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Cash gap calculator

Enter the cost of goods sold for the year and the cash conversion cycle in days. The calculator works out the amount tied up in the operating cycle — the cash gap.

If you haven't computed it yet — use the separate Cash Conversion Cycle calculator

Result

Cash gap amount

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This calculation is for informational purposes only and does not replace advice from a qualified professional. Formulas and rates may not fit your exact situation — double-check the figures before making decisions.

How it is calculated

Cash gap amount = cash conversion cycle in days × annual COGS ÷ 365. The logic is simple: the cash conversion cycle shows how many days, on average, a company's money is tied up between paying suppliers and collecting from customers, and multiplying by daily COGS converts those days into a concrete amount.

This isn't a one-time cash shortfall in a specific month (that needs a month-by-month plan — see the monthly cash flow calculator), but a structural funding need for the operating cycle: even a profitable, growing company can run short of cash purely because its conversion cycle is positive.

The longer the cash conversion cycle, the more equity or borrowed funds are needed to keep operations running smoothly. The gap can be narrowed by speeding up receivables and inventory turnover or by negotiating longer payment terms with suppliers.

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