How do we compute the payback period for proposed capital budgeting project? What are the basic criticisms of the payback method?
We compute the payback period for proposed project through adding a project's positive cash flows, one period at time, till the sum equals the initial investment. The number of time periods it takes to cover up this investment is the payback period. The basic criticisms of the payback method are that cash flows after the payback period are avoided and the time value of money is not assumed.