1. Tangibility: Assets are physical or tangible items that can be seen, touched, or measured. Examples include cash, inventory, buildings, and equipment.
2. Ownership: Assets are owned by an individual, organization, or entity and can be legally transferred or sold.
3. Value: Assets have economic value and can be converted into cash or used to generate income.
4. Durability: Assets are expected to have a useful life beyond the current accounting period. They are not consumed or used up immediately.
5. Measurability: Assets can be quantified and measured in monetary terms. They are recorded on a balance sheet at their historical cost or fair market value.
6. Future benefits: Assets are expected to provide future economic benefits to the owner. For example, a building can generate rental income, and a patent can provide exclusive rights to a product or technology.
7. Control: Assets give the owner control over the resources and enable them to make decisions regarding their use, sale, or disposal.
8. Liquidity: Assets can be easily converted into cash or other liquid assets without significant loss of value. Cash is the most liquid asset, while fixed assets like buildings may have lower liquidity.
9. Depreciation: Some assets, such as machinery or vehicles, may depreciate over time due to wear and tear or obsolescence. This depreciation is accounted for in financial statements.
10. Risk and return: Assets carry varying levels of risk and potential return. Higher-risk assets, such as stocks or real estate, may offer higher returns, while lower-risk assets, such as government bonds, may provide more stability but lower returns.