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Writer's pictureClaire Hancott

Debt Can Be A Valuable Tool For Fuelling Growth

small business cash flow

As your business grows, taking on debt is often a necessary step—especially when it comes to purchasing assets or scaling up operations. But at what point does debt become a risk? If not managed properly, interest payments can eat into your profits, and monthly repayments might strain your cash flow. So, how do you ensure your debt levels are manageable?

 

Here are three key ratios that can help you assess whether your business is carrying too much debt. They also offer insight into how potential lenders will evaluate your financial health.

 

1. Debt-to-Asset Ratio

This ratio shows what portion of your business’s assets are financed by debt. A high debt-to-asset ratio could indicate potential trouble, especially if your cash flow decreases or the value of your assets drops.

 

Calculation: Debt-to-Asset Ratio = Total Debt ÷ Total Assets

Ideal Range: A ratio of 0.5 or lower is considered ideal, meaning less than half of your assets are financed by debt. Anything higher may signal that your business could struggle to meet debt obligations, particularly if market conditions change.

 

2. Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR)

The Debt Service Coverage Ratio evaluates whether your operating income is sufficient to cover all debt payments (both interest and principal). A DSCR below 1 suggests that your business isn’t generating enough income to comfortably meet its debt obligations.

 

Calculation: DSCR = Operating Income ÷ Total Debt Payments (Interest + Principal)

Ideal Range: A DSCR of 1.2 or higher is generally recommended. This gives you a cushion, ensuring your business can comfortably meet debt payments even if your income fluctuates.

 

3. EBITDA-to-Debt Ratio

This ratio shows how well your business can pay off its debt using its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA). A lower ratio may indicate potential difficulties in managing debt.

 

Calculation: EBITDA-to-Debt Ratio = EBITDA ÷ Total Debt

Ideal Range: An EBITDA-to-Debt Ratio of 3 or higher is typically considered healthy. This suggests that your earnings are sufficient to cover your debt levels, which reduces your financial risk.

 

Conclusion

Monitoring these three key ratios can help you keep your business’s debt under control and ensure that you’re in a strong position to manage any loans or financing you take on. If your ratios fall outside the ideal ranges, it might be time to re-evaluate your financing strategy to avoid over-leveraging your business.

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