The net worth of a business, also known as the owner's equity or shareholders' equity, is essentially the value left over for the owners after all liabilities have been subtracted from the assets. To put it simply, it represents the company's total assets minus its total liabilities.
Let's break this down:
- Assets: These are all the resources owned by the business, such as cash, property, inventory, and equipment.
- Liabilities: These are the debts and obligations that the business owes to others, such as loans, accounts payable, and mortgages.
The formula to calculate net worth is:
Net Worth = Assets - Liabilities
Understanding the net worth helps in assessing the company's financial health. If the assets exceed liabilities, it indicates a positive net worth, which is a good sign, showing that the business has enough assets to cover its obligations.
Let's examine the options given:
- Bank Loan: This is a liability, a debt that the business needs to repay.
- Capital: This refers to the financial resources that owners invest in the business, which is part of the owner's equity and contributes to net worth.
- Asset: As described, these are resources owned by the business and are a component in calculating net worth.
- Debenture: This is another form of liability. It's a type of debt instrument used by businesses to borrow money.
Thus, the net worth is fundamentally linked to assets and liabilities, and it is a crucial measure of what the owners have in the business once all liabilities are paid off. It is not directly descriptive of just a bank loan, capital, asset, or debenture, but rather a measure involving assets and liabilities.