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Cash & working capital

Free cash flow

Operating cash flow less capital expenditure — the cash the business generates after maintaining and growing its assets, available to repay debt, pay owners, or build reserves.

Owned by: Senior analystTest band: Senior analyst
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The formula

FCF = Operating cash flow − Capex

In practice

The number that survives every accounting argument. A business with growing EBITDA and shrinking free cash flow is buying its growth.

The kind of thing the test asks

  • Operating cash flow $300k, capex $120k, debt repayment $50k. Free cash flow is…
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