6 Things A/P Should Care More About Than Float

Accounts payable (A/P) teams have historically used check float to slow down payments, but with today’s low interest rates and fast processing times, the financial advantages of check float have all but evaporated. Some companies have turned instead to credit card float. However, low interest rates undercut the potential financial advantage of this strategy as well. For example, at current rates, losing the interest earnings from 14 days of float on a $3,000 payment amounts to $0.58—$3,000×0.50%×(14÷365). Even for a company that borrows working capital at prime plus 1 percent, that’s still just $4.89 on the same payment—$3,000 ×4.25%×(14÷365).

Why, then, does the attachment to float persist? One reason is that the strategic importance of managing float was drilled into every accounting graduate’s head for about 30 years. Most treasury professionals realize that the benefits are less compelling in low-interest-rate environments, but they might feel negligent in their jobs if they didn’t try to optimize the timing of payments. Another reason is the enduring appeal of using other people’s money. Float is basically cash you don’t have to come up with right away, and that seems strategic.