An asset sale is the purchase of individual assets and liabilities, whereas a stock sale is the purchase of the owner's shares of a corporation. Unlike an asset sale, selling your business means you're selling the entire operation.The difference between the two lies into how the transaction is structured and its implications for taxes, liabilities, etc. In an asset sale, the new owner purchases the business's physical assets. The seller retains all rights to the legal entity. In an asset sale, the ownership of these acquired assets would change hands, with the buyer negotiating separately for each asset. In an asset sale, the buyer selects specific assets and typically avoids inheriting liabilities. During a sale of assets, everything your business owns is broken down into individual assets. An asset sale transaction involves the sale of some or all of the assets used in a business from a selling company to a buyer.