What is days sales outstanding (DSO)?

Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) represents the average number of days it takes credit sales to be converted into cash or how long it takes a company to collect its account receivables. DSO can be calculated by dividing the total accounts receivable during a certain time frame by the total net credit sales.

How do you calculate days sales outstanding?

The calculation of days sales outstanding involves dividing the accounts receivable balance by the revenue for the period, which is then multiplied by 365 days. Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) = (Average Accounts Receivable ÷ Revenue) × 365 Days Let’s say a company has an A/R balance of $30k and $200k in revenue.

What does a high DSO mean?

If the result is a low DSO, it means that the business takes a few days to collect its receivables. On the other hand, a high DSO means it takes more days to collect receivables. A high DSO may lead to cash flow problems in the long run. DSO is one of the three primary metrics used to calculate a company’s cash conversion cycle.

What does a low DSO value mean?

A low DSO value means that it takes a company fewer days to collect its accounts receivable. In effect, the ability to determine the average length of time that a company’s outstanding balances are carried in receivables can in some cases tell a great deal about the nature of the company’s cash flow.