Spreading the cost of equipment across the period it earns, rather than taking it out of practice cash in one go.
What we fund
- Dental chairs and complete surgery fit-outs
- CBCT, OPG and intraoral imaging
- CAD/CAM and milling equipment
- Decontamination and autoclaves
- Lasers and specialist treatment equipment
- Practice management software and IT
- Furniture, cabinetry and non-clinical fit-out
Hire purchase or lease
Hire purchase spreads the cost and you own the equipment at the end. It suits assets with a long working life and decent residual value, such as a chair or a surgery fit-out.
Finance and operating leases keep you using the asset without owning it, which can suit technology that moves quickly and needs replacing rather than keeping. The accounting and tax treatment differs from hire purchase in ways that matter.
The right answer depends on the asset, how fast it dates, and your tax position. We will set out the practical difference for the specific item rather than defaulting to whichever the supplier happens to offer.
Speed
Asset finance is the fastest funding a practice can access. Underwriting decisions on straightforward cases are often made within hours, with payout the same day once signed documents are returned.
For imaging and diagnostic equipment, expect lenders to want around three years’ trading history. Smaller-ticket equipment is frequently available on shorter histories.
Compare the supplier’s finance
Supplier-arranged finance is convenient and it comes from a limited panel. It is frequently beatable, and comparing costs you nothing. Bring us the quote you already have and we will tell you honestly whether it is competitive.
The comparison to make is total cost over the term, not the monthly figure. A longer term always looks cheaper monthly. The asset finance calculator will show you the rate hidden inside a supplier quote.
Refinancing equipment you already own
If your practice owns equipment outright, that capital is sitting idle. Refinancing existing assets releases it for a deposit towards a practice purchase, a fit-out or working capital, without taking new security over property.
It works on both encumbered and unencumbered assets, and it is routinely overlooked because suppliers have no reason to mention it.
Why not just use a business loan?
Sometimes a loan is right. But funding equipment through asset finance usually preserves your unsecured borrowing capacity for the things asset finance cannot cover, and the asset provides the security, which often means better pricing and a faster decision.
It is also frequently the most accessible route for a newer practice, because the lender’s position rests on the equipment rather than years of trading history.
Common questions
Can I finance used or refurbished equipment?
Often yes, though the age of the asset affects both the term available and the pricing. Some funders are considerably more flexible than others on this.
Does equipment finance affect my practice purchase borrowing?
It is taken into account in serviceability, but because it is asset-secured it generally sits differently from unsecured borrowing. If you are planning both, sequence them deliberately. Tell us and we will structure around it.
Can a squat practice finance a full fit-out?
Usually yes, and asset finance is often the most accessible route for a start-up because the security sits in the equipment. Expect a higher personal contribution than an established practice would need. See squat dental practice finance.
I am a sole trader. Does that change anything?
Where the borrower is a sole trader or a partnership of two or three partners and the amount financed is £25,000 or less, the agreement is regulated consumer credit. We arrange unregulated business finance only, so we will tell you at the outset if your case falls into that category. Above that level, or for a limited company, it does not apply.
All figures are indicative and subject to lender assessment, your circumstances, valuation and prevailing market conditions. Commercial mortgages and unregulated bridging loans are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Property offered as security may be at risk if you do not keep up repayments.