Although we control for the client’s financial condition (via ZFC score), Rosman et al. (1999, 39) conclude that “… financial information may not truly reflect current activities and may not be predictive of a start-up company’s going-concern status.” Given the start-up nature of development stage entities, their financial statements may indicate some degree of distress. The auditor is likely to view the “financial distress” of a development stage entity as a function of the company’s stage in its life cycle rather than as an indication of impending failure. Therefore, after controlling for financial distress level, we expect that development stage entities will be less likely to receive going-concern reports than established entities.6 We identify development stage entities by examining financial statement headings. Per Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 7 (FASB 1975), a development stage entity must be clearly identified as such in its financial statement headings