Some business note buyers may accept a balloon if it can be amortized within 24 months using the same monthly payment used to pay the note. The agreement, which doesn't become part of the public record, simply documents what the tangible assets are at the time of the business sale. You should receive the proceeds from the sale within several weeks.

If you're embroiled in litigation and struggling with finances, a lawsuit advance can provide vital cash to help you stay afloat. Many times the legal system puts people who can't afford to wait for their money at a disadvantage. Because it's not a loan, a lawsuit advance doesn't need a credit check, employment, monthly payments or collateral.

But cases can drag on for years, making it difficult for plaintiffs to survive financially until they receive their settlement. But if you win, they'll have a legal right to share your settlement. Companies with deep pockets can afford to extend cases in an effort to "wait out" plaintiffs who are in dire need of funds to meet their living expenses.