Inventory

What is Inventory? Definition: Inventory, often called merchandise, refers to goods and materials that a business holds for sale to customers in the near future. In other words, these goods and materials serve no other purpose in the business except to be sold to customers for a profit. They are not used in the produce … Read more

Accounts Receivable

What is Accounts Receivable?

What is Accounts Receivable? Definition: Accounts receivable, often abbreviated A/R, is the amount of money that customers currently owe to the company for goods or services that were purchased on credit. Many companies offer credit programs to customers who frequent the business or suppliers who regularly order products. The purpose of credit program is to … Read more

Cash and Cash Equivalents (CCE)

What are Cash and Cash Equivalents? Definition: Cash and cash equivalents are highly liquid assets including coin, currency, and short-term investments that typically mature in 30-90 days. CCE is actually two different groups of very similar assets that are commonly combined because they are so closely related. Let’s take a look at each one of these … Read more

Current Assets

What are Current Assets? Definition: A current asset, also called a current account, is either cash or a resource that are expected to be converted into cash within one year. These resources are often referred to as liquid assets because they are so easily converted into cash in a short period of time. Take inventory … Read more

Assets

What are Assets in Accounting? Definition: An asset is a resource that has some economic value to a company and can be used in a current or future period to generate revenues. These resources take many forms from cash to buildings and are recorded on the balance sheet until they are used. Once these resources are … Read more

Intangible Assets

What are Intangible Assets? Definition: Intangible assets are long-term resources that typically lack a physical presence and have an unknown amount of future value or amount of benefits. In other words, intangible assets are typically intellectual assets the benefit the company over several accounting periods. What Does Intangible Asset Mean? The main examples of intangibles … Read more

What are Betterments?

Definition: A betterment is an improvement to a plant asset that makes the asset more efficient or more productive. Betterments are usually expensive in nature and are not expensed like general repairs and maintenance expenses. What Does Betterment Mean? Instead, betterments are capitalized because they actually improve the performance or life of the asset significantly. … Read more

What are Available for Sale Securities?

Definition: Available for sale securities, often abbreviated AFS, are debt and equity investments that are not classified as trading or held-to-maturity securities. In other words, they are all the investments that don’t fit into the trading or held-to-maturity categories. Let’s take a look at the differences between these three investment categories. What Does Available for … Read more