Receivable
A receivable (or accounts receivable) is money that customers owe your business for goods or services you've already delivered but haven't been paid for yet. It's recorded as a current asset on your balance sheet because it represents cash you expect to collect in the near future — typically within
Receivable Definition
A receivable (or accounts receivable) is money that customers owe your business for goods or services you've already delivered but haven't been paid for yet. It's recorded as a current asset on your balance sheet because it represents cash you expect to collect in the near future — typically within 30 to 90 days.
Receivable in Practice — Example
A web development agency completes a $15,000 website redesign for a client and sends an invoice with Net 30 payment terms. Until the client pays, that $15,000 is an accounts receivable. The agency's books show the revenue as earned (on the income statement) and the receivable as an asset (on the balance sheet). When the client pays 25 days later, the receivable converts to cash.
Why Receivable Matters for Your Business
Receivables represent money you've earned but don't have yet — and that gap can make or break your cash flow. A business can be profitable on paper but still run out of cash if receivables aren't collected on time. This is one of the most common cash flow traps for small businesses.
Managing receivables effectively means setting clear payment terms, invoicing promptly, following up on overdue accounts, and knowing which customers consistently pay late. The faster you convert receivables to cash, the healthier your business operates.
How Receivable Works
| Metric | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Accounts Receivable Turnover | How many times per year you collect your average receivables |
| Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) | Average number of days to collect payment |
| Aging Report | Breaks down receivables by how overdue they are |
Accounts Receivable Turnover = Net Credit Sales ÷ Average Accounts Receivable
DSO = (Accounts Receivable ÷ Net Credit Sales) × 365
Example: If your annual credit sales are $500,000 and average receivables are $50,000, your turnover is 10x and your DSO is about 36.5 days.
Aging buckets:
Receivable vs Revenue
Revenue is the total income your business earns from sales. Receivables are the portion of that revenue that hasn't been collected yet. You can have high revenue and high receivables simultaneously — which means you're making sales but not getting paid. Revenue shows up on the income statement; receivables show up on the balance sheet.
FAQ
Q: What happens if a customer never pays a receivable?
A: It becomes bad debt. You can write it off as a business expense, but it's money you'll never recover. Having a collections process and clear credit policies minimizes this risk.
Q: Should I offer payment terms or require upfront payment?
A: It depends on your industry and customer relationships. Payment terms (Net 30, Net 60) are standard in B2B. For new clients or high-risk accounts, consider requiring deposits or shorter terms.
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