How to Calculate the Current Ratio

What is the current ratio? It’s simply your company’s current assets divided by its current liabilities.

Why does this matter, you might be wondering? Well, we are going to go into that now: why knowing your current ratio is crucial and how being knowledgeable about  it can help you manage your business finances more effectively.

This guide is also related to our articles on how to read a balance sheet, understanding gross vs. net profit, and understanding journal entries in accounting.

This list includes:

• Current ratio formula
• Liquidity ratio analysis
• Quick ratio vs current ratio
• Current ratio interpretation
• Current ratio benchmarking

Let’s get into the nitty-gritty.

Understanding the current ratio

The current ratio is a financial metric you can use to evaluate how well your business can meet its short-term obligations with assets that can be quickly turned into cash. It’s calculated by dividing your current assets by your current liabilities. Here’s the formula:

Current Ratio = Current Assets / Current Liabilities

Current assets include cash, accounts receivable, inventory, and other assets that you expect to convert into cash within a year. Current liabilities are what you owe and need to pay within the same period, like accounts payable, wages, taxes, and short-term loans.

What does the current ratio measure?

The current ratio measures your business’s liquidity. Do you have enough assets on hand to cover your debts and upcoming expenses? A higher ratio means you’re in a better position to pay off your debts without having to sell off your long-term assets or borrow more money.

A current ratio of 1.0 or higher is typically seen as good because it means your current assets equal or exceed your current liabilities. However, the “ideal” ratio can vary by industry. Some sectors, like retail, might require a higher ratio due to the nature of their cash flow and inventory requirements.

Importance of liquidity in business

Liquidity is about having enough cash or liquid assets to meet your short-term financial commitments. It’s crucial for handling unexpected expenses or economic downturns without stressing your business’s finances too much.

If your current ratio is too low, below 1.0, you might not be able to cover all your short-term liabilities if they all came due at once. This can be a red flag to creditors and might make it harder to get loans or favorable credit terms.

On the other hand, a very high current ratio might indicate that you’re not using your assets efficiently–excess resources could be invested back into the business to generate more income or improve operations.

Components of the current ratio

Current assets are all the resources your business owns that are expected to be sold, consumed, or converted into cash within one year. These are crucial for funding day-to-day operations and for meeting any short-term financial obligations.

Proper management of these assets plays a critical role in maintaining a healthy cash flow.

Types of current assets

• Cash: This includes all money in checking or savings accounts and on hand. It’s the most liquid form of all assets.
• Marketable securities: These are liquid financial instruments that can be quickly converted into cash at their current market price. Examples include stocks, bonds, or treasury bills.
• Receivables: Money owed to you by customers who have purchased goods or services on credit. The speed with which you can convert receivables into cash depends largely on your payment terms and collection processes.
• Inventory: Goods and materials that are held for sale in the ordinary course of business. This can be raw materials, work-in-progress, or finished goods. The liquidity of inventory depends on how quickly you can sell these items.

Managing these assets effectively means making sure they’re not just adequate but optimized to support your business activities without tying up too much money.

Current liabilities are what your business needs to settle within the next twelve months.

Types of current liabilities

• Short-term debt: This can include lines of credit or loans that must be repaid within a year.
• Accounts payable: These are the amounts you owe to suppliers or service providers that have allowed you to buy now and pay later.
• Accrued liabilities: Expenses that have been incurred but not yet paid. This can include wages, taxes, and interest payments.

Current liabilities require careful management to ensure that your business maintains a good standing and avoids cash flow issues.

Step-by-step guide to calculating the current ratio

Calculating the current ratio is straightforward. You just need to gather some key figures from your business’s financial statements. Here’s that formula again:

Current Ratio = Current Assets / Current Liabilities

To find your current assets, look at your balance sheet. This typically includes cash, accounts receivable, inventory, and any other assets you expect to convert into cash within a year. Add up the total value of these assets.

Next, find your current liabilities. These are debts and obligations that need to be settled within the next twelve months. They can include accounts payable, short-term loans, and any other liabilities due in the near term. Again, add up the total value of these liabilities.

Now, simply divide your total current assets by your total current liabilities. The resulting number is your current ratio.

Here’s how this works in practice–let’s say your business has the following financial figures:

• Current assets: $50,000
• Current liabilities: $30,000

To calculate the current ratio, plug these numbers into the formula:

Current Ratio = $50,000 / $30,000

Current Ratio = 1.67

In this example, your current ratio is 1.67. This means that for every dollar of current liabilities, your business has $1.67 in current assets.

Generally, a current ratio above 1.0 is considered good, as it indicates that you have enough assets to cover your short-term obligations.

Analyzing the current ratio

A high current ratio suggests that your business has more current assets than current liabilities. This can be a positive sign of financial health and liquidity. It means you have a cushion of assets that can cover your short-term obligations comfortably.

However, an excessively high ratio might indicate that your assets are not being used efficiently. You might want to consider investing excess cash or inventory to generate more income.

Conversely, a low current ratio indicates that your business may struggle to meet its short-term obligations with its current assets alone. It might mean that you need to find ways to increase your cash flow, reduce your liabilities, or liquidate some assets to improve your ratio. Low ratios can also make it harder to obtain credit or loans from lenders.

While what constitutes an “ideal” current ratio can vary depending on factors like industry norms and business circumstances, generally, a ratio between 1.5 and 2.0 is considered healthy for most businesses. This range indicates that you have enough current assets to comfortably cover your current liabilities.

If your current ratio deviates outside this range, even after factoring in your specific business context, you must learn why and take appropriate actions to address any underlying issues.

Factors influencing the current ratio

Many factors can impact your current ratio, and not all of them are within your control.

Seasonal variations in business

Seasonal fluctuations can have a significant impact on your current ratio. For example, retail businesses often experience higher sales and cash flow during the holiday season, leading to an increase in current assets. Conversely, other seasons may see lower sales and increased inventory, affecting liquidity.

Industry-specific factors

Different industries have unique operating cycles and financial dynamics that can influence the current ratio. For instance, service-based businesses typically have lower inventory levels and shorter payment cycles, resulting in higher liquidity. In contrast, manufacturing or construction companies may have more significant investments in inventory and longer payment terms, affecting their current ratio differently. Familiarize yourself with industry benchmarks and norms to assess how your business compares and identify areas for improvement.

Changes in company operations or policies

Changes in your business operations or policies can impact your current ratio. For example, extending payment terms to suppliers may increase accounts payable, temporarily lowering your ratio.

Investing in new equipment or technology can tie up cash, reducing liquidity in the short term. On the other hand, streamlining processes or improving inventory management can boost efficiency and liquidity, improving your ratio.

Comparing current ratio across industries

Different industries have unique dynamics that influence their current ratio. Service-based businesses often have fewer inventory-related assets and shorter payment cycles, resulting in higher liquidity and higher current ratios.

In contrast, manufacturing or retail businesses may have significant investments in inventory and longer payment terms, leading to lower current ratios.

Understanding these industry-specific factors is important for interpreting and comparing current ratios accurately.

Examples of industry-specific current ratios

• Service Industry: Service businesses typically have higher current ratios due to their lower investment in inventory and shorter payment cycles. A current ratio of 2.0 or higher may be common in this sector.
• Manufacturing Industry: Manufacturing companies often have lower current ratios due to their higher investment in inventory and longer production cycles. A current ratio between 1.0 and 1.5 might be typical for manufacturers.
• Retail Industry: Retail businesses may have moderate current ratios, balancing the need for inventory with short-term liquidity requirements. A current ratio between 1.5 and 2.0 could be common in retail.
• Construction Industry: Construction companies often have lower current ratios due to the nature of their projects and cash flow fluctuations. A current ratio below 1.0 may be typical in construction.

How to benchmark against industry standards

Benchmarking your current ratio against industry standards allows you to assess your business’s financial performance relative to competitors and peers. Here’s how you can benchmark effectively:

• Research industry benchmarks: Look for industry-specific data and benchmarks published by reputable sources, industry associations, or financial research firms. These benchmarks typically provide average or median current ratios for different sectors, allowing you to compare your ratio against industry norms.
• Understand your industry: Consider the unique characteristics and dynamics of your industry when interpreting benchmarking data. Factors like seasonality, market conditions, and regulatory requirements can impact industry averages and influence your business’s performance relative to peers.
• Analyze trends and outliers: Compare your current ratio to industry benchmarks over time to identify trends and outliers. Significant deviations from industry norms may indicate areas of strength or weakness in your business that require further investigation.
• Seek professional advice: If you’re unsure how to interpret industry benchmarks or analyze your current ratio, consider seeking advice from financial professionals or consultants with expertise in your industry. They can help you understand the implications of your ratio and develop strategies to improve financial performance.

Improving your business’s current ratio

Now that you know your current ratio and understand its significance, you might be wondering what you can do if yours needs improvement.

Strategies for improving the current ratio

• Increase liquidity: Boost your cash reserves by collecting accounts receivable more quickly, negotiating better payment terms with suppliers, or reducing unnecessary expenses.
• Optimize inventory management: Avoid overstocking inventory by forecasting demand accurately and maintaining lean inventory levels. Implement just-in-time inventory practices to minimize carrying costs and free up cash for other purposes.
• Reduce short-term debt: Pay down outstanding short-term debt, such as lines of credit or short-term loans, to lower your current liabilities. This decreases your dependency on external financing and improves your liquidity position.
• Improve receivables management: Implement efficient invoicing and collection processes to shorten the accounts receivable cycle. Offer incentives for early payment and follow up promptly on overdue accounts to accelerate cash inflows.

Managing current assets and liabilities

• Monitor cash flow: Keep a close eye on your cash flow to ensure sufficient liquidity to meet short-term obligations. Prepare cash flow forecasts to anticipate potential cash shortages and plan accordingly.
• Negotiate payment terms: Negotiate favorable payment terms with suppliers to extend payment deadlines without incurring penalties. This provides more flexibility in managing cash flow and reduces the immediate impact on your current ratio.
• Optimize working capital: Balance your working capital by aligning your current assets and liabilities effectively. Avoid excessive investments in non-productive assets and make strategic decisions to optimize working capital efficiency.

Long-term considerations for financial health

• Focus on profitability: While improving liquidity is essential, don’t neglect long-term profitability. Strive to maximize profitability through effective cost management, pricing strategies, and revenue generation initiatives.
• Manage debt wisely: Be cautious when taking on new debt and ensure it’s used strategically to finance growth opportunities or capital investments that generate a positive return. Avoid excessive debt levels that could strain your financial resources and impact your current ratio negatively.
• Invest in growth: Invest in initiatives that drive sustainable growth and improve your business’s long-term financial health. This could include expanding into new markets, investing in technology and innovation, or developing new products and services to meet evolving customer needs.
• Build financial resilience: Prepare for unexpected events or economic downturns by building financial reserves and diversifying revenue streams. Establish contingency plans and risk management strategies to mitigate potential disruptions to your business operations.

Conclusion

Remember, the current ratio is just one piece of the puzzle. Make sure to use it alongside other financial ratios and industry benchmarks for a comprehensive view of your business’s performance. Keep an eye on trends over time and be proactive in managing your current assets and liabilities to improve your ratio.

Next, check out our articles on cash vs. accrual accounting, 15 best accounting books to read in 2023, and how to do cash flow forecasting.

Let Rigits help you

Grow confidently Sleep better at night

Get stuff off your plate

Let's chat!