Final answer:
The accounts receivable turnover ratio measures how effectively a company collects its receivables. It is calculated by dividing the net credit sales by the average accounts receivable. A higher ratio indicates better credit management and faster collection times.
Step-by-step explanation:
The accounts receivable turnover ratio is a measure within business finance that indicates how effectively a company collects on the credit it extends to customers. This ratio is calculated by dividing the net credit sales by the average accounts receivable during a given period. A higher ratio suggests that a company is more efficient at collecting its receivables, meaning its customers are paying their debts quickly.
To calculate this ratio, you would typically follow these steps:
- Determine the total net credit sales for the period in question.
- Calculate the average accounts receivable by adding the beginning and ending accounts receivable and then dividing by two.
- Divide the net credit sales by the average accounts receivable to arrive at the accounts receivable turnover ratio.
For example, if a company had net credit sales of $100,000 and an average accounts receivable of $25,000, their accounts receivable turnover ratio would be 4. This signifies that the company collects its average receivables 4 times a year, which indicates good credit management performance.