NOL's are not a positive but they can be used to offset future tax liabilities:
A net loss is often a warning that current financial practices should be re-examined and possibly altered in order to comply with current circumstances. Choosing to take action to minimize the amount of net loss sooner rather than later can often mean the difference between weathering a temporary financial setback versus experiencing bankruptcy or a failure of the business. For this reason, financial accountants often take steps to apprise their clients of the presence of a net loss as soon as the situation is first determined.
While it is not unusual for businesses and other organizations to operate at a net loss for short periods of time, few organizations are prepared to function at a continual loss over an extended period. Often, companies create resources that are held in check to assist the business to cover operating expenses during those periods when the sales do not exceed expenses. However, once those resources are exhausted, the company must either find some other means of temporary financing or take other measures to restore profitability.