Assets are what a company owns, such as equipment, buildings and inventory. Claims on assets include liabilities and owners' equity. Liabilities are what a company owes, such as notes payable, trade accounts payable and bonds. Owners' equity represent the claims of owners against the business.

Assets: What a company owns

Claims on Assets: Liabilities: What a company owes Owners' Equity: Claims of owners against the business

The basic equation that expresses the relationship of assets and claims on assets is called the accounting equation:

Some basic assets and claims on assets are listed below.

In other words, the equation illustrates that the assets of the company must equal the claims against the company. Those claims arise from both creditors of the company and owners of the company.

In using the accounting equation, if two of the three components are known, the third can be solved. For instance:

	Assets $200,000	= =	Liabilities $50,000	+ +	Owners' Equity ?
Owners' Equity must be $150,000 ($200,000 - $50,000)