As of last December, there is another repayment option geared toward the enterprising (or not) Hacker News sort, at least those not yet flush with cash. The Pay As You Earn option [0] allows you to pay no more than 10% of your discretionary income, over a twenty-year window. The balance beyond that will be forgiven.

In most circumstances, you'll end up paying less under this plan than under other payment plans contingent on income. In fact, if you have no income while you're starting your startup, you'll owe nothing. This is pretty much always a better option than getting a forbearance or doing one of the other payment options [1, 2], at least until you realize your millions.

The qualifying criteria are really the sticking point. Please post your questions, concerns, tax advice, etc., below. None of this is straightforward, and I'm sure I have as much to learn about this as the rest of you. ...

0. http://studentaid.ed.gov/repay-loans/understand/plans/pay-as...

1. Only recent borrowers qualify for this option. If you don't qualify, look into consolidating your loans through the Dept. of Education, then applying for the PAYE repayment plan on the consolidated loan.

2. The NYT has a good summary: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/01/opinion/relief-for-student...