Where do dental practice buyers get financing?
Buyers usually borrow from one or more of four sources: a bank, an SBA-backed lender, a lender that specializes in dental or healthcare practices, or the seller (seller financing, negotiated in the deal). Terms differ by lender and borrower, so get written terms from more than one. This site lists 3,865 practices and recommends no lender.
The usual sources
Banks and credit unions lend to practice buyers, some with dental teams and some that see these deals rarely. SBA-backed loans are made by participating lenders with a government guarantee on part of the loan. Specialty dental and healthcare lenders underwrite practices as their main business. Seller financing is an arrangement with the seller for part of the price, set out in the purchase agreement. Real estate, where it is included, is often financed separately.
What to compare
Ask each lender for its terms in writing: what it will finance, the repayment period, fixed or variable, fees, and whether working capital can be included. Talking to a lender before you shop tells you what is realistic. The financing guide linked below goes through the questions.
See the listings
Keep exploring
Counts as of Nov 14, 2026.
Related questions
Every listing count on this page is computed from the listings published on The Dental Practice Market and was rebuilt Nov 14, 2026. Descriptions of the buying process are general information, not statistics or advice. Supply-side only: we publish how many practices are listed, where and of what type. We never publish an estimate of what a practice is worth.