What is a red flag going concern?

Asked by: Antonetta Johnston  |  Last update: April 10, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (44 votes)

Red Flags Indicating a Business Is Not a Going Concern A firm's inability to meet its obligations without substantial restructuring or selling of assets may also indicate it is not a going concern. If a company acquires assets during a time of restructuring, it may plan to resell them later.

What is an example of a going concern issue?

Examples of Going Concern

A state-owned company is in a tough financial situation and is struggling to pay its debt. The government gives the company a bailout and guarantees all payments to its creditors. The state-owned company is a going concern despite its poor financial position.

Is a going concern good or bad?

A business operating as a going concern is expected to trade for 12 months or more without any threat of liquidation. Going concern means it does not appear that the company is at risk of closing due to insolvency but instead is expected to survive and thrive.

What are the symptoms of going concern issues?

When evaluating the going concern assumption, look for signs that your company's long-term viability may be questionable, such as:
  • Recurring operating losses or working capital deficiencies.
  • Loan defaults & debt restructuring.
  • Denial of credit from suppliers.
  • Dividend arrearages.
  • Disposals of substantial assets.

What is considered a going concern?

What Does It Mean To Sell A Business As A Going Concern? Selling a business as a going concern is when a company sells a business to a buyer that can continue operating as usual in its current financial state.

4 Red Flags of A Potential Going Concern Issue

39 related questions found

What is a going concern warning?

Whenever an auditor or management team warns of “substantial doubt” about a company's ability to continue as a “going concern”, users should always take notice. A going concern warning indicates that the business may soon not be in business, so be aware of the risk you're taking before you invest.

How to test for going concern?

Procedures should include:
  1. analysing and discussing cash flow, profit and other relevant forecasts with management.
  2. reviewing the terms of loan agreements and determining whether they have been breached.
  3. reading minutes of board meetings and relevant committees for any discussion of financing difficulties.

What is the legal definition of going concern?

Going concern is an accounting term, which means a business is financially stable and can operate with the expectation of indefinite existence. A company must begin disclosing specific information on its financial statements if it can no longer be considered a going concern.

What symptoms should I be worried about?

From unexplained weight loss to sudden flashes of light, take note of important symptoms, and know when to seek medical care. Chest pain, sudden loss of vision or speech, and severe stomach pain need immediate medical attention.

What is the difference between going concern and gone concern?

Tier 1 capital, including Cocos, is known as 'going concern' capital – it cushions losses while a bank keeps going. Tier 2 capital is called 'gone concern' capital because it might not be able to absorb loss while a bank remains a going concern.

What is not considered a going concern?

If a business is not a going concern, it means it's gone bankrupt and its assets were liquidated. As an example, many dot-coms are no longer going concern companies after the tech bust in the late 1990s.

What are the indicators of going concern?

» The auditor considers conditions, events, and indicators, to determine if a potential going concern issue is present. » These may be financial (e.g. withdrawal of financial support by creditors), operating (loss of key management without replacement), or other (e.g. uninsured or underinsured catastrophes).

When to disclose going concern?

— Disclosures when substantial doubt exists: When management's plans do not alleviate substantial doubt, the entity needs to disclose that substantial doubt exists. Although management's going concern assessment has no direct effect on an entity's accounting, it can have indirect implications.

Why is it called going concern?

It's a concern in the sense of "commercial enterprise, entity". Similarly, it's not "going" in the sense of "leaving" or "going out of business", but "going" as in "ongoing, viable". So, "going concern" is not a negative thing, meaning "bankruptcy worries" or so, but a positive thing, meaning "viable enterprise".

How do you address a going concern issue?

If the auditor believes there is substantial doubt about the entity's ability to continue as a going concern for a reasonable period of time, he should (1) obtain information about management's plans that are intended to mitigate the effect of such conditions or events, and (2) assess the likelihood that such plans can ...

What is a qualified opinion for going concern?

If the auditor considers that the going concern basis is appropriate and that the disclosures are adequate, then the audit opinion will be unmodified and the auditor's report will include a section headed 'Material Uncertainty Related to Going Concern' which explains the uncertainty.

What health symptoms should never be ignored?

Sometimes it's really obvious you need to see a doctor. A dangerously high fever, constant vomiting or excruciating pain are all very clear signs something is wrong, and you need medical attention.

Why do I feel like my body is shutting down?

"When the body cannot handle emotional overload, it simply begins to shut down. And that is often manifested by a sense of extreme tiredness and fatigue," says Kalayjian.

Why do I feel tired and bloated all the time?

Bloating, nausea, and tiredness can occur due to a wide range of causes. Temporary explanations can include eating rich or salty meals, eating too much, or short-term stress. Longer-term causes include conditions such as IBS, SIBO, and gastroparesis.

How to prove going concern?

Going concern requires the audit team to record systematically relevant facts, circumstances and management's assumptions, including where these have been challenged. Audit teams should remain sceptical while auditing the cash flow forecasts and watch out for breaches of loan covenants and the refinancing of debt.

What does a going concern opinion look like?

"Going concern" is an accounting term used to describe a business that is expected to operate for the foreseeable future or at least the next 12 months. It assumes that the business can generate income, meet its obligations and doesn't plan or won't need to liquidate in the coming year.

What is another term for going concern?

Noun. Something that generates a continuous income. money-spinner. moneymaker.

What is an example of a going concern?

A company owned by the state is struggling financially. The government grants a bailout to the company and guarantees all pending payments to the company's creditors. Despite the poor financial situation, the state-owned company is still a going concern.

What is the going concern concept in simple words?

Going concern concept is one of the accounting principles that states that a business entity will continue running its operations in the foreseeable future and will not be liquidated or forced to discontinue operations for any reason.

What does a going concern value include?

Going concern value reflects a business's worth, assuming it continues operations indefinitely. It factors in both tangible assets and intangible elements like brand reputation and customer relationships. Understanding this concept is essential for accurate business valuation.