Industries · Dental practices
Dental practices financing and payments
Dental practices most often finance acquisitions or partner buy-ins, start-up and expansion build-outs, and imaging or CAD/CAM equipment. Lenders focus on collections trend, hygiene production, payer mix and the buyer's clinical history.
Read the full dental practice financing guideProfit Theory is not a lender and may earn referral fees or commissions from the lenders and providers we work with. How we get paid: /referral-disclosure
Typical financing needs for dental practices
Practice acquisition or buy-in
Term loans or SBA 7(a) sized to the practice's historical collections and cash flow.
Start-up or expansion build-out
Leasehold improvements and equipment for new operatories.
Imaging and CAD/CAM equipment
Equipment financing matched to technology life.
Worked example: $900,000 dental practice acquisition
Payment = P × r ÷ (1 − (1 + r)^−n), r = rate ÷ 12, n = years × 12
- • Acquisition model at 10% illustrative rate, 10-year term
- • Monthly payment ≈ $11,894
- • Annual debt service ≈ $142,723
- • Cash flow needed at 1.25x DSCR ≈ $178,403
- • Illustrative only. Estimates only. Results vary. No guarantee of approval, rates or savings.
Payments: what drives processing cost in dental practices
- • Patient balances collected after insurance processes
- • Card-on-file for treatment plans
- • Practice-software integration and reconciliation
Effective rate = total monthly processing fees ÷ monthly card volume × 100
- • Illustrative: $2,200 in fees ÷ $80,000 in card volume × 100 = 2.75%
- • Illustrative only. Your statement, card mix and pricing model determine your actual rate.
Dental practices financing FAQ
What do lenders look at for a dental acquisition?
Typically collections history, hygiene production, payer mix, the lease and the buyer's production as an associate.
Can I finance a partner buy-in?
Partner buy-ins are commonly financed with term loans sized to the buyer's share of practice cash flow. Lenders set final terms.
How should a practice compare payment processing quotes?
Compare the effective rate: total monthly fees divided by card volume. That makes quotes with different pricing models comparable.
Does Profit Theory lend to dental practices businesses?
No. Profit Theory is not a lender. A financing specialist helps you plan and package the request, then, with your consent, introduces you to providers we select based on fit. Lenders make every credit, rate and term decision.
What should I prepare before I apply?
Usually two to three years of business tax returns, year-to-date financial statements, a debt schedule, and a short explanation of what the money is for and how it will be repaid. The loan package checklist lists items by loan type.
Profit Theory is not a lender and may earn referral fees or commissions from the lenders and providers we work with. How we get paid: /referral-disclosure
Last reviewed Nov 3 2026