Читать книгу Reading Financial Reports For Dummies - Lita Epstein - Страница 83

Companies also hold intangible assets, which have value but are often difficult to measure. The following are the most common intangible assets in the Chart of Accounts:

 Goodwill: A company needs this account only when it has bought another company. Frequently, a business that purchases another business pays more than the actual value of its assets minus its liabilities. The premium paid, which may account for factors such as customer loyalty, an exceptional workforce, and a great location, is listed on the books as goodwill.

 Intellectual property: This category includes copyrights, patents, and written work or products for which the company has been granted exclusive rights. For example, the government grants patents to a company or individual that invents a new product or process. These assets are amortized, which is similar to depreciation, because intellectual property has a limited life span. The amortization account is Accumulated amortization — Intellectual property. Having exclusive rights to a product allows a company to hold off competition, which can mean a lot of extra profits. Patented products can often command a much higher price than products that aren't patented.