Goodwill is the most widely used term in commercial and accounting vocabulary, yet it baffles most students. It is anything greater than a basic asset or money in tangible form owned by a company. Goodwill is the reputation, loyalty of customers, and brand value that the business has developed over time. In accounting terms, goodwill becomes extremely significant when one firm buys out another. For commerce students, knowledge about goodwill is crucial since it is profoundly used in business valuation, mergers, and acquisitions.
In this article, we will study what goodwill is, its calculations, its characteristics, and the importance of goodwill in the world of commerce. This guide will provide students with an in-depth knowledge of goodwill and what impact it has on transactions relating to business deals.
Meaning of Goodwill
Goodwill is an intangible asset that arises when a company buys another business entity at a price greater than its book value. It can be said to be the premium a buyer is willing to pay for non-physical assets like a company’s reputation, good customer relationships, or brand value.
Goodwill is considered to be an intangible asset. It is a sum of everything that carries additional value to a business beyond just the mere aggregation of tangible or identifiable assets. Examples include brand reputation, customer loyalty, qualified employees, and good supplier relationships.
In accounting, goodwill arises when a business purchases another for over the value of its identifiable assets like property, equipment, and inventory.
Goodwill does not happen overnight. Goodwill is acquired by a business when it produces adequate operating results, which are achieved by the merits of an entity, its assets, or by simply existing reputation and customer satisfaction over time. It happens without any effort on the part of businesses when they expand and strengthen their relationships with customers, suppliers, and personnel.
Goodwill is shown in the firm’s financial statements only when the firm is buying another firm. This means that when the firm is thriving on its own, its value in terms of goodwill is not shown. Only when some other firm buys it does goodwill appear in the books.
How is goodwill calculated?
There is a very simple formula widely applied in the goodwill calculation. It says:
Goodwill = P – (A + L) or
Goodwill = Purchase Price− Net Fair Value of Identifiable Assets
Here,
P is the price paid to buy the company,
A is the fair value of the assets of the company, and
L is the fair value of the company’s liabilities.
As per Accounting Rules, partners need to figure out their firm’s goodwill for these reasons:
- A new partner joins the firm.
- A present partner dies or withdraws.
- The partners wish to dissolve the firm.
- The partners agree to share profits differently.
In all these cases, the partners must first compute and share the existing goodwill before doing anything else.
Example:
If Company A buys Company B for $500,000 and the total value of Company B’s assets is $400,000, then the extra amount paid, called goodwill, would be $100,000.
Types of Goodwill
In accountancy, goodwill refers to the value intangible that a business possesses due to its reputation, customer loyalty, brand, or other factors that result in higher profits compared to competitors. The kinds of goodwill mainly vary based on the circumstances under which it arises. In the business world, there are usually two kinds of goodwill.
Purchased Goodwill
Purchased goodwill results when a company buys into another and pays more than the fair value of its net identifiable assets. Such excess is represented as goodwill, recorded in the balance sheet of the acquirer. It is the premium paid over the net value of the identifiable assets and liabilities of the company. Try to think of this analogy: You buy more than the physical assets and debts; you pay for the reputation of the business, customer relationships, brand recognition, and other intangible assets that have contributed to its value.
Inherent Goodwill
The goodwill created by a business over the years. However, this form is not accounted for in the books of account unless there is an acquisition. Although inherent goodwill is somewhat distinct from the rest, it is the value that a business possesses besides the fair value of its identifiable assets. Different from purchased goodwill, which has emanated through a transaction, inherent goodwill is generated internally over time.
Characteristics of Goodwill
Goodwill has some special characteristics that differentiate it from other assets. In fact, there are some of the important features, as stated below:
Intangible Asset
Goodwill is not a tangible asset since it cannot be seen or even touched. It is an intangible asset since it does not have a physical form but still provides value to the company.
Difficult to Measure
The value of goodwill is highly subjective. It depends on factors like the market position and brand strength of a business, and customer loyalty also plays an important role. Two companies might value the same company’s goodwill differently.
Not Sold Separately
Goodwill is not sold separately. It is always accompanied by the business. If a business is sold, then goodwill is sold along with it.
Long-Term Asset
Goodwill does not have a stipulated life since other assets lose value gradually over time; however, it can be impaired when the business fails to outperform its market or becomes incapacitated in terms of loss of reputation.
Arises only When Acquired
Goodwill can only arise in accounting records when there is an acquisition of a business. Internal goodwill cannot arise in financial statements.
Significance of Goodwill
Goodwill also represents an important dimension of business and accounting, especially in the process of mergers and acquisitions. Why is goodwill important anyway?
Increases the Purchase Price
When a company is sold, the person buying it may be willing to pay more than the net worth of its physical and financial assets. This premium is goodwill. It shows the value of a company’s intangible assets, such as customer loyalty and brand reputation.
Reflects Business Reputation
Goodwill pertains to the trust and respect that an enterprise has gained in the market. A company that has strong goodwill is termed reliable as well as trustworthy, which will attract and retain new as well as old customers.
Competitive Advantage
The reason why goodwill gives a company a competitive edge is that any business that has a high goodwill is normally easy to expand because it already has an established reputation and loyal customers ready to give it patronage as it gets new products or enters new markets.
Effects on Financial Statements
Goodwill is an asset on the balance sheet of the acquiring firm. However, if the value of goodwill decreases, say, a customer base or reputation is lost, the amount can be written off in the books of accounts, which would affect the profits of the business.
Consolidates Synergies in Acquisitions
Goodwill is that value created due to synergy as a result of the acquisition by two companies combining and creating better operational efficiency, increased market share, and strong brand positioning.
Conclusion
Goodwill is one of the business world’s intangible values that a company has established over time. It indicates the level of reputation, customer loyalty, and brand power. It will help in forming a clear understanding of the concept of goodwill in accounting. For commerce students, goodwill is important in efforts to get a sense of the value of businesses, especially during mergers and acquisitions. While it is an intangible asset, it weighs much in determining the soundness of the financial status of a particular company.
Goodwill FAQs
Can goodwill be negative?
No, goodwill can never be negative. However, in case the purchase price is lower than the value of net assets, it is called a “bargain purchase.”
Why is goodwill different from other intangible assets?
Goodwill is not identifiable or separable like patents or trademarks. Goodwill arises only in the context of an acquisition and encompasses various factors, including brand name and customer loyalty.
What is the accounting for amortization of goodwill?
Under most accounting standards, goodwill is not amortized but instead undergoes an annual impairment test.
What occurs when goodwill is impaired?
If goodwill is impaired, the value of a company must be reduced on the balance sheet, and this impacts net income.
What is impairment test?
In the impairment test, it is decided whether the carrying value of goodwill exists in the current scenario or if that value exceeds its recoverable amount; therefore, its value is reduced.
