How to Find Operating Cash Flow (OCF)

Discover how to find operating cash flow (OCF) using the indirect method. This step-by-step guide explains OCF’s importance, illustrates the calculation process with a real-world example, and provides tips on where to find the necessary financial data. Unlock insights into a company’s financial health today!

How to Find Operating Cash Flow: A Step-by-Step Guide

Operating cash flow (OCF) is a vital financial metric that measures the cash a company generates from its core business operations. Unlike net income, which can be skewed by non-cash items and accounting adjustments, OCF offers a clear view of a company’s ability to produce cash to maintain operations, invest in growth, and reward shareholders. Whether you’re an investor, business owner, or financial enthusiast, understanding how to calculate operating cash flow can unlock deeper insights into a company’s financial strength.

In this article, we’ll walk you through the process of finding operating cash flow using the indirect method, the most widely used approach due to its reliance on accessible financial data. We’ll provide a detailed breakdown of the steps, a practical example, and tips on where to locate the necessary information. By the end, you’ll be equipped to compute OCF and use it to evaluate any business with confidence.

What is Operating Cash Flow and Why Does it Matter?

Operating cash flow reflects the cash inflows and outflows tied to a company’s primary activities—like selling products or delivering services—excluding cash from investing (e.g., purchasing equipment) or financing (e.g., issuing debt). It’s a key indicator of financial health because it shows how much cash a business generates to cover day-to-day expenses and fuel future opportunities.

Here’s why OCF is so important:

Actual Cash Insight: It strips away non-cash accounting items like depreciation, revealing the real cash available.
Liquidity Check: Positive OCF signals a company can pay its bills and debts without external help.
Operational Health: A steady or growing OCF suggests efficient business management, while a declining OCF may hint at trouble.

Two Ways to Calculate Operating Cash Flow

There are two main methods to determine OCF: the direct method and the indirect method.

Direct Method: This involves totaling all cash receipts (e.g., payments from customers) and subtracting all cash payments (e.g., to suppliers or staff). While intuitive, it demands detailed cash flow data that isn’t always available in standard financial reports.
Indirect Method: This starts with net income and adjusts it for non-cash items and changes in working capital. It’s favored because it uses figures from the income statement and balance sheet, which are easier to find.

Since the indirect method is more practical and commonly used, we’ll focus on it here.

Calculating Operating Cash Flow Using the Indirect Method

The indirect method transforms net income—an accrual-based figure—into a cash-based one by making specific adjustments. Follow these steps:

1. Begin with Net Income

What it is: Net income is the profit reported on the income statement, including both cash and non-cash elements.
Why it’s the starting point: It’s the foundation of the indirect method, and we’ll adjust it to reflect cash flow.

2. Add Back Non-Cash Expenses

What to include: Expenses like depreciation and amortization reduce net income but don’t use cash, so add them back.
Example extras: Depending on the company, you might also add back stock-based compensation or deferred tax adjustments.

3. Adjust for Changes in Working Capital

What is working capital? It includes current assets (e.g., accounts receivable, inventory) and current liabilities (e.g., accounts payable). Changes in these accounts show how cash is tied up or freed during the period.
How to adjust:
- Current Assets:
  - Subtract increases: More accounts receivable means sales on credit, not cash collected yet.
  - Add decreases: Less inventory means goods were sold, possibly generating cash.
- Current Liabilities:
  - Add increases: Higher accounts payable means delayed payments to suppliers, keeping cash in hand.
  - Subtract decreases: Paying off accrued expenses uses cash, so subtract the drop.

4. Account for Non-Operating Items (if Needed)

What to look for: Gains or losses from activities like selling equipment aren’t part of operations.
How to adjust: Subtract gains (they’re investing cash flows) and add back losses.

A Real-World Example

Let’s calculate OCF for a fictional company, “GrowEasy Inc.,” using this data for the year:

Net Income: $100,000
Depreciation Expense: $20,000
Increase in Accounts Receivable: $5,000
Decrease in Inventory: $3,000
Increase in Accounts Payable: $4,000

Step-by-Step Calculation:

Start with Net Income:
- $100,000
Add Back Depreciation:
- $100,000 + $20,000 = $120,000
Adjust for Working Capital Changes:
- Increase in Accounts Receivable: -$5,000 (credit sales mean less cash collected)
- Decrease in Inventory: +$3,000 (sold inventory, freeing up cash)
- Increase in Accounts Payable: +$4,000 (kept cash by not paying suppliers yet)
- Net Adjustment: -$5,000 + $3,000 + $4,000 = +$2,000
Final OCF:
- $120,000 + $2,000 = $122,000

GrowEasy Inc.’s operating cash flow is $122,000, showing it generated solid cash from its operations.

Quick Guide to Working Capital Adjustments

Here’s a handy table to clarify how working capital changes affect OCF:

Account Type	Change	Adjustment
Current Assets	Increase	Subtract
Current Assets	Decrease	Add
Current Liabilities	Increase	Add
Current Liabilities	Decrease	Subtract

This ensures your OCF reflects only operational cash, not accounting quirks.

Where to Find the Data

To compute OCF, gather these figures from a company’s financial statements:

Net Income: On the income statement.
Depreciation/Amortization: Usually on the income statement or in the notes.
Working Capital Changes: From the balance sheet—compare this period’s numbers with the last period’s. For example:
- Change in Accounts Receivable: Ending balance – Beginning balance
- Change in Inventory: Ending balance – Beginning balance

OCF is typically calculated for a set period (e.g., a quarter or year), matching the income statement’s timeframe. Fun fact: Companies report OCF in their cash flow statement, but doing it yourself helps you understand the “why” behind the numbers!

What Does Operating Cash Flow Tell You?

Once you’ve got the number, here’s how to interpret it:

Positive OCF: The company’s operations are cash-generative—a good sign of self-sufficiency.
Negative OCF: It’s spending more cash than it’s making, which could mean trouble unless offset by other funding.
OCF vs. Net Income: If OCF exceeds net income, the company’s cash flow is strong despite non-cash expenses. If it’s lower, watch for issues like slow collections or excess inventory.

For the full picture, track OCF trends over time and compare it to metrics like free cash flow or debt levels.

Wrapping Up

Finding operating cash flow using the indirect method is a straightforward process that reveals a company’s cash-generating power. Start with net income, adjusted for non-cash items and working capital shifts, and you’ve got a number that speaks volumes about operational success. With the steps, examples, and data sources outlined here, you’re ready to calculate OCF for any business—and use it to make smarter financial decisions.

So, grab a company’s financial statements, crunch the numbers, and see what story its cash flow tells. It’s more than just math—it’s a window into the heart of the business!

FAQs

What is Operating Cash Flow (OCF)?

OCF is a financial metric that measures the cash generated from a company’s core business operations, excluding cash from investing or financing activities.

Why is OCF important?

OCF indicates a company’s ability to generate cash to meet operating expenses, invest in growth, and pay dividends. It’s a clearer measure of financial health than net income, as it ignores non-cash items.

How is OCF calculated?

OCF can be calculated using the indirect method by starting with net income, adding back non-cash expenses, and adjusting for changes in working capital.

What is the difference between the direct and indirect methods of calculating OCF?

The direct method totals cash receipts and cash payments, while the indirect method starts with net income and adjusts for non-cash items and changes in assets and liabilities.

Where can I find the data needed to calculate OCF?

You can find the required data in a company’s financial statements: net income from the income statement, depreciation/amortization details, and working capital changes from the balance sheet.

What does a positive vs negative OCF indicate?

A positive OCF suggests the company is generating more cash than it spends, indicating financial strength, while a negative OCF may signal cash management issues or reliance on external financing.