Operating Cycle Analysis - The Strategic CFO®

Operating Cycle Analysis

Other Category: Accounting

July 24, 2013
Dan
accounts payable, accounts receivable, analysis, day sales outstanding, DIO, DPO, DSO, inventory turnover, operating cycle

Operating Cycle Formula

Complete operating cycle analysis calculations simply with the following formula:

Operating cycle = DIO + DSO – DPO

Where

DIO represents days inventory outstanding

DSO represents day sales outstanding

DPO represents days payable outstanding

Operating Cycle Calculation

Calculating operating cycle may seem daunting but results in extremely valuable information.

DIO = (Average inventories / cost of sales) * 365 DSO = (Average accounts receivables / net sales) * 365

DPO = (Average accounts payables / cost sales) * 365

For example, what is the operating cycle of a business? A company has 90 days in days inventory outstanding, 60 days in days sales outstanding and 70 in days payable outstanding. See the following calculation to see how to work it out:

Operating cycle = 90 + 60 – 70 = 80

In conclusion, it takes an average 80 days for a company to turn purchasing inventories into cash sales. In regards to accounting, operating cycles are essential to maintaining levels of cash necessary to survive. As a result, maintaining a beneficial net operating cycle ratio is a life or death matter.

Resources

If you want statistical information about industry financial ratios, then go to the following websites: www.bizstats.com and www.valueline.com.
For more ways to add value to your company, download your free A/R Checklist to see how simple changes in your A/R process can free up a significant amount of cash.

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