About Working Capital
Working capital is a measure of a company's short-term financial health and operational efficiency. It represents the difference between current assets and current liabilities, indicating the funds available for day-to-day operations and growth.
Key Components
Current Assets
- Cash and cash equivalents
- Accounts receivable
- Inventory
- Marketable securities
- Other liquid assets
Current Liabilities
- Accounts payable
- Short-term debt
- Current portion of long-term debt
- Accrued expenses
- Other short-term obligations
Important Financial Ratios
Current Ratio
Measures a company's ability to pay short-term obligations. A ratio above 1.0 indicates good short-term liquidity.
Quick Ratio
Similar to current ratio but excludes inventory. A ratio above 1.0 shows strong immediate liquidity.
Working Capital Management Tips
Inventory Management
Optimize inventory levels to reduce carrying costs while maintaining adequate stock for operations.
Cash Flow Optimization
Accelerate collections, manage payment timing, and maintain efficient cash conversion cycles.