Glossary

Debtor days

Debtor days measure how long, on average, customers take to pay you — a headline number for how much cash is tied up in unpaid invoices.

2 min read

Days to collectLower is better
Cash tied upIn unpaid invoices

Definition

Debtor days (or days sales outstanding) is the average number of days between invoicing a customer and receiving payment, calculated as trade debtors divided by annual sales, times 365. It's a core measure of collection efficiency.

In plain terms

It tells you how long your money sits in other people's bank accounts. Sixty debtor days means two months of sales are perpetually unpaid.

Why it matters for your company

High debtor days strangle working capital. Cutting them frees cash without borrowing — see how to reduce debtor days. For a persistent gap, invoice finance helps.

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.