Glossary

Current ratio

The current ratio divides what a company owns in the short term by what it owes in the short term — a fast test of whether it can pay the bills falling due this year.

2 min read

Assets ÷ liabilitiesShort-term both
Above 1Can cover near-term bills

Definition

The current ratio is current assets divided by current liabilities. It measures whether a company has enough short-term resources — cash, debtors, stock — to cover the debts due within a year.

In plain terms

A ratio above 1 means short-term assets exceed short-term bills; below 1 hints at a possible squeeze. It's a snapshot, not the whole story.

Why it matters for your company

Lenders glance at the current ratio to gauge liquidity. Pair it with real cash forecasting for the true picture. See net working capital and cash flow forecasting.

Funding for UK limited companies

Credicorp lends to your company, not to you personally — short-term working capital with no personal guarantee. See what your business could access.