Veterinary equipment financing lets a clinic pay for digital X-ray, ultrasound, anesthesia machines, dental units, lab analyzers and surgical equipment over time, usually with the equipment as collateral. The main choices are bank practice loans, independent equipment lenders, distributor or manufacturer programs, and SBA loans, and the best fit depends on the equipment’s cost and useful life and your practice’s finances.
This page is part of our veterinary practice financing hub. If you are buying a whole practice, including its equipment, see veterinary practice acquisition loans instead.
What you can finance
- Imaging: digital radiography, dental X-ray, ultrasound, CT and MRI.
- Surgery and anesthesia: anesthesia machines, monitors, surgical tables, lights, lasers and electrosurgery units.
- Dentistry: dental units, scalers and dental radiography.
- In-house lab: chemistry, hematology and urinalysis analyzers.
- Treatment and kennel: oxygen cages, fluid pumps, kennels, tubs and tables.
- Technology: practice management software, servers and workstations.
- Used equipment: often cheaper, but lenders may limit the term; see used equipment financing.
Veterinary equipment financing options compared
Figures checked on September 21, 2026, as each lender publishes them. Where a rate appears, the lender quotes it as an interest rate and does not say whether it is an APR (annual percentage rate, which includes fees). None of the other lenders below publishes a rate, so ask each one for the rate, all fees and the total of payments in writing.
| Option | Amounts | Term | Pricing as published | Minimums published | Other terms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Bank veterinary equipment financing | “up to $2.5 million” | “24–60+ months” | Not published | Not published | “no down payment required”; application-only up to $200,000 for existing U.S. Bank clients |
| Kapitus equipment financing | From $20,000; “No Maximum” | Up to 72 months | Interest rates “Starting at 7.5%” | FICO 660; 2 years in business | Up to 100% of equipment cost; application-only up to $500,000 |
| Liberty Capital Group | Up to $5,000,000 | Not stated for veterinary | Not published | FICO 600 established practices; 625 startups | Application-only up to $250,000; $0 payment for 90 days |
| Covetrus practice financing | Not published | “one to 15 years” | Not published | Not published | Distributor program; also funds leasehold improvements, working capital and real estate |
| SBA 504 | Up to $5.5 million | 10, 20 or 25 years | Pegged to 10-year Treasury rates | SBA eligibility plus lender standards | Equipment must have at least 10 years of useful life remaining |
| SBA 7(a) | Up to $5 million | Generally up to 10 years | Negotiable, subject to SBA maximums | SBA eligibility plus lender standards | Can combine equipment with working capital |
Sources: U.S. Bank, Kapitus, Liberty Capital Group, Covetrus, SBA 504, SBA 7(a).
Bank practice-finance programs
Banks with healthcare teams often offer longer terms and full financing to established practices. U.S. Bank, for example, advertises veterinary equipment financing “up to $2.5 million with flexible repayment terms (24–60+ months), no down payment required,” for “diagnostic tools, surgical tables, x-ray machines and ultrasound systems.” Loans are “subject to normal credit approval and program guidelines.”
Independent equipment lenders
Equipment finance companies tend to ask for less paperwork on smaller deals. Kapitus publishes a 660 FICO minimum, two years in business and terms up to 72 months. Liberty Capital Group lists a 600 minimum credit score for established practices and 625 for startups, with application-only financing up to $250,000. Faster, lighter approval can come with a shorter term, which means a higher monthly payment.
Distributor and manufacturer programs
Veterinary distributors and diagnostic companies offer their own financing. Covetrus lists “Term options (one to 15 years)” and “Same day approvals.” IDEXX works differently: its IDEXX 360 program places analyzers and imaging “at no up-front cost,” with “no capital investment or lease required,” in exchange for a “multiyear commitment agreement” that you meet through testing volume. That can suit a clinic that already runs most of its diagnostics through one company, but it ties your testing to that company for the length of the commitment, so read what happens if your volume falls short.
SBA loans
For large purchases such as CT or a full imaging suite, the SBA 504 program finances “long-term machinery and equipment with a useful remaining life of a minimum of 10 years,” with a rate “pegged to an increment above the current market rate for 10-year U.S. Treasury issues.” A 7(a) loan can combine equipment with working capital. SBA loans usually take longer to close than equipment loans. See SBA 7(a) vs. 504 vs. microloans.
Loan or lease?
With a loan or a lease that has a fixed, nominal buyout, you own the equipment at the end. With a fair market value lease, you can return it, which suits technology that ages fast, such as digital imaging software or lab analyzers. The trade-off is that you may pay more over time or end with nothing to show for it. We compare the two in equipment financing vs. leasing.
Tax treatment
Financed equipment can still qualify for accelerated write-offs. The IRS says the Section 179 expensing limit for tax years beginning in 2026 is $2.56 million, with the deduction reduced dollar for dollar once equipment placed in service in the year exceeds $4.09 million (IRS). The IRS also says the 2025 tax law provides “a permanent 100‑percent additional first year depreciation deduction for qualified property acquired” after January 19, 2025 (IRS). How these apply depends on the deal structure and your tax situation, so check with your CPA before you sign.
What lenders look for
- Practice cash flow. Recent tax returns, a year-to-date profit and loss and bank statements showing the practice can carry the new payment. See how lenders analyze cash flow.
- Owner credit. Published minimums range from 600 (Liberty Capital Group, established practices) to 660 (Kapitus). Banks set their own standards.
- Time in business. Kapitus asks for two years. Liberty Capital Group lists separate requirements for startup practices. See equipment financing for startups if you are opening a new clinic.
- An equipment quote. Make, model, new or used, price, and delivery and installation costs.
- Personal guarantee. Liberty Capital Group lists personal guarantees from owners among its requirements; many lenders ask for one.
Pitfalls to avoid
- A term longer than the equipment’s useful life. You do not want to be paying for an ultrasound after you have replaced it.
- Comparing payments rather than total cost. Ask for the rate, every fee and the total of all payments from each lender.
- Commitment programs you outgrow. With usage-based programs, know the minimums, the term and the cost of leaving early.
- End-of-lease terms. Know whether the buyout is fixed or at fair market value, and how much notice you must give.
- Blanket liens. Some lenders file a lien on all business assets, not just the equipment. See what a UCC filing is.
- Skipping the service contract. Imaging and lab equipment needs maintenance. Budget for it alongside the payment.
FAQ
Can I finance 100% of veterinary equipment?
Some lenders offer it. U.S. Bank advertises “no down payment required” on its veterinary equipment financing, and Kapitus says it can finance up to 100% of the equipment cost. Others may ask for a down payment on used equipment or for newer practices; see equipment financing with no money down.
What credit score do I need?
Published minimums among the lenders we checked range from 600 to 660. Liberty Capital Group lists 600 for established practices and 625 for startups; Kapitus lists 660. Banks set their own standards.
How long are veterinary equipment loans?
It depends on the lender and the equipment. U.S. Bank lists 24 to 60+ months, Kapitus up to 72 months, and Covetrus one to 15 years for its practice financing. SBA 504 loans run 10, 20 or 25 years for long-life equipment.
Is manufacturer financing a better deal?
Sometimes. Programs such as IDEXX 360 can remove the upfront cost, but you commit to a multiyear agreement. Compare the total cost against a standard loan or lease before you choose.
Next step
Get a written quote for the equipment, then gather your recent tax returns and a year-to-date profit and loss. Our veterinary practice financing page explains how we help clinics compare equipment loans, leases and SBA options from the lending partners we work with. To estimate payments first, try the equipment loan calculator.
Sources
- U.S. Bank: Veterinary practice loans and financing
- Kapitus: Equipment financing
- Liberty Capital Group: Veterinary equipment leasing
- Covetrus: Equipment leasing and practice financing
- IDEXX: IDEXX 360
- SBA: 504 loans
- SBA: 7(a) loans
- IRS: Business tax provisions (video script)
- IRS: Guidance on additional first-year depreciation
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.