Quick answer
Medical and allied health business loans fund equipment, fit-outs, new rooms, practice purchases and cash flow for GPs, dentists, physiotherapists, psychologists and other health practitioners. Practices often have steady income, but new practices, tax arrears or partnership changes can stop bank approval. Equipment finance, unsecured loans and property-secured loans are common alternatives.
Key points
- Equipment finance suits imaging, chairs and treatment gear
- Fit-outs and new rooms are common funding needs
- New practices and partnership changes can trip bank rules
- Property security supports practice purchases
Steady income, big upfront costs
Health practices tend to have reliable revenue from patient fees and rebates, but they need significant capital: treatment rooms, specialised equipment, software, waiting areas that meet patient expectations. Starting or buying a practice compounds the cost. Many practitioners are surprised to be declined by banks despite strong professional earnings, usually because the business entity is new, a partnership has changed, or tax has fallen behind during a busy growth period.
Common funding needs
| Need | Typical option |
|---|---|
| Imaging, dental chairs, treatment equipment | Equipment finance |
| Room fit-out or refurbishment | Unsecured loan or equipment finance |
| Buying into or buying a practice | Business acquisition loan |
| Buying the premises | Commercial property loan |
| Tax arrears | Tax debt loan |
What lenders consider
- Your registration, qualifications and years in practice.
- Patient numbers and billing patterns in bank statements.
- The practice structure and any service agreements.
- Existing equipment finance and lease commitments.
- Security available, including equipment and property.
What to prepare
Identification, practice bank statements, recent BAS if registered for GST, equipment quotes or the sale contract for a practice purchase, and any lease. If the practice is newly established, a summary of your career and patient base helps a person-led lender see beyond the short trading history.
An illustrative example
A physiotherapist bought the rooms her practice had leased for years. Her bank was slow to approve because her practice company was restructured the previous year. A private first mortgage settled the purchase on time and was later repaid by a bank refinance once financial statements for the new structure were complete.
Larger projects
Practice purchases, multi-room fit-outs and premises purchases are often best funded with property security, $20k to $5m, with no upfront valuation.
Mistakes we see in practice funding
Buying expensive equipment before patient demand supports it, and underestimating fit-out costs for clinical spaces, are the two most common issues. Get firm quotes, allow for compliance requirements, and check patient numbers before committing. Practitioners buying into a practice should review the patient base, service agreements and any existing finance carefully.
Talk about your practice
Submit a short enquiry and tell us about your practice and what you need. There’s no credit check upfront, a specialist calls you back, and your details stay private. Fund your practice.
Frequently asked questions
Can I finance dental or imaging equipment?
Yes. Specialised medical equipment is commonly financed, often with the equipment as security.
Can I get a loan to buy into a practice?
Yes. Buy-ins and acquisitions are often funded with property-secured loans or a combination of loans.
I am a new practice owner. Will lenders help?
Your professional qualifications and experience count, but trading history matters. Property or equipment security helps early on.
Can a practice borrow with tax arrears?
Yes. Tax debts are considered case by case and can be cleared as part of a loan.
Prefer to start now? Enquire here
About 60 seconds. No credit check when you first enquire, and a person who handles unusual deals calls you back.