Liquidity and Capital Resources
Cash Flows
Operating activities
Net cash used in operating activities was $5,317,730 for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, compared to $3,652,992 for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, including $568,518 of cash provided by discontinued operations during the quarter ended September 30, 2021, and $466,153 of cash used in discontinued operations during the quarter ended September 30, 2020.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2021, net cash used in continuing operating activities of $5,886,248 consisted of net loss of $8,156,892, which included non-cash costs of depreciation and amortization of $4,074,738, gain on PPP forgiveness loan of $3,253,100, gain on sale of assets of $114,926, amortization of deferred financing costs of $1,096,867. Changes in working capital accounts included changes in accounts receivable of $6,508,178, other assets of $306,029 and right of use operating lease liabilities of $277,329, partially offset by changes in accounts payable of $2,454,235, prepaid expenses and other current assets of $2,193,864 and accrued expenses and other labilities of $2,155,223.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, net cash used in continuing operating activities of $3,186,839 consisted of net loss of $9,698,649 which included non-cash costs of depreciation and amortization of $3,434,164, amortization of deferred financing costs of $375,680, bad debt expense of $247,558 and gain on sale of assets of $47,052. Changes in working capital accounts included changes in accounts receivable of $2,530,715, prepaid expenses of $858,112 and accrued liabilities of $2,278,250, partially offset by changes in accounts payable of $2,852,030, other assets of $560,131 and right of use operating lease labilities of $47,038.
Investing activities
Net cash used in investing activities was $132,026 for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, compared to $6,494,172 for the nine months ended September 30, 2020.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2021, net cash used in investing activities consisted of $35,000 paid to the buyer of MG Cleaners and cash used for the purchase of equipment of $97,026. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, net cash used in investing activities consisted of $6,320,168, net cash paid for the acquisition of 5J Entities and $174,004 of fixed asset purchases.
Financing activities
Net cash provided by financing activities was $5,412,972 for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, compared to $10,800,332 for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, including $226,932 cash used in discontinued operations and $666,150 cash provided by discontinued operations, respectively.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2021, net cash provided by financing activities consisted of net proceeds from notes payable of $8,274,002, proceeds from convertible notes payable of $3,255,000 and net proceeds on secured lines of credit of $2,880,180, offset by payments on notes payable of $8,698,655and payment on convertible note payable of $50,000.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, net cash provided by financing activities consisted of net proceeds from secured notes payable of 5,574,048, proceeds from convertible notes payable of $2,644,295 and net proceeds from secured line of credit, net of $3,256,101, which was partially offset by payments on notes payable of $1,100,704, and payments of deferred financing costs of $239,558.
Our cash flows from operations are primarily funded through our financing activities, including our accounts receivable line of credit facility, notes, convertible notes and loans, stock sales, issuing our stock for services and various leases. Currently, we believe we will need to continue to utilize lines of credit, borrowings, and investor funding to sufficiently sustain our current level of operations for the next 12 months. While industry and general domestic economic activity and commodity prices have improved, we believe we remain at risk for potential effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic that is prevalent in the markets we operate.
We likely will require additional capital to maintain or expand operations. Additionally, we believe any material acquisition of another operating company would require additional outside capital consisting of debt or equity. Failure to secure additional funds could significantly hamper our ongoing operations particularly if a down cycle in our industry continues further. As the business cycle improves, and the pandemic dissipates in the markets we serve, we plan to improve our cash flows provided in operating activities by