Which funding option must be repaid with interest and has maturity terms that vary by loan type?

• A. Bootstrapping
• B. SBA grants
• C. Crowdfunding
• D. SBA loans

Answer: (D)

Debt financing involves borrowing money that must be repaid with interest, and the repayment period depends on the specific loan product. SBA loans are such debt financing: they are loans made through lenders with an SBA guarantee, and they come with interest charges. Importantly, the maturity length isn’t fixed across all SBA programs—it varies by loan type and use (for example, longer terms for real estate, shorter terms for working capital or equipment). This combination—repayment with interest and varying terms by loan type—fits SBA loans best.

Bootstrapping involves using personal funds and isn’t a loan you repay. Grants do not require repayment. Crowdfunding can be donation- or reward-based and isn’t inherently a repayment loan, though some debt crowdfunding options exist.