There are two main types of financing sources for small businesses: equity sources and debt sources. Equity sources include personal savings, friends and relatives, private investors, and venture capitalists, and do not require repayment but provide ownership stakes. Debt sources include banks, finance companies, credit unions, and government agencies, and must be repaid with interest but allow businesses to maintain ownership. Government programs like the SBA, EDA, and HUD provide loan guarantees and funding to help small businesses and support economic development.