Borrowing by small U.S. businesses jumped in November to the highest level in more than two years, PayNet Inc reported. Why?  entrepreneurs invested in their businesses and did a better job of paying existing debts.

According to the Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index, which measures the overall volume of financing to U.S. small businesses rose 17 percent in November from a year earlier, PayNet said.

It was the fourth straight double-digit jump and the ninth consecutive monthly increase of the gauge, which measures the loans, leases and lines of credit that small businesses originate to finance investment in their operations.