Accounts Receivable Clerk Interview Question:

What does negative working capital mean?

Submitted by: Muhammad

Negative working capital is common in some industries such as grocery retail and the restaurant business. For a grocery store, customers pay upfront, inventory moves relatively quickly but suppliers often give 30 days (or more) credit. This means that the company receives cash from customers before it needs the cash to pay suppliers. Negative working capital is a sign of efficiency in businesses with low inventory and accounts receivable. In other industries, negative working capital may signal a company is facing financial trouble.
Submitted by: Muhammad