Preview

Fin 571 Learning Team Reflection Paper

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
535 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Fin 571 Learning Team Reflection Paper
Learning Team Reflection

FIN/571
2014

Learning Team Reflection Owners and managers in the business need to make working capital management decisions such as inventory management, cash-flow management, accounts receivables, and supplier or vendor trade credits to ensure the company has sufficient cash-flows to pay short-term obligations. There are a few different working capital strategies a business can employ. Flexible current asset management involves holding large cash balances and inventory. The restrictive current asset management strategy requires companies to keep current assets low.
Finagle a Bagel is a young, growing business that applies the working capital trade-off strategy to manage their working capital (Parrino, Kidwell, & Bates, 2012). Married entrepreneurs purchased the business when it was a few years old and had four to five stores (University of Phoenix, 2014). The owners encountered many of the same issues commonly associated with running a young business. They had to learn to deal with customers, vendors, and suppliers; however, the larger issue was discovering how to manage their working capital. Maintaining and continually producing working capital is imperative for any
…show more content…
A successful cash flow, and keen understanding of their banking relationship, will allow the companies to more comfort when taking on debt or liabilities. The strategies Finagle a Bagel use for managing working capital are no different from the plan many companies utilize. The owners established a good rapport with their bank, vendors, and suppliers (University of Phoenix, 2014) which enables them to create the opportunity for positive interest rates and trade-offs. The good interest rates assist in the short-term and long-term when they need to acquire a line of credit to pay suppliers or to expand the

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    With that in mind, George orders inventory based on demand and utilizes past reports on trends. When business is slow, he decreases his inventory so he is not tying up his capital. When he sells an item, he makes sure that the replacement is ordered before the shelf is empty. This ensure maximum cash flow in his business. Managing working capital is the operational side of budgeting. When businesses put a budget together, they anticipate future cash flow and the timing of that cash flow. This planning is critical, especially in small businesses and practices (Kelly, 2014).…

    • 796 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    In the video, Corporate Finance Video: Stable Money Makers, Peggy Parks has taken a chance on raising and breeding alpacas. She chooses to do this instead of watching her 401K slowly disappear and have nothing for her senior years. Ms. Parks initially invested $56,000 to buy seven animals to start up the alpaca farm. Her investment is starting to pay off because the original seven have already produced two babies, which will add about $15,000 to the value of her business in the first year. One capital improvement that Ms. Parks should make to her business is to sell the alpaca coat. According to Sugarloaf Alpaca Company, “The fiber they produce has unique qualities and is used by…

    • 504 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Lawrence Simulation

    • 1680 Words
    • 7 Pages

    “In its day-to-day operations, a firm must maintain adequate liquidity. At the same time, it wants to operate as efficiently and profitably as possible. In this regard, there is a risk-return trade-off in the alternative managerial philosophies about how working capital should be financed. We can describe a firm’s philosophy about how it finances working capital as a maturity-matching approach, a conservative approach, or an aggressive approach (Stowe, Finnerty, & Emery, 2007).…

    • 1680 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Finance – The financial functional area in the Southern Fried Chicken store deals with all of the money aspects of a business. This includes budgeting. The person in this store who deals with finance would want to ensure that payments are paid on time such as ‘the rent’. The finance department would also want to ensure the employees’ wages are paid on time every time. This department would also want to produce accounts so tax can be paid on time. A successful financial function in a business could save it a lot of money which as a result could boost profits. An…

    • 1373 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Discuss the objectives for 5 weeks. Your discussion should include the topics you feel comfortable with, any topics you struggled with, and how the weekly topics relate to application in your field.…

    • 387 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    Throughout history, the business community doesn’t necessarily think of a chemical, wholesale distributor, as having the ability to reach double-digit growth rates, all while revolutionizing the distribution process. But that is exactly what Cape Chemical has done. By offering “next day delivery,” the company was able to differentiate itself from its competitors and gain a significantly larger market share than those same adversaries. But with the new increase in demand, a lack of borrowing power, a very “loose” accounts payable collection system and a growing inventory pool, Cape Chemical ran into cash flow issues. Since they are running into cash flow issues now, even with double-digit growth rates year over year, we can only assume that the company will have a even larger financial burden when those same normal, growth rates slow. I have outlined three scenarios, all of which will benefit Cape Chemical almost immediately, and most importantly, benefit and lower their financial stress in the long run. I also have left an open mind about the possibility of a combination of scenarios as being Cape Chemical’s best option going forward. The three scenarios are all relatively simple fixes, and are as follows: tighten the schedule of when customers pay their bills, keep lower inventory levels and lastly, lower, both, fixed and variable costs that the company may endure throughout the year.…

    • 1105 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Acting as the CEO of a small company called Sunflower Nutraceuticals (SNC), you will apply the principles of capital budgeting to invest in growth and cash flow improvement opportunities in three phases over 10 simulated years. Each opportunity has a unique financial profile and you must analyze the effects on working capital. Examples of opportunities include taking on new customers, capitalizing on supplier discounts, and reducing inventory.…

    • 326 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    Today, all businesses are global businesses. Some may think otherwise. However, if there is any aspect of a business that involves a global element such as products or services, it is a global business. Therefore the global market affects everyone, the consumers and the buyers. It is important to estimate the long term business operations and explain how the global market affects business strategy. Finally, constructing a long-term strategic management plan for sustaining organization performance will assist with staying competitive within the global market.…

    • 850 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Acer Case Study

    • 844 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The CEO implemented and encouraged Frugality as an important business principle which was reflected in the company’s business processes. The firm leased just enough space for current needs. Their products were priced with a low profit margin to ensure quick turnover. This was done to avoid tying up its revenue in debt and receive cash quickly for further reinvestment into the business. Hence, the business is able to avoid unnecessary costs and maximize the use of its capital.…

    • 844 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Supply Chain Finance

    • 2852 Words
    • 12 Pages

    Times are tough. Capital is more expensive these days and access to it is more difficult. Demand is dropping off, customers are paying more slowly and working capital is being tied up in languishing inventory and slow-moving receivables. As a result, companies are looking inward for ways to release trapped cash from operations. Going beyond payables and receivables, today’s CFOs and Treasurers are taking a fresh look at how their physical supply chain is impacting their companies' cash flow and working capital management. Over 70% of respondents to a recent Aberdeen Group survey said their companies view working capital optimization as a high priority.1 For decades we have witnessed companies taking an ineffective “now we focus, now we don't” approach to managing their working capital needs—focusing on collections, payables, and inventory during periods of cash constraints and relaxing, even losing, that focus during times of easy access to financing and liquidity. But now, even well-managed companies are being forced to consider embedding effective working capital management and associated tools into sustainable processes to eliminate those historic ebbs and flows and minimize related business risk across their customer and supply chain base. Rising interest in SCF. Concerned about the rising risk in their supply chains stemming from the economic stress on suppliers, volatile commodity and energy prices, and broadbased financial turmoil, today’s…

    • 2852 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Malincho’s case is about a recently former Bulgarian entrepreneur, Kalin Pentchev that started his own business importing Feta Cheese from Bulgaria to several cities in The United States. With very little knowledge about the importing and exporting business, and with a lack of resources and economical budget, he succeeds in this field. He managed to achieve this success by researching, dedicating the correct amount of time, connecting with the right people, finding the correct financial help and creating a great and cheap logistics path, but also, by using technology as his sales strategy. Even though he had some troubles while building his company, he overtook the obstacles and expanded the company even more. While the company is getting bigger and bigger and with the sales increasing, Kalin is debating about how to obtain more capital to finance the future growth of the company and to pay his debts.…

    • 424 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Ski Equipment Inc. Case

    • 2016 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Dan Barnes, financial manager of Ski Equipment Inc. (SKI) is anxious that the Company’s founder recently sold his 51% controlling block of stock to Kent Koren, who is a big fan of EVA (Economic Value Added). Koren rewards managers handsomely if they create value, but those whose operations produce negative EVAs are soon looking for work. Koren frequently points out that if a company can generate its current level of sales with fewer assets, it would need less capital. Shortly after he took control of SKI, Koren met with SKI’s senior executives. He noted that SKI’s designs of skis, boots, and clothing are acclaimed throughout the industry but that something is seriously amiss elsewhere in the company. Costs are too high, prices are too low, or the company employs too much capital; and he wants SKI’s managers to correct the problem. Barnes has long felt that SKI’s working capital situation should be studied—the company may have the optimal amounts of cash, securities, receivables, and inventories; but it may also have too much or too little of these items. Barnes also knows that decisions about working capital cannot be made in a vacuum. However, lower raw materials inventories might lead to production slowdowns and higher costs, while lower finished goods inventories might lead to the loss of profitable sales. So before inventories are changed, it will be necessary to study operating as well as financial effects. The situation is the same with regard to cash and receivables.…

    • 2016 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    F501

    • 10693 Words
    • 43 Pages

    The business manager must continually be alert to changes in working capital accounts, the cause of these changes and the implications of these changes for the financial health of the company. One convenient and effective method to highlight the key managerial requirements in this area is to view working capital in terms of its major components:…

    • 10693 Words
    • 43 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Litrature Reciew

    • 639 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The research done by Herrfeldt B., “How to understand Working Capital Management” describe that “Cash is king” so say the money managers who share the responsibility of running this country’s businesses. And with banks demanding more from there prospective borrowers, greater emphasis has been placed on those accountable for so-called working capital management. Working capital management refers to the management of current or short – term assets and short – term liabilities. In essence, the purpose of that function is to make certain that the company has enough assets to operate its business.…

    • 639 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    Working Capital Management

    • 1379 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Efficient working capital management is an integral component of the overall corporate strategy to create shareholder value. Working capital is the result of the time lag between the expenditure for the purchase of raw materials and the collection for the sale of the finished product. The continuing flow of cash from suppliers to inventory to accounts receivable and back into cash is usually referred to as the cash conversion cycle. The way in which working capital is managed can have a significant impact on both the liquidity and profitability of the company. Smith (1980) first signaled the importance of the trade-offs between the dual goals of working capital management, i.e., liquidity and profitability. In other words, decisions that tend to maximize profitability tend not to maximize the chances of adequate liquidity. Conversely, focusing almost entirely on liquidity will tend to reduce the potential profitability of the company.…

    • 1379 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays