An accounting term for the intangible asset which accrues to a business or brand when it has a positive reputation and strong recognition within its target market. Other elements which can contribute to Goodwill include employee satisfaction and customer loyalty. The presence (or absence) of Goodwill becomes important when a business is valued or sold, and finding the correct ‘value’ in any given situation is a global problem. Marketers in the US are currently working with the accounting profession to set nationally-accepted valuation guidelines for this.

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