Retained business earnings
Reinvest cash generated by the business when growth can wait for collections.
Before committing: Keep a reserve for taxes and essential operating payments before committing cash.
Owner capital contribution
Introduce personal capital as a documented contribution to the company.
Before committing: Separate household reserves from business risk and record the treatment with your accountant.
Documented owner loan
Lend personal funds to the company under a written agreement.
Before committing: Document repayment, interest and priority; personal liquidity still carries the business risk.
Conventional bank term loan
Finance a defined purchase or longer-term business investment.
Before committing: Compare net proceeds, total repayment, collateral, guarantees and early-payoff terms.
Business line of credit
Draw and repay around a recurring, temporary operating cash gap.
Before committing: Check renewal conditions, draw fees and whether payments rise with a variable rate.
SBA 7(a) financing
Explore a participating lender’s SBA-backed route for eligible business uses.
Before committing: A government guarantee protects the lender; it does not remove your repayment duty or guarantee approval.
SBA 504 financing
Explore eligible long-lived fixed assets through a lender and Certified Development Company.
Before committing: Ask about equity contribution, project eligibility and the complete financing structure.
SBA microloan
Consider a smaller request through an approved nonprofit intermediary.
Before committing: Confirm permitted uses directly; SBA microloans cannot purchase real estate or repay existing debts.
CDFI lending
Look for a mission-focused lender serving the business’s geography or community.
Before committing: Community focus does not mean automatic eligibility or free capital. Obtain written terms.
Credit union business financing
Investigate business lending through an institution whose membership requirements you meet.
Before committing: Compare the product and cost rather than assuming the institution’s structure means lower pricing.
Equipment loan
Match financing to a specific productive asset and its expected useful life.
Before committing: Include installation and maintenance in the forecast; understand the lender’s lien on equipment.
Equipment lease
Use an asset under a lease when ownership timing and flexibility fit the business.
Before committing: Compare total payments, end-of-term obligations, insurance and any buyout.
Vendor or supplier terms
Negotiate purchase payment timing with a supplier to align it with sales collections.
Before committing: Account for lost discounts, late charges and consequences for future deliveries.
Customer deposits
Collect an agreed deposit before beginning work or purchasing materials.
Before committing: Keep delivery and refund obligations clear; receiving a deposit does not make it unrestricted profit.
Preorders
Validate demand and collect advance orders for a clearly described deliverable.
Before committing: Model production, fulfillment, refunds and delays before treating the money as available working capital.
Invoice factoring
Sell eligible receivables when the cash timing and customer arrangement fit.
Before committing: Understand reserve release, notification, recourse, disputed invoices and effective cost over time.
Receivables-backed line
Borrow against eligible invoices under a borrowing-base agreement.
Before committing: Customer concentration and invoice aging can reduce availability even when sales rise.
Reward-based crowdfunding
Invite supporters to fund a defined project in exchange for disclosed rewards.
Before committing: Budget platform fees, reward fulfillment and campaign effort; fundraising is not guaranteed.
Equity investment
Raise owner or outside investor capital when the growth case fits shared ownership.
Before committing: Consider dilution, governance, investor rights and legal requirements before offering securities.
Verified grants and competitions
Apply for a genuine program whose purpose, geography and eligibility match the business.
Before committing: Confirm the official sponsor, permitted costs, deadlines and reporting duties; do not plan essential payroll around an unawarded grant.
Make the comparison on paper
For each proposal, write down the net funds received, total payments, payment dates, collateral, guarantees and early-exit terms. Test the plan with slower customer collections. These educational options are not recommendations that a specific business is eligible or should borrow.
Model a payment and read the financing comparison guide.
Primary-source starting points
SBA loan programs · SBA local assistance · US Treasury CDFI Fund · SEC small-business resources