Business Worth: How Do You Calculate Goodwill?

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Wikipedia defines Goodwill as “the value of an entity over and above the value of its assets . . . the intangible but quantifiable “prudent value” of an ongoing business beyond its assets, resulting perhaps from the reputation the firm enjoyed with its clients”. Goodwill to most of us is the capacity of a business to earn profits in the future. It is what attracts customers to continually patronize a certain business. If one has to put a monetary value on goodwill, it is the amount one pays in acquiring a business that is in excess of the fair market value of the business’ net assets.

Goodwill = Purchase Price – Fair Market Value of Net Assets of the Business

Sellers and buyers have different approaches to valuation of goodwill. The seller will likely inflate goodwill whereas the buyer is likely to deflate it. Goodwill, being an intangible asset is not easily identified or measured. It includes customer lists and relationships, brand name and logo recognition, business connections, reputation, trademarks, patents, inventions, employees, and vendor relationships among others. All these things are part of a business one may want to sell or want to buy.

There are many ways or methods of goodwill valuation. Once the value of goodwill is established, this amount is listed as an asset, aside from the tangible assets, in the business’ balance sheet. Below are some popular methods of calculating goodwill.

Goodwill Calculation: How to Calculate Goodwill

1. Net Asset Method

Add up the fair market value of all tangible assets of the business and subtract this value from the sale value to determine the value of goodwill.

Goodwill = Purchase Price – Value of Net Assets of the Business

2. Average Profit Method

O...

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... the projected future earnings is less than the past years.

To help you calculate the worth of a business, particularly an intangible asset such as the goodwill of the business you want to sell or purchase, you will need professionals such as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or a Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA). They can also guide you through the tax implications of goodwill.

Which calculation method will you apply to get the best valuation of your business goodwill?

Works Cited

1. How Do You Measure Goodwill?

http://www.neumannassociates.com/blog/

2. How can I calculate good will of a company?

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_can_I_calculate_good_will_of_a_company

3. How to Calculate Goodwill

http://www.wikihow.com/Calculate-Goodwill

4. Method of calculating goodwill

http://www.svtuition.org/2008/08/method-of-calculating-goodwill.html

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