Non-Financial Asset

What It Is:

A non-financial asset has a value based on its tangible characteristics and properties.

How It Works/Example:

A company's balance sheet includes several types of assets and liabilities.  Assets include financial assets, such as cash, stocks, bonds and non-financial assets.  Examples of non-financial assets include land, buildings, vehicles and equipment.

Non-financial assets also include R&D, technologies, patents and other intellectual properties. The following is an example balance sheet with assets listed first, and liabilities listed second.

Current Assets

Cash$100,000
Stocks and Bonds$200,000
Accounts Receivable$350,000
Inventory$100,000
Total Current Assets $750,000

Long Term Assets

Building$300,000
Equipment$125,000
Depreciation-$50,000
Total Long Term Assets$375,000

Current Liabilities

Accounts Payable-$100,000
Mortgage Payment-$50,000
Total Current Liabilities-$150,000

Long-Term Liabilities

Mortgage Balance-$250,000
Total Long Term Liabilities-$250,000

Owner's Equity

Total Assets$1,125,000
Total Liabilities-$400,000
Net Owner's Equity$725,000

Why It Matters:

While financial assets pay the bills, non-financial assets are important in evaluating the long term viability of a company. Non-financial assets are an important part of the company's ability to incur debt by providing collateral with sustainable market value.

 
 
 
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Cached on February 8, 2012, 8:05 pm