Equipment finance for medical & dental equipment — fast quotes from trusted UK lenders

Short answer: Yes — UK Business Loans connects clinics and dental practices with lender and broker partners who regularly provide finance for medical and dental capital equipment. Our service helps match you to providers who understand healthcare assets so you can get a fast, no‑obligation quote on finance from £10,000 upwards. Get Quote Now

At a glance: can our partners finance medical & dental equipment?

Yes — lender and broker partners in our panel routinely fund capital equipment used in medical clinics, private hospitals and dental practices. Funding is commonly arranged for purchases that are high-value, durable and specialist — typically starting from around £10,000 and upwards.

• Typical assets financed: diagnostic machines, imaging, dental chairs, surgical theatre kit, sterilisation units, practice IT and lab analysers.
• Typical deal sizes: £10,000 to several hundred thousand pounds depending on asset type and practice size.
• Loan & term ranges: most asset finance and hire purchase agreements run 2–7 years; leasing terms vary with asset life.

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What types of medical & dental equipment are commonly financed?

Medical equipment (examples)

• MRI, CT and ultrasound scanners
• Patient monitors, ventilators and anaesthesia machines
• Surgical lights, operating tables and theatre equipment
• Laboratory analysers and diagnostic benches
• Sterilisation and autoclave units

Dental equipment (examples)

• Dental chairs and delivery systems
• CBCT/3D imaging and intraoral X‑ray systems (CBCT machine finance)
• Dental handpieces, lab equipment and sterilisation
• Practice management software, computers and CAD/CAM milling machines

Capital equipment vs consumables

Lenders generally fund capital items — durable equipment with resale value and predictable useful life. Consumables (e.g., disposables) are not usually funded through equipment finance.

For more detail on asset-specific options see our dedicated equipment finance overview: equipment finance.

Types of finance available for medical & dental equipment

Different finance structures suit different goals — ownership, cashflow management or off‑balance arrangements. Common products include:

• Asset finance / Equipment finance: broadly covers hire purchase and finance leases. Terms often 2–7 years; deposits vary. Good for securing finance against the asset itself.
• Hire purchase (HP): monthly payments with ownership at the end once the final payment is made. Useful if you want to own the equipment.
• Finance lease: lender owns the asset; you have use of it. May offer off‑balance benefits depending on accounting rules.
• Operating lease / rental: shorter-term rental/hire allowing upgrades and reducing disposal responsibility; typically no ownership.
• Commercial loans / secured loans: used when equipment is one part of a broader funding package.
• Vendor / supplier finance: manufacturers or distributors sometimes provide funding or introduce specialist lenders; useful for bundled deals and installation support.
• Specialist healthcare funding: lenders that understand NHS/private clinic cashflows, depreciation and equipment markets can offer tailored terms.

Typical terms & eligibility notes: many lenders offer 0% deposit options for certain assets; others require 10–30% depending on asset age and borrower credit. Finance leases often reflect asset residual value in monthly pricing.

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Who can get equipment finance? Eligibility & what lenders look for

Lenders commonly assess the business entity, trading performance, director credit and the asset itself.

• Business type: limited companies and LLPs operating healthcare clinics and practices are usual applicants.
• Trading history & turnover: many lenders prefer at least 12 months trading and demonstrable turnover, though specialist lenders may accept newer practices with strong forecasts.
• Credit profile: director and business credit histories are reviewed; past defaults may limit options but multiple panel matches increase chances.
• Supplier quotes & purchase orders: an itemised supplier quote or invoice helps speed approval.
• Asset specifics: specialist kit (e.g., CBCT) can have lower resale markets and so may attract lower loan-to-value or bespoke terms.

Tips to improve approval odds: provide clear supplier quotes, recent management accounts/bank statements, equipment specification and service history (for used equipment).

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Typical costs, worked examples & tax/accounting considerations

Costs vary by lender, asset, term and business credit. We don’t set rates — lenders do — but indicative examples help planning. These are illustrative only.

Indicative ranges: depending on provider and risk, APRs for equipment finance might typically range from mid‑single digits to high teens. Exact pricing depends on negotiation, deposit and asset type.

Worked example 1 — Dental chair suite (illustrative)

Asset: £20,000 dental chair suite. Structure: 4‑year hire purchase. Deposit: 10% (£2,000). Amount financed: £18,000. Monthly estimate (illustrative): around £400–£550/month depending on rate and fees.

Worked example 2 — Clinic ultrasound (illustrative)

Asset: £75,000 ultrasound. Structure: 5‑year finance lease. Typical outcome: spread payments to preserve cashflow; maintenance and service packages can be bundled through vendor finance.

Tax & accounting notes

• Hire purchase often treated as asset ownership (capital allowances / depreciation may apply).
• Leases may be treated differently for tax and balance sheet purposes — talk to your accountant for exact treatment.

UK Business Loans is an introducer — we do not provide financial or tax advice. Speak with your accountant or chosen lender for precise tax implications.

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Pros & cons — why use equipment finance for healthcare?

Advantages

• Preserve working capital — spread cost rather than large upfront payment.
• Access to newer, higher-spec kit faster.
• Flexible structures: ownership or lease options available.
• Often quicker than larger commercial loans; vendor finance can simplify procurement.

Risks / downsides

• Total cost higher than cash purchase due to interest & fees.
• Some agreements require business or director security or personal guarantees.
• Specialist equipment can have lower resale value — affecting loan-to-value and end-of-term options.

Quick checklist: If you want to preserve cash, need upgraded tech quickly and have a supplier quote, equipment finance is worth exploring.

How UK Business Loans helps you get finance

Our role is to match your funding need to lenders and brokers with expertise in healthcare equipment. The process is simple:

1. Complete a short enquiry (takes around 2 minutes).
2. We review basic info and match you to specialist lenders/brokers suited to your equipment type and finance amount (from £10,000+).
3. Partners provide eligibility checks and written quotes — often the same day for common equipment.
4. You choose the best offer and deal directly with the lender or broker; there is no obligation to proceed.

When you submit an enquiry, remember it is not an application — it is information that lets our partners assess eligibility and prepare quotes. Start your enquiry

What to prepare before you apply

Having the following ready speeds up the process:

• Itemised supplier quote or purchase order (including model, age and serial numbers if used)
• Recent business bank statements and management accounts
• Proof of ID for authorised signatories
• Details of any existing finance on the business
• Service history for used equipment where available

Short anonymised case studies

Dental practice upgrade: A private dental clinic used hire purchase to fund a new chair and CBCT system. By spreading payments over 4 years the practice upgraded immediately while keeping cash for refurbishment. Multiple lender quotes helped negotiate a competitive package.

Private clinic imaging lease: A specialist clinic leased an ultrasound machine with maintenance bundled. The lease preserved capital and allowed equipment upgrades at end of term — the clinic retained flexibility for replacing equipment as technology advanced.

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Frequently asked questions

Can lenders finance second‑hand medical equipment?

Yes — many will if the equipment is in good condition with documented service history. LTV and pricing may be lower than for new kit.

Do lenders require a deposit?

Some do; others offer 0% deposit options depending on asset, term and credit profile.

Will enquiring affect my credit score?

No — submitting an enquiry via UK Business Loans does not affect credit. Lenders may perform formal checks only when you proceed to application.

How long does a decision take?

Initial eligibility responses are often within hours; full quotes follow once supplier quotes and documents are reviewed.

Can I lease instead of buy?

Yes — operating and finance leases are common to manage cashflow and upgrade cycles.

Are there specialist lenders for dental practices?

Yes — several lenders and brokers specialise in dentistry and healthcare equipment and understand the market for resale and service.

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Ready to explore equipment finance?

If you’re considering new or used medical or dental equipment, our partners can often provide fast, tailored quotes for funding from £10,000 upwards. Completing our short enquiry is not an application — it simply helps us match you to the best lenders and brokers for your needs.

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About this page

Written by the UK Business Loans editorial team in consultation with specialist finance partners. Last updated: 2025. UK Business Loans acts as an introducer and does not provide finance itself. Submitting an enquiry shares your details with selected partners who may contact you to discuss options.

1. How much can I borrow for medical or dental equipment? — Partner lenders typically fund equipment finance from around £10,000 up to several hundred thousand pounds depending on the asset and practice size.

2. How quickly can I get a quote or decision? — UK Business Loans partners often provide an initial eligibility response within hours and full written quotes once supplier quotes and basic documents are reviewed, sometimes the same day.

3. Will submitting an enquiry affect my credit score? — No — making a free, no‑obligation enquiry via UK Business Loans does not affect your credit score; lenders only perform formal checks if you proceed to an application.

4. Can I finance second‑hand medical or dental equipment? — Yes — many lenders will finance used kit with a documented service history, though loan‑to‑value and pricing may be lower than for new equipment.

5. Do lenders require a deposit for equipment finance? — Some lenders ask for a deposit (commonly 10–30%) but many offer 0% deposit options for certain assets depending on credit profile and asset type.

6. What types of finance are available for medical and dental equipment? — Common options include hire purchase, finance leases, operating leases, vendor/supplier finance and commercial loans to suit ownership, cashflow and tax needs.

7. What do lenders look for when assessing equipment finance applications? — Lenders typically review business type, trading history and turnover, director and business credit, supplier quotes, and the asset’s condition and resale value.

8. Are there specialist lenders or brokers for dental practices? — Yes — our network includes lenders and brokers experienced in dentistry and healthcare equipment who understand market values, maintenance and resale.

9. How will equipment finance affect my tax and accounting treatment? — Tax treatment varies by product—hire purchase often allows capital allowances while leases can be treated differently for balance sheet and tax purposes, so consult your accountant for specifics.

10. How does UK Business Loans help me secure equipment finance? — We act as a free introducer, matching your short enquiry to trusted UK lenders and brokers who carry out eligibility checks and provide tailored, no‑obligation quotes.