1. Business cycle: The need for the working capital is affected by various stages of the business cycle. During the boom period, the demand of a product increases and sales also increase. Therefore, more working capital is needed. On the contrary, during the period of depression, the demand declines and it affects both the production and sales of goods. Therefore, in such a situation less working capital is required.

2. Operating efficiency: Operating efficiency means efficiently completing the various business operations. Operating efficiency of every organisation happens to be different. Some such examples are:

(a) converting raw material into finished goods at the earliest,

(b) selling the finished goods quickly, and

(c) quickly getting payments from the debtors. A company which has a better operating efficiency has to invest less in stock and the debtors. Therefore, it requires less working capital, while the case is different in respect of companies with less operating efficiency.

3. Availability of raw material: Availability of raw material also influences the amount of working capital. If the enterprise makes use of such raw material which is available easily throughout the year, then less working capital will be required, because there will be no need to stock it in large quantity. On the contrary, if the enterprise makes use of such raw material which is available only in some particular months of the year whereas for continuous production it is needed all the year round, then large quantity of it will be stocked. Under the circumstances, more working capital will be required.

4. Level of competitions: Higher competition requires large stocks to meet urgent orders from customers and thus higher working capital.