Which of the following alternatives can help a business secure cash flow immediately?

The option that helps a business secure cash flow immediately is factoring. Factoring involves selling accounts receivable to a third party, known as a factor, at a discount. This allows businesses to quickly convert their receivables into cash instead of waiting for customers to pay their invoices over an agreed period. This immediate influx of cash can be crucial for managing day-to-day operations, addressing unexpected expenses, or taking advantage of opportunities that require quick liquidity.

Long-term investments, on the other hand, typically involve committing funds for an extended period with the expectation of future returns. While these may boost financial health in the long run, they do not provide immediate cash flow.

Retained profits refer to the portion of net income not distributed to shareholders as dividends. While retaining profits can improve a company's equity base and potentially support future investments or expenses, this approach does not generate immediate cash flow as it involves reinvestment rather than distribution.

Debentures are long-term securities yielding a fixed rate of interest, essentially representing borrowed funds. Although issuing debentures can provide a business with funds, it typically involves a longer timeframe for issuance and may not result in immediate cash availability.