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 Washington State, 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 tax reporting, business transactions, and legal considerations such as asset protection and transfer of ownership. Washington State law, in conjunction with federal law, governs how these assets are handled in various business activities, including sales, mergers, acquisitions, and dissolutions.