## Average Collection Period

#### Input

Note: Average Collection Period calculator uses JavaScript, therefore you must have it enabled to use this calculator.

Average Collection Period formula is:

 $Average Collection Period formula$$Average Collection Period formula$

days

### Definitions and terms used in Average Collection Period Calculator

Annual credit sales
The amount of revenue generated by a company after the deduction of returns, allowances for damaged or missing goods and any discounts allowed and sold on credit.
Receivables
Money owed to a company by customers (individuals or corporations) for goods or services that have been delivered or used, but not yet paid for. In it is also known as Sales on credit.

### What is Average Collection Period

Average Collection Period represents the average number of days it takes the company to convert receivables into cash.

Average Collection Period formula is:

 $Average Collection Period formula$$Average Collection Period formula$

Receivables Turnover Ratio formula is:

 $Receivables Turnover Ratio formula$$Receivables Turnover Ratio formula$

Average collection period measures the average number of days that accounts receivable are outstanding. This activity ratio should be the same or lower than the company’s credit terms.

### Average Collection Period Analysis

As a rule, outstanding receivables should not exceed credit terms by more than 10-15 days.

If you allow various types of credit transactions, then the average collection period MUST be also calculated separately for each category.

This ratio takes in consideration ONLY the credit sales. If the cash sales are included, the ratio will be affected and may lose its significance. It is best to use average accounts receivable to avoid seasonality effects. If the company uses discounts, those discounts must be taken into consideration when calculate net accounts receivable.

Average Collection Period is figured as days. A popular variant of this ratio is to convert it into receivables turnover ratio in terms of “turnover times”.