Average Collection Period Ratio: Definition

Average Collection Period Ratio: Definition:

The Debtors/Receivable Turnover ratio when calculated in terms of days is known as Average Collection Period or Debtors Collection Period Ratio.

The average collection period ratio represents the average number of days for which a firm has to wait before its debtors are converted into cash.

Formula of Average Collection Period:

Following formula is used to calculate average collection period:

 (Trade Debtors × No. of Working Days) / Net Credit Sales

Example:

Credit sales $25,000; Return inwards $1,000; Debtors $3,000; Bills Receivables $1,000.

Calculate average collection period.

Calculation:

Average collection period can be calculated as follows:

Average Collection Period = (Trade Debtors × No. of Working Days) / Net Credit Sales

4,000* × 360** / 24,000

= 60 Days

* Debtors and bills receivables are added.
**For calculating this ratio usually the number of working days in a year are assumed to be 360.

Significance of the Ratio:

This ratio measures the quality of debtors. A short collection period implies prompt payment by debtors. It reduces the chances of bad debts. Similarly, a longer collection period implies too liberal and inefficient credit collection performance. It is difficult to provide a standard collection period of debtors.

You may also be interested in other articles from “financial statement analysis” chapter:

  1. Horizontal and Vertical Analysis
  2. Ratios Analysis
  3. Horizontal Analysis or Trend Analysis
  4. Trend Percentage
  5. Vertical Analysis
  6. Accounting Ratios Definition, Advantages, Classification and Limitations:
  7. Gross profit ratio
  8. Net profit ratio
  9. Operating ratio
  10. Expense ratio
  11. Return on shareholders investment or net worth
  12. Return on equity capital
  13. Return on capital employed (ROCE) Ratio
  14. Dividend yield ratio
  15. Dividend payout ratio
  16. Earnings Per Share (EPS) Ratio
  17. Price earning ratio
  18. Current ratio
  19. Liquid/Acid test/Quick ratio
  20. Inventory/Stock turnover ratio
  21. Debtors/Receivables turnover ratio
  22. Average collection period
  23. Creditors/Payable turnover ratio
  24. Working capital turnover ratio
  25. Fixed assets turnover ratio
  26. Over and under trading
  27. Debt-to-equity ratio
  28. Proprietary or Equity ratio
  29. Ratio of fixed assets to shareholders funds
  30. Ratio of current assets to shareholders funds
  31. Interest coverage ratio
  32. Capital gearing ratio
  33. Over and under capitalization
  34. Financial-Accounting- Ratios Formulas
  35. Limitations of Financial Statement Analysis

Other Related Accounting Articles:

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  1. Mr Y.C. Chan April 25, 2014

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