The 10-K is the filing the SEC, your auditor, and every investor read most closely. This checklist scopes the whole annual report to your situation and tells you where you're ready and where you're exposed before you file.
What this tool does
It turns Regulation S-X and S-K into a plain-English checklist scoped to your filer profile — financial statements, MD&A, risk factors, business, controls (Item 9A), exhibits — and tracks what's done, missing, or not applicable.
Who it's for
Controllers, CFOs, and finance teams at small US-listed companies — first-time annual filers and lean teams especially.
How to use it — step by step
- Set your profile. Filer status, exchange, category, and industry, so you only see the items that apply.
- Work each item. Mark Yes / No / N/A with a note; progress saves in your browser.
- Read your assessment. Gaps grouped by section and by whether they're filing-blockers or polish.
- Close gaps or get a second read. Fix the blockers first; bring in a senior set of eyes if the year was messy.
How to read your result
Fix blockers first (comment-letter or restatement risk), then gaps, and make sure every N/A has a documented reason. A clean 10-K is about no blockers, not a perfect score.
Worked examples
The same tool behaves differently depending on what you put in. Here are 3 situations.
First 10-K after an IPO — Smaller Reporting Company
Inputs: SRC, Nasdaq, first full year public.
What the tool shows: It elevates first-time items: full-year audited statements, Item 9A management's ICFR report (first-year rules), risk factors build-out, and XBRL. It also flags the SRC scaled-disclosure accommodations you can use.
What to do: Prioritise the ICFR report and complete risk factors; lean on SRC scaling to keep it tight.
A material weakness to disclose
Inputs: You flag an unremediated control gap.
What the tool shows: Item 9A becomes a blocker — the tool points you to the material-weakness disclosure, remediation description, and the auditor-attestation question if you're an accelerated filer.
What to do: Draft the MW disclosure honestly with a remediation plan; pair with the material-weakness severity tool.
Going-concern doubt
Inputs: Liquidity is tight going into year-end.
What the tool shows: It raises the ASC 205-40 assessment, the MD&A liquidity section, and the risk-factor and subsequent-events tie-out.
What to do: Get the going-concern memo and liquidity MD&A squared away before anything else.
Common questions
Is it free? Yes — the checklist and on-screen assessment are free, no signup, nothing leaves your browser.
How is this different from the 10-Q checklist? Same idea, scoped to the annual report — more sections, audited statements, and the full Item 9A controls report.
Does it replace my auditor? No. It's a readiness tool, not audit or legal advice.