Businesses need finance for various reasons such as expanding operations, purchasing new equipment or premises, covering periods of low demand, and starting new businesses. There are internal and external sources of finance. Internal finance comes from retained profits while external sources include bank loans and overdrafts. The type of finance a business chooses depends on how long they need the funds, whether it's short, medium, or long term. Short term finance is for under one year and includes cash flow, trade credits, and bank credits. Medium term is 1-5 years and includes loans and hire purchase. Long term over 5 years includes loans, shares, and retained profits to finance fixed assets and large expansions. A business must consider many factors like costs