This section includes: Definition and classification of working capital Determinants of Working Capital Measurements of Working Capital Working Capital Financing Management of Working Capital Inventory management Cash Management Receivables Management INTRODUCTION : The term working capital is commonly used for the capital required for day-to-day working in a business concern, such as for purchasing raw material, for meeting day-to-day expenditure on salaries, wages, rents rates, advertising etc. But there are much disagreement among various financial authorities (Financiers, accountants, businessmen and economists) as to the exact meaning of the term working capital. DEFINITION AND CLASSIFICATION OF WORKING CAPITAL : Working capital refers to the circulating capital required to meet the day to day operations of a business firm. Working capital may be defined by various authors as follows: 1. 2. 3. According to Weston & Brigham - “Working capital refers to a firm’s investment in short term assets, such as cash amounts receivables, inventories etc. Working capital means current assets. —Mead, Baker and Malott —J.S.Mill “The sum of the current assets is the working capital of the business”
Working capital is defined as “the excess of current assets over current liabilities and provisions”. But as per accounting terminology, it is difference between the inflow and outflow of funds. In the Annual Survey of Industries (1961), working capital is defined to include “Stocks of materials, fuels, semi-finished goods including work-in-progress and finished goods and by-products; cash in hand and bank and the algebraic sum of sundry creditors as represented by (a) outstanding factory payments e.g. rent, wages, interest and dividend; b) purchase of goods and services; c) short-term loans and advances and sundry debtors comprising amounts due to the factory on account of sale of goods and services and advances towards tax payments”. The term “working