Ultrasound machine financing lets a practice, imaging center or clinic spread the cost of an ultrasound system over several years instead of paying cash. The main routes are an equipment loan or lease from an independent lender, financing arranged through the manufacturer, a healthcare bank loan, or an SBA loan when the ultrasound is part of a larger project. The right choice depends on the machine’s price, how quickly the technology will date and how long your practice has been open.
Ultrasound ranges from handheld probes that cost a few thousand dollars to cart-based systems for radiology, cardiology and women’s health, so the financing that suits one may not suit the other. This page is part of our medical practice financing section; our medical equipment financing guide covers imaging, lasers and lab equipment more broadly.
What an ultrasound costs to finance
Prices vary widely by type, features and whether the system is new or refurbished, and cart-based systems are usually quoted individually rather than listed online. Handheld point-of-care devices are an exception. Butterfly Network, for example, lists its iQ3 probe at $3,899 and its iQ+ at $2,699, plus a software membership starting at $299 a year for an individual (Butterfly pricing). A handheld at that price is often easier to pay from cash flow or a card than to finance, since some equipment lenders set minimums; Kapitus, for example, has a $20,000 minimum.
For any system, budget beyond the sticker price: transducers (probes) for each exam type, software licenses or memberships, service contracts, installation, and connection to your imaging archive or EHR. Ask the vendor whether these can be included in the amount financed.
Ultrasound financing options compared
The table shows terms as each lender or the SBA publishes them. Figures checked on September 21, 2026. An interest rate is the yearly cost of borrowing before fees; the APR (annual percentage rate) includes fees too, so it is the better figure for comparing offers. Only Kapitus publishes a rate on the pages we checked, and it does not say whether it is an APR, so ask each lender for the APR and total cost in writing.
| Option | Amounts | Term | Pricing as published | Minimums published | Other published features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Up to 100% of equipment cost; application-only up to $500,000 |
| Ultrasound financing (Blue Bridge Financial) | Not published | Not published | Not published | 610 FICO; 2 years in business “preferred” | Payments deferred up to 3 months; a professional license can count toward time in business |
| Equipment financing (National Funding) | Up to $150,000 | 2 to 5 years, monthly payments | Not published | Not published on the medical page | Funding in 24 hours “subject to underwriting guidelines” |
| Healthcare practice loan (U.S. Bank) | Not published | Up to 15 years for qualifying clients | Not published | Not published | Up to 100% financing; up to six months of interest-only payments |
| SBA 7(a) loan | Up to $5 million | Up to 10 years for equipment | Set by the lender within SBA maximums | SBA eligibility plus lender standards | Can combine equipment with working capital or build-out |
| 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 | Equipment must have at least 10 years of remaining useful life |
Sources: Kapitus, Blue Bridge Financial, National Funding, U.S. Bank, SBA 7(a) terms, SBA 504.
Independent equipment lenders
Equipment finance companies are usually the fastest route, because the ultrasound itself secures the loan. Kapitus publishes a 660 FICO minimum, two years in business and terms up to 72 months, with an application-only process for equipment up to $500,000. Blue Bridge Financial, which has an ultrasound-specific program, lists a 610 minimum FICO score and says two years in business is “preferred,” adding that “by providing your medical/professional license, it can count towards your time in business.” The trade-off with independent lenders is usually a shorter term than a bank would offer, which means a higher monthly payment.
Manufacturer financing
Large imaging manufacturers run their own finance arms, and dealers often have lending partners. GE HealthCare says its financial services business offers “30+ unique and flexible structures” (GE HealthCare Financial Services). Manufacturer programs can bundle the system, probes, software and service into one payment, and sometimes include promotions. Compare the total cost with an independent quote, since a promotional rate on an unchanged sticker price is not always the cheaper deal.
Healthcare bank loans and SBA loans
Banks with practice-finance teams can offer longer terms to established practices. U.S. Bank lists “diagnostic tools (MRI, X-ray, ultrasound)” among uses of its medical practice loans, with terms “up to 15 years” for qualifying clients and “up to six months of interest-only payments.” An SBA 7(a) loan suits an ultrasound purchase that is part of a bigger project, such as opening an imaging suite, with terms up to 10 years for equipment. The 504 program finances “long-term machinery and equipment with a useful remaining life of a minimum of 10 years,” so it fits large, long-lived systems rather than handheld devices. See SBA 7(a) vs. 504 vs. microloans.
Leasing
A lease can lower the monthly payment and make it easier to upgrade when newer imaging software or probes come out. With a fair market value lease you can return or upgrade the unit at the end; with a lease that has a nominal buyout, you own it. Our guide to equipment financing vs. leasing compares the costs and tax treatment.
New vs. refurbished systems
Refurbished ultrasound systems cost less, and many lenders will finance them, but they may shorten the term to match the remaining useful life or ask for a larger down payment. Get the refurbisher’s warranty and service terms in writing. See used equipment financing.
Tax treatment: Section 179 and bonus depreciation
Financed equipment can still qualify for accelerated write-offs. For tax years beginning in 2026, the Section 179 limit is $2,560,000, reduced dollar for dollar once equipment placed in service in the year exceeds $4,090,000 (IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32). The IRS also says the One Big Beautiful Bill “provides a permanent 100‑percent additional first year depreciation deduction for qualified property acquired” after January 19, 2025 (IRS). Whether a lease qualifies depends on how it is structured, so ask your CPA before signing.
What lenders look for
- A vendor quote. Make, model, new or refurbished, probes, software and service included, and the total price.
- Practice cash flow. Recent tax returns, a year-to-date profit and loss statement and bank statements, showing collections cover existing debt plus the new payment. Our guide to how lenders analyze cash flow explains the math.
- Personal credit. Published minimums on the pages we checked range from 610 (Blue Bridge) to 660 (Kapitus).
- Time in business and licensing. Two years is common, though Blue Bridge says a professional license can count toward it.
- A usage plan. For a large system, a simple projection of the scans you expect each month and what payers reimburse for them makes a stronger case.
Pitfalls to watch
- Financing longer than the system stays current. You do not want to be paying for a machine after you have replaced it.
- Leaving out probes, software and service. These can add meaningfully to the monthly cost if they are billed separately.
- Comparing payments, not total cost. Ask every lender for the rate, each fee and the total of all payments.
- End-of-lease terms. Know the buyout amount and how much notice you must give to return the unit.
- Blanket liens. Some lenders file a lien on all business assets rather than just the ultrasound. See what a UCC filing is.
FAQ
What credit score do I need to finance an ultrasound machine?
It depends on the lender. Blue Bridge Financial lists a 610 minimum FICO score for its ultrasound program and Kapitus lists 660 for equipment financing. Banks set their own standards and do not always publish them.
Can a new practice finance an ultrasound?
Often, yes. Blue Bridge says a medical or professional license can count toward time in business, and healthcare banks may lend to new practices based on the clinicians’ training. Lenders with a firm two-year minimum may not fit a start-up.
Can I defer payments while the ultrasound ramps up?
Some lenders offer it. Blue Bridge advertises deferred payments for up to 3 months, and U.S. Bank advertises up to six months of interest-only payments on its practice loans. Deferred or interest-only months usually add to the total cost, so compare the full schedule.
Is a veterinary ultrasound financed the same way?
Mostly. Veterinary practices use the same loan and lease options; see veterinary equipment financing.
Next step
Get a written quote that lists the system, probes, software and service, then gather recent tax returns and bank statements. Our medical practice financing page explains how we compare equipment loans, leases and SBA offers from the lenders we work with, so you can see the total cost of each side by side.
Sources
- Butterfly Network: Pricing
- Kapitus: Equipment financing
- Blue Bridge Financial: Ultrasound machine financing
- National Funding: Medical practice business loans
- U.S. Bank: Medical practice loans and financing
- GE HealthCare: Healthcare Financial Services
- U.S. Small Business Administration: 7(a) terms, conditions and eligibility
- U.S. Small Business Administration: 7(a) loans
- U.S. Small Business Administration: 504 loans
- IRS: Revenue Procedure 2025-32
- IRS: Guidance on the additional first year depreciation deduction
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.