Do you want to know the working capital requirement of a business? In this article, we will define the term, discover its contents and explain how to calculate it. Whatever your level of financial management knowledge, you will find useful and relevant information.
Definition of working capital requirement
Are you looking to know the definition of a company’s working capital requirement? You are in the right place ! In what follows, we will explore what working capital is, why it matters, and how it can be measured.
General definition
The need for working capital (BFR) is an essential element for any business. These are the funds needed to cover current operating expenses and short-term investments. The BFR is the measure of the liquidity available to the company to cover its short-term expenses and to maintain good financial health. It is calculated by comparing its current assets and its current liabilities. The greater the difference between the two, the more favorable the BFR.
It is important to note that the level of BFR varies according to sectors and companies. In effect, certain companies such as LLCs require higher BFR levels than others due to their nature and the seasonality of the products or services they offer. For example, a company that manufactures electronic equipment will generally need a larger BFR than one that operates a restaurant. It is therefore important to understand what type of WCR your company needs to maintain its good financial health and develop its activities.
Specific definition
In order to better understand a company’s need for working capital, here is a specific definition: Working capital requirement (WCR) is the money a business needs to cover its ongoing expenses and deposits. It represents the difference between incoming and outgoing cash flows and is expressed in monetary value. The BFR is an essential part of the circulating capital and is fundamental for a company to be able to function correctly and in the medium term.
The main components of the working capital requirement
Now that you understand the general and specific definition of the need for working capital, we will introduce you to the main components of the latter. You will see that there are several factors that contribute to determining your working capital and you will discover how important they are to the financial health of your business.
BFR components: inventory
Inventories are part of the components of a company’s Working Capital Requirement (WCR). Indeed, the BFR represents the sum of the capital which is necessary to increase the volume of commercial operations, and which must be available in the short term.
Inventories represent a very important item of WCR: they correspond to raw materials and products in process, as well as finished products and goods that have not yet been sold. Inventories are essential working capital for companies because they allow them to respond to variations in demand and guarantee the smooth running of their activities.
The inventory turnover ratio, that is, the rate at which inventory is turned over, is an important indicator for measuring inventory levels. A high turnover ratio usually implies good inventory management, as it indicates that products sold out faster than expected and inventory was not overstocked.
Companies must therefore ensure that they manage their stocks well and control their level adequately. They must adapt their level of stocks according to variations in demand, and ensure that stocks are not too high to avoid financial losses and poor management of stocks.
Components of WCR: trade receivables
For companies, the working capital requirement (WCR) represents the difference between their assets and their short-term liabilities. The main elements that make up WCR are inventories, trade receivables and trade payables. In this section we will focus on trade receivables.
Trade receivables are the sums of money that businesses are entitled to charge customers who have purchased their products or services. Trade receivables are recorded in the “customer” account and have a limited lifespan, since customers have a payment term to settle their invoices. However, this time frame can be extended, causing the BFR to rise, while their prompt payment lowers the BFR. Businesses may also use financial instruments, such as accepted invoices or letters of credit, to ensure that customers pay their invoices on time.
Components of WCR: trade payables
In order to understand the BFR, it is good to know the different components that compose it. Trade payables are part of the WCR components.
Supplier debts are receivables from the company’s suppliers and are recorded in the balance sheet as liabilities. They represent the debt to be paid to the supplier for the purchase of products or services. They are recorded as current liabilities because they must be repaid within 12 months. They are therefore considered to be elements that make up the need for working capital. Trade payables can also refer to supplier credits that the company grants to its customers. These credits are repayable by the customer in the short term and are therefore recognized as trade payables. These supplier credits are generally granted over a period of six months to one year.
Now that you have a better understanding of the components of the working capital requirement, you will be able to calculate the WCR of your business. To do this, you must gather and analyze information relating to the various components of the BFR. We give you some tips below to help you perform this calculation and obtain an accurate and professional result.
The short-term calculation determining a company’s working capital requirement is a complex process that involves several factors and steps. You must first assess the level of cash needed by the business to cover its short-term obligations. Next, you must determine the amount of cash available to cover these obligations and determine the amount of additional working capital needed.
You should also consider the time to convert inventory and receivables into cash and the time to pay off short-term debts. You should also consider liquidity periods, which are the difference between when you cash a check and when you need to pay vendors and short-term debts. Finally, you need to consider the risk level of the business and the interest rate of borrowing and short-term investments. Once these factors have been assessed, you can calculate the need for short-term working capital.
We will now look at the medium-term calculation working capital requirement. To do this, we must first look at the medium-term cash flow analysis, which calculates the need for working capital. The medium-term cash flow analysis is an approach that consists of calculating the net balance of medium-term cash flows, over a given period. It includes the calculation of expected income and expenditure for the same period. Then, from this data, it is possible to calculate the net cash flow balance, which will give us the working capital requirement.
When calculating the need for long-term working capital, you must take into account the main factors that can affect working capital. These factors include the level of sales, the length of the operating cycle, the level of inventories, the level of receivables and the level of payables. It is important that you understand how these factors interact so that you can calculate working capital needs accurately and predictably.
In particular, the level of sales and the operating cycle have a direct impact on working capital. The higher the level of sales, the greater the working capital will be. Similarly, the longer the operating cycle, the higher the working capital will be. It is therefore important to take these two factors into account when calculating the need for long-term working capital.
In addition, the level of inventory and the level of receivables and payables can have a significant impact on working capital. The higher the inventory level, the greater the working capital will be. Similarly, the higher the level of receivables and payables, the greater the working capital will be. It is therefore important to take these factors into account when calculating the need for long-term working capital.
In sum, calculating the long-term working capital requirement is a complex task that requires careful analysis of the factors influencing working capital. It is therefore important to understand how these factors interact in order to be able to calculate the need for working capital in an accurate and predictable way. Finally, taking into account these various factors, you will be able to calculate your company’s working capital requirement accurately and reliably.
In conclusion, the need for working capital is an important concept for any business to understand, as it determines the liquidity of the business and its ability to manage its finances. It is essential to have a good working capital in order to guarantee the financial health of the company and to ensure its long-term growth. We hope this explanation will help you better understand the concept and manage your finances more effectively.
