Apr 2, 2008 12:52
16 yrs ago
78 viewers *
French term

fonds de commerce

French to English Law/Patents Business/Commerce (general)
One of the parties in a contract is named as the representative of a 'fonds de commerce'.

Is this simply a 'business' in English, or is there a more specific term that is more suitable?

Thanks!
Change log

Apr 2, 2008 13:19: Steffen Walter changed "Term asked" from "Fonds de commerce" to "fonds de commerce"

Votes to reclassify question as PRO/non-PRO:

Non-PRO (1): Julie Barber

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Discussion

Rob Grayson Apr 2, 2008:
Thanks for the points, but I'd advise you wait 24 hours before grading/closing questions, as set out in the Kudoz rules. Even if you're sure you've got the right answer, you never know what else you might learn ;-)

Proposed translations

+7
2 mins
Selected

business

Based on what you've said and with no further context, I would say odds on that it's simply a business.

The other meaning of this term (usually) is something akin to "purchased goodwill" - clearly not the case here.

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Note added at 13 mins (2008-04-02 13:06:34 GMT)
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For clarification, "goodwill" generally refers to the perceived value of a business over and above the value of its physical assets. This usually applies when a business is being sold as a going concern and part of the price paid is in recognition of the existing customer base, loyal customers who will continue to purchase, brand awareness etc. etc. The term can be used in a general sense, or in a specific accounting sense, in which case it is an item recorded on a business's balance sheet to reflect the additional amount paid on acquiring a business in recognition of the above intangible benefits (often an "écart d'acquisition" in FR).

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Note added at 14 mins (2008-04-02 13:07:48 GMT) Post-grading
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So, as cmwilliams says, difficult to see how goodwill could be an appropriate translation in this case. How can a person "represent" goodwill as described above?
Peer comment(s):

agree cjohnstone : or goodwill, all depends!!!
0 min
Thanks, Catherine
agree MikeGarcia : Or business or goodwill, you are right.-
2 mins
Thanks, Miguel
agree Comunican : yes, or goodwill
2 mins
Thanks
agree cmwilliams (X) : yes, I don't see how it could mean 'goodwill' in this context.
9 mins
Thanks
agree Adsion Liu
25 mins
Thanks
agree Julie Barber : Business. Goes to show nobody reads the questions or the answers fully!
1 hr
Thanks, Julie. Yes, indeed!!
agree Victoria Porter-Burns :
5 hrs
Thanks, Victoria
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks for the answers! Goodwill seemed completely illogical to me also, given the context."
2 mins

Business, (and specify which)

is the standard term. Specify sector.
Something went wrong...
6 mins

business (assets) / goodwill (clientèle)

*
Something went wrong...
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