Abstract

This study analyzes the importance of an efficient administration of the operating cycle by the SMEs of Santa Cruz and Carrillo in the province of Guanacaste, as a strategy to achieve operability, competitiveness, and permanence over time. Adequate management allows having sufficient information to estimate and cover cash needs, and the limits to manage credit or cash operations. To carry out this, a bibliographic review was made in the first instance to theoretically base the elements, both operating cycle and of the cash conversion cycle. Subsequently, a survey was applied that allowed to argue the need, the degree of knowledge and application of the operating cycle and the data that allow knowing the number of days in which they operate. As a result, it was determined that a considerable number of SMEs are unaware of the management of the operating cycle, therefore, they do not incorporate this information in decision making. Regarding the management of collection, payment and inventory cycles, the results found are contrary to what is applied in good administrative practice, and to what the theory indicates.

Key words: Operating cycle; cash conversion cycle; liquidity; SMEs