Net Working Capital (NWC)

The amount by which current assets exceed current liabilities: the cushion that funds day-to-day operations. It is the current ratio expressed in money instead of as a ratio.
Finance
Liquidity

Net Working Capital formula

\[ \text{Current assets} - \text{Current liabilities} \]

Terms

  • Current assets, closing balance: Assets expected to turn into cash within a year: cash, short-term investments, receivables, inventory, prepayments.
  • Current liabilities, closing balance: Obligations due within a year: trade payables, short-term borrowings, tax and payroll liabilities, accruals.

Result

Net Working Capital is an amount in currency. Higher is better.

Target

Negative net working capital means short-term obligations are partly financed by long-term sources, or not financed at all.

Net Working Capital pitfalls

  • Not to be confused with operating (trade) working capital, which is receivables plus inventory minus trade payables and leaves out cash and financial debt.

Net Working Capital in Business Central

Current assets (closing balance)

38 posting accounts in total.

The full account list is on the Current assets page.

Current liabilities (closing balance)

29 posting accounts in total.

The full account list is on the Current liabilities page.

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