Meaning of Working Capital – Scholarszilla
Meaning of Working Capital
Working capital is the capital which is used to carry out the day to day business activities.
After estimating fixed capital requirement of the business firm, it is necessary to estimate the amount of capital, that would be needed to ensure smooth functioning of the business firm. A business firm requires funds to store adequate raw material in stock.
A firm would need capital to maintain sufficient stock of finished goods. In actual practice, goods are sold out in cash or on credit. Goods sold on credit do not fetch cash immediately. The firm will have to arrange for funds till the amount is collected from the debtors.
Cash is also required to pay overheads. Since uncertainty is always a feature of a business, some excess cash also should be maintained to meet unexpected expenses.
Thus, a business firm will have to arrange capital for the following
a) For building up inventories
b) For financing receivables
c) For covering day-to-day operating expenses.
The capital invested in these assets is referred to as ‘Working capital’. The concept of working capital is viewed differently by leading authorities. Some authorities consider working capital as equivalent to excess of current assets over current liabilities.
Gerstenbergh, defines it as, ‘‘The excess of current assets over current liabilities.’’ This approach refers to ‘Net Working Capital’. Gerstenbergh does not call it working capital. He prefers to call it ‘circulating capital’.
Other authorities viewed working capital as equivalent to current assets. According to J. S. Mill, “The sum of current assets is working capital.” This approach has broader application. It takes into consideration all current assets, of the company. It refers to ‘Gross Working Capital’.
