SPAR Group, Inc. - Annual Report: 2017 (Form 10-K)

UNITED STATES     

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

________________

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

OR

Commission file number 0-27408

SPAR GROUP, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (914) 332-4100

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Common Stock, par value $.01 per share

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  YES  ☐  NO  ☒

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.  YES  ☐  NO   ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding twelve months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  YES  ☒   NO  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files)  YES  ☒   NO  ☐

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K ☐.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting or an emerging growth company. (See definition of "large accelerated filer", "accelerated filer", "smaller reporting company", and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.). (Check one):

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.) YES ☐NO ☒

The aggregate market value of the Common Stock of the Registrant held by non-affiliates of the Registrant on June 30, 2017, based on the closing price of the Common Stock as reported by the Nasdaq Capital Market on such date, was approximately $7 million.

The number of shares of the Registrant's Common Stock outstanding as of March 19, 2018, was 20,647,704 shares.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the definitive proxy statement for the registrant's 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders scheduled to be held on May 2, 2018, which will be subsequently filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K.

SPAR GROUP, INC.

ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

Forward-Looking Statements

This Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 (this "Annual Report"), contains forward-looking statements within the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, made by, or respecting, SPAR Group, Inc. ("SGRP") and its subsidiaries (together with SGRP, the "SPAR Group" or the "Company"). There also are "forward-looking statements" contained in SGRP's definitive Proxy Statement respecting its Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on or about May 2, 2018 (the "Proxy Statement"), which SGRP expects to file on or about April 18, 2018, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), and SGRP's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other reports and statements as and when filed with the SEC (including this Annual Report and the Proxy Statement, each a "SEC Report"). "Forward-looking statements" are defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and other applicable federal and state securities laws, rules and regulations, as amended (together with the Securities Act and Exchange Act, the "Securities Laws").

All statements (other than those that are purely historical) are forward-looking statements. Words such as "may," "will," "expect," "intend", "believe", "estimate", "anticipate," "continue," "plan," "project," or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions also identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements made by the Company in this Annual Report may include (without limitation) statements regarding: risks, uncertainties, cautions, circumstances and other factors ("Risks"); and plans, intentions, expectations, guidance or other information respecting the pursuit or achievement of the Company's five corporate objectives (growth, customer value, employee development, greater productivity & efficiency, and increased earnings per share), building upon the Company's strong foundation, leveraging compatible global opportunities, growing the Company's client base and contracts, continuing to strengthen its balance sheet, growing revenues and improving profitability through organic growth, new business development and strategic acquisitions, and continuing to control costs. The Company's forward-looking statements also include (without limitation) those made in this Annual Report in "Business", "Risk Factors", "Legal Proceedings", "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations", "Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance", "Executive Compensation", "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters", and "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence".

You should carefully review and consider the Company's forward-looking statements (including all risk factors and other cautions and uncertainties) and other information made, contained or noted in or incorporated by reference into this Annual Report, the Proxy Statement and the other applicable SEC Reports, but you should not place undue reliance on any of them. The results, actions, levels of activity, performance, achievements or condition of the Company (including its affiliates, assets, business, clients, capital, cash flow, credit, expenses, financial condition, income, liabilities, liquidity, locations, marketing, operations, performance, prospects, sales, strategies, taxation or other achievement, results, risks, trends or condition) and other events and circumstances planned, intended, anticipated, estimated or otherwise expected by the Company (collectively, "Expectations"), and our forward-looking statements (including all Risks) and other information reflect the Company's current views about future events and circumstances. Although the Company believes those Expectations and views are reasonable, the results, actions, levels of activity, performance, achievements or condition of the Company or other events and circumstances may differ materially from our Expectations and views, and they cannot be assured or guarantied by the Company, since they are subject to Risks and other assumptions, changes in circumstances and unpredictable events (many of which are beyond the Company's control). In addition, new Risks arise from time to time, and it is impossible for the Company to predict these matters or how they may arise or affect the Company. Accordingly, the Company cannot assure you that its Expectations will be achieved in whole or in part, that it has identified all potential Risks, or that it can successfully avoid or mitigate such Risks in whole or in part, any of which could be significant and materially adverse to the Company and the value of your investment in the Company's Common Stock.

These forward-looking statements reflect the Company's Expectations, views, Risks and assumptions only as of the date of this Annual Report, and the Company does not intend, assume any obligation, or promise to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements (including any Risks or Expectations) or other information (in whole or in part), whether as a result of new information, new or worsening Risks or uncertainties, changed circumstances, future events, recognition, or otherwise.

PART I

Item 1. Business 

THE COMPANY'S BUSINESS GENERALLY

SPAR Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation incorporated in 1995 ("SGRP"), and its subsidiaries (together with SGRP, the "SPAR Group" or the "Company"), is a diversified international merchandising and marketing services company and provides a broad array of services worldwide to help companies improve their sales, operating efficiency and profits at retail locations. The Company provides its merchandising and other marketing services to manufacturers, distributors and retailers worldwide, primarily in mass merchandise, office supply, grocery, drug, dollar, independent, convenience, home improvement, and electronics stores. The Company also provides; furniture and other product assembly services in stores, homes and offices and marketing research services. The Company has supplied these services in the United States since certain of its predecessors were formed in 1979 and internationally since the Company acquired its first international subsidiary in Japan in May 2001. The Company currently does business in 10 countries that encompass approximately 50% of the total world population through its operations in the United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, India, Japan, Mexico, South Africa, and Turkey.

Merchandising services primarily consist of regularly scheduled, special project and other product services provided at the store level, and the Company may be engaged by either the retailer or the manufacturer. Those services may include restocking and adding new products, removing spoiled or outdated products, resetting categories on the shelf in accordance with client or store schematics, confirming and replacing shelf tags, setting new sale or promotional product displays and advertising, replenishing kiosks, demonstrating or promoting a product, providing on-site audit and in-store event staffing services and providing product assembly services in stores, homes and offices. Other merchandising services include whole store or departmental product sets or resets, including new store openings, new product launches and in-store demonstrations, special seasonal or promotional merchandising, focused product support and product recalls. The Company continues to seek expansion of its merchandising, assembly and marketing services business throughout the world.

An Overview of the Merchandising and Marketing Services Industry:

The merchandising and marketing services industry includes manufacturers, retailers, brokers, distributors and professional service merchandising companies. Merchandising services primarily involve placing orders, shelf maintenance, display placement, reconfiguring products on store shelves and replenishing product inventory. Additional marketing services include, but are not limited to, new store sets and remodels, audits, sales assist, installation and assembly, product demos/sampling, promotion and various others. The Company believes that merchandising and marketing services add value to retailers, manufacturers and other businesses and enhance sales by making a product more visible and more available to consumers.

Historically, retailers staffed their stores as needed to provide these services to ensure that manufacturers' inventory levels, the advantageous display of new items on shelves, and the maintenance of shelf schematics and product placement were properly merchandised. However, retailers, in an effort to improve their margins, have decreased their own store personnel and increased their reliance on manufacturers to perform such services. At one time, manufacturers attempted to satisfy the need for merchandising and marketing services in retail stores by utilizing their own sales representatives. Additionally, retailers also used their own employees to merchandise their stores to satisfy their own merchandising needs. However, both manufacturers and retailers discovered that using their own sales representatives and employees for this purpose was expensive and inefficient.  In addition, the changing retail environment, driven by the rise of digital and mobile technology, is fostering even more challenges to the labor model of retailers and manufacturers.  These challenges include increased consumer demand for more interaction and engagement with retail sales associates, stores remodels to accommodate more technology, installation and continual maintenance of in-store digital and mobile technology, in-store pick-up and fulfillment of online orders and increased inventory management to reduce out-of-stocks from omnichannel shopping.

Most manufacturers and retailers have been, and SPAR Group believes they will continue, outsourcing their merchandising and marketing service needs to third parties capable of operating at a lower cost by (among other things) simultaneously serving multiple manufacturers. The Company also believes that it is well positioned, as a domestic and international merchandising and marketing services company, to provide these services to retailers, manufacturers and other businesses around the world more effectively and efficiently than other available alternatives.

Another significant trend impacting the merchandising and marketing services business is the continued preference of consumers to shop in stores and their tendency to make product purchase decisions once inside the store. Accordingly, merchandising and marketing services and in-store product promotions have proliferated and diversified. Retailers are continually re-merchandising and re-modeling entire departments and stores in an effort to respond to new product developments and changes in consumer preferences. The Company estimates that these activities have increased in frequency over the last few years. Both retailers and manufacturers are seeking third party merchandisers to help them meet the increased demand for these labor-intensive services.

In addition, the consolidation of many retailers and changing store formats have created opportunities for third party merchandisers when an acquired retailer's stores are converted to the look and format of the acquiring retailer. In many of those cases, stores are completely remodeled and re-merchandised to implement the new store formats.

SPAR Group believes the current trend in business toward globalization fits well with its expansion model. As companies expand into foreign markets, they will need assistance in merchandising or marketing their products. As evidenced in the United States, retailer and manufacturer sponsored merchandising and marketing programs are both expensive and inefficient. The Company also believes that the difficulties encountered by these programs are only exacerbated by the logistics of operating in foreign markets. This environment has created an opportunity for the Company to exploit its global internet, mobile and data network based technology (as further described below) and its business model worldwide.

The Company's Domestic and International Segments:

In order to cultivate and expand the Company's merchandising and marketing service businesses in both domestic and foreign markets, and ensure a consistent approach to those businesses worldwide, the Company has historically divided its world focus into two geographic areas, the United States, which is the sales territory for its Domestic Division, and all locations outside the United States, which are the sales territories for its International Division. To that end, the Company also (1) provides to all of its locations its proprietary internet, digital and mobile based operating, scheduling, tracking and reporting systems (including language translations, ongoing client and financial reports and ongoing IT support), (2) provides and requires all of its locations to comply with the Company's financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures, ethics code and other policies, (3) provides accounting and auditing support and tracks and reports certain financial and other information separately for those two divisions, and (4) has management teams in its corporate offices responsible for supporting and monitoring the management, sales, marketing and operations of each of the Company's international subsidiaries and maintaining consistency with the Company's other subsidiaries worldwide.

Each of the Company's divisions provides merchandising and other marketing services primarily on behalf of consumer product manufacturers, distributors and retailers at mass merchandise, office supply, grocery, drug, dollar, independent, convenience, home improvement and electronics stores in their respective territories. SPAR Group's clients include the makers and distributors of general merchandise, health and beauty care, consumer goods, home improvement, home entertainment, and food products in their respective territories.

The Company's international business is conducted through a foreign subsidiary incorporated in its primary territory. The primary territory establishment date (which may include predecessors), the percentage of the Company's equity ownership, and the principal office location for its US (domestic) subsidiaries and each of its foreign (international) subsidiaries is as follows:

1     In September 2016, the Company established a new joint venture subsidiary in Brazil, see Note 14 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements – Purchase of Interests in Subsidiaries. This new subsidiary purchased stock in two Brazilian companies – New Momentum, Ltda. and New Momentum Servicos Temporarios Ltda.

Financial Information about the Company's Domestic and International Segments:

The Company provides similar merchandising and marketing services throughout the world, operating within two reportable segments, its Domestic and International Divisions (as described above). The Company tracks and reports certain financial information separately for these two segments using the same metrics. The primary measurement utilized by management is operating profit level, historically the key indicator of long-term growth and profitability, as the Company is focused on reinvesting the operating profits of each of its international subsidiaries back into local markets in an effort to improve its market share and continued expansion efforts. Certain financial information regarding each of the Company's two segments, which includes their respective net revenues and operating income for each of the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, and their respective assets as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, is provided in Note 13 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements – Segment Information, below.

The Company's Business Strategies

As the marketing services industry continues to expand both in the United States and internationally, many large retailers and manufacturers are outsourcing their merchandising and marketing service needs to third-party providers. The Company believes that offering marketing services on a national and global basis will provide it with a competitive advantage. Moreover, the Company believes that successful use of and continuous improvements to a sophisticated technology infrastructure, including the Company's proprietary global internet, digital and mobile technological systems (including servers and other hardware) and its logistical, communication, scheduling, tracking, reporting and accounting software and applications (the "Global Technology Systems"), is key to providing clients with a high level of client service while maintaining efficient, lower cost operations. The Global Technology System uses proprietary software and applications of the Company as well as software (including operating system, office, exchange, data base and server programs) licensed and hardware purchased or leased from third parties and internet and telecommunication services provided by third parties. The Global Technology System can be accessed through the computers or mobile devices of its authorized personnel and clients and allows the Company to communicate with field management, schedule the store-specific field operations more efficiently, receive information, incorporate, quantify the benefits of its services to clients faster, respond to clients' needs quickly and rapidly implement client programs. The Company's objective is to continue to expand international retail merchandising and marketing services by pursuing its operating and growth strategy, as described below.

Increasing the Company's Sales Efforts:

The Company is seeking to increase revenues from its current clients, as well as establishing long-term relationships with new clients, many of which currently use other merchandising companies for various reasons. In addition to expanding its direct sales efforts, the Company is working to strengthen the senior executive relationships between the Company and its clients, is executing a marketing plan to expand the Company's presence in media and client channels, and is receiving and responding to an increasing number of requests for proposals ("RFPs") from potential and existing clients. The Company believes its technology, field implementation and other competitive advantages will allow it to capture a larger share of this market over time. However, there can be no assurance that any increased sales will be achieved.

Improving the Company's Operating Efficiencies:

The Company will continue to seek greater operating efficiencies. The Company believes that its existing field force and technology infrastructure can support additional clients and revenue in both its Domestic and International Divisions.

Developing New Services:

The Company is seeking to increase revenues through the internal development and implementation of new services as well as industry collaborations that add value to its clients' retail merchandising related activities, some of which have been identified and are currently being tested for feasibility and market acceptance. However, there can be no assurance that any new services will be developed or that any such new service can be successfully marketed.

Leveraging and Improving on the Company's Technological Strengths:

The Company believes that providing merchandising and marketing services in a timely, accurate and efficient manner, as well as delivering timely, accurate and useful reports to its clients, are key components that are and will continue to be critical to the Company's success. The Company's Global Technology Systems improve the productivity of the Company's merchandising, auditing, assembly and other field personnel (each a "Field Specialist"), and provide timely data to its clients. The Company's Field Specialists use smartphones, tablets, laptops, and personal computers to report (through the internet or mobile or telecommunication networks) the status of each store or client product they service into the Company's Global Technology Systems. Field Specialists report on a variety of issues such as store conditions and status of client products (e.g. out of stocks, inventory, display placement) or they may scan and process new orders for certain products.

The Company's Global Technology Systems include an automated labor tracking system for the Company's Field Specialists to communicate work assignment completion information (via the internet or other telecommunication infrastructure) by using, among other things, smartphones, laptops and personal computers, cellular telephones or landlines. This tracking system enables the Company to report hours and other completion information for each work assignment on a daily basis and provides the Company with daily, detailed tracking of work completion. This information is analyzed and displayed in a variety of reports that can be accessed by both the Company and its clients via a secure website. These reports can depict the reported status of merchandising projects in real-time. This tracking technology also allows the Company to schedule the Company's Field Specialists more efficiently, quickly quantify the status and benefits of its services to clients, rapidly respond to clients' needs and rapidly implement programs.

Industry sources indicate that clients are increasingly relying on merchandising and marketing service providers to supply rapid, value-added information regarding the results of the clients' merchandising and marketing expenditures on sales and profits. The Company intends to continue to utilize its Global Technology Systems to enhance the Company's efficiency and ability to provide real-time data to its clients as reported to the Company, as well as, maximize the speed of communication with logistical deployment of and reporting from the Company's Field Specialists. The Global Technology System can be accessed through the computers or mobile devices of its authorized personnel and clients and allows the Company to communicate with field management, schedule the store-specific field operations more efficiently, receive information, incorporate, quantify the benefits of its services to clients faster, respond to clients' needs quickly and implement client programs rapidly.

The Company believes that it can continue to improve, modify and adapt its technology to support merchandising and other marketing services for additional clients and projects in the United States and in foreign markets. The Company also believes that its Global Technology Systems give it a competitive advantage in the marketplace worldwide. The Company has successfully modified and is currently utilizing certain of its software applications in the operation of its International Division. The Company's Global Technology Systems are developed, operated, managed, maintained, and controlled from the Company's information and technology control center in Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S.A. The scheduling, tracking and reporting software currently included in the Company's Global Technology Systems were co-developed and are co-owned by the Company and certain of its affiliates and maintained and further developed and improved by the Company at its own expense. See Item 13 – Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence, and Note 11 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements – Related Party Transactions - Other Related Party Transactions and Arrangements, below.

Acquisition Strategies and Strategic Acquisitions:

The Company is seeking to acquire businesses or make other arrangements with companies that offer similar merchandising or marketing services both in the United States and worldwide. The Company believes that increasing its industry expertise, further developing and refining its technology systems, adding services, and increasing its geographic breadth and local market depth will allow it to service its clients more efficiently and cost effectively. Through such acquisition strategies, the Company may realize additional operating and revenue synergies and may leverage existing relationships with manufacturers, retailers and other businesses to capitalize on cross-selling opportunities. However, there can be no assurance that any of the acquisition strategies will occur or whether, if completed, the integration of the acquired businesses will be successful or the anticipated efficiencies and cross-selling opportunities will occur. See Item 1 - Business - The Company's Domestic and International Segments, above.

One key to the Company's domestic and international expansion strategy is its emphasis on developing, maintaining, improving, deploying and marketing its Global Technology Systems that run on and are developed, managed, maintained and controlled worldwide from the Company's information and technology control center in Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S.A. The Company's Global Technology Systems are accessible through computers and mobile devices by the local representatives of the Company and its clients in order to enhance local operations, give the Company an important marketing distinction and advantage over its competitors (such as real-time access to field reporting), and provide the Company with a technological means to exercise its supervision and control over its subsidiaries, both domestic and international. The Company provides access to its Global Technology Systems for its worldwide operations through its control center on a real-time basis 24/7/365. In addition, this strategy is strengthened internationally by the Company's internally developed translation software, which allows its current and future programs included in its Global Technology Systems to be available in any language for any market in which it currently operates or desires to enter in the future. See Item 1 - Business - Leveraging and Improving on the Company's Technological Strengths, above, and The Company's Trademarks, below.

Another key to the Company's international and domestic expansion is its strategy of seeking a minority (i.e., non-controlling) investor that is experienced (directly or through its principals) in the local area and not otherwise affiliated with the Company (each a "Local Investor") for each new consolidated joint venture subsidiary acquired by the Company. The Company supervision and control over each such consolidated subsidiary is strengthened through its subsidiary documentation and the use of its Global Technology Systems. The Company's supervision and control is further strengthened by its company-wide executive management, administrative support, accounting oversight, procedures and controls (financial and reporting), and corporate codes and policies that apply to each such subsidiary (the Company's "Global Administration", and together with its Global Technology Systems, the Company's "Global Contributions"). The Company also seeks to own a majority (at least 51%) of such a subsidiary's equity while the Local Investor purchases a minority equity interest in it (49% or less). Since 2014 the Company has sought (in the governing documents for each new acquisitions or reorganization) to have a majority of the members of such subsidiary's board of directors, to have all quorums and matters decided by a simple majority of its equity or directors, and to have such subsidiary agree to be bound by the Company's financial and reporting controls and procedures, ethics code, and other corporate codes and policies. In addition to its equity participation, a Local Investor provides certain services and the useful local attention, perspective and relationships of a substantial (although non-controlling) equity owner with a strong financial stake in such subsidiary's success (the "Local Contributions"). The Local Investor also often contributes an existing customer base and a seasoned operating infrastructure as additional Local Contributions to the subsidiary in which it invests. As of the date of this Annual Report, National Merchandising Services, LLC, in the U.S.A. (see below) and each of the Company's international operating subsidiaries (other than those in Canada and Japan) has a Local Investor. See Item 1A - Risk Factors - Potential Conflicts in Services Provided by Affiliates, Risks Associated with International and Domestic Subsidiaries, Risks of Having Material Local Investors in International and Domestic Subsidiaries, Risks Associated with Foreign Currency and Risks Associated with International Business, Item 13 – Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence - International Related Party Services and Related Party Transactions and Arrangements in the Brazil Acquisition, Note 2 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies: Principles of Consolidation, Accounting for Joint Venture Subsidiaries, Note 11 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements – Related Party Transactions - International Related Party Services and Related Party Transactions and Arrangements in the Brazil Acquisition, Note 14 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements – Purchase of Interests in Subsidiaries, and Note 16 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements – Subsequent Events– Resource Plus Acquisition, below.

In September 2016, the Company, through its subsidiary in the Cayman Islands, SPAR International Ltd., entered into an agreement to purchase the equity shares (called "quotas") in New Momentum Ltda. and New Momentum Serviços Temporários Ltda., each a Brazilian limitada from Interservice Publicidade Sociedade Ltda., a Brazilian limitada, Momentum Promoções Ltda., a Brazilian limitada, and IPG Nederland B.V., a Netherlands company.  The Company consolidated its Brazil operations beginning on September 14, 2016.  See Item 13 – Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence - International Related Party Services and Related Party Transactions and Arrangements in the Brazil Acquisition, Note 11 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements – Related Party Transactions - International Related Party Services and Related Party Transactions and Arrangements in the Brazil Acquisition, Note 14 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements – Purchase of Interests in Subsidiaries, and Note 16 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements – Subsequent Events– Resource Plus Acquisition, below.

Descriptions Of The Company's Services

The Company currently provides a broad array of domestic and international services to some of the world's leading companies. The Company believes its full-line capabilities provide fully integrated solutions that distinguish the Company from its competitors. These capabilities include the ability to respond to multi-national client RFPs, develop plans at one centralized location, effect chain-wide execution, implement rapid, coordinated responses to its clients' needs and report on a real time basis throughout the world. The Company also believes its international presence, industry-leading technology, centralized decision-making ability, local follow-through, ability to perform large-scale initiatives on short notice, and strong retailer relationships provide the Company with a significant advantage over local, regional or other competitors.

The Company currently provides six principal types of merchandising and marketing services: syndicated services, dedicated services, project services, assembly services, audit services and in-store event staffing services.

Syndicated Services:

Syndicated services consist of regularly scheduled, routed merchandising and marketing services provided at the retail store level for retailers, manufacturers and distributors. These services are performed for multiple manufacturers and distributors, including, in some cases, manufacturers and distributors whose products are in the same product category. Syndicated services may include activities such as:

Dedicated Services:

Dedicated services consist of merchandising and marketing services, generally as described above, which are performed for a specific retailer or manufacturer by a dedicated organization, sometimes including a management team working exclusively for that retailer or manufacturer. These services include many of the above activities detailed in syndicated services, as well as, new store set-ups, store remodels and fixture installations. These services are primarily based on agreed-upon rates and fixed management fees.

Project Services:

Project services consist primarily of specific in-store services initiated by retailers and manufacturers, such as new store openings, new product launches, special seasonal or promotional merchandising, focused product support, product recalls, in-store product demonstrations and in-store product sampling. The Company also performs other project services, such as kiosk product replenishment, inventory control, new store sets and existing store resets, re-merchandising, remodels and category implementations, under annual or stand-alone project contracts or agreements.

Assembly Services:

The Company's assembly services are initiated by retailers, manufacturers or consumers, and upon request the Company assembles furniture, grills, and many other products in stores, homes and offices. The Company performs ongoing routed coverage at retail locations to ensure that furniture and other product lines are well displayed and maintained, and builds any new items or replacement items, as required. In addition, the Company provides in-home and in-office assembly to customers who purchase their product from retailers, whether in store, online or through catalog sales.

In-Store Event Staffing Services:

The Company provides in-store product samplings, in-store product demonstrations and assisted sales in national chains in target markets worldwide.

Retail Compliance and Price Audit Services:

The Company's retail compliance and price audit services are initiated by retailers and manufacturers and focus on the following:

Other Marketing Services:

Other marketing services performed by the Company include:

The Company's Sales and Marketing

The Company offers global merchandising solutions to clients that have worldwide distribution. This effort is spearheaded out of the Company's headquarters in the United States, and the Company continues to develop local markets through its domestic and international subsidiaries throughout the world.

The Company's marketing and sales efforts within its Domestic Division are structured to develop new national, regional and local business within the United States, including new sales and customers through the Company's acquisitions of existing businesses. The Company's domestic corporate business development team directs its efforts toward the senior management of prospective and existing clients. Marketing and sales targets and strategies are developed at the Company's headquarters and communicated to the Company's domestic sales force for execution. Marketing efforts concentrate on enhancing SPAR's position as an industry leader, promoting its key advantages, strengthening its industry presence and supporting sales. The Company's sales force is located nationwide and works from both the Company's offices and their home offices. In addition, the Company's domestic corporate account executives play an important role in the Company's new business development efforts within its existing manufacturer, distributor and retailer client base.

The Company's marketing and sales efforts within its International Division are structured to develop new national, regional and local business in both new and existing international territories by acquiring existing businesses and within the Company's existing international territories through targeted sales efforts. The Company has an international acquisition team whose primary focus is to seek out and develop acquisitions throughout the world. Marketing and sales targets and strategies are developed within an international subsidiary, in consultation with the Company's U.S. headquarters, with assistance from the applicable Local Investor, and are communicated to the Company's applicable international sales force for execution. The Company's international sales force for a particular territory is located throughout that territory and work from the Company's office in that territory and their home offices. In addition, the Company's international corporate account executives play an important role in the Company's new business development efforts within the Company's existing manufacturer, distributor and retail client base within their respective territories.

As part of the retailer consolidation, retailers are centralizing most administrative functions, including operations, procurement and category management. In response to this centralization and the growing importance of large retailers, many manufacturers have reorganized their selling organizations around a retailer team concept that focuses on a particular retailer. The Company has responded to this emerging trend and currently has on-site personnel in place at select retailers.

The Company's business development process includes a due diligence period to determine the objectives of the prospective or existing client, the work required to satisfy those objectives and the market value of such work to be performed. The Company employs a formal cost development and proposal process that determines the cost of each element of work required to achieve such client's objectives. The Company uses these costs, together with an analysis of market rates, to develop a formal quotation that is then reviewed at various levels within the organization. The pricing of this internal proposal must meet the Company's objectives for profitability, which are established as part of the business planning process. After the Company approves this quotation, a detailed proposal is presented to the Company's prospective or existing client. However, the Company has agreed, and in the future may agree, from time to time to perform services for a client that become or turn out to be unprofitable even though the Company expected to make a profit when agreeing to perform them. See Item 1A – Risk Factors - Risks of Unprofitable Services, Variability of Operating Results and Uncertainty in Client Revenue, and Risks of Losses and Financial Covenant Violations, below.

The Company's Customer Base

The Company currently represents numerous manufacturers and/or retail clients in a wide range of retail chains and stores worldwide, and its customers (which it refers to as clients) include the following markets:

The Company did not have any clients that represented 10% or more of the Company's net revenue for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.

The Company's Competition

The marketing services industry is highly competitive. The Company's competition in the Domestic and International Divisions arise from a number of large enterprises, many of which are national or international in scope. The Company also competes with a large number of relatively small enterprises with specific client, channel or geographic coverage, as well as with the internal marketing and merchandising operations of its existing and prospective clients. The Company believes that the principal competitive factors within its industry include development and deployment of technology, breadth and quality of client services, cost, the ability to execute specific client priorities rapidly and consistently over a wide geographic area, and the ability to ideate and operate as a retail business partner delivering value above the base services. The Company believes that its current structure favorably addresses these factors and establishes it as a leader in many retailer and manufacturer verticals. The Company also believes it has the ability to execute major national and international in-store initiatives and develop and administer national and international manufacturer programs. Finally, the Company believes that, through the use and continuing improvement of its Global Technology Systems, other technological efficiencies and various cost controls, the Company will remain competitive in its pricing and services.

The Company's Trademarks

The Company has numerous registered trademarks. Although the Company believes its trademarks may have value, the Company believes its services are sold primarily based on breadth and quality of service, cost, and the ability to execute specific client priorities rapidly, efficiently and consistently over a wide geographic area. The Company's trademarks are generally licensed royalty free to its affiliates, SAS, SBS, and SIT (as defined in Item 13 – Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence, below). The scheduling, tracking and reporting software currently included in the Company's Global Technology Systems were co-developed and are co-owned by the Company, SBS and SIT and are maintained and further developed and improved by the Company at its own expense at a cost of $1.0 and $1.3 million in 2017 and 2016, respectively. See "An Overview of the Merchandising and Marketing Services Industry" and "Competition", above, Item 13 – Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence- Other Related Party Transactions and Arrangements, and Note 11 to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements - Related Party Transactions - Other Related Party Transactions and Arrangements, below.

The Company's Labor Force

Worldwide the Company utilized a labor force of approximately 26,100 people in 2017.

During 2017, the Company's Domestic Division employed a labor force of 371 people. As of December 31, 2017, there were 329 full-time employees and 42 part-time employees engaged in domestic operations. In the Company's Domestic Division, the Company's merchandising, audit, assembly and other services for its domestic clients are performed by field merchandising, auditing, assembly and other field personnel (each a "Field Specialist") who are located, scheduled, deployed and administered domestically by local, regional, district and other personnel (each a "Field Administrator"). The Company's affiliate, SPAR Business Services, Inc. ("SBS"), during 2017 provided approximately 10,700 Field Specialists (all of whom were engaged as independent contractors by SBS), representing 77% (or $25.9 million) of the total cost the Field Specialists utilized by the Company domestically.  The Company's affiliate, SPAR Administrative Services, Inc. ("SAS") during 2017 provided approximately 57 Field Administrators (all of whom were employed by SAS) representing 91% (or $4.2 million) of the total cost of the Field Administrators utilized by the Company domestically.

The Company has been reevaluating its business model of using independent contractors as Field Specialists (whether or not provided by others) in light of changing client requirements and legal and regulatory environments.  The Company has determined that it will be shifting to an all employee model for its Field Specialists in May of 2018 to support the performance of its services in California for its clients in this critical market.  Management currently estimates that the potential incremental annual cost of this change in California from independent contractors to Company employees is between approximately $250,000 and $350,000.  The Company is also evaluating whether this all employee model for its Field Specialists should be used in other states and intends to begin testing an employee based model nationally for certain domestic clients that are requiring the Company to use employees as its Field Specialists.  The Company expects that using employees as its Field Specialists in additional states will cost substantially more than using independent contractors for the same services.  See Item 13 – Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence - Domestic Related Party Services, and Note 7 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements –  Commitments and Contingencies - Legal Matters, and Note 11 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements – Related Party Transactions - Domestic Related Party Services, below.

As of December 31, 2017, the Company's International Division's labor force consisted of approximately 1,142 people. There were 1,111 full-time and 31 part-time employees engaged locally by our foreign subsidiaries in their respective international operations. The International Division's field force consisted of approximately 13,500 Field Specialists engaged locally by our foreign subsidiaries in their respective international operations, some of whom are provided by affiliates of the applicable Local Investor or joint venture subsidiary management. See Item 13 – Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence - International Related Party Services, and Note 11 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements – Related Party Transactions - International Related Party Services, below.

The Company considers its relations with its own employees to be generally good.

Item 1A. Risk Factors 

Investing in SGRP's common stock ("SGRP Common Stock") involves a high degree of risk and is subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, cautions, circumstances and other factors ("Risks") that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those projected or otherwise expected in any forward-looking statements or other information (see Forward-Looking Statements immediately preceding Part I, above).

The following are some of the important Risks faced by the Company, but they are not all of the Risks facing the Company. Those Risks listed below are in addition to the Risks and other information contained elsewhere in this Annual Report, the Proxy Statement and the Company's other SEC Reports, and all of them should be carefully considered in evaluating the Company and its business. If any of those Risks occur or become more significant (in whole or in part), or if any presently unknown Risk occurs, it could materially and adversely affect the results, actions, levels of activity, performance, achievements or condition of the Company (including its affiliates, assets, business, clients, capital, cash flow, credit, expenses, financial condition, income, liabilities, liquidity, locations, marketing, operations, performance, prospects, sales, strategies, taxation or other achievement, results, risks, trends or condition).

You should carefully review and consider the following Risks as well as those made, contained or noted in or incorporated by reference into this Annual Report, the Proxy Statement or other applicable SEC Report, but you should not place undue reliance on any of them. All forward-looking statements and other information attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly subject to and qualified by all such Risks.

Those Risks reflect our expectations, views and assumptions only as of the date of this Annual Report, and the Company does not intend, assume any obligation, or promise to publicly update or revise any such Risk or information (in whole or in part), whether as a result of new information, new or worsening Risks or uncertainties, changed circumstances, future events, recognition, or otherwise.

Dependence on Largest Customer and Large Retail Chains

As discussed above in Company's Customer Base, the Company currently does not have a significant customer concentration. However, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to obtain new business, renew existing client contracts at the same or higher levels of pricing or that our current clients will not turn to competitors, cease operations, elect to self-operate or terminate contracts with us. In addition, consolidation by the Company's clients in the industries it serves could result in our losing business if the combined entity chooses a different provider, and the bankruptcy of a significant customer could result in the loss of substantial receivables or the return of substantial recent payments. The loss of any of its customers, the loss of the ability to provide merchandising and marketing services in those chains, the loss of substantial receivables or payments, or the failure to attract new large clients could significantly decrease the Company's revenues and such decreased revenues could have a material adverse effect on the Company or its performance or condition (including its affiliates, assets, business, clients, capital, cash flow, credit, expenses, financial condition, income, liabilities, liquidity, locations, marketing, operations, performance, prospects, sales, strategies, taxation or other achievement, results, risks, trends or condition), whether actual or as planned, intended, anticipated, estimated or otherwise expected.

Dependence on Trend Towards Outsourcing

The business and growth of the Company depends in large part on the continued trend toward outsourcing of merchandising and marketing services, which the Company believes has resulted from the consolidation of retailers and manufacturers, as well as the desire to seek outsourcing specialists to reduce fixed operation expenses and concentrate internal staff on customer service and sales. There can be no assurance that this trend in outsourcing will continue, as companies may elect to perform such services internally. A significant change in the direction of this trend generally, or a trend in the retail, manufacturing or business services industry not to use, or to reduce the use of, outsourced marketing services such as those provided by the Company, could significantly decrease the Company's revenues and such decreased revenues could have a material adverse effect on the Company or its performance or condition (including its affiliates, assets, business, clients, capital, cash flow, credit, expenses, financial condition, income, liabilities, liquidity, locations, marketing, operations, performance, prospects, sales, strategies, taxation or other achievement, results, risks, trends or condition), whether actual or as planned, intended, anticipated, estimated or otherwise expected.

Dependence on Retailers with Physical Stores

Retailers with physical store locations are facing increasing consolidation and competition from virtual stores. Some retailers with physical stores have failed, others are struggling, and others are merging in this highly competitive environment. Although the Company's merchandising services help physical retailers in successfully competing against virtual stores, and the Company provides assembly and other services utilized by online retailers, the Company's business and growth depends in large part on the continuing need for in-store merchandising of products and the continuing success of retailers with physical store locations. There can be no assurance that the in-store merchandising of products will increase or even continue at current levels or that retailers with physical store locations will continue to compete successfully in those stores, and some retailers are shifting their sales focus to their virtual online stores. A significant decrease in such need for in-store merchandising or success of such physical stores could significantly decrease the Company's revenues and such decreased revenues could have a material adverse effect on the Company or its performance or condition (including its affiliates, assets, business, clients, capital, cash flow, credit, expenses, financial condition, income, liabilities, liquidity, locations, marketing, operations, performance, prospects, sales, strategies, taxation or other achievement, results, risks, trends or condition), whether actual or as planned, intended, anticipated, estimated or otherwise expected.

Failure to Successfully Compete

The merchandising and marketing services industry is highly competitive and the Company has competitors that are larger (or part of larger holding companies) and may be better financed. In addition, the Company competes with: (i) a large number of relatively small enterprises with specific client, channel or geographic coverage; (ii) the internal merchandising and marketing operations of its existing and prospective clients; (iii) independent brokers; and (iv) smaller regional providers. Remaining competitive in the highly competitive merchandising and marketing services industry requires that the Company monitor and respond to trends in all industry sectors. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to anticipate and respond successfully to such trends in a timely manner. If the Company is unable to successfully compete, it could have a material adverse effect on the Company or its performance or condition (including its affiliates, assets, business, clients, capital, cash flow, credit, expenses, financial condition, income, liabilities, liquidity, locations, marketing, operations, performance, prospects, sales, strategies, taxation or other achievement, results, risks, trends or condition), whether actual or as planned, intended, anticipated, estimated or otherwise expected.

If certain competitors were to combine into integrated merchandising and marketing services companies, or additional merchandising and marketing service companies were to enter into this market, or existing participants in this industry were to become more competitive, it could have a material adverse effect on the Company or its performance or condition (including its affiliates, assets, business, clients, capital, cash flow, credit, expenses, financial condition, income, liabilities, liquidity, locations, marketing, operations, performance, prospects, sales, strategies, taxation or other achievement, results, risks, trends or condition), whether actual or as planned, intended, anticipated, estimated or otherwise expected.

Risks of Losses and Financial Covenant Violations

In the past, the Company occasionally suffered operating losses.  As a result of those losses and related effects, the Company had repeated technical violations of certain covenants in the Company's prior domestic credit facility, which its lender periodically waived for fees rather than permanently resetting them to realistically achievable levels.  However, the Company changed its domestic lenders in July 2010 and entered into a new credit facility with financial covenants that the Company then believed were more realistic and thus less likely to require waivers.  Since then, however, certain one-time charges and adverse operating results during 2016 have resulted in the Company being in default of its fixed charge coverage ratio during the first and third quarters and for the year ended December 31, 2016.  The Company has successfully sought and received the requisite waivers for these defaults.  The Company was in compliance of all its new domestic lender's bank covenants in 2017.  See Note 5 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements - Credit Facilities - Sterling Credit Facility, and Item 7 – Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, below. The Company again changed its domestic lenders in January 2018 and entered into a new credit facility with increased availability and improved financial and other covenants.  See Note 16 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements – Subsequent Events – PNC Credit Facility, below.

There can be no assurances that in the future the Company will be profitable, will not violate covenants of its current or future credit facilities, its lenders will waive any violations of such covenants, the Company will continue to have adequate lines of credit, or will continue to have sufficient availability under its lines of credit. Accordingly, marginal profitability by the Company, as well as any failure to maintain sufficient availability or lines of credit from the Company's lenders, could have a material adverse effect on the Company or its performance or condition (including its affiliates, assets, business, clients, capital, cash flow, credit, expenses, financial condition, income, liabilities, liquidity, locations, marketing, operations, performance, prospects, sales, strategies, taxation or other achievement, results, risks, trends or condition), whether actual or as planned, intended, anticipated, estimated or otherwise expected.

Variability of Operating Results and Uncertainty in Client Revenue

The Company has experienced and, in the future, may experience fluctuations in quarterly operating results. Factors that may cause the Company's quarterly operating results to vary from time to time and may result in reduced revenue and profits include: (i) the number of active client projects; (ii) seasonality of client products; (iii) client delays, changes and cancellations in projects; (iv) staffing requirements, indemnifications, risk allocations, primary insurance coverages, intellectual property claims, and other contractual provisions and concessions demanded by clients that are unilateral, overreaching and unreasonable and very time consuming to review and attempt to negotiate; (v) the timing requirements of client projects; (vi) the completion of major client projects; (vii) the timing of new engagements; (viii) the timing of personnel cost increases; and (ix) the loss of major clients. In addition, the Company is subject to revenue or profit uncertainties resulting from factors such as unprofitable client work (see below) and the failure of clients to pay. The Company attempts to mitigate these risks by dealing primarily with large credit-worthy clients, by entering into written or oral agreements with its clients and by using project budgeting systems. These revenue fluctuations could materially and adversely affect the Company or its performance or condition (including its affiliates, assets, business, clients, capital, cash flow, credit, expenses, financial condition, income, liabilities, liquidity, locations, marketing, operations, performance, prospects, sales, strategies, taxation or other achievement, results, risks, trends or condition), whether actual or as planned, intended, anticipated, estimated or otherwise expected.

Risks of Unprofitable Services

The Company has agreed, and in the future may agree, from time to time to perform services for its client that become or turn out to be unprofitable even though the Company expected to make a profit when agreeing to perform them. The Company's services for a particular client or project may be or become unprofitable due to mistakes or changes in circumstance, including (without limitation) any (i) mistake or omission made in investigating, evaluating or understanding any relevant circumstance, requirement or request of the Company's client or any aspect of the prospective services or their inherent problems, (ii) mistake made in pricing, planning or performing the prospective service, (iii) service non-performance, or free re-performance, (iv) change in cost, personnel, regulation or other performance circumstance, or (v) costs of settling or defending overreaching or unreasonable indemnifications, risk allocations, primary insurance coverages, intellectual property claims, or other contractual provisions or concessions. Unprofitable services could reduce the Company's net revenues and, if material in gross amount or degree of unprofitability, could materially and adversely affect the Company or its actual, expected, performance or condition (including its affiliates, assets, business, clients, capital, cash flow, credit, expenses, financial condition, income, liabilities, liquidity, locations, marketing, operations, performance, prospects, sales, strategies, taxation or other achievement, results, risks, trends or condition), whether actual or as planned, intended, anticipated, estimated or otherwise expected.

Failure to Develop New Services

A key element of the Company's growth strategy is the development and sale of new services. While several new services are under current development, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to successfully develop and market new services. The Company's inability or failure to devise useful merchandising or marketing services or to complete the development or implementation of a particular service for use on a large scale, or the failure of such services to achieve market acceptance, could adversely affect the Company's ability to achieve a significant part of its growth strategy and the absence of such growth could have a material adverse effect on the Company or its performance or condition (including its affiliates, assets, business, clients, capital, cash flow, credit, expenses, financial condition, income, liabilities, liquidity, locations, marketing, operations, performance, prospects, sales, strategies, taxation or other achievement, results, risks, trends or condition), whether actual or as planned, intended, anticipated, estimated or otherwise expected and could limit the Company's ability to significantly increase its revenues and profits.

Return Risks on Software Capital Expenditures

The Company has made and will continue to make significant investments in improving its existing Global Technology Systems and developing new software, applications and systems, which is a complex and lengthy process and totaled $1.0 and $1.3 million in 2017 and 2016, respectively, for capitalized software improvement and development. The Company may not be able to charge its clients for improvements or otherwise recover its costs, and new developments may never become marketable, chargeable or profitable. However, a failure to improve its existing Global Technology Systems or develop new software, applications or systems could result in a loss of clients.

The failure by the Company to successfully improve its existing Global Technology Systems or develop new software, applications or systems (including unrecovered development costs or client attrition) could have a material adverse effect on the Company or its performance or condition (including its affiliates, assets, business, clients, capital, cash flow, credit, expenses, financial condition, income, liabilities, liquidity, locations, marketing, operations, performance, prospects, sales, strategies, taxation or other achievement, results, risks, trends or condition), whether actual or as planned, intended, anticipated, estimated or otherwise expected.

Inability to Identify, Acquire and Successfully Integrate Acquisitions

Another key component of the Company's growth strategy is the acquisition of businesses across the United States and worldwide that offer similar merchandising or marketing services. The successful implementation of this strategy depends upon the Company's ability to identify suitable acquisition candidates, acquire such businesses on acceptable terms, finance the acquisition and consolidate and integrate their operations successfully with those of the Company. There can be no assurance that such candidates will be available or, if such candidates are available, that the price will be attractive or that the Company will be able to identify, acquire, finance, consolidate or integrate such businesses successfully. In addition, in pursuing such acquisition opportunities, the Company may compete with other entities with similar growth strategies; these competitors may be larger and have greater financial and other resources than the Company. Competition for these acquisition targets could also result in increased prices of acquisition targets and/or a diminished pool of companies available for acquisition.

The successful integration of these acquisitions also may involve a number of additional risks, including: (i) the inability to retain the clients of the acquired business; (ii) the lingering effects of poor client relations or service performance by the acquired business, which also may taint the Company's existing business; (iii) the inability to retain over the long term the desirable management, key personnel and other employees of the acquired business; (iv) the inability to fully realize the desired efficiencies and economies of scale; (v) the inability to establish, implement or police the Company's existing standards, controls, procedures and policies on the acquired business; (vi) diversion of management attention; and (vii) exposure to client, employee and other legal claims for activities of the acquired business prior to acquisition. In addition, any acquired business could perform significantly worse than expected.

The inability to identify, acquire, finance and successfully integrate such merchandising or marketing services business could have a material adverse effect on the Company or its performance or condition (including its affiliates, assets, business, clients, capital, cash flow, credit, expenses, financial condition, income, liabilities, liquidity, locations, marketing, operations, performance, prospects, sales, strategies, taxation or other achievement, results, risks, trends or condition), whether actual or as planned, intended, anticipated, estimated or otherwise expected.

Uncertainty of Financing for, and Dilution Resulting from, Future Acquisitions and Settlements

The timing, size and success of acquisition and litigation settlement efforts and any associated capital commitments cannot be readily predicted. Future acquisitions and litigation settlement may be financed by issuing shares of the SGRP Common Stock, cash, or a combination of SGRP Common Stock and cash. If the SGRP Common Stock does not maintain a sufficient market value, or if potential acquisition candidates or litigants are otherwise unwilling to accept the SGRP Common Stock as part of the consideration for the sale of their businesses or settlement of their litigation, the Company may be required to obtain additional capital through debt or equity financings. To the extent the SGRP Common Stock is used for all or a portion of the consideration to be paid for future acquisitions, dilution may be experienced by existing stockholders. In addition, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to obtain the additional financing it may need for its acquisitions or litigation settlements on terms that the Company deems acceptable. Failure to obtain such capital would materially and adversely affect the Company or its performance or condition (including its affiliates, assets, business, clients, capital, cash flow, credit, expenses, financial condition, income, liabilities, liquidity, locations, marketing, operations, performance, prospects, sales, strategies, taxation or other achievement, results, risks, trends or condition), whether actual or as planned, intended, anticipated, estimated or otherwise expected.

Reliance on the Internet and Third Party Vendors

The Company relies on its Global Technology Systems for (among other things) the scheduling, tracking, coordination and reporting of its merchandising and marketing services. In addition to proprietary software and applications of the Company, the Global Technology System uses and relies upon software (including operating system, office, exchange, data base and server programs) licensed and hardware purchased or leased from third parties and internet and telecommunication services provided by third parties, which third party software, hardware and internet and telecommunication services may not continue to be available at all or (if available) at reasonable prices or on commercially reasonable terms. Any defect, error or other performance failure in such third-party software, hardware or service also could result in a defect, error or performance failure in our client services. Systems can experience excess traffic and related inefficiencies, from increased demand or otherwise, as well as increased attacks by hackers and other saboteurs. To the extent that systems experience increased demands on current capacity and for additional capacity from (among other things) an increase in the numbers of users, frequency or duration of use, bandwidth requirements of software, applications and users (including the increasing demand from the Company's clients for data-intensive as-serviced pictures from the Field Specialists), or internet attacks, there can be no assurance that the Company's technological systems and third party software, hardware and internet and telecommunication providers will continue to be able to support the demands placed on them by such increase demand or negative events.

The Company relies on third-party vendors to provide its internet and telecommunication network access and other services used in its business, and the Company has no control over such third-party providers. Additionally, a cybersecurity breach that results in unauthorized access to sensitive consumer or corporate information contained in these systems may adversely affect the Company's reputation and lead to claims against it. Such claims could include identity theft or other similar fraud-related claims. Any system failure, accident or security breach could result in disruptions to the Company's operations. To the extent that any disruption or security breach results in a loss or damage to the Company's data, or results in inappropriate disclosure of confidential information, it could cause significant damage to its reputation, affect its relationships with its customers, lead to claims against it and ultimately harm its business. In addition, the Company may be required to incur significant costs to protect against damage caused by these disruptions or security breaches in the future.

Any such software, hardware or service unavailability or unreasonable pricing or terms, defect, error or other performance failure in such third-party software, hardware or service, increased capacity demands, disruption in services, security breach or protective measures could increase the Company's costs of operation and reduce its efficiency and performance, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company or its performance or condition (including its affiliates, assets, business, clients, capital, cash flow, credit, expenses, financial condition, income, liabilities, liquidity, locations, marketing, operations, performance, prospects, sales, strategies, taxation or other achievement, results, risks, trends or condition), whether actual or as planned, intended, anticipated, estimated or otherwise expected.

Economic and Retail Uncertainty

The markets in which the Company operates are cyclical and subject to the effects of economic downturns. The current political, social and economic conditions, including the impact of terrorism on consumer and business behavior, make it difficult for the Company, its vendors and its clients to accurately forecast and plan future business activities. Substantially all of the Company's key clients are either retailers or those seeking to do product merchandising at retailers. Should the retail industry experience a significant economic downturn, the resultant reduction in product sales could significantly decrease the Company's revenues. The Company also has risks associated with its clients changing their business plans and/or reducing their marketing budgets in response to economic conditions, which could also significantly decrease the Company's revenues. Such revenue decreases could have a material adverse effect on the Company or its performance or condition (including its affiliates, assets, business, clients, capital, cash flow, credit, expenses, financial condition, income, liabilities, liquidity, locations, marketing, operations, performance, prospects, sales, strategies, taxation or other achievement, results, risks, trends or condition), whether actual or as planned, intended, anticipated, estimated or otherwise expected.

Risks Associated with Furniture and Other Related Assembly Services

The Company's technicians assemble furniture and other products in the homes and offices of customers.  Working at a customer's home or office could give rise to claims against the Company for errors, omissions or misconduct by those technicians, including (without limitation) harassment, personal injury, death, damage to or theft of customer property, or other civil or criminal misconduct by such technicians.  Claims also could be made against the Company as a result of its involvement in such assembly services due to (among other things) product assembly errors and omissions, product defects, deficiencies, breakdowns or collapse, products that are not merchantable or fit for their particular purpose, products that do not conform to published specifications or satisfy customer expectations, or products that cause personal injury, death or property damage, in each case whether actual, alleged or perceived by customers, and irrespective of how much time may have passed since such assembly.  If such claims are asserted and adversely determined against the Company, then to the extent such claims are not covered by indemnification from the product's seller or manufacturer or by insurance, they could have a material adverse effect on the Company or its performance or condition (including its affiliates, assets, business, clients, capital, cash flow, credit, expenses, financial condition, income, liabilities, liquidity, locations, marketing, operations, performance, prospects, sales, strategies, taxation or other achievement, results, risks, trends or condition), whether actual or as planned, intended, anticipated, estimated or otherwise expected.

Risks Associated with Audit Services

The auditing services industry is highly competitive and the Company has competitors that are larger (or part of larger holding companies) and may be better financed. In addition, the Company competes with: (i) a large number of relatively small enterprises with specific client, channel or geographic coverage; (ii) the internal auditing operations of its existing and prospective clients; and (iii) smaller regional providers. Remaining competitive in the highly competitive auditing services industry requires that the Company monitor and respond to trends in all industry sectors. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to anticipate and respond successfully to such trends in a timely manner. If the Company is unable to successfully compete, it could have a material adverse effect on the Company or its performance or condition (including its affiliates, assets, business, clients, capital, cash flow, credit, expenses, financial condition, income, liabilities, liquidity, locations, marketing, operations, performance, prospects, sales, strategies, taxation or other achievement, results, risks, trends or condition), whether actual or as planned, intended, anticipated, estimated or otherwise expected.

Dependence Upon and Cost of Services Provided by Affiliates and Use of Independent Contractors

The success of the Company's domestic business is dependent upon the successful execution and administration of its domestic field services by field merchandising, auditing, assembly and other field personnel (each a "Field Specialist") who are located, scheduled, deployed and administered domestically by local, regional, district and other personnel (each a "Field Administrator"). The Company's affiliate, SPAR Business Services, Inc. ("SBS"), during 2017 provided approximately 10,700 Field Specialists (all of whom were engaged as independent contractors by SBS), representing 77% (or $25.9 million) of the total cost the Field Specialists utilized by the Company domestically.  The Company's affiliate, SPAR Administrative Services, Inc. ("SAS") during 2017 provided approximately 57 Field Administrators (all of whom were employed by SAS) representing 91% (or $4.2 million) of the total cost of the Field Administrators utilized by the Company domestically. See Item 1 - Business - The Company's Labor Force, above.

To the extent the Company continues to use the services provided by SAS and SBS, the success of the Company's domestic business is dependent (at least in part) upon the financial and operational viability of SAS and SBS.  In order to ensure business continuity and the best and most reliable execution of the Company's services to its clients, the Company is also evaluating utilizing Field Specialists and Field Administrators provided by Company subsidiaries (in the case of employees) and provided by non-affiliated vendors, and whether and to what extent the Company should continue to use Field Specialists and Field Administrators provided by SBS and SAS.

SBS, SAS and certain service providers to the Company's foreign joint venture subsidiaries are affiliates of the Company and engaged in related party transactions with the Company, but none of those service providers is a subsidiary of or controlled by the Company and none of them are included in the Company's consolidated financial statements.  For contractual details and payment amounts, see Item 13 – Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence – Domestic Related Party Services, and Note 11 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements – Related Party Transactions, below.

The Company believes that its business model of executing its services through independent contractors provided by others is inherently less costly than doing so with employees, both under applicable tax and employment laws and otherwise.  

The Company has determined that the rates charged by SBS and SAS for their services are slightly favorable to the Company when compared to other possible non-affiliated providers. SBS has independently advised the Company that those favorable rates are dependent (at least in part) on its ability to continue to use independent contractors as their Field Specialists, that those independent Field Specialists generally provide greater flexibility and performance quality at lower total costs as a result of their business independence and initiative, that it has an agreement with each Field Specialist clearly confirming his, her or its status as an independent contractor, and that SBS believes that it complies with applicable independent contractor requirements for the individuals and companies it retains as Field Specialists.

Substantially all of the Company's Field Specialists are engaged and provided as independent contractors by SBS (see above).  The appropriateness of SBS's treatment of its Field Specialists as independent contractors has been periodically subject to legal challenge (both currently and historically) by various states and others.  SBS's expenses of defending those challenges and other proceedings have historically been reimbursed by the Company under SBS's Prior Agreement, and SBS's expenses of defending those challenges and other proceedings were reimbursed by the Company in 2017 and 2016 (in the amounts of $193,000 and $736,000, respectively), after determination (on a case by case basis) that those defense expenses were costs of providing services to the Company.  The Company has advised SBS that, since there is no currently effective comprehensive written services agreement with SBS, the Company will continue to review and decide each request by SBS for reimbursement of its legal defense expenses (including appeals) on a case-by-case basis, including the relative costs and benefits to the Company.  The Company has not agreed, and does not currently intend, to reimburse SBS for any judgment, settlement, or related tax, penalty, or interest in any legal challenge or other proceeding, and the Company does not believe it has ever done so (other than in insignificant nuisance amounts).  However, there are no assurances that SBS or someone else will not claim, or that SBS will be able to successfully defend any claim, that the Company is liable (through reimbursement, indemnification or otherwise) for any judgment against SBS.  Furthermore, there can be no assurance that SBS will succeed in defending any such legal challenge, the legal expenses of prolonged litigation and appeals could continue to be (and have from time to time been) significant, and any adverse determination in any such challenge could have a material adverse effect on SBS's ability to provide services needed by the Company and the Company's costs of doing business.  As noted above, the Company is also evaluating utilizing Field Specialists and Field Administrators provided by Company subsidiaries (in the case of employees) and provided by non-affiliated vendors, and whether and to what extent the Company should continue to use Field Specialists and Field Administrators provided by SBS and SAS.  Current material proceedings against SBS are described in Item 3 - Legal Proceedings, Item 13 – Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence – Domestic Related Party Services, Note 7 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements - Commitments and Contingencies - Legal Matters, and Note 11 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements – Related Party Transactions – Domestic Related Party Services, below.  See also Potential Conflicts in Services Provided by Affiliates and Risks Related to the Company's Significant Stockholders: Potential Voting Control and Conflicts, in these Risk Factors, below.

However, the Company has been reevaluating its business model of using independent contractor's as Field Specialists (whether or not provided by others) in light of changing client requirements and legal and regulatory environments.  The Company has determined that it will be shifting to an all employee model for its Field Specialists in May of 2018 to support the performance of its services in California for its clients in this critical market.  The Company is also evaluating whether this all employee model for its Field Specialists should be used in other states, and intends to begin testing an employee based model nationally for certain domestic clients that are requiring the Company to use employees as its Field Specialists.  The Company expects that using employees as its Field Specialists in additional states will cost substantially more than using independent contractors for the same services. 

Any prolonged continuation of or material increase in the legal defense costs of SBS (and thus the reimbursable expenses SBS may charge to and that may be paid by the Company), any claim by SBS, SAS, any related party or any third party that the Company is somehow liable for any judgment against SBS or SAS, any judicial determination that the Company is somehow liable for any judgment against SBS or SAS (in whole or in part), any decrease in SBS's or SAS’s performance (quality or otherwise), any inability by SBS or SAS to execute the services for the Company or to continue with their respective present business models, or any increase in the Company's use of employees (rather than independent contractors) as its domestic Field Specialists, in each case in whole or in part, could have a material adverse effect on the Company or its performance or condition (including its affiliates, assets, business, clients, capital, cash flow, credit, expenses, financial condition, income, liabilities, liquidity, locations, marketing, operations, prospects, sales, strategies, taxation or other achievement, results or condition), whether actual or as planned, intended, anticipated, estimated or otherwise expected.

Potential Conflicts in Services Provided by Affiliates

The Company's affiliate, SPAR Business Services, Inc. ("SBS"), during 2017 provided approximately 10,700 Field Specialists (all of whom were engaged as independent contractors by SBS), representing 77% (or $25.9 million) of the total cost the Field Specialists utilized by the Company domestically.  The Company's affiliate, SPAR Administrative Services, Inc. ("SAS") during 2017 provided approximately 57 Field Administrators (all of whom were employed by SAS) representing 91% (or $4.2 million) of the total cost of the Field Administrators utilized by the Company domestically.  See Item 1 - Business - The Company's Labor Force, above, and Dependence Upon and Cost of Services Provided by Affiliates and Use of Independent Contractors in this Part IA - Risk Factors, above.  SBS and SAS are affiliates of the Company but neither of them is a subsidiary of or controlled by the Company and neither of them are included in the Company's consolidated financial statements.  SBS is owned by Mr. Robert G. Brown, founder, director, Chairman and a significant stockholder of the Company, and Mr. William H. Bartels, founder, director, Vice Chairman and a significant stockholder of the Company.  SAS is owned by Mr. Bartels and certain relatives of Mr. Brown or entities controlled by them (each of whom are considered affiliates of the Company for related party purposes).  Mr. Brown and Mr. Bartels are also stockholders, directors and executive officers of various other affiliates of SGRP. 

Disputes in the business relationships between the Company and either or both of SBS or SAS (which have occurred and my occur again), it is possible that Messrs. Brown or Bartels may have one or more conflicts of interest with respect to those relationships and could cause SBS and/or SAS to cease or reduce work for the Company, to renegotiate or cancel their arrangement with the Company or otherwise act in a way that is not in the Company's best interests.  To a lesser extent, similar conflicts and events could arise with respect to the Company's contracts with affiliates in South Africa, Mexico, Brazil and Turkey.  See Item 1 – Business - The Company's Labor Force, above, and Item 1A - Risk Factors -Dependence Upon and Cost of Services Provided by Affiliates and Use of Independent Contractors, above, and Item 1A - Risk Factors - Risks Related to the Company's Significant Stockholders: Potential Voting Control and Conflicts, and Risks of Having Material Local Investors in International and Domestic Subsidiaries, Item 13 – Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence, below, and Note 7 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements –  Commitments and Contingencies - Legal Matters, and Note 11 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements – Related Party Transactions- Domestic Related Party Services, below.  The Company is evaluating whether and the extent (if any) to which continue with them.  The services provided by SBS and SAS to the Company in the United States are material and there are no assurances that the Company could (if necessary under the circumstances) replace the field merchandising specialists and management currently provided by SBS and SAS, respectively, in sufficient time to perform its client obligations or at such favorable rates in the event either or both of SBS or SAS no longer performed those services. See Note 7 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements – Commitments and Contingencies - Legal Matters, and Note 11 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements – Related Party Transactions - Domestic Related Party Services, below. Any cancellation, other nonperformance or material pricing increase under the Company's arrangements with SAS or SBS could have a material adverse effect on the Company or its performance or condition (including its affiliates, assets, business, clients, capital, cash flow, credit, expenses, financial condition, income, liabilities, liquidity, locations, marketing, operations, performance, prospects, sales, strategies, taxation or other achievement, results, risks, trends or condition), whether actual or as planned, intended, anticipated, estimated or otherwise expected.  However, the Company is evaluating potential alternative suppliers of Field Specialists and Field Administrators.

Risks of Common Stock Ownership

Dividends on SGRP Common Stock are discretionary, have never been paid, are subject to restrictions in the Company's credit facilities and applicable law and can only be paid to the holders of SGRP Common Stock if the accrued and unpaid dividends and potential dividends are first paid to the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock. In the event of the Company's liquidation, dissolution, or winding-up, the holders of Common Stock are only entitled to share in the Company's assets, if any, that remain after the Company makes payment of and provision for all of the Company's debts and liabilities and the liquidation preferences of all of the Company's outstanding Preferred Stock. There can be no assurance that sufficient funds will remain in any such case for dividends or distributions to the holders of SGRP Common Stock.

Risks related to the Company's Preferred Stock

The Company's ability to issue or redeem Preferred Stock, or any rights to purchase such shares, could discourage an unsolicited acquisition proposal. For example, the Company could impede a business combination by issuing a series of preferred stock containing class voting rights that would enable the holders of such preferred stock to block a business combination transaction. Alternatively, the Company could facilitate a business combination transaction by issuing a series of preferred stock having sufficient voting rights to provide a required percentage vote of the stockholders. Additionally, under certain circumstances, the Company's issuance of preferred stock could adversely affect the voting power of the holders of the Company's common stock. Although the Company's board of directors is required to make any determination to issue any preferred stock based on its judgment as to the best interests of the Company's stockholders, the Company's board of directors could act in a manner that would discourage an acquisition attempt or other transaction that some, or a majority, of the Company's stockholders may believe to be in their best interests or in which stockholders may receive a premium for their stock over prevailing market prices of such stock. The Company's board of directors does not at present intend to seek stockholder approval prior to any issuance of currently authorized stock, unless otherwise required by law or applicable stock exchange requirements.

Risks of Illiquidity in SGRP Common Stock

The market price of SGRP Common Stock has historically experienced and may continue to experience significant volatility. During the year ended December 31, 2017, the sale price of SGRP Common Stock fluctuated from $0.87 to $1.66 per share. The Company believes that its Common Stock is subject to wide price fluctuations due to (among other things) the following:

If the Company issues (other than at fair market value for cash) or the Company's co-founders sell a large number of shares of SGRP Common Stock, or if the market perceives such an issuance or sale is likely or imminent, the market price of SGRP Common Stock could decline and that decline could be significant.

The Company also has repurchased SGRP Common Stock from time to time, and currently has in place a Repurchase Program (as defined and described in Item 5 - Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities, below). Those repurchases could adversely affect the market liquidity of the SGRP Common Stock.

In addition, the volatility in the market price of SGRP Common Stock could lead to class action securities litigation that (however unjustified) could in turn impose substantial costs on the Company, divert management's attention and resources and harm the Company's stock price, the Company or its performance or condition (including its affiliates, assets, business, clients, capital, cash flow, credit, expenses, financial condition, income, liabilities, liquidity, locations, marketing, operations, performance, prospects, sales, strategies, taxation or other achievement, results, risks, trends or condition), whether actual or as planned, intended, anticipated, estimated or otherwise expected.

Risks Related to the Company's Significant Stockholders: Potential Voting Control and Conflicts

The Company's co-founders, Mr. Robert G. Brown and Mr. William H. Bartels are directors, officers (Chairman and Vice-Chairman, respectively) and significant stockholders of the Company. Mr. Brown beneficially owns approximately 33.6% (or 6.9 million shares of the SGRP Common Stock); and Mr. Bartels beneficially owns approximately 25.6% (or 5.3 million shares) of the SGRP Common Stock; which amounts were calculated using their individual beneficial ownerships and the total outstanding ownership (20.6 million shares) of the SGRP Common Stock on a non-diluted basis at December 31, 2017. This means that together Mr. Brown and Mr. Bartels beneficially own a total of approximately 59.2% (or 12.2 million shares) of the SGRP Common Stock and have, should they choose to act together, and under certain circumstances Mr. Brown acting alone may have, the ability to control the election or removal of directors, the approval or disapproval of acquisitions, mergers, conflicts of interest and all other matters that must be approved by the Company's stockholders. In any event, Mr. Brown and Mr. Bartels continue to have significant influence over the Company's business and operations and the outcome of the Company's corporate operations, acquisitions and other actions, including those involving stockholder approvals. The interests of any significant stockholder may be different from time to time from, and potentially in conflict with, the interests of other stockholders, and ownership concentration could cause, delay or prevent a change in the Company's control or otherwise discourage the Company's potential acquisition by another person, any of which could cause the market price of the SGRP Common Stock to decline and that decline could be significant.

Risks of Dilution

The Company may issue stock options and award restricted stock to directors, officers, employees and consultants in the future at Common Stock per-share exercise prices below the market price(s). In addition, the Company may issue shares of SGRP Common Stock in the future in furtherance of the Company's acquisitions or development of businesses or assets or litigation settlements. Each of those and other issuances of SGRP Common Stock could have a dilutive effect on the value of currently held shares, depending on the price the Company is paid (or the value of the assets or business acquired) for such shares, market conditions at the time and other factors.

Risks of a Nasdaq Delisting and Penny Stock Trading

Mr. Lorrence T. Kellar has announced his intent to retire as an independent director from SGRP's Board of Directors (the "Board") and its Audit, Compensation, Governance and Special Committees at the end of the May Board and Committee meetings (currently scheduled to end on May 3, 2018), and will not stand for relection at the annual meeting of SGRP's stockholders on May 2, 2018 (the "2018 Annual Meeting"), but Mr. Kellar has not officially retired to date. The size of the Board and its Audit, Compensation, Governance and Special Committees have been reduced to six and three, respectively, effective upon his actual retirement. The Board and its Governance Committee have been seeking a replacement independent director, have located potential candidates, and have begun diligence respecting and discussions with them. However, they may not find an acceptable candidate who is willing to serve as an independent director on the Board and its Committees by the time of Mr. Kellar's retirement, and if that occurs, SGRP's Board will no longer comply with the majority independent director requirement for continued listing set forth in Rule 5605(b)(1) of the Nasdaq Listing Rules, which requires that independent directors be a majority of the SGRP Board of Directors and the only members of its Audit, Compensation, Governance and Special Committees (known as the "Independent Majority Rule") and will likely receive a Deficiency Letter from Nasdaq indicating that failure. Although independent directors will not be a majority of the SGRP Board under those circumstances, the only members of SGRP's Audit, Compensation, Governance and Special Committees will continue to be independent directors. Upon receipt of that Deficiency Letter, SGRP will have a six month grace period to regain compliance with the Independent Majority Rule (which SGRP may do by adding an independent director to or removing a non-independent director from SGRP's Board), and if SGRP does not regain compliance with the Independent Majority Rule Rule prior to the expiration of that grace period, SGRP's securities are subject to delisting from Nasdaq (which may be appealed).

SGRP Common Stock has recently traded and could in the future again trade for less than $1.00 per share, which is below Nasdaq's minimum trading price for continued listing on the Nasdaq stock market.  The Company received a notice from Nasdaq on May 25, 2017, advising the Company that it failed to maintain a minimum closing bid price of $1.00 per share for its shares of Common Stock for the prior 30 consecutive business days as required by Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) (known as the "Bid Price Rule"), and that it had a 180 day grace period in which to regain compliance with the Bid Price Rule by maintaining a closing bid price of $1.00 per share for SGRP Common Stock for a minimum of ten consecutive business days.  On July 13, 2017, the Company received notice from Nasdaq that it had regained compliance with the Bid Price Rule and the matter was closed.

There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to comply in the future with Nasdaq's Independent Majority Rule (requiring that independent directors be a majority of the SGRP Board of Directors and the only members of its Audit, Compensation and Governance Committees), Nasdaq's Bid Price Rule (requiring a minimum bid price of $1.00/share), independent director rules or other Nasdaq continued listing requirements. If the Company fails to satisfy the applicable continued listing requirement and continues to be in non-compliance after notice and the applicable grace period ends (which is six months in the case of the Bid Price Rule or Independent Majority Rule), Nasdaq may commence delisting procedures against the Company (during which the Company will have additional time of up to six months to appeal and correct its non-compliance). If the SGRP Common Stock shares were ultimately delisted by Nasdaq, the market liquidity of the SGRP Common Stock could be adversely affected and its market price could decrease, even though such shares may continue to be traded "over the counter", due to (among other things) the potential for increased spreads between bids and asks, lower trading volumes and reporting delays in over-the-counter trades and the negative implications and perceptions that could arise from such a delisting.

In addition to the foregoing, if the SGRP Common Stock is delisted from Nasdaq and is traded on the over-the-counter market, the application of the "penny stock" rules could adversely affect the market price of the SGRP Common Stock and increase the transaction costs to sell those shares. The SEC has adopted regulations which generally define a "penny stock" as any equity security not listed on a national securities exchange or quoted on Nasdaq that has a market price of less than $5.00 per share, subject to certain exceptions. If the SGRP Common Stock is delisted from Nasdaq and is traded on the over-the-counter market at a price of less than $5.00 per share, the SGRP Common Stock would be considered a penny stock. Unless otherwise exempted, the SEC's penny stock rules require a broker-dealer, before a transaction in a penny stock, to deliver a standardized risk disclosure document that provides information about penny stock and the risks in the penny stock market, the current bid and offer quotations for the penny stock, the compensation of the broker-dealer and the salesperson in the transaction, and monthly account statements showing the market value of each penny stock held in the customer's account. Further, prior to a transaction in a penny stock occurs, the penny stock rules require the broker-dealer to provide a written determination that the penny stock is a suitable investment for the purchaser and receive the purchaser's agreement to the transaction. If applicable in the future, the penny stock rules may restrict the ability of brokers-dealers to sell the SGRP Common Stock and may affect the ability of investors to sell their shares, until the SGRP Common Stock is no longer a penny stock.

Risk of Failure to Maintain Effective Internal Controls

Establishing and maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and disclosures are necessary for the Company to provide reliable financial and other reporting in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted and applicable securities and other law in the United States. Because of its inherent limitations, internal controls over financial and other reporting are not intended to provide absolute assurance that the Company could prevent or detect a misstatement of its financial statements or other reports or fraud. Any failure to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial and disclosure reporting could limit the Company's ability to report its financial results and file its other reports accurately and timely or to detect and prevent fraud. A significant financial or disclosure reporting failure or material weakness in internal control over financial or other reporting could cause a loss of investor confidence and decline in the market price of the SGRP Common Stock.

Risks of Having Material Local Investors in International and Domestic Subsidiaries

The Company's international model is to join forces with Local Investors (as defined below) having merchandising service expertise and combine their knowledge of the local market with the Company's proprietary software and expertise in the merchandising business. The Company also has begun to use this model in the United States (see Item 1 – Business - The Company's Domestic and International Segments, above). As a result, each of the Company's international subsidiaries (other than Canada and Japan) and NMS domestically is owned in material part by an entity in the local country where the international or domestic subsidiary resides and that entity is not otherwise affiliated with the Company (e.g., the "Local Investor"). The agreements between the Company and the Local Investor in the respective international or domestic subsidiaries specify, among other things, the equity, programming and support services the Company is required to provide and the equity, credit support, certain services and management support that the Local Investor is required to provide to the international or domestic subsidiary. Certain of those subsidiaries also may be procuring field merchandising execution through affiliates of the applicable Local Investors. The Local Investors also may wish to conduct the subsidiary's business differently than desired by the Company. In the event of any disagreement or other dispute in the business relationships between the Company and Local Investor, it is possible that the Local Investor may have one or more conflicts of interest with respect to the relationship and could cause the applicable international or domestic subsidiary to operate or otherwise act in a way that is not in the Company's instructions or best interests.

The agreements generally have unlimited contract terms and parties generally do not have the right to unilaterally withdraw. However, a non-defaulting party has the right to terminate such agreement upon the other party's default, receipt of notice and failure to cure within a specified period (generally 60 days internationally or 30 days domestically). In addition, either party, at any time after the end of a specified period (usually between three and five years), may: (1) sell all or part of its equity interest in the international subsidiary to a third party by providing a written notice to the other party of such intentions (in which case the other party has the right of first refusal and may purchase the equity of the offering party under the same terms and conditions) (a "Right of First Refusal"); or (2) offer to purchase the equity of the other party (in which case the other party generally has 120 days to either accept or reject the offer or to reverse the transaction and actually purchase the offering party's equity under the same terms and conditions) (a "Buy/Sell Right").

The Company believes its relationships with the Local Investors in its international subsidiaries remain good. Most of the Company's respective international subsidiary contracts are either at or near the end of the applicable periods during which either of the parties may trigger the Right of First Refusal and Buy/Sell provisions described above. Both the Company and such Local Investors, as part of their ongoing relationship, are or will be assessing appropriate action as described above.

There can be no assurance that the Company could (if necessary under the circumstances) successfully enforce its legal remedies and stop a Local Investor's principals from leaving the local subsidiary and establishing a competing business, replace equity, credit support, management, field merchandiser and other services currently provided by any Local Investor in sufficient time to perform its client obligations or that the Company could provide these services and or equity in the event the Local Stockholder was to sell its stock or reduce any support to the Company's subsidiary in the applicable country. Any cancellation, other nonperformance or material change under the subsidiary agreements with Local Investors could have a material adverse effect on the Company or its performance or condition (including its affiliates, assets, business, clients, capital, cash flow, credit, expenses, financial condition, income, liabilities, liquidity, locations, marketing, operations, performance, prospects, sales, strategies, taxation or other achievement, results, risks, trends or condition), whether actual or as planned, intended, anticipated, estimated or otherwise expected.

Risks Associated with International and Domestic Subsidiaries

While the Company endeavors to limit its exposure for claims and losses in any international or domestic consolidated subsidiary through contractual provisions, insurance and use of single purpose entities for such ventures, there can be no assurance that the Company will not be held liable for the claims against and losses of a particular international or domestic consolidated subsidiary under applicable local law or local interpretation of any subsidiary agreements or insurance provisions. If any such claims and losses should occur, be material in amount and be successfully asserted against the Company, such claims and losses could have a material adverse effect on the Company or its performance or condition (including its affiliates, assets, business, clients, capital, cash flow, credit, expenses, financial condition, income, liabilities, liquidity, locations, marketing, operations, performance, prospects, sales, strategies, taxation or other achievement, results, risks, trends or condition), whether actual or as planned, intended, anticipated, estimated or otherwise expected.

Risks Associated with Foreign Currency

The Company also has foreign currency exposure associated with its international subsidiaries. In 2017, these foreign currency exposures were primarily concentrated in the Mexican Peso, South African Rand, Chinese Yuan, Japanese Yen, Indian Rupee, Canadian Dollar, and Brazilian Real.

Risks Associated with International Business

The Company's expansion strategy includes expansion into various countries around the world. While the Company endeavors to limit its exposure by entering only countries where the political, social and economic environments are conducive to doing business, there can be no assurances that the respective business environments will remain favorable. In the future, the Company's international operations and sales may be affected by the following risks, which may adversely affect United States companies doing business in foreign countries:

If any developments should occur with respect to any of those international risks and materially and adversely affect the Company's applicable international subsidiary, such developments could have a material adverse effect on the Company or its performance or condition (including its affiliates, assets, business, clients, capital, cash flow, credit, expenses, financial condition, income, liabilities, liquidity, locations, marketing, operations, performance, prospects, sales, strategies, taxation or other achievement, results, risks, trends or condition), whether actual or as planned, intended, anticipated, estimated or otherwise expected.

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments 

None.

Item 2. Properties

The Company does not own any real property. The Company leases certain office space and storage facilities for its corporate headquarters, divisions and subsidiaries under various operating leases, which expire at various dates during the next six years. These leases generally require the Company to pay rents at market rates, subject to periodic adjustments, plus other charges, including utilities, real estate taxes and common area maintenance. The Company believes its relationships with its landlords to be generally good. However, as these leased facilities generally are used for offices and storage, the Company believes that other leased spaces could be readily found and utilized on similar terms should the need arise.

The Company maintains its corporate headquarters in approximately 4,000 square feet of leased office space located in White Plains, New York, under an operating lease with a term expiring November 30, 2022, and maintains its data processing center and warehouse at its regional office in Auburn Hills, Michigan, under an operating lease expiring October 31, 2020. The Company believes that its existing facilities are adequate for its current business. However, new facilities may be added should the need arise in the future.

The following is a list of the headquarter locations for the Company and its international subsidiaries:

Item 3. Legal Proceedings 

The Company is a party to various legal actions and administrative proceedings arising in the normal course of business. In the opinion of Company's management, disposition of these matters are not anticipated to have a material adverse effect on the Company or its estimated or desired affiliates, assets, business, clients, capital, cash flow, credit, expenses, financial condition, income, liabilities, liquidity, locations, marketing, operations, prospects, sales, strategies, taxation or other achievement, results or condition.

The Company's merchandising, audit, assembly and other services for its domestic clients are performed by field merchandising, auditing, assembly and other field personnel (each a "Field Specialist"). The Company's affiliate, SPAR Business Services, Inc. ("SBS"), during 2017 provided approximately 10,700 Field Specialists (all of whom were engaged as independent contractors by SBS), representing 77% (or $25.9 million) of the total cost the Field Specialists utilized by the Company domestically.  SBS is not a subsidiary or in any way under the control of SGRP, SBS is not consolidated in the Company's financial statements, and SGRP does not participate in or control the defense by SBS of any litigation against it.  For contractual details and payment amounts, see Item 13 – Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence– Domestic Related Party Services, and Note 11 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements - Related Party Transactions -  Domestic Related Party Services, below.

The appropriateness of SBS's treatment of its Field Specialists as independent contractors has been periodically subject to legal challenge (both currently and historically) by various states and others. SBS's expenses of defending those challenges and other proceedings have historically been reimbursed by the Company under SBS's Prior Agreement, and SBS's expenses of defending those challenges and other proceedings were reimbursed by the Company in 2017 and 2016 (in the amounts of $193,000 and $736,000, respectively), after determination (on a case by case basis) that those defense expenses were costs of providing services to the Company.

The Company has advised SBS that, since there is no currently effective comprehensive written services agreement with SBS, the Company will continue to review and decide each request by SBS for reimbursement of its legal defense expenses (including appeals) on a case-by-case basis in its discretion, including the relative costs and benefits to the Company. SBS has disputed the Company's right to review and decide the appropriateness of the reimbursement of any of those defense (and various other) expenses.

As provided in SBS's Prior Agreement, the Company is not obligated or liable, and the Company has not otherwise agreed and does not currently intend, to reimburse SBS for any judgment or similar amount (including any damages, settlement, or related tax, penalty, or interest) in any legal challenge or other proceeding against or involving SBS, and the Company does not believe it has ever done so (other than in insignificant nuisance amounts).

Any prolonged continuation of or material increase in the legal defense costs of SBS (and thus the reimbursable expenses SBS may charge to and that may be paid by the Company to the extent reimbursement is approved by the Company in its discretion) could continue to be (and have from time to time been) significant, and prolonged litigation and appeals and any adverse determination in any such challenge could have a material adverse effect on SBS's ability to provide services needed by the Company and the Company's costs of doing business.

There can be no assurance that SBS will be able to satisfy any such judgment or similar amount resulting from any adverse legal determination.  In addition, there can be no assurance that SBS or someone else will not claim, and no assurance that SBS will be able to successfully shield any claim, that the Company is liable (under applicable law, through reimbursement or indemnification, or otherwise) for any such judgment or similar amount imposed against SBS.  Any decrease in SBS's performance (quality or otherwise), any inability by SBS to use its assets without encumbrance or execute the services for the Company, or any increase in the Company's use of employees (rather than independent contractors) as its domestic Field Specialists, in each case in whole or in part, could have a material adverse effect on the Company or its performance or condition (including its assets, business, clients, capital, cash flow, credit, expenses, financial condition, income, liabilities, liquidity, locations, marketing, operations, prospects, sales, strategies, taxation or other achievement, results or condition), whether actual or as planned, intended, anticipated, estimated or otherwise expected.

As the Company utilized the services of SBS to support its in-store merchandising needs in California, management of the Company determined, with the support of SGRP's Audit Committee and Board of Directors, that it will be shifting to an all employee servicing model for its Field Specialists in May of 2018 to support the performance of its services in California for clients in this critical market and nationally for certain domestic clients that are requiring the Company to use employees as its Field Specialists.  Management currently estimates that the potential incremental annual cost of this change in California from independent contractors to Company employees is between approximately $250,000 and $350,000.  The Company is also evaluating whether this all employee model for its Field Specialists should be used in other states.

Current material and potentially material proceedings against SBS and, in one instance, the Company are described below. These descriptions are based on an independent review by the Company and do not reflect the views of SBS, its management or its counsel.

SBS Clothier Litigation

Melissa Clothier was engaged by SBS (then known as SPAR Marketing Services, Inc.) and provided services pursuant to the terms of an "Independent Merchandiser Agreement" acknowledging her engagement as an independent contractor. On June 30, 2014, Ms. Clothier filed suit against SBS and the Company styled Case No. RG12 639317, in the Superior Court in Alameda County, California (the "Clothier Case"), in which Ms. Clothier asserted claims on behalf of herself and a putative class of similarly situated merchandisers in California who are or were classified as independent contractors at any time between July 16, 2008, and June 30, 2014.  Ms. Clothier alleged that she and other class members were misclassified as independent contractors and that, as a result of this misclassification, the defendants improperly underpaid them in violation of various California minimum wage and overtime laws.  The Company was originally a defendant in the Clothier Case but was subsequently dismissed from the action without prejudice.  The court ordered that the case be heard in two phases.  Phase one was limited to the determination of whether members of the class were misclassified as independent contractors.  After hearing evidence, receiving post-trial briefings and considering the issues, the Court issued its Statement of Decision on September 9, 2016, finding that the class members had been misclassified as independent contractors rather than employees.  The parties have now moved into phase two to determine damages (if any), which has included discovery as to the measure of damages in this case. 

The Parties are still proceeding with the damages phase of the Clothier Case, which trial is currently scheduled for late August of 2018, and with a potential final judgment in the Clothier Case expected by the Company later in 2018 (although it could come sooner).  SBS has advised the Company that SBS could appeal the adverse phase one determination and any damage award once damages have been determined, when an appeal is permitted under the court's rules.  No determination has been made by the Company (in its discretion) as to whether to reimburse the costs of such an appeal.  However, the Company (in its discretion) has determined that it will not advance or reimburse the funds to SBS to post a bond to stay execution during such an appeal by SBS.  SBS must post a bond of 1.5 times the damage award in order to stay execution on the judgment during an appeal, and SBS's assets (including those used in providing services to the Company) are subject to legal process (including levy, attachment and sale) if no bond is posted.  Action against SBS's assets could have a material adverse effect on SBS's ability to provide services needed by the Company. The Company is evaluating other potential suppliers of Field Specialists as alternatives should SBS be unable to provide some or all of the services needed by the Company.

Currently the Company is not a party to the Clothier Case as the Company was dismissed without prejudice. However, if SBS is not able to meet its obligations under the final judgment, the Company could be drawn back into the Clothier Case.  Should this occur, the Plaintiffs will need to further assert and prove that the Company is somehow also liable for damages in the Clothier Case, and the Company is prepared to vigorously challenge that assertion.

Any prolonged continuation of or material increase in the legal defense costs of SBS (and thus the reimbursable expenses SBS may charge to and that may be paid by the Company to the extent reimbursement is approved by the Company in its discretion), the failure of SBS to satisfy any such judgment or similar amount resulting from any adverse legal determination against SBS, any claim by SBS, SAS, any other related party or any third party that the Company is somehow liable for any such judgment or similar amount imposed against SBS or SAS or any other related party, any judicial determination that the Company is somehow liable for any such judgment or similar amount imposed against SBS or SAS or any other related party (in whole or in part), any decrease in SBS's or SAS's performance (quality or otherwise), any inability by SBS or SAS to execute the services for the Company, or any increase in the Company's use of employees (rather than independent contractors) as its domestic Field Specialists, in each case in whole or in part, could have a material adverse effect on the Company or its performance or condition (including its assets, business, clients, capital, cash flow, credit, expenses, financial condition, income, liabilities, liquidity, locations, marketing, operations, prospects, sales, strategies, taxation or other achievement, results or condition), whether actual or as planned, intended, anticipated, estimated or otherwise expected. 

SBS Rodgers Litigation

Maceo Rodgers was engaged by and provided services to SBS pursuant to the terms of his "Master Agreements" with SBS acknowledging his engagement as an independent contractor.  On February 21, 2014, Rodgers filed suit against SBS, Robert G. Brown and William H. Bartels, styled Civil Action No. 3:14-CV-00055, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas (Galveston Division).  Plaintiff asserted claims on behalf of himself and an alleged class of similarly situated individuals who provided services to SBS as independent contractors at any time on or after July 15, 2012, claiming they all were misclassified as independent contractors and that, as a result of this misclassification, the Defendants improperly underpaid them in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act's overtime and minimum wage provisions.  Although the Court conditionally certified the class on December 8, 2015, only 61 individuals joined the action as opt-in plaintiffs, and all but 11 of them have potentially disqualifying arbitration provisions, residences outside the class's geographic area, or late opt-in filings, and were challenged by the Defendants in various motions, including a motion to decertify the class.  The Court, however, did not rule on these motions and instead stayed the case on September 19, 2017 to allow the parties to mediate.  On October 24, 2017, the Court granted the parties' joint motion to extend the stay order until January 31, 2018.  A formal mediation was undertaken in this action. However, the mediation was unsuccessful. SBS is now waiting for the Court to rule on (1) Plaintiff’s motion for nationwide judicial notice and to certify a nationwide collective action, and (2) SBS’s motion to decertify the collective class.  It is anticipated that this matter will likely proceed to trial later this year or early next year.

SBS and SGRP Hogan Litigation

Paradise Hogan was engaged by and provided services to SBS as an independent contractor pursuant to the terms of an "Independent Contractor Master Agreement" with SBS acknowledging his engagement as an independent contractor.  On January 6, 2017, Hogan filed suit against SBS and SGRP (and part of the Company), styled Civil Action No. 1:17-cv-10024-LTS, in the U.S. District Court for District of Massachusetts.  Hogan initially asserted claims on behalf of himself and an alleged nationwide class of similarly situated individuals who provided services to SBS and SGRP as independent contractors. Hogan alleged that he and other alleged class members were misclassified as independent contractors, and as a result of this purported misclassification, Hogan asserted claims on behalf of himself and the alleged Massachusetts class members under the Massachusetts Wage Act and Minimum Wage Law for failure to pay overtime and minimum wages, as well as state law claims for breach of contract, unjust enrichment, quantum meruit, and breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing.  In addition, Hogan asserted claims on behalf of himself and the nationwide class for violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act's overtime and minimum wage provisions.  On March 28, 2017, the Company moved to refer Hogan's claim to arbitration pursuant to his agreement, to dismiss or stay Hogan's case pending arbitration, and to dismiss Hogan's case for failure to state a specific claim upon which relief could be granted. 

On November 13, 2017, the Court convened a status conference call with the parties to discuss the impact on the case of the Supreme Court’s pending decision in Epic Systems Corp. v. Lewis, in which the Supreme Court heard arguments in October 2017 and ultimately will decide whether arbitration clauses that include a waiver of a worker’s right to bring or participate in a class action violate the National Labor Relations Act.  On March 12, 2018, the Court denied both defendants’ Motion to Dismiss for failure to state a claim, denied the Motion to Compel Arbitration as to SGRP, denied the Motion to Stay as to SGRP, and allowed the Motion to Stay as to SBS pending the outcome of the Supreme Court’s decision in Epic Systems),  which (depending on the Supreme Court's ruling) could result in all SBS disputes being sent to arbitration. SGRP has decided to appeal the District Court’s decision to the First Circuit Court of Appeals and to seek a stay of the underlying litigation pending the outcome of the appeal, and the court has indicated that it would stay the action against SGRP pending the outcome of its appeal. This means that, if the appeal is unsuccessful, SGRP could have to go to trial without SBS, which SGRP will vigorously contest against all parties.

SBS and SGRP Litigation Generally

Any prolonged continuation of or material increase in the legal defense costs of SBS (and thus the reimbursable expenses SBS may charge to and that may be paid by the Company to the extent reimbursement is approved by the Company in its discretion) could continue to be (and have from time to time been) significant, and prolonged litigation and appeals and any adverse determination in any such challenge could have a material adverse effect on SBS's ability to provide services needed by the Company and the Company's costs of doing business.  There can be no assurance that SBS will be able to satisfy any such judgment or similar amount resulting from any adverse legal determination.  In addition, there can be no assurance that SBS or someone else will not claim, and no assurance that SBS will be able to successfully shield any claim, that the Company is liable (under applicable law, through reimbursement or indemnification, or otherwise) for any such judgment or similar amount imposed against SBS.  Any decrease in SBS's performance (quality or otherwise), any inability by SBS to use its assets without encumbrance or execute the services for the Company, or any increase in the Company's use of employees (rather than independent contractors) as its domestic Field Specialists, in each case in whole or in part, could have a material adverse effect on the Company or its performance or condition (including its assets, business, clients, capital, cash flow, credit, expenses, financial condition, income, liabilities, liquidity, locations, marketing, operations, prospects, sales, strategies, taxation or other achievement, results or condition), whether actual or as planned, intended, anticipated, estimated or otherwise expected.  See Item 1 Business - The Company's Labor Force, Item 1A - Risk Factors – Dependence Upon and Cost of Services Provided by Affiliates and Use of Independent Contractors, Potential Conflicts in Services Provided by Affiliates, and Risks Related to the Company's Significant Stockholders: Potential Voting Control and Conflicts, above, and Item 13 – Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence – Domestic Related Party Services,Note 7 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements –  Commitments and Contingencies - Legal Matters, and Note 11 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements – Related Party Transactions – Domestic Related Party Services, below.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

PART II

Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

The Company's Capital Stock Generally

SGRP's certificate of incorporation authorizes it to issue 47,000,000 shares of common stock with a par value of $0.01 per share (the "SGRP Common Stock"), which all have the same voting, dividend and liquidation rights. SGRP Common Stock is traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market ("Nasdaq") under the symbol "SGRP". On December 31, 2017, there were 20,576,319 shares of SGRP Common Stock issued and outstanding in the aggregate (which does not include Treasury Shares); and there were 7 million shares (or approximately 34%) of SGRP Common Stock beneficially owned by non-affiliates of the Company in the aggregate on a non-diluted basis (i.e., SGRP's public float). See Item IA - Risk Factors - Risks Related to the Company's Significant Stockholders: Potential Voting Control and Conflicts, above, and Item 12 – Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters, below.

SGRP's certificate of incorporation also authorizes it to issue 3,000,000 shares of preferred stock with a par value of $0.01 per share (the "SGRP Preferred Stock"), which may have such preferences and priorities over the SGRP Common Stock and other rights, powers and privileges as SGRP's Board of Directors may establish in its discretion from time to time. SGRP has created and authorized the issuance of a maximum of 3,000,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to SGRP's Certificate of Designation of Series A Preferred Stock (the "Series A Preferred Stock"), which preferred shares have dividend and liquidation preferences, have a cumulative dividend of 10% per year, are redeemable at the Company's option and are convertible at the holder's option (and without further consideration) on a one-to-one basis into SGRP Common Stock. 554,402 shares of Series A preferred stock were previously issued, reacquired and retired. After such retirement, 2,445,598 shares of Series A Preferred Stock remain authorized and available for issuance. At December 31, 2017, no shares of Series A Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding. SGRP can change or cancel the authorized Series A Preferred Stock, and to the extent it reduces such authorization without issuance, it can create other series of Preferred Stock with potentially different dividends, preferences and other terms. The holders of SGRP Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock vote together for directors and other matters, other than matters pertaining only to the Series A Preferred Stock (such as amending SGRP's Certificate of Designation of Series A Preferred Stock) where only the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock are entitled to vote.

Market Information

SGRP's Common Stock is traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market ("Nasdaq") under the symbol "SGRP". As of March 30, 2018, there were approximately 153 stockholders of record.

The following table sets forth the reported high and low sales prices of SGRP Common Stock for the quarters indicated as reported on the Nasdaq Capital Market.

Dividends

The Company has never declared or paid any cash dividends on its Common Stock and does not anticipate paying cash dividends on its Common Stock in the foreseeable future. The Company currently intends to retain future earnings to finance its operations and fund the growth of the business. Any payment of future dividends will be at the discretion of the Board of Directors of the Company and will depend upon, among other things, the Company's earnings, financial condition, capital requirements, level of indebtedness, contractual restrictions in respect to the payment of dividends and other factors that the Company's Board of Directors deems relevant.

Equity Compensation

Information regarding the Company's equity compensation plans may be found in Item 12 of this Annual Report, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

Stock Repurchase Program

The Company's 2017 Stock Repurchase Program (the "2018 Repurchase Program"), as approved by SGRP's Audit Committee and adopted by its Board of Directors on November 10, 2017 and ratified on March 14, 2018.  Under the 2018 Repurchase Program, SGRP may repurchase shares of SGRP Common Stock through November 10, 2020, but not more than 500,000 shares in total, and those repurchases would be made from time to time in the open market and through privately-negotiated transactions, subject to general market and other conditions.  SGRP does not intend to repurchase any shares in the market during any blackout period applicable to its officers and directors under the SPAR Group, Inc. Statement of Policy Regarding Personal Securities Transactions in SGRP Stock and Non-Public Information As Adopted, Restated, Effective and Dated as of May 1, 2004, and As Further Amended Through March 10, 2011 (other than purchases that would otherwise be permitted under the circumstances for anyone covered by such policy). As of December 31, 2017, the Company had 500,000 shares remaining to be purchased under the 2018 Repurchase Program. Under the preceding stock repurchase program (adopted in 2012 and extended and modified in 2015), the Company repurchased all 532,235 shares through December 31, 2017.

SGRP Common Stock Issuances

SGRP did not issue any new SGRP Common Stock during 2016 or 2017. The Company used treasury shares of SGRP Common Stock during 2016 and 2017 for its existing registered stock compensation, stock purchase and profit-sharing plans (See Note 12 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements– Stock Based Compensation Plans, below).

Item 6. Selected Financial Data

Not applicable.

Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

This "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" contains forward-looking statements within the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, made or respecting by SPAR Group, Inc. ("SGRP") and its subsidiaries (together with SGRP, the "SPAR Group" or the "Company"). See FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS preceding Part I, above. There also are "forward-looking statements" contained elsewhere in this Annual Report, the Proxy Statement, and the other applicable SEC Reports filed with the SEC from time to time under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and other Securities Laws (as all such terms are defined in FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS, preceding Part I, above).

All forward-looking statements and other information attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly subject to and qualified by all of the risks, uncertainties, cautions, circumstances and other factors ("Risks") facing the Company, including the Risks and other information described in Item IA - Risk Factors, above, or elsewhere in this Annual Report, the Proxy Statement or any other applicable SEC Report.

The Company does not intend, assume any obligation, or promise to publicly update or revise any such forward-looking statement, Risk or information (in whole or in part), whether as a result of new information, new or worsening Risks or uncertainties, changed circumstances, future events, recognition, or otherwise.

Overview

SPAR Group, Inc. ("SGRP"), and its subsidiaries (together with SGRP, the "SPAR Group" or the "Company"), is a diversified international merchandising and marketing services company and provides a broad array of services worldwide to help companies improve their sales, operating efficiency and profits at retail locations. The Company provides merchandising and other marketing services to manufacturers, distributors and retailers worldwide, primarily in mass merchandise, office supply, grocery, drug, dollar, home improvement, independent, convenience and electronics stores, as well as providing furniture and other product assembly services in stores, homes and offices and marketing research services. The Company has supplied these services in the United States since certain of its merchandising predecessors were formed in 1985 and research predecessors were formed in 1979 and internationally since the Company acquired its first international subsidiary in Japan in May 2001. Today the Company operates in 10 countries that encompass approximately 50% of the total world population through operations in the United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, India, Japan, Mexico, South Africa, and Turkey.

Critical Accounting Policies & Estimates

The Company's critical accounting policies, including the assumptions and judgments underlying them, are disclosed in Note 2 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies. These policies have been consistently applied in all material respects and address such matters as revenue recognition, depreciation methods, asset impairment recognition, consolidation of subsidiaries and other companies. While the estimates and judgments associated with the application of these policies may be affected by different assumptions or conditions, the Company believes the estimates and judgments associated with the reported amounts are appropriate in the circumstances. Five of the Company's critical accounting policies are impairment of long-lived assets, consolidation of subsidiaries, revenue recognition, allowance for doubtful accounts, and internal use software development costs.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company continually monitors events and changes in circumstances that could indicate that the carrying amounts of the Company's property and equipment and intangible assets subjected to amortization may not be recoverable. When indicators of potential impairment exist, the Company assesses the recoverability of the assets by estimating whether the Company will recover its carrying value through the undiscounted future cash flows generated by the use of the asset and its eventual disposition. Based on this analysis, if the Company does not believe that it will be able to recover the carrying value of the asset, the Company records an impairment loss to the extent that the carrying value exceeds the estimated fair value of the asset. If any assumptions, projections or estimates regarding any asset change in the future, the Company may have to record an impairment to reduce the net book value of such individual asset.

Accounting for Joint Venture Subsidiaries

For the Company's less than wholly owned joint venture subsidiaries, the Company first analyzes to determine if a joint venture subsidiary is a variable interest entity (a "VIE") in accordance with ASC 810 and if so, whether the Company is the primary beneficiary requiring consolidation. A VIE is an entity that has (i) insufficient equity to permit it to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support or (ii) equity holders that lack the characteristics of a controlling financial interest. VIEs are consolidated by the primary beneficiary, which is the entity that has both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIE's economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that potentially could be significant to the owning entity. Variable interests are contractual, ownership, or other financial interests in a VIE that change with changes in the fair value of the VIE's net assets. The Company routinely re-assesses at each level of the joint venture subsidiary whether the entity is (i) a VIE, and (ii) if so, whether the Company is the primary beneficiary of the VIE. If it was determined that an entity in which the Company holds an interest qualified as a VIE and the Company was the primary beneficiary, it would be consolidated.

The Company has analyzed each of its joint venture subsidiaries to determine whether it is a VIE. The Company owns 51% of the equity interest in these subsidiaries, the other 49% is owned by local unrelated third party investors, and the joint venture agreements with those third parties generally provide each local investor with effectively the same approval and veto rights (other than in Brazil and China). Based on these and other factors, the Company has determined that each joint venture subsidiary is a VIE and that Company is the primary beneficiary. Accordingly, the Company consolidates each joint venture subsidiary under the VIE rules and reflects the 49% interests of the local third party owners in the consolidated financial statements as non-controlling interests. The Company records these non-controlling interests at their initial fair value, adjusting the basis prospectively for their share of the respective consolidated investments' net income or loss or equity contributions and distributions. These non-controlling interests are not redeemable by the equity holders and are presented as part of permanent equity. Income and losses are allocated to the non-controlling interest holder based on its economic ownership percentage.

Revenue Recognition

The Company's services are provided to its clients under contracts or agreements. The Company bills its clients based upon service fee or per unit fee arrangements. Revenues under service fee arrangements are recognized when the service is performed. The Company's per unit fee arrangements provide for fees to be earned based on the retail sales of a client's products to consumers. The Company recognizes per unit fees in the period such amounts become determinable and are reported to the Company. Customer deposits, which are considered advances on future work, are recorded as revenue in the period services are provided.

Doubtful Accounts and Credit Risks

The Company continually monitors the collectability of its accounts receivable based upon current client credit information and financial condition. Balances that are deemed to be uncollectible after the Company has attempted reasonable collection efforts are written off through a charge to the bad debt allowance and a credit to accounts receivable. Accounts receivable balances, net of any applicable reserves or allowances, are stated at the amount that management expects to collect from the outstanding balances. The Company provides for probable uncollectible amounts through a charge to earnings and a credit to bad debt allowance based in part on management's assessment of the current status of individual accounts. Based on management's assessment, the Company established an allowance for doubtful accounts of $342,000 and $288,000 at December 31, 2017, and 2016, respectively. Bad debt expense was $113,000 and $347,000 for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Internal Use Software Development Costs

The Company capitalizes certain costs associated with its internally developed software. Specifically, the Company capitalizes the costs of materials and services incurred in developing or obtaining internal use software. These costs include (but are not limited to) the cost to purchase software, the cost to write program code, payroll and related benefits and travel expenses for those employees who are directly involved with and who devote time to the Company's software development projects. Capitalized software development costs are amortized over three years on a straight-line basis.

The Company capitalized approximately $1.0 and $1.3 million of costs related to software developed for internal use in 2017 and 2016, respectively, and recognized approximately $1.2 million of amortization of capitalized software for both the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.

Results of Operations

The following table sets forth selected financial data and such data as a percentage of net revenues for the years indicated (dollars in millions).

Results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2017, compared to the year ended December 31, 2016

Net Revenues

Net revenues for the year ended December 31, 2017, were $181.4 million compared to $134.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, an increase of $47.1 million or 35%. The increase in net revenue is primarily attributable to the acquisition of our Brazil subsidiary, which contributed $31.0 million. In addition, the remainder of our international segment increased $9.0 million, and our domestic segment increased $7.1 million.

Domestic net revenues totaled $52.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2017, compared to $45.0 million for the same period in 2016. Domestic net revenues increased by $7.1 million or 16.2% primarily attributable to an increase in organic growth in both continuity and project work.

International net revenues totaled $129.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, compared to $89.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, an increase of $39.8 million or 44.5%. The increase in 2017 international net revenues was primarily due to the full year impact from our Brazil operations and increased revenue primarily in Mexico, Japan and South Africa partially offset by a slight decline in China. See Note 13 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements – Segment Information, below.

Cost of Revenues

The Company's cost of revenues consists of its in-store labor and field management wages, related benefits, travel and other direct labor-related expenses and was 79.7% of net revenue for the twelve month period ended December 31, 2017 compared to 78.0% of net revenues for the year ended December 31, 2016.

Domestic cost of revenue as a percent of net revenue was 72.8% and 72.4% for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.  The domestic cost of revenues percentage increase of 0.4 percentage points was primarily due to an unfavorable mix in project work compared to the same period in 2016.  Approximately 79% and 81% of the Company's domestic cost of revenues in the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, resulted from in-store merchandiser specialist and field management services purchased from certain of the Company's affiliates, SPAR Business Services, Inc. ("SBS"), and SPAR Administrative Services, Inc. ("SAS") (See Item 13 - Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence – Domestic Related Party Services, and Note 11 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements - Related Party Transactions – Domestic Related Party Services, below).

International cost of revenue as a percent of net revenue was 82.5% and 80.8% for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.  The international cost of revenue percentage increase of 1.7 percentage points was primarily due to higher cost dedicated margin business in Mexico and Brazil.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses of the Company include its corporate overhead, project management, information technology, executive compensation, human resources, legal and accounting expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses were approximately $30.6 million and $25.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Domestic selling, general and administrative expenses totaled $12.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to $11.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2016.  The increase of approximately $1.1 million was due to increases in various costs (primarily legal and field services recruitment).

International selling, general and administrative expenses totaled $18.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to $14.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. The increase of approximately $4.3 million was primarily attributable to the full year impact of the later 2016 acquisition of our Brazilian operation ($3.5 million) compared to the prior year.

Depreciation and Amortization

Depreciation and amortization expense totaled $2.1 million for both the years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016.

Interest Expense

The Company's interest expense was $337,000 and $133,000 for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

In the domestic segment, interest expense increased by approximately $91,000 compared to 2016 due to increased borrowing against the domestic credit facility. In the international segment, interest expense increased by $113,000, primarily due to increase working capital borrowing needs in our Brazilian operation.

Other Income

Other income was $401,000 for the year ended December 31, 2017, compared to $128,000 for the year ended December 31, 2016. The increase in other income was primarily attributable to interest earned in South Africa.

Income Taxes 

The income tax provision for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 was an expense of $2,977,000 and $441,000, respectively. The Company recognized minimum federal tax provisions in 2017 and 2016 as the Company utilized operating loss carry forwards in both years.  The increase in tax expense is primarily due to the re-measurement and application of the new tax act. 

As of December 31, 2017, the Company's deferred tax assets were primarily the result of U.S. net operating loss carryforwards.

At December 31, 2017, and 2016, the Company has Federal and State NOL carryforwards of $5.3 million and $7.7 million, respectively, which if unused will expire in years 2018 through 2029.

Non-controlling Interest

Net operating profits from the non-controlling interests, relating to the Company's 51% owned subsidiaries, resulted in a reduction of net income attributable to SPAR Group, Inc. of $2.1 million and $1.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.

Net Income

The Company reported a net loss attributable to SPAR Group, Inc. of $923,000 for the year ended December 31, 2017, or ($0.04) per diluted share, compared to a net income of $173,000 for the year ended December 31, 2016, or $0.01 per diluted share, based on diluted shares outstanding of 21.3 million at both December 31, 2017, and 2016.

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements

None.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

For the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company had net income before non-controlling interest of $1.2 million and $1.8 million, respectively.

Net cash provided by operating activities was $6.8 million and $1.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.  Net cash provided by operating activities was primarily due to cash impacting earnings and increases in accounts payable and accrued expenses, partially offset by increases in accounts receivable, and prepaid and other assets.

Net cash used in investing activities for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, was approximately $1.4 million and $2.0 million, respectively. The net cash used in investing activities during 2017 was attributable to fixed asset additions.

Net cash used in financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2017 was approximately $5.1 million compared to $3.4 million provided by financing activities in 2016. Net cash used in financing activities during 2017 was primarily due to net payments on lines of credit and distributions to non-controlling investors.

The above activity and the impact of foreign exchange rate changes resulted in an increase in cash and cash equivalents for the year ended December 31, 2017 of approximately $1.5 million.

At December 31, 2017, the Company had net working capital of $14.5 million, as compared to net working capital of $12.5 million at December 31, 2016. The Company's current ratio was 1.4 at both December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016.

Credit Facilities: 

The Company is a party to various domestic and international credit facilities.  See Note 5 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements – Credit Facilities.

These various domestic and international credit facilities require compliance with their receptive financial covenants.  During 2017, the Company was in compliance with all financial covenants.

Management believes that based upon the continuation of the Company's existing credit facilities, projected results of operations, vendor payment requirements and other financing available to the Company (including amounts due to affiliates), sources of cash availability should be manageable and sufficient to support ongoing operations over the next year. However, delays in collection of receivables due from any of the Company's major clients, or a significant reduction in business from such clients could have a material adverse effect on the Company's cash resources and its ongoing ability to fund operations.

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Not applicable. 

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data 

See Item 15 – Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure 

None.

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures

Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

The Company's management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for the registrant, as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act. Management has designed such internal control over financial reporting by the Company to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of consolidated financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP").

The Company's management has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting using the "Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013)" created by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission ("COSO") framework. Based on this evaluation, management has concluded that internal controls over financial reporting were effective as of December 31, 2017.

Management's Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Company's chief executive officer and chief financial officer have each reviewed and evaluated the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) as of December 31, 2017, as required by Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(b) and Rule 15d-15(b). Based on that evaluation, the chief executive officer and chief financial officer have each concluded that the Company's current disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports it files, or submits under the Exchange Act were recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time period specified in the SEC's rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by an issuer in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the issuer's management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Remediation of a Previously Identified Material Weakness

In our Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2017, filed on May 22, 2017 with the SEC, the Company reported a material weakness in internal control over financial reporting relating to the assessment of the presentation of foreign currency translation adjustments when preparing the consolidated financial statements. With the oversight of the Company’s finance department and Audit Committee, the Company undertook significant efforts to correct its material weakness in internal controls and during 2017, the Company designed, implemented and executed additional controls relating to the presentation of foreign currency translation adjustments when preparing the consolidated financial statements and has taken the following measures to remediate the previously identified material weakness:

In addition, our CEO and CFO have placed an emphasis on internal controls with all levels of executive management.

Management believes that the implementation of these measures have remediated the material weakness described above.

These additional controls were tested as of December 31, 2017 and determined to be operating effectively. The Company will continue to refine and improve its design and operating effectiveness of internal control during 2018 and beyond.

This Annual Report does not include an attestation report of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting because that requirement under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 was permanently removed for smaller reporting companies pursuant to the provisions of Section 989G(a) set forth in the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act enacted into federal law in July 2010.

Changes in Internal Controls

Other than the previously identified material weakness described above, there have been no changes in the Company's internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the 'fourth quarter of the Company's 2017 fiscal year that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal controls over financial reporting.

Item 9B. Other Information 

None.

PART III

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

Reference is made to the information set forth under the captions "The Board of Directors of the Corporation", "Executives and Officers of the Corporation", "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management" and "Corporate Governance" in SGRP's definitive Proxy Statement respecting its Annual Meeting of Stockholders currently scheduled to be held on May 2, 2018, as and when filed with the SEC (which SGRP plans to file pursuant to Regulation 14A in April of 2018, but not later than 120 days after the end of the Company's 2017 fiscal year), which information is incorporated by reference to this Annual Report. For clarity (and without limitation), information appearing in the sections in such Proxy Statement entitled "PROPOSAL 3 - ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION", "PROPOSAL 4 - ADVISORY VOTE ON THE FREQUENCY THAT THE CORPORATION HOLDS THE ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION", and "REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS" shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Annual Report.

Without in any way limiting any of the information incorporated by reference above, in order to (among other things) assist the Board and the Audit Committee in connection with an overall review of the Company’s related party transactions and certain worker classification-related litigation matters, in April 2017 the Board formed a special subcommittee of the Audit Committee (the "Special Subcommittee") to (among other things) review the structure, documentation, fairness, conflicts, fidelity, appropriateness, and practices respecting each of the relationships and transactions discussed in Item 13 – Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence, and Note 11 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements – Related Party Transactions (including those described under Domestic Related Party Services in that Item and Note).  The Special Subcommittee is continuing that review with the assistance of special auditors and counsel currently being retained by such Subcommittee.  The Company is currently unable to predict the duration, ultimate scope, or results of this review by the Special Subcommittee.  See also Item 1 Business - The Company's Labor Force, Item 1A - Risk Factors - Potential Conflicts in Services Provided by Affiliates, Potential Conflicts in Services Provided by Affiliates, and Risks Related to the Company's Significant Stockholders: Potential Voting Control and Conflicts, and Item 3 - Legal Proceedings, above, and Note 7 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements –  Commitments and Contingencies - Legal Matters, and Note 11 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements – Related Party Transactions - Domestic Related Party Services, below.

Item 11. Executive Compensation 

Reference is made to the information set forth under the captions "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management", "Executive Compensation, Directors and Other Information", "Executive Compensation, Equity Awards and Options", and "Compensation Plans", in SGRP's definitive Proxy Statement respecting its Annual Meeting of Stockholders currently scheduled to be held on May 2, 2018, as and when filed with the SEC (which SGRP plans to file pursuant to Regulation 14A in April of 2018, but not later than 120 days after the end of the Company's 2017 fiscal year), which information is incorporated by reference to this Annual Report. For clarity (and without limitation), information appearing in the sections in such Proxy Statement entitled "PROPOSAL 3 - ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION", "PROPOSAL 4 - ADVISORY VOTE ON THE FREQUENCY THAT THE CORPORATION HOLDS THE ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION", and "REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS" shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Annual Report.

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters 

Reference is made to the information set forth under the captions "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management", "Executive Compensation, Equity Awards and Options", and "Compensation Plans" in SGRP's definitive Proxy Statement respecting its Annual Meeting of Stockholders currently scheduled to be held on May 2, 2018, as and when filed with the SEC (which SGRP plans to file pursuant to Regulation 14A in April of 2018, but not later than 120 days after the end of the Company's 2017 fiscal year), which information is incorporated by reference to this Annual Report. For clarity (and without limitation), information appearing in the sections in such Proxy Statement entitled "PROPOSAL 3 - ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION", "PROPOSAL 4 - ADVISORY VOTE ON THE FREQUENCY THAT THE CORPORATION HOLDS THE ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION", and "REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS" shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Annual Report.

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence 

Reference is made to the information set forth under the caption "Transactions with Related Persons, Promoters and Certain Control Persons" in SGRP's definitive Proxy Statement respecting its Annual Meeting of Stockholders currently scheduled to be held on May 2, 2018, as and when filed with the SEC (which SGRP plans to file pursuant to Regulation 14A in April of 2018, but not later than 120 days after the end of the Company's 2017 fiscal year), which information is incorporated by reference to this Annual Report. For clarity (and without limitation), information appearing in the sections in such Proxy Statement entitled "PROPOSAL 3 - ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION", "PROPOSAL 4 - ADVISORY VOTE ON THE FREQUENCY THAT THE CORPORATION HOLDS THE ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION", and "REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS" shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Annual Report.

Without in any way limiting any of the information incorporated by reference above, in order to (among other things) assist the Board and the Audit Committee in connection with an overall review of the Company’s related party transactions and certain worker classification-related litigation matters, in April 2017 the Board formed a special subcommittee of the Audit Committee (the "Special Subcommittee") to (among other things) review the structure, documentation, fairness, conflicts, fidelity, appropriateness, and practices respecting each of the relationships and transactions discussed in Item 13 – Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence, and Note 11 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements – Related Party Transactions (including those described under Domestic Related Party Services in that Item and Note).  The Special Subcommittee is continuing that review with the assistance of special auditors and counsel currently being retained by such Subcommittee.  The Company is currently unable to predict the duration, ultimate scope, or results of this review by the Special Subcommittee.  See also Item 1 Business - The Company's Labor Force, Item 1A - Risk Factors - Potential Conflicts in Services Provided by Affiliates, Potential Conflicts in Services Provided by Affiliates, and Risks Related to the Company's Significant Stockholders: Potential Voting Control and Conflicts, and Item 3 - Legal Proceedings, above, and Note 7 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements –  Commitments and Contingencies - Legal Matters, and Note 11 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements – Related Party Transactions - Domestic Related Party Services, below.

Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services

Reference is made to the information set forth under the caption "PROPOSAL 2 - RATIFICATION, ON AN ADVISORY BASIS, OF THE APPOINTMENT OF BDO USA, LLP AS THE COMPANY'S PRINCIPAL INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS" in SGRP's definitive Proxy Statement respecting its Annual Meeting of Stockholders currently scheduled to be held on May 2, 2018, as and when filed with the SEC (which SGRP plans to file pursuant to Regulation 14A in April of 2018, but not later than 120 days after the end of the Company's 2017 fiscal year), which information is incorporated by reference to this Annual Report. For clarity (and without limitation), information appearing in the section "REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS" shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Annual Report.

PART IV

Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

* XBRL information is furnished and not filed or a part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, is deemed not filed for purposes of section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections.

Item 16. Form 10-K Summary

None.

SIGNATURES 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

KNOW ALL THESE PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Christiaan M. Olivier and James R. Segreto and each of them, jointly and severally, his attorneys-in-fact, each with full power of substitution, for him in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this Report on Form 10-K, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each said attorneys-in-fact or his substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities indicated.

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Board of The Directors and Stockholders

SPAR Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

White Plains, New York

Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of SPAR Group, Inc. (the “Company”) and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the related consolidated statements of income (loss) and comprehensive loss, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2017, and the related notes and financial statement schedule listed in the accompanying index (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company and subsidiaries at December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2017, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ BDO USA, LLP

We have served as the Company's auditor since 2013.

Troy, Michigan

April 2, 2018

SPAR Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

(1)     See Note 3, Correction of Prior Period Financial Statements.

See accompanying notes to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

SPAR Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of (Loss) Income and Comprehensive Loss

(In thousands, except per share data)

(1) See Note 3, Correction of Prior Period Financial Statements.

See accompanying notes to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

SPAR Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Equity

(In thousands)(Revised)(1)

(1) See Note 3, Correction of Prior Period Financial Statements.

See accompanying notes to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

SPAR Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In thousands)