What is meant by working capital, and what is its example?

Working capital may not be a topic you discuss often. It is an accounting concept that is vital to your firm’s success. This helps pay traders and workers who are planning for long-term, better growth. 

Working capital gives you a summary of the budget that you need to pay for your quick and short-term debts. 

Here are some points about the meaning of “working capital.”

What is Working Capital?

A firm’s working capital is cash on hand for everyday operations. Working capital is a good sign of a firm’s working energy.

Working capital is a monetary thing. It helps plan for future needs. It assures the firm of enough funds and cash equivalents to fulfill short-term obligations. It includes unpaid taxes and short-term debt. It can also fund a company’s growth without taking on debt. 

If any firm needs money, having a positive working capital position can simplify the loan approval process. This includes even other types of credit.

How to Count the Working Capital?

There is a method to count the working capital of a firm. The method is to subtract assets from drawbacks.

In short,

Working capital is equal to current assets minus current drawbacks

There is a graphic balance sheet for summing up working capital. It will help you figure out what working capital is and what it means. 

Selling more of a firm’s goods will make for better working capital. The product costs $1,000 per unit, and the list costs $600. 

Thus, every team sold will result in a $400 increase in the firm’s working capital. It’s due to a gain in either cash on hand or accounts that you accept. 

You can select a firm’s role. You can compare its working capital to rivals in the same industry. 

For example, “A” has $40,000 in working capital, compared to “B” and “C,” which have $15,000 and $10,000, respectively. Thus, firm “A” can invest more money to expand faster than its two rivals.

What Do Current Assets Mean?

You can convert a firm’s liquid cash and other assets into cash in a year or less. They are often known as current assets. For example, some current assets are money in bank accounts, supplies, equipment, and short-term firms.

What Do Current Liabilities Mean?

It’s all the expenses and debts that a business pays within a year. That is a current liability. It includes things like accounts payable and unpaid taxes.

What is a Working Capital Loan?

The types of loans available on the market usually cover long-term expenses. Working capital is a type of loan that you use to pay daily operational costs. 

This line of credit covers expenses. It includes rent, payroll, and working capital loans. 

A firm can withdraw the money to cover its expenses. You can either borrow from the bank or from money lenders. These types of loans are usually not secured, which means they are not backed by collateral.

To get approved for the loans, you need to provide documentation. For example, revenue proof and other legal proofs.

But working capital loans have some different requirements. You do need to submit monthly revenue and income evidence.

Difference Between Working Capital and Cash Flow

There’s only a significant difference between the working capital and cash flow.

The working capital shows the financial situation of a firm. At the same time, cash flow represents a company’s use of cash. You can calculate it over a specific time period, like monthly, quarterly, or yearly.

Fixed Capital v/s Working Capital

Every business needs capital to succeed. Without money, no business can function, and none can even exist. Working capital and fixed capital are the two types of capital that can be distinguished. 

• Fixed capital indirectly helps the firm. Working capital directly benefits the firm. 
• Long-term assets are purchased with fixed capital. But working capital is used to purchase current assets. 
• Before the start of the business, fixed capital is needed. After the business is launched, working capital is needed.
• Fixed capital can’t be converted into cash instantly. Working capital can be converted into cash instantly.
• Fixed capital helps the firm for a very long period. Working capital helps the firm for a brief period.
• The use of fixed capital is strategic. The use of working capital is operational.

Examples of How Working Capital Can Impact Cash Flow

The cash flow statement of a company shows changes in working capital. Here are some instances where working capital and cash flow may be affected. 

There would be no change in working capital if a transaction increased current liabilities and current assets by an equal amount. For instance, a company’s cash flow statement would improve if it received money from short-term debt that needed to be repaid in 60 days. 

The amount payable would be a current liability because it is a short-term loan, and the loan proceeds would be a current asset, or cash, so there would not be an increase in working capital.

A company’s cash flow would be reduced if it bought a fixed asset, like a building. While current liabilities would not change because they would be long-term debt, the firm’s working capital would decrease as the cash portion of current assets decreased. 

On the other hand, selling a fixed asset would increase working capital and cash flow.

Because cash and inventory are current assets, working capital would remain unchanged if a company paid for inventory with cash. However, inventory purchases would reduce cash flow.

Conclusion:

You can get the best read on your working capital needs from your small business lender. You also might need to be ready to take the steps for any event. 

A stable sense of working capital and its meaning may help you run your firm. It will also help you place it for its long-term growth.

To learn more about working capital, visit the Piramal Finance website. It will help you know their products and services, especially credit cards and personal loans.