Dental Equipment Lease

Every operatory you open is production you can book, and a lease is often the fastest way to get that chair generating revenue before you've touched your savings. Leasing dental equipment lets you spread the cost of high-ticket gear across predictable monthly payments while preserving the working capital you need to hire, market, and stock supplies. Whether you're outfitting a brand-new operatory or replacing a tired delivery unit, a properly structured lease matches what you owe to what the equipment earns.

We work with general dentists, specialists, and multi-location groups to structure leases on everything from dental chairs and operatory packages to CBCT and 3D imaging systems. Transactions start at $50,000, with a sweet spot between $100,000 and $150,000 and well above. New and used equipment qualify, and B/C credit is considered on a case-by-case basis.

How a Dental Equipment Lease Works

A lease is a contractual agreement where the lender buys the equipment and you use it in exchange for monthly payments over a set term, typically 24 to 84 months. At the end of the term, your options depend on which lease structure you chose at signing.

The two most common structures in dental are the Fair Market Value (FMV) lease and the $1 buyout lease. Under an FMV structure, your monthly payment is lower because the lender assumes some residual value in the equipment. At term end, you can buy it at fair market value, return it, or roll into new equipment. Under a $1 buyout lease, your monthly payment is slightly higher because you're amortizing the full cost, but you own the equipment outright for $1 at the end. Most practices that plan to keep equipment long-term prefer the $1 buyout; those who want flexibility to upgrade every few years often prefer FMV.

• Terms from 24 to 84 months
• Fixed monthly payments for predictable budgeting
• FMV or $1 buyout options at lease end
• New and certified refurbished equipment eligible
• Funding typically in 1 to 2 weeks after approval

What Drives Your Lease Payment

Your monthly payment is a function of equipment cost, term length, lease structure, and your credit profile. A well-established general dentistry practice with strong cash flow will typically see more favorable rates than a startup or a practice with recent credit issues, though both can often be accommodated. Providing three months of bank statements speeds the review considerably for larger transactions.

For practices considering Section 179 tax deductions, it is worth noting that the IRS treats $1 buyout leases similarly to purchases for deduction purposes, while operating (FMV) leases may allow you to deduct the full payment as a business expense each year. Your CPA should weigh in on which treatment benefits your practice most in the current tax year.

Application-only approval is available on transactions up to approximately $400,000, meaning no financial statements or tax returns are required, just the application itself. Above that threshold, lenders typically ask for two years of tax returns and recent financials.

Which Practices Lease Most Often

Leasing tends to be the right call in a few specific situations. First, practices adding operatories during a buildout: committing cash to chair packages, delivery units, and cabinetry all at once is a fast way to hollow out reserves, and a lease lets you spread those costs over the revenue-generating life of the equipment. Second, practices that want to stay current on technology. Imaging and CAD/CAM equipment in particular evolves quickly, and an FMV lease lets you upgrade at term end rather than sitting on a depreciated asset.

Startup practices often find leasing especially attractive because it minimizes upfront capital requirements during the critical first year of production ramp-up. Established practices doing a major technology refresh, such as adding a digital intraoral scanning workflow or a diode or hard-tissue laser, also lease frequently to keep cash liquid for other priorities.

What We Need to Get You Approved

The documentation required depends on the transaction size and your credit profile. For deals under roughly $400,000, application-only processing is standard, which means the lender decides based on your business credit, personal credit, and time in practice. You fill out a one-page application, and most decisions come back within 24 to 48 hours.

For larger transactions, or any deal where the personal credit picture needs context, lenders will ask for three months of business bank statements, your two most recent tax returns (business and personal), and a year-to-date profit-and-loss statement. B/C credit applicants will almost always need the full package, and some may be asked for additional collateral or a larger advance payment.

If you've had a prior bankruptcy, collections, or a string of late payments, don't assume that disqualifies you. Lenders who specialize in dental practices understand that production disruptions, transitions in ownership, and early-practice credit events don't predict how a funded practice performs. We match your application to lenders whose criteria fit your profile.

Get Your Lease Quote Today

Tell us what you're looking to lease, your practice stage, and approximate transaction size. We'll come back with competitive structures from lenders who know dental, usually within one business day. There's no obligation and no impact to your credit score just to get a quote.