The of Internal Growth Rate (IGR)

What Is an Internal Growth Rate (IGR)?

An internal growth rate (IGR) is the highest level of growth achievable for a business without obtaining outside financing, and a firm's maximum internal growth rate is the level of business operations that can continue to fund and grow the company.

The internal growth rate is an important measurement for startup companies and small businesses because it measures a firm's ability to increase sales and profit without issuing more stock (equity) or debt.

The Formula for IGR Is

IGR = R O A ⋅ b 1 − ( R O A ⋅ b ) where: R O A = Return on assets b = The retention ratio (which is one minus the dividend payout ratio) \begin{aligned} &\text{IGR}=\frac{ROA \cdot b}{1-(ROA \cdot b)} \\ &\textbf{where:}\\ &ROA=\text{Return on assets}\\ &b=\text{The retention ratio}\\ &\text{(which is one minus the dividend payout ratio)}\\ \end{aligned} IGR=1−(ROA⋅b)ROA⋅bwhere:ROA=Return on assetsb=The retention ratio(which is one minus the dividend payout ratio)

How to Calculate IGR

An internal growth rate for a public company is calculated by first using the return on assets formula (net income divided by average total assets). Then the retention ratio is calculated by dividing retained earnings by net income (or, alternatively, dividing net income less dividends distributed by net income). Finally, the firm's internal growth rate is calculated by dividing return on assets by the retention ratio.

What Does the Internal Growth Rate Tell You?

If a business can use its existing resources more efficiently, the firm can generate internal growth. Assume, for example, that Acme Sporting Goods manufactures baseball gloves, bats, and other equipment, and management is reviewing current operations. Acme analyzes its production process and makes changes to maximize the use of machinery and equipment and reduce idle time.

The company also warehouses finished goods that are sold to sporting goods stores, and management makes changes to reduce the level of inventory carried in the warehouse. These changes increase Acme’s efficiency and reduce the amount of cash tied up in inventory.

Some companies generate internal growth by adding new lines of business that complement the firm’s existing product offerings, and Acme may add a football equipment product line to generate sales when baseball season is over. Acme can market the football product line to the existing baseball customer base since some of those athletes may play both sports.

Example of IGR in Business Expansion

One common internal growth strategy is to increase the company’s market share for products the firm already sells, and there are several approaches to increase market share. If Acme can improve its marketing results, the company can sell more products without increasing expenses, and many firms build brand recognition to get better marketing outcomes.