Chiropractic practice loans are business loans a chiropractor uses to start, buy, equip or expand a practice. The main options are SBA 7(a) loans from banks, equipment financing for tables, X-ray and therapy equipment, and shorter-term working capital from online lenders. Which one fits depends on what you are paying for, how long the practice has been open and how strong its collections are.
This page covers financing for the practice itself, not payment plans that patients use to pay for care. Patient financing is a separate product that a practice offers its patients, and it is out of scope here. For the wider picture of healthcare business funding, see our medical practice financing hub.
Why chiropractors borrow
Owning a practice is common in this profession. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that chiropractors held about 61,700 jobs in 2025, that 36% were self-employed and that 57% worked in offices of chiropractors. BLS also notes that “chiropractors tend to earn more as they build a client base and become owners of, or partners in, a practice.” Most of that ownership is funded, at least in part, with borrowed money. Common uses:
- Buying a practice or a partner’s share. The price usually includes goodwill (the patient base and the practice name), which lenders cannot repossess, so these loans lean heavily on the practice’s cash flow.
- Opening a new office. Build-out, first-year rent, staff, software and marketing before collections catch up.
- Equipment. Adjusting tables, decompression tables, digital X-ray, laser and electrotherapy units.
- Working capital. Payroll and rent while insurance claims are paid, or a second location’s start-up period.
- Real estate. Buying the building the practice operates from.
Chiropractic financing options compared
The table shows terms as each lender or the SBA publishes them. Figures checked on September 21, 2026. Two cost terms appear below: an interest rate is the yearly cost of borrowing before fees, while an APR (annual percentage rate) folds in fees as well, so it is the better number for comparing offers. Some short-term products use a factor rate instead, a multiplier on the amount borrowed (1.2 on $50,000 means repaying $60,000), which is not an annual rate. None of the lenders below publish an APR on the pages we checked, so ask for one in writing.
| Option | Amounts | Term | Pricing as published | Minimums published | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SBA 7(a) loan (Celtic Bank, chiropractor program) | Up to $5 million | Up to 25 years | “Competitive Rates”; Celtic’s general 7(a) page quotes rates “as low as prime +2.75%” | SBA eligibility plus lender standards; up to 90% loan-to-value | Buying a practice, partner buyout, equipment, working capital |
| SBA 504 loan | Up to $5.5 million | 10, 20 or 25 years | Fixed rate tied to 10-year Treasuries | SBA eligibility plus lender standards | Buying or building the office; long-lived equipment |
| Equipment financing (Kapitus) | From $20,000; “No Maximum” | Up to 72 months | Interest rates “Starting at 7.5%” (APR not stated) | 660 FICO; 2 years in business | Tables, X-ray, therapy equipment |
| Equipment financing (National Funding) | Up to $150,000 | 2 to 5 years, monthly payments | Not published | Not published on the chiropractic page | Equipment such as TENS and laser units |
| Working capital loan (National Funding) | $5,000 to $500,000 | 4 to 24 months, daily or weekly payments | Not published | Not published on the chiropractic page | Payroll, operating costs, short gaps |
Sources: Celtic Bank chiropractor loans, Celtic Bank SBA 7(a), SBA 504, Kapitus, National Funding.
SBA 7(a) loans
The SBA does not lend directly; it guarantees part of a loan made by a bank or other lender. The SBA’s 7(a) page lists “changes of ownership (complete or partial),” equipment, working capital and real estate among eligible uses, with a maximum loan of $5 million. The SBA’s maximum terms are 10 years for equipment, 10 years for working capital and 25 years for real estate (SBA 7(a) terms). Celtic Bank, an SBA preferred lender, runs a chiropractor program that lists uses such as “Purchase an existing office or practice” and “Buy out a partner.”
The trade-off is paperwork and time. An SBA loan asks for more documents than an online loan, and the SBA requires that borrowers “not be able to obtain the desired credit on reasonable terms from non-federal, non-state, and non-local government sources.” Our guide to SBA 7(a) vs. 504 vs. microloans explains the programs side by side.
Equipment financing
With equipment financing, the table or X-ray unit is the collateral, so it is often easier to qualify for than an unsecured loan. Kapitus publishes a 660 FICO minimum, two years in business and terms up to 72 months, and says up to 100% of the equipment cost can be financed. National Funding lists equipment financing up to $150,000 over 2 to 5 years. Match the term to how long you expect to use the equipment. See our main equipment financing guide.
Working capital and lines of credit
Short-term loans cover gaps, such as payroll while claims are outstanding. National Funding’s working capital loans run 4 to 24 months with daily or weekly payments, and it says funds can arrive “as soon as the next business day after approval and acceptance of terms.” Frequent payments on a short term usually mean a higher cost per year than a bank loan, so they suit a short, defined need. A business line of credit can be a better fit for recurring gaps, because you pay interest only on what you draw.
Buying an existing chiropractic practice
An acquisition is usually the largest loan a chiropractor takes on. Lenders will want the seller’s tax returns and profit and loss statements, a breakdown of collections by payer (cash, insurance, personal injury), the patient count and the lease. They look closely at whether patients are likely to stay after the seller leaves, so a transition period where the seller keeps working in the practice can make the deal easier to finance.
SBA 7(a) is the most common route because it allows longer terms on goodwill than most conventional loans. The SBA has issued an updated rulebook for its loan programs, SOP 50 10 8.1, effective October 1, 2026, so confirm the current down payment and seller-note requirements with the lender before you sign a letter of intent. For more, see medical practice acquisition loans and how to finance a business acquisition.
What lenders look for
- Collections and cash flow. Lenders want to see that the practice’s collections cover existing debt plus the new payment. Expect to provide recent business tax returns, a year-to-date profit and loss statement and recent bank statements. Our guide to how lenders analyze cash flow explains the math.
- Payer mix. A practice that relies heavily on one insurer or on personal injury cases with slow settlements can look riskier than one with a steady mix of cash and insurance patients.
- Personal credit. Lenders check the owners’ personal credit. Kapitus, for example, publishes a 660 FICO minimum for equipment financing.
- Time in practice. Kapitus asks for two years in business. A new practice may need an SBA loan, a larger down payment or a lender that weighs the chiropractor’s experience and business plan.
- License and ownership. Lenders confirm the chiropractor is licensed in the state and that the borrowing entity owns and runs the practice.
Pitfalls to watch
- Stacking short-term debt. Several daily-payment advances at once can take a large share of each day’s deposits. If you are considering one, read factor rates vs. APR first.
- Comparing payments instead of total cost. Ask every lender for the rate, each fee and the total you will repay.
- Signing the lease or purchase agreement first. Get financing lined up before you commit, or make the agreement contingent on it.
- Overlooking reimbursement timing. If a large share of revenue comes from insurance or personal injury settlements, budget for the gap between treatment and payment. Some practices use medical receivables factoring for this.
- Blanket liens. Some lenders file a lien on all business assets, not just the equipment. See what a UCC filing is.
FAQ
Can I get an SBA loan to buy a chiropractic practice?
Yes, if you and the practice meet SBA and lender requirements. The SBA lists “changes of ownership (complete or partial)” as an eligible 7(a) use, and Celtic Bank’s chiropractor program lists buying an existing practice and buying out a partner. The SBA’s updated program rules (SOP 50 10 8.1) take effect on October 1, 2026, so confirm current down payment and seller-note requirements with the lender.
How long can a chiropractic practice loan run?
SBA 7(a) terms go up to 10 years for equipment and working capital and 25 years for real estate. SBA 504 loans offer 10, 20 or 25 years. Kapitus equipment financing runs up to 72 months, and National Funding working capital loans run 4 to 24 months.
Can a new chiropractic practice get financing?
It is harder but possible. Lenders with time-in-business minimums, such as Kapitus’s two years for equipment financing, will not fit a start-up. An SBA loan backed by a detailed business plan, personal investment and your clinical experience is the more common route, and equipment lenders may finance tables or X-ray against the equipment itself.
Is patient financing the same as chiropractic financing?
No. Patient financing lets patients pay for care over time, and the practice is paid by the finance company. Practice financing, covered on this page, is money the business borrows and repays itself.
Next step
Decide what the money is for, then gather recent tax returns, a current profit and loss statement and recent bank statements, plus a purchase agreement or equipment quote if you have one. Our medical practice financing page explains how we compare SBA, equipment and working capital offers from the lenders we work with, so you can see total cost side by side. Owners of related practices may also find optometry practice loans useful.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Chiropractors, Occupational Outlook Handbook
- U.S. Small Business Administration: 7(a) loans
- U.S. Small Business Administration: 7(a) terms, conditions and eligibility
- U.S. Small Business Administration: 504 loans
- U.S. Small Business Administration: Issuance of SOP 50 10 8.1
- Celtic Bank: Business loans for chiropractors
- Celtic Bank: SBA 7(a) loans
- Kapitus: Equipment financing
- National Funding: Chiropractic business loans
About this page. Written by Ezra Cabrera, Content Team Lead at SMB Compass. Figures were checked against the primary sources listed above on September 21, 2026; lenders change their terms, so confirm current terms before you apply, and let us know if you spot a figure that has changed. SMB Compass is a business financing broker: we don’t lend our own money, and we are paid by the lenders we place loans with. This page is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice.