What is Net Working Capital?

2 min read

Net working capital (NWC) is the difference between a business’ short-term assets and its short-term debts and liabilities. It is ideal to have a positive net working capital, as this signifies that the company’s financial obligations are met, and it can invest in other operational requirements.

How to Calculate Net Working Capital?

Net working capital (NWC) is a measure of a company’s liquidity and its ability to meet its short-term obligations. It is calculated by subtracting the current liabilities from the current assets on the balance sheet.There are different ways to calculate NWC, depending on what items are included or excluded from the current assets and liabilities. Here are some common Net Working Capital formulas:

  • NWC = current assets - current liabilities: This is the broadest formula that includes all current assets and liabilities, such as cash, accounts receivable, inventory, accounts payable, accrued expenses, etc.
  • NWC = current assets (less cash) - current liabilities (less debt): This is a narrower formula that excludes cash and debt from the current assets and liabilities, as they are not directly related to the operating activities of the business.
  • NWC = accounts receivable + inventory - accounts payable: This is the narrowest formula that only includes three accounts that are most relevant for the working capital cycle of the business.

A positive NWC indicates that the company has enough current assets to pay off its current liabilities, while a negative NWC suggests that the company may face liquidity problems or need external financing. NWC can also reflect the efficiency and profitability of the business, as it shows how well the company manages its cash flow and inventory turnover.

Net working capital = current assets (less cash) – current liabilities (less debt)

Here, current assets (CA) = The sum of all short-term assets that are easily convertible into cash like accounts receivable, debts owed to the company, etc. It also includes available cash.

Current liabilities (CL) = The sum of short-term liabilities that need to be paid off within the company’s operating cycle or a year.

A difference between the two thus presents the company’s liquidity, stating whether it holds sufficient assets to meet short-term liabilities.

For example, a company has the following CA and CL in its balance sheet.

  • Inventories – Rs. 40,000
  • Accounts receivables – Rs. 50,000
  • Cash – Rs. 10,000
  • Debtors – Rs. 5,000
  • Creditors – Rs. 10,000
  • Short-term loans – Rs. 30,000
  • Income tax – Rs. 5,000

In this case, NWC will be calculated as follows:

NWC = CA – CL

= (inventories + accounts receivables + debtors – cash) – (short-term loans + income tax – creditors)

= (40,000 + 50,000 + 5,000 – 10,000) – (30,000 + 5,000 – 10,000)

= 85,000 – 25,000

= Rs. 60,000

The company thus has a net working capital of Rs. 60,000, an amount that it can use for its short-term obligations.

In case of working capital deficits, you can avail additional funds to meet your liquidity requirement. Bajaj Finserv eases this concern with its high-value working capital loan, which is available against minimum eligibility.

Additional Read: Capital budgeting

Components of net working capital

Currently owned assets:

Current assets are monetary gains that a business has on hand, or expects to get in the next year:

  • Cash and its equivalents: All the money that the business has on hand. This includes foreign cash and certain types of investments, like money market accounts.
  • Inventory: This includes everything from raw materials to unsold finished products.
  • Accounts receivable: This is a list of all cash claims for goods sold on credit.
  • Notes receivable: All claims to payment for other deals, made in writing.

Current liabilities:

Current liabilities are all the debts that a company owes or is likely to owe in the next 12 months. Working capital helps figure out if a company can pay off all its bills with short-term assets it already has.

  • Accounts payable: Accounts payable include all unpaid bills to vendors for supplies, raw materials, utilities, property taxes, rent, or any other third-party running costs.
  • Payroll: All the staff's unpaid pay and salaries. Depending on when the company pays its employees (if they only get one paycheque a month), this may only add up to one month's worth of wages.
  • Long-term debts: All current payments on long-term debt.
  • Tax owed: These could be tax payments that are not due for a few months. But most of the time, these accruals are short term (due within the next 12 months).
  • Dividend payable: All payments to owners that the board approves. A company can decide not to pay dividends in the future, but it must keep paying dividends that are already due.
  • Unearned revenue: Any money that comes in before the completion of work. If the company does not finish the job, the client may have to give back the money.

Problems arising due to insufficient net working capital

When a business faces a shortage of net working capital, it can lead to several problems that can impact its financial health. Here are some of them:

  • Cash flow shortages, making it difficult for the business to pay for fixed and variable expenses
  • An inability to invest in growth opportunities, which can affect competitiveness in the marketplace
  • Difficulty in meeting customer demands and expectations, which can lead to lost sales and diminished reputation
  • Limited ability to respond to market changes and trends, making it harder to stay ahead of the competition

Why is net working capital important?

Net working capital (NWC) is a critical financial metric that measures a company's liquidity and ability to meet its short-term obligations. The concept refers to the difference between a company's current assets and current liabilities, and reveals the amount of cash available to cover daily operational expenses and short-term debt obligations. Here are some reasons why net working capital is important for businesses:

  1. Ensures business continuity: Having sufficient NWC ensures that the business has enough cash to meet its short-term expenses and continue operations smoothly.
  2. Facilitates borrowing: Lenders often look at a company's NWC to determine its creditworthiness and ability to repay loans.
  3. Provides financial flexibility: A company with a positive NWC has the ability to invest in new projects, take advantage of new market opportunities, and weather unforeseen challenges.
  4. Indicates efficiency: Companies with a positive NWC are better able to manage inventory, collect receivables, and pay suppliers on time, reflecting sound financial management practices.

Overall, maintaining a healthy level of NWC is essential for a business to sustain its operations, pursue growth opportunities, and achieve long-term success.

Difference between gross working capital and net working capital

Gross Working Capital refers to the total amount of current assets a company holds, including cash, inventory, receivables, and other short-term assets. It represents the overall liquidity available for day-to-day operations.

Net Working Capital, on the other hand, is calculated by subtracting current liabilities from current assets. It provides a more precise measure of a company’s operational liquidity and financial health by focusing on the assets available to cover short-term obligations. Essentially, while gross working capital indicates total resources, net working capital reflects the actual capital available for operational needs after settling short-term liabilities.

An unsecured business loan can be a viable solution for businesses looking to address working capital shortfalls. It can provide the necessary funds to ensure the smooth running of business operations while the business grows.

Read More Read Less

Frequently asked questions

How can a company improve its net working capital?

A company can improve its net working capital by improving inventory management, increasing sales revenue, negotiating better payment terms, collecting receivables promptly, and evaluating expenses.

What is the formula for the net working capital (NWC) ratio?

The formula for the Net Working Capital (NWC) ratio is NWC = Current Assets - Current Liabilities.

Why is working capital important?

Working capital is crucial for the day-to-day operations of a business. It represents the funds available to finance operations such as inventory management, payroll, and marketing costs. It is essential for ensuring that a business can meet its financial obligations such as paying suppliers and employees. Without adequate working capital, a business can struggle to grow, and in some cases, even fail.

What is meant by net working capital?

Net working capital (NWC) is the difference between a company's current assets and its current liabilities. It is an important financial metric that measures a company's liquidity and ability to meet short-term obligations.

What is the meaning of NWC?

NWC stands for net working capital, which is the difference between a company's current assets and current liabilities. It measures the amount of cash available to cover daily operational expenses and short-term debt obligations.

What is the difference between working capital and NWC?

Working capital refers to a company's current assets minus current liabilities and represents the funds available to finance day-to-day operations. NWC, on the other hand, is the difference between current assets and current liabilities and measures a company's ability to cover short-term obligations.

Read More Read Less