Leased Asset on the Balance Sheet: The value of the leased asset is recorded as a fixed asset on the balance sheet. The amount recorded is generally the present value of the minimum lease payments or the fair market value of the leased asset, whichever is lower.
A finance lease transfers the asset and any risk or return to the lessee. This means that ownership is transferred in a financial lease to the entity that leases the asset. In an operating lease, the ownership remains with the lessor, the entity that leased the asset to the lessee.
Asset management is the process of planning and controlling the acquisition, operation, maintenance, renewal, and disposal of organizational assets. This process improves the delivery potential of assets and minimizes the costs and risks involved.
Typically, assets rented under operating leases include real estate, aircraft, and equipment with long, useful life spans—such as vehicles, office equipment, or industry-specific machinery. Essentially, an operating lease is a contract for a company to use an asset and return it in a similar condition to the lessor.