Equipment loan · Allied health
Equipment loan for allied health
Allied health finance is lending for physiotherapy, psychology, podiatry, chiropractic and similar practices, covering treatment equipment, clinic fit-outs, practice purchases and the working capital that carries a growing clinic.
How an equipment loan works for allied health
Treatment tables, exercise and rehabilitation equipment, ultrasound and shockwave devices, gait analysis systems, practice servers and telehealth hardware all sit comfortably in a single equipment loan over three to five years. Individually these purchases are too small to justify separate applications; together they are worth structuring properly. Financing them rather than paying cash keeps the buffer available for the practitioner salaries that actually generate the billings the equipment supports.
The cash-flow pattern we plan around
Session-based income from a mix of private fees, health fund rebates and scheme or insurer payments, with new practitioners taking three to six months to reach a full book.
What allied health typically fund
- Treatment tables and rehabilitation equipment
- Clinic fit-out and additional treatment rooms
- Shockwave, laser and diagnostic devices
- Practice management software and telehealth systems
- Working capital while new practitioners build a book
Equipment loan for allied health: the numbers
| Typical amounts | $5,000 – $5,000,000 |
|---|---|
| Term | 12–84 months |
| Indicative rates | 6.9% – 16% p.a. |
| Repayments | Monthly |
| Speed | Same day to 48 hours for low-doc |
| Documents allied health usually need | ABN and AHPRA or professional association registration · 6–12 months of bank statements or practice financials · Equipment or fit-out quote |
Rates are indicative, change without notice and depend on the lender, product, asset, term and your credit profile at the time of application. They are not an offer of finance. Comparison rates, where shown, are true only for the example given.
Key terms
Allied health practice finance
Allied health practice finance is lending to physiotherapy, psychology, podiatry, chiropractic, speech and occupational therapy practices, used for equipment, fit-outs, acquisitions and the working capital of adding practitioners.
Ramp-up funding
Ramp-up funding is working capital that covers the period between hiring a new practitioner or opening a new treatment room and that capacity generating enough billings to cover its own cost.
What is equipment finance?
Equipment finance is any loan or lease used to acquire business equipment, with the equipment typically serving as security. The main structures in Australia are chattel mortgages, finance leases and rentals.
Low-doc equipment finance
Low-doc equipment finance approves smaller amounts (often up to $150,000–$250,000) without full financials, relying on ABN age, GST registration, credit history and sometimes a property-owner declaration.
Questions from allied health
Can a physio, psychology or podiatry clinic finance its fit-out?
Yes. Treatment rooms, reception, cabinetry, flooring and treatment equipment can be funded under one fit-out facility with the builder and suppliers paid as the work progresses, repaid over three to five years within the lease term. Equipment such as treatment beds, reformers and diagnostic tools is often financed separately at a sharper rate.
How does a growing clinic fund new practitioners before their books fill?
A line of credit or a short-term unsecured loan covers wages and room costs for the three to six months a new practitioner takes to reach a full book, and is repaid as their billings come through. Lenders assess the clinic’s existing billings, so applying while the current team is busy gets the best terms.
Are allied health practitioners eligible for professional finance packages?
Some lenders extend professional packages to physiotherapists, psychologists, podiatrists, chiropractors, optometrists and other registered practitioners, with lighter documentation and sharper pricing on equipment and practice finance. Registration and a practice plan are the key documents. A broker knows which lenders include your profession.
Can I finance buying an allied health practice?
Yes. Practice acquisition finance funds the purchase of an existing clinic or a buy-in against its billings and goodwill, with lenders looking at the practice’s financials, referral base and the practitioners staying on. Equipment and fit-out can be financed alongside the purchase.