Business finance terminology: Define the typical maximum duration classified as short-term finance. In standard financial management and banking practice, short-term funds are those intended to be repaid within a relatively brief horizon used mainly for working capital needs. Choose the correct duration cutoff for short-term finance.

Concept

• Short-term finance refers to funds raised for immediate or seasonal needs (e.g., working capital, inventory), with repayment within a brief horizon.
• In standard classifications used in corporate finance and banking exams, short-term = up to 1 year; medium-term ≈ 1–5 years; long-term > 5 years.

Reasoning
The cut-off of one accounting year aligns with cash-conversion cycles, current assets/liabilities reporting, and the tenor of instruments like working-capital loans, commercial paper, and trade credit.

Why other options are incorrect
3 months / 6 months: These are valid short tenors, but they are not the upper limit; many short-term instruments run 9–12 months.3 years / 5 years: These fall under medium-term or long-term finance, not short-term.

Final Answer
1 year