Practice Equipment Finance
Invest in capability.
Keep the cash in the practice.
Clinical equipment, diagnostics, automation and software can transform what a practice can do. Asset finance lets you spread the cost over the working life of the equipment.
- Confidential, no-obligation discussion
- Whole of market access
- We are a broker, not a lender
“The whole process was very smooth and was completed within a few days.”
- Lender searchWhole of marketNot tied to any one lender
- Instant QuotesNo credit searchSee indicative quotes first
- Who we helpProfessional practicesSole traders, partnerships, LLPs and companies
- Our roleSpecialist brokerWe approach suitable lenders for you
Quick answer
What is practice equipment finance?
Practice equipment finance spreads the cost of clinical and professional equipment over its working life, through hire purchase, leasing or asset loans. It covers dental, veterinary, medical, optical and pharmacy equipment, plus workstations, software and practice technology. We arrange equipment finance across the market so investment does not tie up working capital.
The pressure
The equipment patients expect is rarely cheap.
CBCT scanners, digital X-ray, OCT, dispensing robots, refrigeration, high-spec workstations: the kit that defines a modern practice often carries a significant price tag, and it keeps moving on.
Paying outright can drain reserves the practice needs for payroll, tax and the unexpected. Spreading the cost lets the equipment help pay for itself.
What can be financed
What it can cover.
“A super responsive broker who quickly diagnoses the needs of the client.”
- 01 Clinical and diagnostic equipment Dental chairs, CBCT, imaging, ultrasound, analysers, OCT.
- 02 Surgical and treatment equipment Theatre, anaesthesia, monitoring and aesthetic equipment.
- 03 Dispensing automation Robots and dispensing systems.
- 04 Mortuary and refrigeration Cold rooms and preparation-room equipment.
- 05 Technology and software Workstations and CAD/BIM licences. For practice systems and migrations, see IT and software finance.
How it’s often structured
Structured around the practice.
Hire purchase, finance lease or a business loan, usually matched to the useful life of the equipment. Software and licences can sometimes be funded separately or as part of a wider package.
With hire purchase the practice usually owns the equipment once the final payment is made. With a lease, the finance company owns it and the practice pays to use it, with options at the end of the term. A business loan leaves the practice owning the equipment from the start. Each has different accounting and tax consequences, which your accountant can advise on.
Installation, training and software, sometimes called soft costs, are not always funded in the same way as the hardware, so it is worth checking early how a lender will treat them. Our guide to hire purchase, leasing or a loan compares the options in detail. If the practice has already paid for recent equipment in cash, equipment refinance may release the money again.
How we help
Not one lender. The right one.
We don't offer a single product. We look at what you're trying to fund, how your firm earns and spends, and which lenders in the market are most likely to support it. Then we prepare the case, approach suitable lenders and manage the process through to completion.
- Whole of market accessHigh street banks, specialist and private lenders.
- Specialist understandingLenders who understand how practices earn and grow.
- Your case, properly presentedStructured and put to lenders suited to it.
- With you to completionFrom the first conversation to funds arriving.
What lenders will want to see
What lenders will look at.
- The supplier’s quote, including installation and software
- The equipment’s expected working life and resale value
- The practice’s accounts and existing finance agreements
- How the equipment will add to income or capacity
Questions
What firms usually ask.
Can I lease dental equipment or buy it on finance?
Both are usually possible. Dental chairs, CBCT scanners, intraoral scanners and imaging can typically be funded through hire purchase, a finance lease or a business loan. Which suits you depends on whether you want to own the equipment, how you prefer to account for it, and the lender’s view. Your accountant can advise on the tax treatment.
Hire purchase vs leasing for practice equipment: what’s the difference?
In general terms, hire purchase spreads the cost and ownership usually passes to the practice at the end of the agreement. With a finance lease, the lender typically owns the equipment and the practice pays to use it. Accounting and tax treatment differ, so your accountant can advise which suits your practice.
What equipment can a veterinary or medical practice finance?
Most clinical and diagnostic kit can be funded, including imaging, ultrasound, analysers, theatre, anaesthesia and monitoring equipment. Opticians fund OCT and retinal imaging, pharmacies fund dispensing robots, and funeral directors fund mortuary refrigeration. Lenders typically match the finance to the useful life of the equipment.
Can software and IT be financed as well as equipment?
Sometimes. Workstations, CAD and BIM licences, practice-management and case-management systems can be funded, either separately or as part of a wider package with hardware. Some lenders are more comfortable funding software than others, since it has less resale value, so we search the market for those that are.
Why finance practice equipment instead of paying cash?
Paying outright can drain reserves a practice needs for payroll, tax and the unexpected. Spreading the cost over the equipment’s working life lets it contribute to earnings while it is being paid for. Whether financing makes sense depends on your cash position and plans, and your accountant can advise on the tax side.
Can architects finance workstations and CAD or BIM licences?
Often, yes. High-specification workstations and visualisation hardware suit hire purchase or leasing, and software licences can sometimes be spread too, so costs that grow with headcount are not paid in one go. Our page on loans for architects covers the wider picture.
Success stories
Equipment & Technology in practice.
In our clients’ words
“Simon was fast, kept us updated at all stages and was a real pleasure to work with on our asset finance. I highly recommend this company: excellent service all round.”
Knowledge Hub
Read the guides.
Buying a Dental Practice: A Finance Guide for Buyers
A practical guide to funding a dental practice purchase: how the NHS and private income mix affects lenders, the approvals involved, and the order to put the finance together.
Read the guide →Hire Purchase, Leasing or a Loan: Financing Practice Equipment and Technology
How hire purchase, finance leases, operating leases, contract hire and loans compare for dental chairs, imaging, OCT, dispensing robots, case management systems and vehicles.
Read the guide →What Lenders Look For in a Practice Finance Application, and How to Prepare
A practical guide to the documents, numbers and narrative lenders expect from professional practices, the common reasons applications stall, and how a broker presents the case.
Read the guide →Let's talk
Upgrading equipment?
Spread the cost over its working life.
Before you approach a lender, speak to someone who understands the transaction. Confidential, no-obligation initial discussion.
