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THE PLAYGROUND

The cash tied up in growth

A shorter cycle releases financing capacity.

LIVE EXPERIMENT

The cash tied up in growth

Cash conversion cycle75 days
1001000
50800
0120
0180
0120

Before you move a sliderWhy can collecting ten days sooner release cash without creating new revenue?

Cash conversion cycle = 45 + 60 − 30 = 75 days
READ THE MECHANISM

Receivables and inventory tie up cash; payables finance part of that investment. Lower DSO can release cash without changing recognized sales. Extending DPO may damage supplier relationships and is not a limitless source of funding.

Model assumptions & units

Hypothetical $000, 365-day year, steady activity. Purchases are approximated by COGS for DPO. NWC here is receivables + inventory − payables; cash and debt are excluded. Seasonality and growth require more detailed schedules.

Learn the thinking behind it