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Calculating Working Capital Needs

The calculation of working capital requirements involves the estimation of current assets and current liabilities. This process includes estimation of working capital and its components by taking into account the period for which the various items remain as stock or as outstanding, the cost structure of production and annual production.

Computation of working capital requirement essentially involves
  • Estimation of current assets
  • Estimation of current liabilities.
  • Estimation of Current Assets

    Current assets estimation includes:

    • Raw materials Requirement cost

      This is computed by multiplying the daily requirement by the age of raw materials. Suppose if the raw material cost is $5 per unit and the company expects to produce and sell 36000 units in the coming year and the age of raw materials is 45, the raw materials requirement cost would be = Daily requirement x Age of raw materials.

      Raw Materials requirement cost =    36000 x $5 x 45   =
                   365
      $22,192

    • Work-in-Progress stock requirement cost

      This is computed by multiplying the daily requirement of various sub-components of WIP by the age of WIP. Suppose if the Raw material cost is $5 per unit, wages is $4 per unit and production overhead is $4 per unit and the age of WIP is 30 days, the WIP stock requirement cost would be: (36000 units per year)

      Raw material component =    36,000 x $5 x 30   =
                   365
      $14,795
      Wages (Direct labor) Component =    36,000 x $4 x 30   =
                   365
      $11,836
      Production overhead component =    36,000 x $4 x 30   =
                   365
      $11,836
      Total WIP requirement cost = $38,467

    • Finished goods – Inventory requirement cost

      This is computed by multiplying the daily requirement of various sub-components of finished goods by the age of finished goods. Suppose if the Raw material cost is $5 per unit, wages is $4 per unit, production overhead is $4 per unit and selling overhead is $2 per unit, and the age of finished goods is 60 days, the finished goods inventory requirement cost would be: (36000 units per year)

      Raw material component =    36,000 x $5 x 60   =
                   365
      $29,589
      Wages component =    36,000 x $4 x 60   =
                   365
      $23,671
      Production overhead component =    36,000 x $4 x 60   =
                   365
      $23,671
      Selling overhead component =    36,000 x $2 x 60   =
                   365
      $11,836
      Total Finished goods inventory requirement cost = $88,767

    • Debtors – Value of outstanding debtors

      This is computed by multiplying the daily requirement of various components of selling price by the age of debtors. Suppose if the Raw material cost is $5 per unit, wages is $4 per unit, production overhead is $4 per unit, selling overhead is $2 per unit, profit is $10 per unit and the age of debtors or accounts receivables is 50 days, the investment in debtors would be: (36000 units)

      Raw material component =    36,000 x $5 x 50   =
                   365
      $24,658
      Wages component =    36,000 x $4 x 50   =
                   365
      $19,726
      Production overhead component =    36,000 x $4 x 50   =
                   365
      $19,726
      Selling overhead component =    36,000 x $2 x 50   =
                   365
      $9,863
      Profit component =    36,000 x $10 x 50   =
                   365
      $49,315
      Total cost required for debtors = $123,288

  • Estimation of Current Liabilities

    Current liabilities estimation includes

    • Value of outstanding creditors

      This is computed by multiplying the daily requirement of raw materials by the age of creditors. Suppose if the raw material cost is $5 per unit and the age of creditors is 30 days, the creditor liability estimation would be: (36000 units)

      Value of outstanding creditors =    36,000 x $5 x 30   =
                   365
      $14,795

    • Outstanding Wages

      This is computed by multiplying the daily wages by the age of wages or outstanding period of wages in days. Suppose if the wages per unit is $4 and the age of expense creditors is 15 days, (36000 units per year)

      Value of outstanding wage creditors =    36,000 x $4 x 15   =
                   365
      $5,918

    • Outstanding Production overheads

      This is computed by multiplying the daily production overhead expenses by the age of expense creditors. Suppose if the production overhead per unit is $4 and the age of expense creditors is 15 days, (36000 units per year)

      Value of outstanding production overhead creditors =    36,000 x $4 x 15   =
                   365
      $5,918

    • Outstanding selling overheads

      This is computed by multiplying the daily selling overhead expenses by the age of expense creditors. Suppose if the selling overhead per unit is $2 and the age of expense creditors is 15 days, (36000 units per year)

      Value of outstanding selling overhead creditors =    36,000 x $2 x 15   =
                   365
      2,959

Now that we have estimated the various current assets and current liabilities, we can compute the working capital requirements.


Computation of Working Capital

Question: Current assets and current liabilities are as given above. Cash requirement is $20,000. Compute the net working capital required.

Current Assets:

Raw material stock $22,192
Work-in-Progress stock $38,467
Finished goods stock $88,767
Debtors $123,288
Cash   $20,000
Total current assets $292,714

Less: Current Liabilities

Outstanding creditors $14,795
Outstanding wages $5,918
Outstanding production overheads $5,918
Outstanding selling overheads    $2,959
Total current liabilities   $29,590
Net working capital $263,124

Some companies may add some percentage of amounts to meet contingencies. In those cases, the working capital estimated above can be adjusted for contingencies. If the above company would like to allow 10% for contingencies, the net working capital required would be:

$263,124
Add: 10% for contingencies    $26,312
Net working capital required  $289,436

Though, the above way of calculation of working capital is justified from the opportunity cost point of view, some authors have certain variations in respect of 1) WIP – the production overhead sub-component may be taken not at the full value as in the above computation, but say 70% or 80% of the same. Some may even exclude the whole of the production overheads regarding stock of WIP. 2) In respect of finished goods stock, the selling overhead sub-component may be deleted or taken at say 50% or 60% of the level, as the whole of selling expenditure might not have been expended but only a part, like distribution to regional depots etc. have been spent. 3) In respect of debtors, the profits sub-component may be deleted entirely for there is no out-of-pocket cost involved. But from the opportunity cost point of view the above inclusions are justified.


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