The most basic tool of the account is the accounting equation. This equation presents the assets of the business and the claims to those assets. Assets are economic resources of a business that are expected to be of benefit in the future. Cash, office supplies merchandise, furniture, land and buildings are examples Claims to those assets come from two sources. Liabilities are 'outside claims', which are economic obligations, debts payable to outsiders. These outside parties are called creditors. For example a creditor who has loaned money to a business has a claim-- a legal right -- to a part of the assets until the business pays the debt, 'insider claims' are called owners' equity or capital. These are the claims held by the owners of the business. Owners' equity is measures by subtracting liabilities from assets. The owners of a business are those who have invested their money in the business. There- fore, they are the only persons who have the right of claims to the assets of the business.