Accounts Receivable Management

Meaning of Accounts Receivables When goods and services are sold under an agreement permitting the customer to pay for them at a later date, the amount due from the customer is recorded as accounts receivables; So, receivables are assets accounts representing amounts owed to the firm as a result of the credit sale of goods and services in the ordinary course of business. The value of these claims is carried on to the assets side of the balance sheet under titles such as accounts receivable, trade receivables or customer receivables. This term can be defined as “debt owed to the firm by customers arising from sale of goods or services in ordinary course of business.” According to Robert N. Anthony, “Accounts receivables are amounts owed to the business enterprise, usually by its customers. Sometimes it is broken down into trade accounts receivables; the former refers to amounts owed by customers, Continue reading

Methods of Allocating Overhead Costs

Overhead cost is an ongoing  expense  of operating a business and is usually used to group expenses that are necessary to the continued functioning of the business, but cannot be immediately associated with the products/services being offered as in the costs do not directly generate  profits. Overhead cost includes indirect product cost or indirect cost of responsibility center. Indirect product cost is known as manufacturing overhead whereas indirect cost of responsibility center is known as non-manufacturing cost. Manufacturing overhead is those manufacturing costs that are incurred to a variety of products. It cannot be traced to individual products like depreciation and insurance of manufacturing equipment, cost of occupying, managing and maintaining a production facility. Manufacturing overhead is the cost that could be traced to individual product but it is not worth the trouble to like cost of lubricants and glue used. Manufacturing overhead also include cost that is more appropriately Continue reading

Scenario of Exchange Rates in India

India is following the direct rate in Forex markets, i.e. foreign currency is fixed and home currency is varying. When we go to a shop and ask for the price of a product he tells us only one rate for the product, because the trader is only selling the product to consumers. He is not buying from consumers. Whatever rate the seller tells is implied as his selling price for the product. Even though the consumer is buying a product, what he pays to the trader is the selling price of the trader. Foreign Exchange market is different from this market in the sense that the authorized dealer buys as well as sells the foreign currency. Banks and financial institutes authorized by RBI to sell the foreign currency are called as Authorized Dealers. When you ask the rate of a foreign currency from an authorized dealer, he quotes two- way Continue reading

Major objectives of Development Banks

Every country felt the need to accelerate the rate of development in post world war era. Some countries were directly involved in war while many others were indirectly affected by it. There was a need for reconstructing economics at a faster speed. The existing machinery for developmental activities was not sufficient to the requirements of industry. There was a need to set up such institutions which would take up promotional activities besides financing. In this background developmental banks were needed for the following reasons: 1. Lay Foundations for Industrialization A number of countries got independence from colonial rule. Their economies needed to be rehabilitated. Other underdeveloped and developing countries too needed to accelerate the pace of industrialization. To lay a solid foundation for growth, establishment of certain key industries such as cement, engineering, machine making, chemicals, etc. is essential. Private entrepreneurs were not forthcoming to invest in these vital’ areas Continue reading

Venture Capital Investment Process

Venture capital investment process is different from normal project financing. In order to understand the venture capital investment process a review of the available literature on venture capital finance is carried out. Tyebjee and Bruno in 1984 gave a model of venture capital investment process which with some variations is commonly used presently.  As per this model this activity is a five step process as follows: Deal Organization Screening Evaluation or Due Diligence Deal Structuring Post Investment Activity and Exit Deal origination: In generating a deal flow, the VC investor creates a pipeline of deals or investment opportunities that he would consider for investing in. Deal may originate in various ways. referral system, active search system, and intermediaries. Referral system is an important source of deals. Deals may be referred to VCFs by their parent organisations, trade partners, industry associations, friends etc. Another deal flow is active search through networks, Continue reading

Difference between Venture Capital & Other Funds

Venture Capital Vs Development Funds Venture capital differs from Development funds as latter means putting up of industries without much consideration of use of new technology or new entrepreneurial venture but having a focus on underdeveloped areas (locations). In majority of cases it is in the form of loan capital and proportion of equity is very thin. Development finance is security oriented and liquidity prone. The criteria for investment are proven track record of company and its promoters, and sufficient cash generation to provide for returns (principal and interest). The development bank safeguards its interest through collateral. They have no say in working of the enterprise except safeguarding their interest by having a nominee director. They do not play any active role in the enterprise except ensuring flow of information and proper management information system, regular board meetings, adherence to statutory requirements for effective management control where as Venture capitalist Continue reading