The measure representing the average number of days it takes a company to collect its outstanding accounts receivable is determined by dividing the average accounts receivable balance by the average daily sales. This result is then multiplied by the number of days in the period, typically 365 for annual calculations. For instance, if a business has average accounts receivable of $100,000 and annual sales of $1,000,000, its average daily sales would be $2,739.73 ($1,000,000 / 365 days). The number of days it takes to collect receivables would then be approximately 36.5 days ($100,000 / $2,739.73).
This metric provides valuable insight into a company’s efficiency in managing its credit and collection processes. A shorter timeframe generally indicates that the company is collecting payments quickly, improving cash flow. Conversely, a longer duration could signal problems with credit policies, collection efforts, or potentially, customer solvency. Historically, analyzing this duration has been crucial for assessing a company’s liquidity and financial health, especially for lenders and investors.
