Asset

Table of Contents

Asset
What is an asset?
Understanding an asset
Types of assets
Examples of asset
How do assets work?
Frequently Asked Questions

Asset

When managing a company or a business, you must keep a close eye on the business’ profit and loss. This profit and loss are affected by several variables. An asset is one of these factors that matters the most. It is a resource purchased primarily to raise the company’s value. The term, however, denotes much more than this, helping us comprehend the vital role various types of assets play in businesses and their distinctive value.

What is an asset?

It is a resource with the economic worth that a person, business, or nation possesses or controls with the hope that it will someday be useful, and is referred to as an asset. In general, an asset is something valuable and useful.

But in business, assets must develop or produce something that the corporation can sell for money or have resale value to have positive economic value. The majority of the things that a firm controls or possesses are assets in some sense.

Employees are an example of an asset because businesses need people to operate, produce goods, or provide services. Along with equipment, machinery, and any inventory produced or used by employees, the building they operate from is likewise a resource.

Understanding an asset

An asset is an economic resource owned or under an entity’s control, such as a business. A scarce resource that has the potential to benefit the economy by increasing cash inflows or decreasing cash outflows is referred to as an economic resource. An asset can also represent access that other people or companies do not have.

Additionally, a right or another type of access may be legally enforceable, meaning a company may use financial resources as it sees fit. An owner may restrict or prohibit their use. As of the company’s financial statements’ date, a company must have a right to something to be counted as an asset.

To accurately portray major financial measures like cash flow and working capital, the firm’s management must properly identify assets. The classification of an organisation’s assets can also assist it in qualifying for loans (by giving the bank a better understanding of the risk it is accepting), navigating bankruptcy, and determining its tax obligations.

Organisations may see how each asset category affects overall revenue by separating operational from non-operating assets.

Types of assets

Asset

When it comes to businesses, assets are typically classified into the following categories:

Liquid assets

Liquid assets can be rapidly and readily turned into cash, such as bank accounts, certificates of deposit (CDs), stocks, or bonds. As not all of your assets can be sold immediately for cash without suffering some loss or fee on the sale, liquid assets are special in this regard.

Illiquid assets

These include real estate, antiques, and collectables because they take longer to convert to cash. Even if you have a lot of equity in your home, the sale might take some time, depending on the state of the local market, making it an illiquid asset.

Tangible resources

Physical possessions are referred to as tangible assets. Cash in your bank account, your car, and the furniture in your house are all examples of tangible assets. You can touch and measure a tangible asset with your hands.

Non-tangible assets

Non-physical items of value are known as intangible assets. They include trademarks, patents, copyrights, intellectual property, and internet domain names. Although you cannot physically touch them, they are worth something and can be exchanged for money.

Examples of asset

Examples of assets include:

Investments

Cash and cash equivalents
PPE (property, plant, and equipment)
Vehicles
Marketable securities
Product designs

Trademarks
Accounts receivable
Inventory
Computers
Furniture

Patents (intangible asset)

How do assets work?

Asset accumulation is a strategy used by individuals, companies, and the government to generate future short-term or long-term financial gains. An asset’s value can rise (or increase) or fall (or decrease), affecting the overall solvency of the person or business.

A company is said to be solvent if its assets are sufficient to satisfy its debts. A balance sheet, a financial statement that lists a company’s current assets, liabilities, and stockholders’ equity, can be used by businesses to monitor how its assets compares with its liabilities. This is a useful method for determining a company’s general financial health.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between assets and liabilities?

The things that your business has and can provide future financial gain are called assets. Liabilities are the debts you owe to other people. In other words, assets increase your wealth while liabilities decrease it.

How are current assets different from fixed (non-current) assets?

Short-term assets are current assets that can be quickly liquidated and used for a company’s immediate needs. Non-current assets are long-term and have an operational life of over a year. Cash, marketable securities, inventory, and accounts receivable are a few current assets.

What are non-physical assets?

An asset that is not physical is referred to as non-physical or intangible. Intangible assets include goodwill, brand recognition, and intellectual property like patents, trademarks, and copyrights. They are in contrasting with tangible assets like real estate, automobiles, machinery, and stock.

What are the three key properties of assets?

The three key properties of assets are:

A company must first possess ownership or control over the asset.

Additionally, an asset must have economic value.
An asset must also be a resource, which means it can be used to create future economic value.

What is the importance of assets?

The following are some of the main reasons for their popularity:

Businesses can easily track their liquid and fixed assets. The company’s owners know the location of the assets, how they have been used, and whether any alterations have been made. Additionally, they can analyse any debts, long or short-term.

Since items are frequently verified, the asset management approach ensures that assets are accurately recorded in the financial statements.
Identification and management of risks related to the use and ownership of specific assets are part of asset management. A business will always be prepared to manage any risks that might occur.
In some instances, assets are stolen, lost, or damaged have been incorrectly recorded on the books. Using a strategic asset management strategy, the company’s owners will be aware of the lost assets and remove them from the books.