Fit-out finance · Allied health
Fit-out finance 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 fit-out finance works for allied health
Adding treatment rooms means partitioning, acoustic treatment for psychology and speech work, plumbing for podiatry chairs, flooring for a gym or rehab area and compliant access. It is bespoke to the tenancy and cannot be recovered on exit, so lenders assess the practice rather than the assets. Spreading it across the lease term means you can afford to staff the rooms you have just built. Match the finance term to the lease and its options, never beyond it.
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
Fit-out finance for allied health: the numbers
| Typical amounts | $20,000 – $1,500,000 |
|---|---|
| Term | 12–60 months |
| Indicative rates | 9.5% – 22% p.a. |
| Repayments | Monthly |
| Speed | 3–10 business days |
| 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 fit-out finance?
Fit-out finance is business lending used to fund the construction or refurbishment of commercial premises, including joinery, flooring, lighting, signage and the equipment installed. It typically combines secured equipment finance with an unsecured component for fixed works.
Can leasehold improvements be financed?
Yes, but usually not as secured equipment finance, because fixed improvements attach to a building the borrower does not own. Lenders fund them through unsecured facilities or specialist fit-out products, priced above standard asset finance.
How does a lease term affect fit-out finance?
Lenders will not normally amortise fit-out debt beyond the remaining term of the premises lease, including exercisable options. A five-year lease generally means a fit-out loan of five years or less.
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.