A business asset is any property of value—including tangible assets (real estate, machinery, buildings, building fixtures, tools, vehicles, equipment, computers, printers, furniture, warehouse shelving, cash, inventory), and intangible assets (accounts receivable, prepaid expenses, software licenses, vendor relationships, corporate brand, patents, copyrights, trademarks, goodwill, trade secrets).
In Alabama, a business asset encompasses anything of value owned by a business. Tangible assets include physical items such as real estate, machinery, buildings and their fixtures, tools, vehicles, equipment, computers, printers, furniture, and warehouse shelving, as well as liquid assets like cash and inventory. Intangible assets, on the other hand, are non-physical and include items such as accounts receivable, prepaid expenses, software licenses, vendor relationships, corporate branding, and intellectual property rights like patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets. The valuation and treatment of these assets can have implications for accounting, taxation, and legal matters such as the sale or transfer of the business, securing loans, and in the event of bankruptcy. Alabama state statutes and federal law provide the regulatory framework for how these assets are to be handled legally, including their reporting, depreciation, and protection.