Thus fixed capital is that portion of the total capital outlay that is invested in fixed assets (such as land improvements, buildings, vehicles, plant, and equipment), that stay in the business almost permanently—or at the very least, for more than one accounting period. Fixed assets can be "purchased" by a business, in which case the business owns them. They can also be "leased", "hired" or "rented", if that is cheaper or more convenient, or if owning the fixed asset is practically impossible (for legal or technical reasons).