Days Sales Outstanding (DSO)
Also known as: DSO
Days sales outstanding (DSO) is the average number of days a business takes to collect payment after making a sale on credit.
DSO measures how quickly a company turns its receivables into cash. A lower DSO means customers pay faster and cash cycles back into the business sooner; a rising DSO can signal collection problems, over-generous terms or customers in difficulty. It is the receivables counterpart to days payable outstanding on the buying side.
Suppliers watch DSO closely because it directly affects working capital and cash flow. Improving it — through prompt invoicing, clear terms, credit checks and disciplined collections — releases cash without needing external financing.
Example
If a supplier makes RM900,000 of credit sales in a 90-day quarter and has RM300,000 in receivables, its DSO is (300,000 / 900,000) × 90 = 30 days.
Frequently asked questions
- What is days sales outstanding?
- DSO is the average number of days a business takes to collect payment after a credit sale — a measure of how quickly receivables turn into cash.
- What does a high DSO indicate?
- A high or rising DSO suggests customers are paying slowly, which can point to collection issues, terms that are too generous, or customers in financial difficulty.
Related terms
Accounts Receivable (AR)
Accounts receivable (AR) is the money a business is owed by its customers for goods or services that have been delivered but not yet paid for.
Read definitionDays Payable Outstanding (DPO)
Days payable outstanding (DPO) is the average number of days a company takes to pay its suppliers after receiving an invoice.
Read definitionCash Flow
Cash flow is the movement of money into and out of a business over a period, and whether it has enough cash on hand to meet its obligations.
Read definitionExplore related across the knowledge graph
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