Laserfiche WebLink
CONTRACTOR . ,® 11--i <br />KNOW THE SCORE <br />April 13, 2020 <br />The algorithm has over forty inputs from the information sent. The overall objective of the score is to show <br />short-term liquidity and short-term financial position. There are some major categories of weighted emphasis. <br />The most important category is liquidity. Ratios like the current, acid, working capital turnover (working capital <br />relative revenue less subcontracts) are weighted the most. This emphasizes cash, receivables, payables and all <br />short-term obligations. <br />Next most important is leverage. A score with low total debt relative to equity is rewarded because if that <br />contractor ever needed cash or more liquidity, they would be able to get it easier and cheaper than someone <br />that is highly leveraged. This includes in some cases, "notes payable to shareholders". Even though VisualScape <br />doesn't have any (I think), many smaller, especially Sub -S Corps, do have them. The shareholder would say, <br />"that's my money and I'll postpone the debt if I need to." The customer is hearing the contractor say, "I am <br />subordinating my risk by moving capital from equity into debt." The unsecured creditors (subs, vendors and <br />partially some customers) would actually fall behind the shareholder if a bankruptcy were to occur. This sounds <br />harsh, but it must all be taken from the customer's perspective. <br />Net profits rank third in importance. A small loss for the year is not necessarily a score -buster if the other <br />metrics show strength. Sustained losses or significant ones, however, deplete those other metrics. <br />The line of credit is a "bonus" at the end of the calculation. It is there to enhance the score because it says a <br />bank is willing to back that contractor by x dollars. Not having a LOC does not hurt the score, but having one <br />helps a little. <br />The main calculations weigh different aspects of the ratios and factors dynamically, or in other words, weighting <br />increases or decreases depending on where the ratios fall. An example would be if the leverage ratios are <br />strong, then some additional points are applied. The stronger the individual calculations are, the score gets an <br />increasing boost. That's why the "excellent" range of scores run from 1000 to 2500 while the other categories <br />don't appear to be linear. <br />The liquidity ratios for VisualScape were in the "Excellent" zone 2.46 current. Your working capital turnover of <br />8.28 is Excellent. The statements showed a debt to equity ratio of 0.37 to 1. This indicates there is more equity <br />than liabilities. While showing financial strength, it may "over -kill" or overly capitalized given the risks faced <br />everyday. <br />Most lenders and creditors like to see a contractor below 2.5 to 1 in today's market. That leverage number is a <br />balancing act by being good stewards of the firm's equity, you don't want too much in the company at risk, but <br />then again that's the signal to customers "VisualScape's fully staked". <br />Sincerely, <br />Glenn Matteson <br />President <br />1904 Victoria Road, Suite 300 <br />Raleigh, NC 27608 <br />T: 919.758.8700 <br />F: 919.794.6099 <br />Submissions@Contractorkore.net <br />