Finance is the study and control of money and other assets.  This can mean the study of how to make money, pay debts, manage money, and build or decrease assets among other fields of study. All of this is vital to the success of a business.  Without a firm understanding of finance, no business can hope to be successful.  

Finance is often a class that is studied in college to assist future business owners and leaders in the understanding of the basic economics of the business world.  This helps a business leader to understand the concept of supply and demand, the concepts of money transfers and what each transfer means.  There are also the basic trends that must be analyzed for a business to make the most of them.  There is much that one must learn to understand and participate in a financial world.  

Finance does not mean just money.  Finances include the various equities and assets that business or person has.  For an example, company cars are included in the company finances.  The personal home is a major part of the person finance plan.  These objects are expensive and often can make up a large portion of the monetary value of a business.  These objects must be counted for one to gain an accurate picture of the financial health of a business.  

Finance can also be a verb.  To finance something means to take a loan out to obtain something.  The most common examples include property such as the vehicles or the real estate of a business or person.  It is rare that a business or person does not need someone to finance something for that business or person.  Financing things can have the unexpected benefit of building a credit score and making it easier for a business or person to grow financially.