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 Montana, a business asset encompasses anything of value that a business owns or controls. 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 value and transfer of these assets are governed by various state statutes and federal laws, which address property rights, taxation, intellectual property protection, and transactions involving business assets. For instance, the Montana Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) regulates the sale and leasing of goods, while federal laws provide the framework for intellectual property protection and tax implications of asset management and transfers.