According to the International Valuation Glossary — Business Valuation, goodwill is: “That intangible asset arising as a result of name, reputation, customer loyalty, location, products, and similar factors not separately identified.” Put another way, it’s the aggregate value of a business that exceeds the value of identifiable tangible and intangible assets. So when a business is valued under either the market approach or the income approach, it’s only necessary to compare the overall business value to the value of the identifiable assets and liabilities in order to find the value of the goodwill.
IRS, FASB and Courts Focus on Goodwill
As the business valuation discipline has evolved over the years, more attention has been focused on identifying and valuing goodwill. For example, the following regulatory changes have cast the spotlight on goodwill in valuation:
Internal Revenue Code Section 197, Amortization of Goodwill and Certain Other Intangibles. Starting in 1993, this tax law requires identification of the values of specific intangible assets for amortization purposes.
Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 805, Business Combinations. In the fall of 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) changed its rules on acquisition accounting. Now buyers in M&A transactions must allocate the purchase price to assets and liabilities based on their “fair values” for book purposes. Purchase price allocations require both the identification of “identifiable” intangible assets and the determination of those values. Goodwill then becomes the value remaining after all identifiable intangible assets are valued.
Goodwill also takes center stage in divorce cases in some states. Some states include all business value (including goodwill) in the marital estate, while others specifically exclude all goodwill from the marital estate. About half of the states expect business owners to not only identify and value goodwill, but they also specifically exclude personal goodwill from the marital estate under certain circumstances. Sometimes, personal goodwill is further broken down into pure and transferable goodwill.
Because laws vary depending on legal precedent and case specifics, it’s important for attorneys and valuation professionals to discuss the issue of goodwill before appraising the business for divorce purposes.
Leave Goodwill to the Experts
Goodwill has grown into a major player in the valuation paradigm, especially when appraising professional practices. It’s evolved from a nebulous clump of residual value into a concept that must be considered more closely in valuation and its components identified as appropriate for the purpose of the valuation.
Always hire a credentialed valuator who is aware of the nuances and emerging best practices regarding this valuable asset and its underlying components.
| Goodwill Isn’t a Catchall Technically, not all intangible value is goodwill. So, you can’t necessarily compare the fair market value of a business to the net book value of its equity to arrive at the value of goodwill. That residual value may also include other intangible assets that can be valued separately from goodwill. Accounting Standards Codification Topic 805, Business Combinations, provides the following list of specific intangible assets that might be included in the aggregate intangible value: Marketing Related Intangible Assets  Trademarks, trade namesService marks, collective marks, certification marksTrade dress (unique color, shape, or package design)Newspaper mastheadsInternet domain namesNon-competition agreementsCustomer Related Intangible Assets Customer listsOrder of production backlogsCustomer contracts and related customer relationshipsNon-contractual customer relationshipsArtistic Related Intangible Assets (Copyrights)Contract Based Intangible Assets Licensing, royalty, standstill agreementsAdvertising, construction, management, service or supply contractsLease agreementsConstruction permitsFranchise agreementsOperating and broadcasting rightsUse rights such as drilling, water, air, mineral, timber cutting, and route authoritiesServicing contracts such as mortgage servicing contractsEmployment contractsTechnology Based Intangible Assets Patented technologyComputer software and mask worksUnpatented technologyDatabases, including title plantsTrade secrets, such as secret formulas, processes, recipes |