What is capital?

• A. All the money, goods and property that the business can use to make income through buying producing and selling
• B. The monthly rent paid by the business
• C. The amount of cash on hand at end of year
• D. The value of inventory held

Answer: (A)

Capital is the resources a business uses to generate income. This includes cash, physical assets like buildings, equipment, and the goods it holds or can deploy to produce and sell more value. The choice that describes all the money, goods, and property a business can use to earn income through buying, producing, and selling matches this broad idea of what a business can deploy to generate earnings.

Rent is money paid to use space and isn’t itself a resource the business uses to produce income. Cash on hand at year end describes liquidity, not the productive asset base. Inventory is a current asset and part of capital in some contexts, but capital refers to the full set of resources available to generate income, not just inventory.