Funding automation across the period it saves you money, rather than paying for it out of working capital in one go.
What we fund
- Robotic dispensing systems
- Automated dispensing cabinets and storage
- EPOS and till systems
- Pharmacy management software and IT infrastructure
- Consultation room fit-out for services delivery
- Refrigeration, shelving and retail fit-out
- Security systems and CCTV
The case for funding rather than buying
A dispensing robot is a substantial capital item that pays back through labour efficiency over years. Paying cash converts a productive asset into a hole in your working capital at exactly the point you need cash for stock.
Asset finance matches the cost to the period over which the equipment earns. Where the monthly cost is below the staffing efficiency the system delivers, it can pay for itself from early on, and that is the calculation to put in front of a lender.
The asset finance calculator gives an indicative monthly cost to set against the saving.
Hire purchase or lease
Hire purchase spreads the cost and you own the system at the end. It suits a robot with a long working life.
Leasing keeps you using the asset without owning it, which can suit systems where the technology moves and you would rather replace than keep. The tax and accounting treatment differs, so check it with your accountant.
For automation specifically, the decision usually turns on how long you expect to keep the system and whether the supplier offers upgrade paths worth preserving. Our asset finance page covers the options in more detail.
Compare the supplier’s finance
Automation suppliers almost always offer finance. It is convenient and it comes from a limited panel. Bring us the quote and we will tell you honestly whether it is competitive. Sometimes it is and sometimes it is not; comparing costs you nothing.
Compare total cost over the term rather than the monthly figure.
Refinancing equipment you own
If your pharmacy owns a robot or dispensing system outright, refinancing it releases capital without new property security. That can fund a second branch deposit, a refit or a working capital buffer. See pharmacy working capital for the other ways to smooth cash flow.
Common questions
How quickly can it be arranged?
Asset finance is usually the quickest funding available to a pharmacy. Decisions on straightforward cases can come within hours, with payout following soon after signed documents are returned.
Can a newly acquired pharmacy finance automation?
It is harder in the first year, because the acquisition borrowing is fresh and there is no trading history under your ownership. Asset finance is still usually the most accessible route, because the security sits in the equipment.
Does this affect my ability to borrow for a second branch?
It is taken into account, but asset-secured borrowing generally sits differently from unsecured debt in a lender’s assessment. If both are planned, sequence them deliberately.
I trade as a sole trader or small partnership. Does that change anything?
It can. Finance of £25,000 or less to a sole trader, or to a partnership of two or three partners, is regulated consumer credit, which is outside what we arrange. Above that figure, or where the pharmacy trades through a limited company, the finance is commercial and we can help.
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.