Asset Purchase Example

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Previous lesson: Accounting Equation: Liability Examples 
Next lesson: Drawings Example

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In this lesson we're going to cover an example of purchasing an asset. Just as with the previous lessons, we'll use our sample business, George's Catering, to illustrate the transaction.

So far George has financed his business through his own funds ($15,000 capital) as well as through a loan from the bank ($5,000). He has $20,000 in his bank account available to spend.

The accounting equation for George's Catering stood as follows:

Now, what is he going to do with his funds?

Asset Purchase Transaction Example

c) George decides to actually set up his business. He decides to buy some baking equipment for his catering, so that he can bake various foods. The equipment costs $12,000. He pays this in cash.

Okay, so what the hell happens now with our accounting equation?!

I know - it's getting a bit more complex. Don't worry, don't panic...

Just as with our previous example, the easiest part of the transaction and a good starting point is to ask yourself what happened to the cash we had in our bank account.

We had $20,000. But now we're spending $12,000. So cash is decreasing by that amount.

The other part of the transaction is that we are gaining the kitchen equipment. Since this is an item of value that will provide the business future benefits, it is also an asset.

In order to simplify things, let's analyze the assets of George’s Catering before and after the transaction, as well as the changes that occurred: 

As you can see, we are essentially ‘swapping’ one asset for another.

The total of the assets does not change, only the value of the individual assets.

Our accounting equation is affected as follows:

The owner still owns $15,000 of the $20,000 assets. External parties still have a claim of $5,000 of the business’s assets. The only thing that has changed is the mixture of assets.

George’s Catering still consists of assets of $20,000, but this is now made up of baking equipment to the value of $12,000, and $8,000 cash. Previously it was $20,000 cash and nothing else.

Test Yourself!

Before you start, I would recommend to time yourself to make sure that you not only get the questions right but are completing them at the right speed.

Difficulty Rating:
Beginner

Quiz length: 
3 questions

Time limit:
5 minutes

Important: The solution sheet on the following page only shows the solutions and not whether you got each of the questions right or wrong. So before you start, get yourself a piece of paper and a pen to write down your answers. Once you're done with the quiz and writing down your answers, click the Check Your Answers button at the bottom and you'll be taken to our page of solutions.

Good luck!

This Form cannot be submitted until the missing fields (labelled below in red) have been filled in
Asset Purchase Example Mini Quiz:
Please note that all fields followed by an asterisk must be filled in.
1. Which elements of the accounting equation are affected when assets are purchased with cash?*
a) Assets increase and liabilities increase. b) Assets increase and owner's equity increases. c) Assets decrease and owner's equity increases. d) Assets decrease and owner's equity decreases. e) None of the above.
2. True or false: When assets are purchased with cash, the overall balance of assets as a whole remains the same.*
a) True b) False
3. A long-term asset such as kitchen equipment is known as _____________.*
a) Property. b) Owner's Equity. c) A healthy asset. d) A fixed asset. e) None of the above.
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Okay! So that's it for our asset purchase example, where we learned what would happen if we purchased a fixed asset (or non-current asset).

I hope that transaction is clearer now!

If you are having any difficulty with understanding the example above, return to the lesson entitled What are Assets? to review this key concept.

Return from Asset Purchase Example to Basic Accounting Transactions 

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Previous lesson: Accounting Equation: Liability Examples 
Next lesson: Drawings Example

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