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. In an asset sale, only a list of the assets being transferred is required.An asset sale is a common method for transferring business ownership. In an asset sale, the buyer purchases the assets of the business, rather than the business itself. Unlike an asset sale, selling your business means you're selling the entire operation. An asset sale is the sale of just the good stuff: the equipment, trademarks, and customer list, for example.