Strategic financing can transform your dental practice, funding cutting-edge technology, facility improvements, and team expansion that can enhance patient care and practice profitability.
This article walks you through your financing options, helps you understand what lenders look for, and shows you how to position your practice for success when seeking funding.
What are the options for financing a dental practice?
Dental practices have several financing options available, each designed to address different needs. Some help with big purchases like equipment, while others provide flexibility for day-to-day expenses.
Traditional bank loans
Bank loans are a common choice for existing dental practices. These loans typically come with fixed interest rates that won't change over time, making it easier to plan your monthly budget. The regular payment schedule and longer repayment terms help keep your monthly payments at a manageable level.
To qualify for a bank loan, you'll need good credit and typically 2-3 years of financial records. Banks want to see that your practice is stable and can comfortably handle the loan payments. They'll review your cash flow, revenue trends, and overall practice management to make their lending decision.
SBA loans
Small Business Administration (SBA) loans often provide better terms than standard bank loans because they're backed by the government. These loans work particularly well when you're buying an existing practice, purchasing major equipment, or planning a significant expansion.
While SBA loans typically offer lower down payments and better interest rates than conventional loans, they do require more extensive paperwork and take longer to process.
Lines of credit
A line of credit works much like a credit card—you can draw money when you need it and pay it back over time. The main difference is that you aren't limited to purchases you can put on a card. Instead, you can draw cash into your bank account to use for anything.
This flexibility makes it perfect for managing cash flow, covering unexpected expenses, or moving quickly when opportunities arise. Since you only pay interest on the amount you actually borrow, it's an efficient way to handle varying cash needs throughout the year. Many practices maintain a line of credit as a financial safety net, even if they don't use it regularly.
Equipment financing and leasing
Equipment financing comes in two main forms: loans and leases. With an equipment loan, you own the equipment and can claim depreciation on your taxes. Equipment leases typically offer lower monthly payments, but you don't own the equipment. Still, you can deduct the lease payments as long as they qualify.
Both options let you access new technology without paying the full cost upfront, and many equipment manufacturers offer their own financing programs to help make purchases more affordable.
Practice acquisition loans
Practice acquisition loans are specifically designed to help dentists purchase existing practices. Lenders evaluate the practice's financial history, patient base, retention rates, location, and market potential, as well as your own experience and business plan.
Since you're buying an established business with proven income, these loans often come with favorable terms. Lenders understand that acquiring an existing practice often provides a faster path to profitability than starting from scratch.
Healthcare-specific lenders
Lenders that specialize in healthcare financing, and specifically the dental industry, bring valuable knowledge to the table. They understand the unique economics of running a dental practice, including insurance reimbursement cycles and the value of different types of equipment.
This specialized knowledge often translates into more favorable loan terms and a smoother approval process. These lenders can also provide valuable insights about practice financing based on their experience with other dental clients.
Private investors and venture capital
Private investors and venture capital can provide another path to financing your dental practice. Unlike traditional loans, these investors typically take an ownership stake in your practice in exchange for their investment.
While this approach can provide substantial capital without monthly payments, it means sharing control and future profits with your investors. This option works best for practices with ambitious growth plans and leadership that doesn't mind sharing ownership.
How financing can impact dental practice growth and operations
Smart financing decisions create a foundation for practice growth and long-term success. The right financing at the right time can help you seize opportunities, upgrade technology, and improve patient care. Let's explore how different types of financing support various aspects of practice development.
Starting or buying a dental practice
The path you choose—starting a new practice or buying an existing one—shapes your initial financing needs. Dental practice startups require funding for everything from basic equipment to initial marketing, with careful planning for the time it takes to build a patient base. Buying an existing practice typically needs more upfront capital but offers immediate cash flow from an established patient base. Your choice affects not just the amount you need to borrow but also the types of financing available to you.
If you're just getting started, you'll need to consider your student loan debt as well. As expensive as dental school is, your student debt can play into the lending process if you're seeking funding that takes your personal credit into account—that includes credit card debt, student loans from a federal government agency, private student loans, and any other debt you might be carrying.
Dental equipment financing
Modern dental equipment can transform your practice capabilities, but it requires careful financial planning. New technology like digital imaging systems or CAD/CAM machines can improve patient care and practice efficiency.
When considering equipment purchases, think about how the new technology will affect your practice revenue and patient experience. Good equipment financing lets you access these benefits while spreading the cost over time, matching the expense to the revenue the equipment helps generate.
Digital transformation investments
Today's dental practices need more than just clinical equipment. Practice management software, digital patient engagement systems, and modern communication tools have become essential for running an efficient practice.
These digital investments can streamline operations, improve patient communication, and help you stay competitive. While these costs might seem less obvious than clinical equipment, they're just as important for practice success.
Practice renovations and improvements
Your office environment affects both patient comfort and team productivity. Renovations can modernize your space, add operatories, or improve workflow. These improvements often pay off through increased patient satisfaction and better team efficiency. Financing options for renovations range from traditional loans to specialized construction lending, depending on the scope of your project.
Expanding your dental practice
Practice expansion takes many forms, from adding locations to bringing in associates or offering new services. Each type of growth comes with its own financing needs.
The key is matching your financing to your growth plan. Good planning helps ensure your expansion strengthens rather than strains your practice finances.
How to qualify for dental practice loans
Lenders want to see that your practice can reliably repay the loan. Understanding what they look for helps you prepare a stronger application. While different lenders have different requirements, some key factors remain consistent across most dental practice loans.
Creating a comprehensive business plan
A strong business plan shows lenders you've thought carefully about your practice's future. Explain your market analysis, growth strategy, and how you'll handle potential challenges, with financial projections that show how you'll generate enough revenue to repay the loan.
Focus on realistic numbers backed by solid research. Remember, lenders see many business plans—make yours stand out with thorough preparation and clear presentation.
Demonstrating practice profitability
Lenders need to see that your practice makes enough money to cover loan payments. Prepare financial statements showing your revenue, expenses, and profit trends. Include key performance indicators that dental practices typically track, like production per chair and collection rates.
Keep your financial records organized and up to date. If your numbers show some weak spots, be ready to explain how you're addressing them.
Collateral and down payment considerations
Most practice loans require some form of collateral—assets the lender can claim if you can't repay the loan. This may include practice equipment, commercial real estate, or other assets the business owns. The more valuable your collateral, the better your chance of loan approval and the better your loan terms might be.
Lenders also typically expect a down payment, often 10% or more of the loan amount. Plan ahead to have the cash available for your down payment while keeping enough working capital in reserve to protect your day-to-day operations.
Understanding dental-specific financials
Dental practices have unique financial patterns that differ from other businesses. Insurance reimbursement cycles affect cash flow. Production doesn't always match collections. Patient retention and referral rates influence long-term stability.
Make sure you understand these patterns in your practice and can explain them clearly to lenders. The better you understand your practice finances, the better you can present them to potential lenders.
Strengthening your credit profile
Your credit profile tells lenders how well you manage debt, so a strong credit profile will significantly improve your odds of credit approval. For practice owners, this may include both personal and business credit.
Start by separating your personal and practice finances if you haven't already. Pay all your bills on time and keep your credit card balances low. If you find problems in your credit report, address them before you apply for financing. Good credit habits take time to build, so start working on your credit profile well before you need to borrow.
Access credit that scales with your business with BILL
The BILL Divvy Card¹ provides dental practices with flexible credit² that can grow with your business. This isn't just another charge card—it's part of a complete financial management system that helps you track and control spending across your entire practice.
With the BILL Divvy Card, you can:
- Set custom spending limits by team member, vendor, location, and more
- Track your practice spending in real time
- Manage everything through one simple platform
- Use your good payment record to build your business credit score
The BILL Divvy Card integrates with BILL's expense management system, giving you clear visibility into your practice finances while streamlining your accounting.
"BILL allows us to function in a multi-location space by having one software for our accounts. It's seamless and efficient for one staff accountant to bounce between locations and update the latest AP information across multiple practices." — Lightwave Dental
"Growing as fast as we did would have been really difficult without BILL." — Guardian Dentistry Partners
¹The BILL Divvy Card is issued by Cross River Bank, member FDIC, and is not a deposit product.
²Credit lines and the advertised range are not guaranteed and will be determined upon application approval.
