How Many Types of Goodwill

How Many Types of Goodwill

Edited By Team Careers360 | Updated on May 31, 2023 11:45 AM IST

Introduction

There are two types of goodwill: purchased and inherent. Goodwill is the financial value of products a retailer owns that are sold by their customers before they are paid for or given a credit note. Goodwill can be found at the bottom of a company’s profit and loss statement. Goodwill is one of the day-to-day statements of value made by an organisation to its customers, partners, and stakeholders.

Features of a Goodwill

  • It is an intangible asset. Although it is hidden, this asset is real.

  • It cannot be sold independently of the business, unlike other distinguishable and separable assets, without also selling the business as a whole.

  • The amount of money spent or expenses incurred to create goodwill have no bearing on its worth.

  • Goodwill is valued subjectively and heavily depends on the valuer's judgement.

  • Goodwill can change over time. The value of goodwill may change significantly depending on both internal and external company circumstances.

How to Calculate Goodwill

We should take a company's purchase price and subtract the market value of its identifiable liabilities and assets in order to calculate goodwill.

Formula:

Goodwill = P − (A + L)

Where:

P stands for the target company's purchase price.

A stands for the fair market value of assets.

L stands for the fair market value of liabilities.

Types of Goodwill

  1. Purchased Goodwill

The difference between the price paid for a business as a going concern and the total of its assets minus the total of its liabilities, each of which has been identified and appraised separately, is known as purchased goodwill.

In addition to the value of the fact that the group of assets is used together and is not merely a collection of separable assets, goodwill also includes everything of long-term significance to the business that has not been independently defined as an asset.

Companies are required to report the following types, on their income statement: service, software, licences and licences provided. Goodwill can come into existence in a number of ways, but the most common is by enhancing an existing business. The most common scenario that results in a goodwill gain is the purchase of a company. A company buying another company results in excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the assets. When the purchase price paid for the company exceeds its fair value, the excess is recognized as goodwill. In many cases, the purchase price is paid in the acquisition of debt. The fair value of the net assets acquired and liabilities assumed is equal to the expected cash flows. When that is done recognition of the gain or (if there is a loss) the loss results.

  1. Inherent Goodwill

Goodwill is developed when someone patronises one's product or service, or when they are given generous benefits such as discounts and other incentives.

The value of a business that exceeds the fair market value of its separable net assets is known as inherent goodwill. It is referred to as internally produced goodwill and develops over time as a result of a company's positive reputation. Goodwill can have a positive or negative value. Positive goodwill develops when the enterprise's value as a whole exceeds the fair market value of its net assets. When the enterprise value is lower than the enterprise value of its net assets, it is negative.

Example of Goodwill

Simply explained, if a company named XYZ has assets minus liabilities

totaling 20 crores and is bought by another company for 25 crores, the

premium value after the acquisition is 5 crores. This 5 crores will be recorded

as goodwill on the acquirer's balance sheet. Additionally, it is noted when the

target company's purchase price exceeds the debt that is taken.

Factors Giving Rise to Goodwill

The following are crucial elements that contribute to goodwill:

  • Quality of products and services: A company that offers better products and services has a much better chance of building its reputation than competitors that offer inferior products and services.

  • Locational factors: A company's goodwill worth is increased if it is situated in a favourable area.

  • Efficiency of management: Effective management increases a company's profits, which boosts the company's goodwill.

  • Operational time: The length of time the company has been operational.

  • Business Risk: Compared to a high risk business, a business with lower risk has a better chance of building goodwill.

  • Favourable Contracts, Possession of trade mark and patents: A company that has specific benefits, such as favourable contracts, a guaranteed supply of raw materials at low prices, ownership of trademarks, patents, copyrights, technological know-how and research and development, well-known partners, etc., contributes to a higher value of goodwill.

  • Business nature - A company that enjoys steady, ongoing demand for its items, such as consumer goods, is able to make more money and, as a result, has more goodwill.

Accounting for Goodwill

Goodwill can be accounted for by

  • Recording it as an asset and deducting it from profits and losses over a number of years.

  • Immediately deducting it from accumulated reserves.

  • Keeping it as an asset and avoiding writing it off unless a persistent decline in value is apparent.

  • Displaying it as a shareholder fund deduction that is permitted to be carried forward indefinitely.

Accounting Treatment for Goodwill

When a new partner is admitted, goodwill is treated in accounting in one of five

ways:

  • When the goodwill is paid for in cash rather than being reflected in the books.

  • When the new partner brings his goodwill share in cash and stays on as a company partner.

  • If the new partner does not provide his goodwill portion in cash.

  • When there is previously recorded goodwill.

  • When a goodwill donation is made at the full value.

Need for Goodwill Valuation

The variation in existing partners' profit-sharing ratios (PSR)

  • The acceptance of a new companion.

  • A partner's eventual retirement.

  • Loss of a spouse.

  • Enterprise dissolution involving the selling of the company as a going concern.

  • Combining partnered businesses.

Conclusion

In this regard, it is crucial to stress that goodwill should only be acknowledged and documented in commercial transactions after receiving a monetary or monetary equivalent compensation.

Get answers from students and experts
Back to top