In Layman’s terms, net working capital (NWC) is the difference between a company’s current assets and liabilities on its balance sheet. Simply put, this is a measurement of a company’s liquidity and its ability to meet short-term obligations as well as funding the operation needs of a business.
A working-capital loan covers the business’s day-to-day operational expenses. It provides the necessary funds to manage the cash flow, payment of wages, payment to suppliers, purchase of inventories, and other short-term financial obligations of a business.
Typically, a well-capitalized business would not need a working capital loan, and the only rationale for needing such a loan could be delayed payment from a big customer, suppliers requiring changing sudden terms for payment, and employees walking away from the business unless they receive an immediate significant pay rise.
Given that a working capital loan is purely for short-term requirements, it is typically funded by an overdraft or an unsecured term debt over a short-term period.
These loan facilities are typically unsecured, meaning they don’t require collateral. Lenders evaluate the business’s creditworthiness, financial statements, and cash flow to determine if they qualify for the loan. Recently, banks and lenders have started offering Trade Finance and Invoice Finance facilities to assist with the working capital of a business.