What is Working Capital & Why’s It Important?

August 29, 2023
Updated on

The ability to meet short-term obligations is essential for a business’s long-term survival. Working capital ensures that a business has enough funds to cover its daily expenses and stay afloat even during difficult times. It also allows business owners to finance their growth without incurring debt. While the concept is simple, managing working capital can be complex. This article will address some of the key questions about working capital and why it is so important for small businesses.

What is Working Capital?

Working capital is the cash and other liquid assets that a business uses to operate on a day-to-day basis. It is important for businesses to have enough working capital to cover their expenses, such as accounts payable, inventory, and wages. Working capital loans can help businesses to meet their short-term financial needs, such as purchasing inventory, expanding into new markets, or hiring new employees. MSMEs can use working capital loans to finance a variety of business activities, including:

Stock or Raw Material Purchase

Working capital loans can be used to purchase inventory, which is essential for businesses to keep their operations running smoothly.

Business Premises Renovation

Working capital loans can also be used to renovate business premises, such as adding a new signboard or upgrading the interior.

Worker Salaries

Working capital loans can be used to pay worker salaries, especially during seasonal or peak periods when businesses need to hire more employees.

Machine Repair

Working capital loans can be used to repair machinery, which is essential for businesses to maintain their production capacity.

Technology for Business

Working capital loans can be used to purchase new technology, such as point-of-sale (POS) machines or computer systems.

Storage or Godown Rent

Working capital loans can be used to pay rent for storage facilities, which is important for businesses that need to store inventory.

Adding New Product Lines

Working capital loans can be used to add new product lines, which can help businesses to expand their market share.

Market Expansion into New Geographies

Working capital loans can be used to expand into new markets, which can help businesses to grow their sales.

Working capital loans can be a valuable source of funding for businesses, but it is important to use them wisely. Businesses should only borrow as much as they need and should make sure that they can repay the loan on time.

Grow your MSME with collateral-free business loans

How is Working Capital Calculated?

Working capital is the liquid funds that businesses use to manage their daily operations and expenses. It is important for businesses to have enough working capital to cover their short-term financial obligations, such as accounts payable, inventory, and wages. Working capital loans can help businesses to meet their short-term financial needs, such as purchasing inventory, expanding into new markets, or hiring new employees.

MSMEs can use working capital loans to finance a variety of business activities, including stock or raw material purchase, business premises renovation, worker salaries, machine repair, technology for business, storage or godown rent, adding new product lines, and market expansion into new geographies. Working capital loans can be a valuable source of funding for businesses, but it is important to use them wisely. Businesses should only borrow as much as they need and should make sure that they can repay the loan on time.

Working Capital Management: A Vital Step for Small Business

What is working capital management? It is an effective business tool that helps small enterprises make the correct use of assets and preserve enough cash to sustain the smooth running of operations.

Efficient working capital management can empower business owners to free up the cash that is otherwise trapped in the balance sheet. This opens the door to business expansion without incurring any external debt. 

While at a basic level working capital is a necessity for the sustenance of a business, working capital management is the act of striking a balance. It allows business entities to effectively meet both expected and unexpected costs and make the best use of their money. Here is why working capital management is a vital step for small business owners:

Liquidity Management

One of the top reasons that understanding and managing working capital is so critical is the fact that it plays into managing liquidity. The efficient analysis of incurred and payable expenses gives small businesses enough time to plan funds and successfully meet all short-term obligations. 

Tiding over Cash Crunches

One of the primary advantages of managing working capital is ensuring operational stability even in crash-crunch situations. 

Business Value Addition

Timely payments and meeting all obligations build goodwill. This adds value to the business name and can be leveraged to build healthy business relationships and scale up to stay ahead of the competition.

Supports Decision-Making

Working capital management helps in accurately assessing funding needs. This makes decision-making easy for small business owners and gives them a clear picture of the funds required for daily expenses and the need for external infusion or allotment of any surplus. 

Smooth Operations

Working capital covers various running expenses such as employee salaries, supplier payments, taxes, and rent. This ensures the smooth running of daily operations and plans for financial contingencies. 

Benefits for MSME Entrepreneurs to Apply for Unsecured Working Capital Loans from an NBFC

  • Collateral-free working capital for both long-term and short-term
  • Can be used for any business operational and expansion needs
  • These business loans are processed very quickly, and can help build a credit history for MSMEs in India
  • MSMEs can grow their businesses with collateral-free business loans

Kinara Capital offers both long-term and short-term (only for existing Kinara customers) collateral-free working capital loans to small business owners in the manufacturing, trading and services sectors. Some of the top features of business loans from Kinara Capital include:

  • Collateral-free working capital business loans from ₹1 lakh-₹30 lakhs
  • 24-hour loan disbursement directly into the applicant’s bank account
  • Minimum documentation and secure portal for easy uploads
  • Flexible business loan offerings for working capital
  • Doorstep customer service and call centre support are available in vernacular
  • Automatic discount for MSME women business owners with HerVikas program. No separate application is required.

Check eligibility for collateral-free working capital loans in these 3 easy steps now!

  • Step 1 – Fast eligibility check in 1 minute, no upload required
  • Step 2 – Secure KYC & income verification through a fully digital process
  • Step 3 – Quick loan disbursement within 24 hours

Conclusion

Working capital management is the process of effectively managing a business’s current assets and current liabilities. It is important for small businesses to manage their working capital effectively in order to ensure that they have enough cash on hand to meet their short-term obligations.

If managed right, working capital can facilitate business growth, even out revenue fluctuations, and optimise capital performance. This can help businesses avoid cash flow problems, operate more efficiently, and make better financial decisions.

Kinara Capital offers collateral-free working capital loans for small businesses to help them seize every growth opportunity. Registered MSME owners can evaluate their eligibility for a loan in just 1-minute by starting the digital-first application process on the Kinara Capital website or by downloading myKinara App. Eligible MSME entrepreneurs can submit the necessary documents and the loan amount will be disbursed digitally to their bank account within 24-hours

Kinara Capital also provides multilingual doorstep customer services to MSMEs interested in learning more and needing assistance to apply. For further queries or doubts, MSME entrepreneurs can give a missed call at 080-68264454 and talk to Kinara’s in-house customer support team.

Check your Eligibility in 1-minute!

Check your Eligibility in 1-minute!

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