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Gross Working Capital and Net Working Capital

Gross working capital and net working capital are simple ways to understand how a company handles its money for short-term needs. Gross working capital means the total value of all things the company owns that can quickly become cash. In contrast, net working capital is the leftover amount after subtracting short-term bills from those quick assets. 

The difference between the two, often referred to as Gross working capital vs net working capital, helps us know if the company can manage its everyday spending efficiently. While gross working capital focuses only on what the company owns, net working capital also considers what the company owes, giving a clearer picture of its short-term financial health.

Understanding Working Capital

Working capital is the money a company uses to run daily tasks. It helps pay bills, buy materials, and cover other regular costs. If a company has enough working capital, it can run without delays. A company with low or negative working capital may have trouble paying its short-term bills. Watching working capital helps a company stay safe and ready for business needs. Working capital also helps in planning for future costs and unexpected changes in the market.

Meaning of Gross Working Capital

Gross working capital is the total of everything a company owns that can become cash within a short time, usually a year. This includes cash, money owed by customers, goods in stock, and short-term investments. It shows how much money the company has to use for its daily needs. It does not include bills or money that the company needs to pay others. This value helps assess how much of the company’s money is tied up in assets that support daily operations.

Formula:

Gross Working Capital (GWC) = Receivables + Inventory + Short-term Investments + Cash + Marketable Securities + Other Current Assets

Example:

A company has the following current assets:

  • Receivables: ₹1,00,000

  • Inventory: ₹2,50,000

  • Short-term Investments: ₹50,000

  • Cash: ₹1,20,000

  • Marketable Securities: ₹30,000

  • Other Current Assets: ₹20,000

Using the formula:

GWC = ₹1,00,000 + ₹2,50,000 + ₹50,000 + ₹1,20,000 + ₹30,000 + ₹20,000 = ₹5,70,000

So, the company’s Gross working capital is ₹5,70,000.

Meaning of Net Working Capital

Net working capital is what remains after subtracting what the company owes in the short term from what it owns. This shows how much extra money the company has to work with after paying short-term bills. If this number is positive, the company is in a safe position. If it is negative, the company might need to find more money to pay its bills. This number helps to understand the company's financial health better. Net working capital helps check if the business can survive day-to-day without depending on outside money.

Formula:

Net Working Capital = Total Current Assets – Total Current Liabilities

Example:

Let’s say a company has ₹3,00,000 in current assets and ₹1,50,000 in current liabilities.

Net Working Capital = ₹3,00,000 – ₹1,50,000 = ₹1,50,000

This shows the company has ₹1,50,000 left after paying its short-term bills.

Working Capital Metrics

Working capital metrics help in understanding whether a company can meet its short-term needs. Net working capital can either be positive or negative. A positive value indicates that current assets are sufficient to cover current liabilities. This indicates good short-term financial health. A negative value means that liabilities are greater than assets, which may lead to payment difficulties. Below are the key metrics: 

Current Assets

These are assets like cash, inventory, and money owed by customers that a company expects to convert into cash within one year. They represent resources readily available for daily operations.

Current Liabilities

These include all short-term debts and obligations the company must pay within a year, such as bills, salaries, and loans due soon.

Net Working Capital

This is the difference between current assets and current liabilities. It shows how much money a company has left after paying its short-term debts, indicating its ability to fund daily operations.

Formula: Net Working Capital = Current Assets – Current Liabilities

Gross Working Capital

This represents the total value of all current assets a company owns, without subtracting any liabilities. It shows the full amount of resources available in the short term.

Formula: Gross Working Capital = Total Current Assets

Working Capital Ratio

Also known as the current ratio, it is computed by dividing current assets by current liabilities. A ratio above 1 means the company has sufficient assets to cover its short-term debts.

Formula: Working Capital Ratio = Current Assets ÷ Current Liabilities

Quick Ratio

It is also referred as the acid-test ratio, it measures a company’s ability to pay short-term obligations without relying on inventory. It is computed by subtracting inventory and prepaid expenses from current assets, then dividing by current liabilities.

Formula: Quick Ratio = (Current Assets – Inventory – Prepaid Expenses) ÷ Current Liabilities

Inventory Turnover Ratio

This ratio measures how efficiently a company sells its inventory during a period. It is computed by dividing the cost of goods sold by the average inventory value.

Formula: Inventory Turnover Ratio = Cost of Goods Sold ÷ Average Inventory

Receivables Turnover Ratio

This indicates how quickly a company collects payments from its customers. It is found by dividing net credit sales by the average accounts receivable.

Formula: Receivables Turnover Ratio = Net Credit Sales ÷ Average Accounts Receivable

Difference Between Net and Gross Working Capital

The difference between net and gross working capital lies in how liabilities are considered. Understanding Gross working capital vs net working capital is important because it highlights not just what a company owns, but also what it owes, providing a clearer picture of its short-term financial strength. Here are the details to make a clear picture:

Basis

Gross Working Capital

Net Working Capital

Definition

Total of current assets

Current assets minus current liabilities

Focus

Only looks at what the company owns

Looks at both what the company owns and owes

Purpose

Shows how much the company has

Shows how much is left after payments

Financial Position Indicated

Total amount in hand

Extra money after paying short-term bills

Importance

Helps in knowing how much money is used

Helps in checking the company’s financial strength

Short-Term Debt Coverage

Not considered

Considered

Decision Making

Helps understand investment in assets

Helps assess liquidity and solvency

Conclusion

Gross working capital and net working capital are useful to know how a company handles its money. Gross working capital tells us what the company owns. Net working capital shows what’s left after paying short-term bills. These two numbers help the company plan better and run operations smoothly. Knowing them is a simple way to check how healthy a business is financially. Businesses often track changes in these figures to make better financial decisions and maintain balance.

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