Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Payback method: A way to figure out how long it will take to get back the money you put into a project or business. It helps you see if your investment is worth it or not.
The payback method is an accounting technique used to determine the amount of time it takes for a business to recover its initial cash investment. This method is commonly used to evaluate the profitability of a project or investment.
Let's say a company invests $10,000 in a new project. The payback period is calculated by dividing the initial investment by the expected annual cash inflows. If the project is expected to generate $2,000 in cash inflows each year, the payback period would be five years ($10,000 ÷ $2,000 = 5).
Another example could be a small business owner who invests $50,000 in a new product line. The payback period is calculated by dividing the initial investment by the expected annual cash inflows. If the product line is expected to generate $15,000 in cash inflows each year, the payback period would be just over three years ($50,000 ÷ $15,000 = 3.33).
These examples illustrate how the payback method can be used to determine the amount of time it takes for a business to recover its initial investment. By calculating the payback period, businesses can make informed decisions about whether or not to invest in a particular project or investment.