NOTE 8 – GOODWILL & INTANGIBLE ASSETS

 

Goodwill

 

The Company has recorded goodwill in conjunction with acquisitions it has completed. The goodwill balances as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 were $1,080,638 and $9,688,975. Goodwill is not amortized, but tested for impairment annually. The Company recorded a goodwill impairment charge of $8,608,337 for the year ended December 31, 2024.  

 

Intangible Assets

 

Intangible assets as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 consisted of the following:

 

   As of December 31, 2024 
   Cost   Accumulated
Amortization
   Net Book
Value
 
Finite-lived intangible assets:            
Licenses   16,437    (16,437)   
-
 
Trademarks and trade names   499,000    (350,220)   148,780 
Backlog and other   429,400    (429,400)   
-
 
Total finite-lived intangible assets:     944,837    (796,057)   148,780 

 

   As of December 31, 2023 
   Cost   Accumulated
Amortization
   Net Book
Value
 
Finite-lived intangible assets:            
Customer relationships  $3,269,201   $(1,004,743)  $2,264,458 
Trademarks and trade names   1,778,000    (663,417)   1,114,583 
Backlog and other   707,400    (707,400)   
 
Licenses   16,437    (16,437)   
 
Total finite-lived intangible assets:   5,771,038    (2,391,997)   3,379,041 
Indefinite-lived intangible assets:               
Trade name   28,291    
    28,291 
Patents   44,276    
    44,276 
Total indefinite-lived intangible assets   72,567    
    72,567 
Total intangible assets, net  $5,843,605   $(2,391,997)  $3,451,608 

The Company recorded an impairment charge of $2,673,742 related to intangible assets for the year ended December 31, 2024.

 

Amortization expense for intangible assets subject to amortization for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 was $629,086 and $1,056,180, respectively.

 

The estimated future amortization expense for intangible assets subject to amortization at December 31, 2024, is summarized below:

 

   Estimated Future 
Year ending December 31,  Amortization Expense 
2025  $145,499 
2026   3,281 
2027   
-
 
2028   
-
 
Total estimated future amortization expense  $148,780 

About Goodwill & Intangibles Disclosures

Goodwill and intangible asset disclosures reveal the premium paid in acquisitions and how management assesses whether that premium retains its value. Since goodwill is no longer amortized under US GAAP, the annual impairment test is the only mechanism that adjusts carrying values downward — making the assumptions behind that test critically important for investors.

Key signals: a history of goodwill impairments suggests management consistently overpays for acquisitions. Watch the gap between reporting unit fair value and carrying amount — when fair value exceeds carrying amount by less than 10-20%, a small decline in business performance could trigger a write-down. For finite-lived intangibles, examine useful life assumptions across customer relationships, technology, and trade names; aggressive estimates inflate near-term earnings. Compare total intangibles-to-total-assets ratios against peers to assess acquisition dependency. Rising goodwill as a percentage of equity can signal balance sheet fragility.