company accounts for stock options as equity awards.

Share-based compensation expense recognized in the statements of operations is based on awards ultimately expected to vest, which considers estimated forfeitures. Forfeitures are estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. The Company recognizes the expense or benefit from the effect of adjusting the estimated forfeiture rate in the period that the forfeiture estimate changes.

The weighted average estimated fair value of stock option grants and the weighted average assumptions that were used in calculating such values for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 are as follows: 

For the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, we recorded stock-based compensation awarded to employees of $117,200 and $169,700, respectively, which is included in selling, general and administrative expense in our consolidated statements of operations.

A summary of stock option activity for the year ended December 31, 2015 is presented as follows: 

A summary of stock option activity for the year ended December 31, 2014 is presented as follows:

As of December 31, 2015, there was approximately $136,700 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested stock options that is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately three years.

Employee Benefit Plan

We have a defined contribution 401(k) plan that covers substantially all employees. Additionally, at the discretion of management, we may make contributions to eligible participants, as defined. During the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, we made contributions of approximately $55,400 and $54,600, respectively.