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Working Capital Management

August 22, 2026 · Aditya Gupta

Business Finance

Working capital management is the operational discipline of managing current assets and liabilities to optimize cash flow and short-term financial health. Levers: faster receivables collection (invoicing promptly, follow-up systems, factoring), slower payables (within terms), lean inventory (just-in-time, demand forecasting). Cash conversion cycle (DSO + DIO – DPO) measures days from cash out to cash back in. Lower is better. Amazon famously operates on negative working capital — collecting from customers before paying suppliers. Working capital improvements can fund growth without raising capital. Software (NetSuite, Xero) and dedicated AR/AP platforms (Bill.com, Tipalti) systematize working capital management.

Corporate Finance

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