{"id":2674,"date":"2020-03-22T16:34:26","date_gmt":"2020-03-22T16:34:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/2020\/swoopMW20\/?post_type=knowledge-hub&p=2674"},"modified":"2022-11-01T09:16:31","modified_gmt":"2022-11-01T09:16:31","slug":"working-capital-finance","status":"publish","type":"knowledge-hub","link":"https:\/\/swoopfunding.com\/ca\/knowledge-hub\/working-capital-finance\/","title":{"rendered":"Working capital finance"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n \n What is working capital finance? <\/a>\n <\/h5>\n <\/div>\n\n
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Working capital is the amount of money available to your business, and can be defined as your total current assets minus your total current liabilities. There is a variety of\u00a0working capital finance\u00a0options available to businesses to improve their operating capital.
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Current assets include cash and any assets that can be converted into cash within the next 12 months (for example invoices not yet received or stock not yet sold), while liabilities are generally considered to be any expenses due to be paid within the next 12 months, such as accounts payable, tax or business loans.
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Fixed assets that are expected to last more than a year such as buildings or equipment are not considered current assets, and so are not included when calculating your working
capital.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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\n \n What is working capital ratio? <\/a>\n <\/h5>\n <\/div>\n\n
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One of the key aspects of a successful company is its working capital ratio, which is measured by dividing your current assets by your current liabilities. A working capital ratio of less than 1:1 (i.e. your liabilities exceed your assets) can result in your company having difficulty meeting its financial responsibilities even if it is profitable, while a high ratio can point to an excess of stock or a lack of investment. As a general rule, a working capital ratio of 2:1 is considered to have healthy liquidity, insulating your business from cash flow problems.

If your business does not show a healthy working capital, there are many business finance schemes offered which can help improve its liquidity. For example, a\u00a0merchant cash advance<\/a>\u00a0allows you to lend a cash sum against future card transactions, while you can organise a trade finance loan to order inventory or stock from a supplier, limiting the possibility of delays to shipping orders.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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\n \n Why choose working capital finance? <\/a>\n <\/h5>\n <\/div>\n\n
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Even profitable companies occasionally go through slow periods, and disruptions to your
cash flow due to missed payments can have serious consequences if you don\u2019t have some working capital to cover the shortfall. Working capital is essential to the daily operation of your business, as it allows you to meet your financial responsibilities with your current assets and continue to grow your business without taking on debt.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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\n \n Is it suitable for an SME? <\/a>\n <\/h5>\n <\/div>\n\n
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To boost available capital, any SME would benefit from working capital finance. Look at is a loan to bridge the gap or finance the difference between customer orders and supplier payments. By utilising a loan for working capital, you release cash for business expansion without using\u00a0invoice financing<\/a>\u00a0to raise capital.\u00a0

If your business does not show a healthy working capital, there are many business finance schemes offered which can help improve its liquidity. For example, a\u00a0\u00a0merchant cash advance<\/a>\u00a0allows you to lend a cash sum against future card transactions, while you can organise a trade finance loan to order inventory or stock from a supplier, limiting the possibility of delays to shipping orders.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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\n \n Pros and cons of working capital finance <\/a>\n <\/h5>\n <\/div>\n\n
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\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0More liquidity means more flexibility<\/strong> – you can realise your business goals without having to give up equity
\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Invest in new products<\/strong> – meet the opportunity cost of realising goals and avoiding threats
\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A financial cushion for your company<\/strong> – stretch your money further
!\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Late payment to suppliers could impact severely on your business outlook<\/strong>
!\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Threat of bankruptcy or liquidation of payment is not returned<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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\n \n Have you also considered? <\/a>\n <\/h5>\n <\/div>\n\n
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A healthy working capital ratio is 2:1. A higher ratio than this is not necessarily a good thing \u2013 it may indicate that you might have too much stock or that you could be investing more. If your business has a ratio below 1 (i.e. negative working capital) you might struggle to meet your working capital needs (e.g. paying suppliers and creditors) out of cash flow, even if you are profitable. You\u2019d need to borrow to bridge the working capital gap, using one or more of these types of working capital finance:<\/p>\n