Disclosure: PracticeFloat publishes this comparison and is one of the providers in it. This is not an independent review, award or verified ranking. We have not tested other providers’ products, and the order of the list does not mean one is better than another. Every provider detail below comes from that provider’s own website, or from SBA.gov for government programs, as reviewed on November 4, 2026. Where a provider does not publish a detail, we say “not publicly disclosed.” See our methodology.
- Who this guide is for: owners of U.S. independent medical, dental, aesthetic and med spa, regenerative and longevity, and other specialty practices comparing medical practice financing in 2026.
- Match the product to the purpose. Long-term purchases such as an acquisition, real estate or a buildout usually suit an SBA or bank term loan. A device usually suits equipment financing. Recurring cash-flow gaps usually suit a line of credit. Short-term, time-sensitive working capital may suit a revenue-based advance, which generally costs more.
- Few providers publish rates. Of the eight options here, only BHG Financial publishes an APR range for its business loans, and SBA publishes rate caps for one pilot program. For the rest, you will see pricing only in an offer.
- Compare on total dollars repaid, plus payment amount and frequency, fees, collateral, personal guarantees and prepayment terms. Do not compare headline rates alone.
- PracticeFloat is not a loan or line of credit. It offers revenue-based working capital advances for requests of $40,000–$500,000, subject to underwriting. Some are funded by PracticeFloat and others are referred to partner funders.
How to Compare Medical Practice Financing
Medical practice financing is any funding a practice uses for operations or growth. That includes loans, lines of credit, equipment financing and leases, and non-loan products such as revenue-based working capital advances. These products are built differently, so comparing them by “which company is best” tends to mislead. Work through three steps instead:
- Define the purpose and the payback period. Something that pays back over years, such as an acquisition, real estate or a second location, needs long-term financing. A short cash-flow gap does not.
- Pick the product type that matches. Use the fit guide below. For more detail on each product type, see our overview of funding options for medical practices and our comparison of SBA, bank and equipment loans.
- Get offers from more than one provider of that type, then compare total cost, payment schedule, fees, collateral, guarantees and timing side by side. Our guide to factor rates, APR and fees shows the arithmetic.
Comparison Table: 8 Options at a Glance
Listed by financing type, not ranked. “Published terms” means only what the provider states on its own site, as of November 4, 2026. Rates and terms change, so confirm the current terms with each provider.
| Provider | Financing type | Best-fit use | Published terms | Verify before signing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SBA 7(a) & 504 programs (through participating lenders and CDCs) | Government-guaranteed loans | Acquisitions, real estate, buildouts, refinancing, long-term working capital | 7(a): up to $5M. 504: real estate and long-life equipment, 10/20/25-year maturities, not for working capital | Lender’s rate, fees, collateral, guarantee, timeline |
| Live Oak Bank | SBA 7(a), 504 and Express loans; healthcare teams | SBA-financed acquisitions, construction, real estate | 7(a) up to $5M; 504 up to $15M; Express $10K–$350K, up to 10 years; 680 minimum FICO stated | Rate (not publicly disclosed), fees, closing timeline |
| Bank of America Practice Solutions | Bank practice term loans and lines of credit | Starting, expanding or buying a dental, veterinary, physician or optometry practice | Amounts “customized”; terms “variable”; Preferred Rewards rate discounts of 0.25%–0.35% | Rate, fees, collateral, covenants (not publicly disclosed) |
| Provide (a division of Fifth Third Bank) | Conventional and SBA practice loans | Starting, acquiring or expanding a dental, medical, veterinary or optometry practice | Pre-qualification “in as little as two minutes” with no credit-score impact; amounts and rates not publicly disclosed | Amount, rate, term, fees, collateral |
| Panacea Financial (a division of Primis Bank) | Physician-focused bank practice loans, including SBA | Physicians, dentists and veterinarians buying, starting or growing a practice | Amounts, terms and rates for practice loans not publicly disclosed | Product types, amount, rate, term, fees |
| BHG Financial | Fixed-rate business term loans | Owners wanting a fixed monthly payment for working capital, equipment, expansion or debt consolidation | Up to $500K (typically $20K–$250K); 1–12 years; APR 8.77%–41.26%; UCC lien | Your actual APR, fees, guarantee, prepayment terms |
| Trust Capital | Medical and aesthetic equipment financing and leasing | Lasers, imaging and other devices; EMR/EHR software | “100% purchase financing” including soft costs; credit decision stated in 1–2 hours; rates and terms not publicly disclosed | Rate, term, lease-end options, total of payments |
| PracticeFloat (publisher of this guide) | Revenue-based working capital advance (not a loan or line of credit) | Short-term, time-sensitive working capital when a loan is not available or fast enough | $40K–$500K requests, subject to underwriting; fixed cost set by factor rate; daily or weekly ACH; funded by PracticeFloat or a partner funder | Funding party, total repayment, debit amount and frequency, guarantee, UCC filing, early-payoff terms |
Provider Profiles
Each “best for” label describes what the provider’s published offer is built for. It is not a quality rating. Pros and trade-offs are based on the published terms only.
SBA 7(a) and 504 Loan Programs
Best for: lower-cost, long-term financing when the practice qualifies and can wait for a full loan process
SBA does not lend directly. It sets program rules, and participating lenders (for 7(a)) and Certified Development Companies (for 504) make the loans. According to SBA.gov:
- 7(a): the maximum loan amount is $5 million. Uses include short- and long-term working capital, refinancing business debt, equipment, real estate and changes of ownership. Borrowers must be unable to get the desired credit on reasonable terms from non-government sources. Most 7(a) term loans are repaid monthly.
- 7(a) Working Capital Pilot: monitored lines of credit up to $5 million, with a maximum maturity of 60 months and at least one year of operating history required. SBA publishes rate caps of base rate plus 3.0% to 6.5%, depending on loan size.
- 504: finances buildings, land and long-life equipment (minimum 10-year useful life) with 10-, 20- or 25-year maturities. It cannot be used for working capital or inventory. SBA describes fees as approximately 3% of the debt. SBA’s 504 page lists the maximum 504 loan as $5.5 million in one place and “up to $5 million” in another, so confirm the amount that applies to your project with a CDC.
Pros: long maturities; government-set rate caps for some programs; flexible uses under 7(a).
Trade-offs: more documentation; collateral and personal guarantees are common; the timeline is usually longer than for non-SBA products. Each lender sets its own rates within program limits.
Sources: SBA 7(a) loans; SBA 504 loans. Reviewed November 4, 2026.
Live Oak Bank
Best for: practices pursuing an SBA loan through a lender with dedicated dental, healthcare and veterinary lending teams
Live Oak Bank says it is an SBA Preferred Lender, which means it can approve loans without first sending them to SBA. Its SBA page lists dental, healthcare, behavioral health care, pharmacy and veterinary among its specialty industries.
- Published amounts: SBA 7(a) up to $5 million; SBA 504 up to $15 million; Live Oak Express loans from $10,000 to $350,000 with terms up to 10 years.
- Stated requirements: “a minimum FICO score of 680 is required.” Startups “can be considered.”
- Pricing: SBA rates are “set as a spread over the prime rate” and are risk-based. Specific rates: not publicly disclosed.
- Stated timeline: underwriting review “up to 10 business days once documentation is submitted,” SBA approval and closing “30–45 days, depending on loan proceeds,” and funding “up to 24 hours once closing documents are signed.” Live Oak notes that timelines vary.
Pros: published loan ranges and timeline stages; healthcare-specific lending teams; SBA Preferred Lender status.
Trade-offs: a full SBA documentation package; a stated credit minimum; rates not publicly disclosed.
Source: Live Oak Bank SBA loans. Reviewed November 4, 2026.
Bank of America Practice Solutions
Best for: established dental, veterinary, physician and optometry practices that want a bank term loan or line of credit, especially existing Bank of America clients
Bank of America’s healthcare practice loans page covers financing to “start, expand or acquire a healthcare, dental or veterinary practice,” including a Practice Solutions term loan and line of credit. For project-related loans, it offers a dedicated project consultant who pays suppliers on the borrower’s behalf.
- Published amounts and terms: loan amounts are “customized” and terms are “variable.” Specific figures: not publicly disclosed.
- Pricing: “competitive interest rates,” with Preferred Rewards for Business rate discounts of 0.25% (Gold), 0.30% (Platinum) and 0.35% (Platinum Honors). The discounts do not apply to specialty products with customized pricing.
- Requirements: “All programs subject to credit approval and loan amounts are subject to creditworthiness.”
- Timing: not publicly disclosed.
Pros: both term and revolving options from one bank; relationship pricing discounts; project support for buildouts.
Trade-offs: few published figures; standard bank underwriting; discounts depend on holding qualifying balances.
Source: Bank of America healthcare practice loans. Reviewed November 4, 2026.
Provide (a division of Fifth Third Bank)
Best for: practice owners who want to pre-qualify for a conventional or SBA practice loan before applying
Provide says it offers “a seamless conventional or SBA loan” to “start, acquire, or expand your business.” Its industries include dental, medical, veterinary and optometry. Provide is identified on its site as a division of Fifth Third Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.
- Published amounts, terms, rates and fees: not publicly disclosed.
- Stated process: pre-qualify “in as little as two minutes, with no impact on your credit score.” “All lending is subject to credit review and approval.”
- Closing and funding timeline: not publicly disclosed.
Pros: conventional and SBA options in one place; a soft pre-qualification step; banking services alongside lending.
Trade-offs: no published loan amounts or pricing to compare in advance.
Source: Provide. Reviewed November 4, 2026.
Panacea Financial (a division of Primis Bank)
Best for: physicians, dentists and veterinarians who want practice lending and banking from a doctor-focused bank
Panacea Financial offers “customized practice loans” to “buy, start, or grow your practice,” with “specialized credit structures.” Its site lists an SBA option under practice loans, along with business checking and merchant services for doctor-owned practices. Panacea Financial is a division of Primis Bank, Member FDIC.
- Practice loan amounts, terms, rates, requirements and timing: not publicly disclosed. The rates and limits shown in the site’s fine print apply to its personal loans, not practice loans.
Pros: built for doctor-owners; practice lending, deposits and payments from one institution.
Trade-offs: no published practice-loan figures; you will need to ask which loan types are available for your specialty.
Source: Panacea Financial. Reviewed November 4, 2026.
BHG Financial
Best for: established owner-professionals who want a fixed-rate, fixed-term business loan with monthly payments and published APR ranges
BHG Financial (the trade name of Bankers Healthcare Group, LLC) offers business loans for “business debt consolidation” and “working capital,” and its FAQ also mentions equipment, technology and expansion. Its business loan page does not limit the product to healthcare practices.
- Published amounts: “up to $500K,” with loans that “typically range from $20,000 to $250,000.”
- Published terms: 1 to 12 years, fixed rates, monthly payments.
- Published pricing: “APRs for BHG Financial business loans range from 8.77% to 41.26%.” Your rate depends on your credit profile.
- Collateral: BHG “files a lien on the business via a Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) filing.”
- Credit and timing: BHG says it uses a soft credit pull when you apply. Approval “can take as little as 24 hours,” with funds “in as few as 3 days.” Documents may include tax returns and bank statements.
Pros: published APR range and loan sizes; fixed monthly payments; longer terms than most short-term working capital products.
Trade-offs: the top of the APR range is high; a UCC lien on the business; availability varies by state.
Source: BHG Financial business loans. Reviewed November 4, 2026.
Trust Capital
Best for: aesthetic, med spa and medical practices financing a specific device, such as a laser or imaging system
Trust Capital finances and leases medical and aesthetic equipment. Its site mentions aesthetic lasers, CT, MRI, ultrasound and X-ray equipment, and EMR/EHR software.
- Published structure: “Trust Capital will do 100% purchase financing,” which it says can cover soft costs. Capital leases have fixed monthly payments.
- Stated timing: a credit decision “in two hours” (elsewhere “1–2 hours”) and “funding in two to four hours.” Trust Capital says most transactions are “application only.”
- Amounts, terms, rates and requirements: not publicly disclosed.
Pros: the equipment itself typically secures the financing; soft costs may be included; a short stated decision process.
Trade-offs: no published rates or terms; lease-end options (return, renew or buy) can change the true cost; it covers only equipment and software purchases.
Source: Trust Capital. Reviewed November 4, 2026.
PracticeFloat (publisher of this guide)
Best for: established independent practices that need short-term working capital, are reviewed mainly on revenue and bank activity, and cannot get, or cannot wait for, a lower-cost loan
PracticeFloat offers revenue-based working capital advances to independently owned medical, dental, aesthetic and med spa, regenerative, longevity and other specialty practices. An advance is not a bank loan or a line of credit. PracticeFloat’s site describes it as a commercial transaction structured as a purchase of future business receivables. The signed agreement governs.
- Amounts: requests from $40,000 to $500,000, subject to underwriting.
- Who funds it: some transactions are funded by PracticeFloat. Others, such as some consolidation requests, may be referred to a partner funder. The offer and agreement identify the funding party, and the terms and timing can differ depending on who funds it.
- Cost and repayment: a fixed cost set by a factor rate, repaid through scheduled daily or weekly ACH debits. The total repayment and the schedule are disclosed in the agreement before signing. PracticeFloat states that this typically costs more than an SBA or bank loan.
- Published criteria (for PracticeFloat’s own advances): at least $25,000 a month in verified revenue, at least 18 months in operation, a business bank account in the practice name, no more than 3 NSFs in the past 90 days, no existing advance positions for PracticeFloat-funded advances, and a personal guarantee from the owner. No real estate or equipment collateral is required. Final eligibility is decided in underwriting.
- Credit: there is no hard credit pull to submit an inquiry. Later underwriting may include a credit review, depending on the product and the funding party.
- Timing: PracticeFloat aims to respond to an inquiry within one business day. That is an initial response target, not an underwriting decision or a funding date. After that, timing depends on how quickly the practice provides documents, how long underwriting or partner-funder review takes (either may ask for more information), and final verification after signing. No specific decision or funding date is promised.
Pros: the review centers on recent business bank statements, not real estate collateral or tax returns; it is built around healthcare specialties, including cash-pay specialties; you see a written offer before you sign.
Trade-offs: a higher total cost than SBA or bank loans; frequent debits that must fit your cash flow; a personal guarantee is generally required; a poor fit for investments that take years to pay back. Approval is not guaranteed, and not every practice qualifies.
Sources: PracticeFloat home page (overview, qualifications and FAQ); About PracticeFloat. Reviewed November 4, 2026.
Illustrative example — not a quote, APR disclosure or specific PracticeFloat customer.
A $100,000 advance at a 1.25 factor rate would mean $125,000 repaid, a cost of $25,000. Repaid in equal daily debits over 6 months, that is roughly 92% on an annualized basis. Compare that with a loan’s APR before you decide. PracticeFloat’s cost calculator uses illustrative factor rates of 1.22–1.37. Actual pricing is set in underwriting and stated in the agreement.
Which Type of Financing Fits Which Need
| If you need to… | Usually consider first | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buy a practice or buy out a partner | SBA 7(a) or a bank acquisition loan | Long payback; the lowest-cost options for qualified borrowers |
| Buy or build your facility | SBA 504 or a bank real estate loan | 10- to 25-year maturities that match the asset’s life |
| Add a laser, CBCT or imaging device | Equipment financing or a lease | The asset secures the financing; the term roughly matches its useful life |
| Smooth reimbursement timing or seasonal swings | A bank line of credit or the SBA Working Capital Pilot | You pay interest only on what you draw |
| Fund a mid-size project with a fixed monthly payment | A business term loan | Fixed payments over a period of years |
| Cover a short-term, time-sensitive need when a loan is not available or fast enough | A revenue-based working capital advance | The review centers on bank activity; the trade-off is a higher cost and frequent debits |
| Manage existing advances | A payment and consolidation review before adding new capital | Stacking new debits on existing ones can strain cash flow |
When an SBA or bank loan is likely the better choice: if you qualify, the need pays back over years, and you can wait through a longer process, a loan will usually cost less than a revenue-based advance. When equipment financing is better: if the money is for a specific device, the device can usually secure the financing at a term matched to its life. When an advance may fit: if the need is short-term and has a clear near-term return, the practice has steady deposits, and you have confirmed that the debits fit comfortably within cash flow. Our guide to working capital for medical practices covers this trade-off in more depth.
Notes by Practice Type
Medical practices
Insurance reimbursement delays are the most common cash-flow pressure. A line of credit is the usual lower-cost tool for recurring gaps. For more on medical practice financing and working capital, see our page for medical practices.
Dental practices
Dental is the most widely served specialty among bank practice lenders. Live Oak, Bank of America, Provide and Panacea all name dental practices. Acquisitions and buildouts usually suit SBA or bank loans, and operatory equipment usually suits equipment financing. For dental practice working capital, see our page for dental practices.
Med spa and aesthetic practices
Device-heavy, cash-pay revenue makes equipment financing a natural first look for lasers and body-contouring devices. Some banks ask more questions about cash-pay revenue, so a well-documented revenue history helps. For med spa financing, see our page for med spa and aesthetic practices. If you already carry merchant cash advances, read our guide to med spa MCA consolidation.
Regenerative and longevity clinics
Lenders may review the regulatory status of services such as stem cell, PRP or peptide therapies, along with how durable the cash-pay revenue is. Expect questions, and keep compliance documentation ready. See our page for regenerative and longevity clinics.
Checklist: Questions to Ask Before You Accept Financing
- Who is the funding party? Is it the company I applied to, a partner bank or a partner funder? Who services the account?
- Is this a loan, a line of credit, a lease or a purchase of receivables? The answer affects cost disclosures, collateral and what happens if revenue falls.
- What is the total dollar amount I will repay, including every fee?
- What is the APR or estimated APR? If none is given, can you provide one, or the figures I need to calculate it?
- What is the payment amount and frequency (daily, weekly or monthly), and how does it fit around payroll, rent and existing obligations?
- What fees apply? Origination, packaging, closing, guarantee, late and NSF fees.
- What collateral, liens or UCC filings are involved? Is there a blanket lien on business assets?
- Is a personal guarantee required, and what exactly does it cover?
- Can I pay early, and does that reduce the total cost or trigger a penalty?
- What happens if revenue drops or a payment is missed?
- When is my credit checked, and is it a soft or hard inquiry at each stage?
- What documents are needed for underwriting, and what may be requested later during final verification or partner review?
- What are the realistic timelines for an initial response, an underwriting decision and funds arriving? Which of these, if any, are commitments?
- Are there covenants or restrictions on taking on other financing?
- Has my accountant or attorney reviewed the agreement?
Our underwriting guide explains what reviewers look at and how to prepare.
Methodology and Disclosure
Who wrote this: the PracticeFloat Editorial Team. PracticeFloat offers revenue-based working capital advances and is included in this comparison, so we have a commercial interest in it. This is not an independent review, award or verified ranking.
How providers were chosen: we looked for currently operating U.S. providers that either market financing to healthcare practices or offer a product type commonly used by them, so the list covers each major financing type: SBA programs, bank practice loans and lines of credit, fixed-term business loans, equipment financing and revenue-based working capital. We included a provider only if we could verify its current offering on its official website on November 4, 2026. We left out providers whose official pages we could not access or verify that day. Leaving a provider out is not a judgment about it.
What we recorded: products, eligible uses, stated amounts, stated requirements, repayment structure, published rates or fees, and stated timing, quoted or closely paraphrased from each provider’s site. We did not use third-party review sites for provider terms. Where a provider does not publish a detail, we mark it “not publicly disclosed.” We did not estimate rates, approval odds, timelines or results.
How “best for” labels were assigned: from the provider’s own published description of what its product is for and who it serves. We did not test or apply for any product, and no label is a quality rating. We do not name a “best overall” provider.
Updates: provider terms change. We plan to review this page again. If you represent a listed provider and see an error, contact apply@practicefloat.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
The main options are SBA 7(a) and 504 loans made through participating lenders, bank term loans and lines of credit, fixed-term business loans from non-bank lenders, equipment loans and leases, and non-loan products such as revenue-based working capital advances. SBA and bank loans usually cost the least but take the most documentation and time. Equipment financing is secured by the asset. Advances center on revenue and bank activity and usually cost more.
A business loan is borrowed principal repaid with interest, usually in monthly installments. A revenue-based working capital advance, such as PracticeFloat’s, is commonly structured as a purchase of future business receivables. Its cost is fixed by a factor rate at the start, and it is repaid through frequent ACH debits, often daily or weekly. Advances usually cost more on an annualized basis, while loans usually involve more documentation, collateral and time.
It depends on the product and on the practice’s credit and cash flow. Most practice lenders in this guide do not publish rates. Among those that do, BHG Financial lists business loan APRs of 8.77% to 41.26%, and SBA caps rates on its 7(a) Working Capital Pilot at a base rate plus 3.0% to 6.5%, depending on loan size. Advances are priced with a factor rate and usually cost more on an annualized basis than SBA or bank loans. Compare total dollars repaid and an annualized figure, not the headline rate.
For SBA and bank loans, expect business and personal tax returns, financial statements, a debt schedule, a personal financial statement, entity documents and, for larger requests, projections or purchase agreements. Equipment financing may need little more than an application and a vendor quote. Revenue-based advances center on recent business bank statements, plus entity details, owner identification and any existing funding contracts. Any provider may ask for more information later in underwriting or final verification.
Convert every offer to the same terms: payment amount, payment frequency, number of payments, total dollars repaid and term. Then test each schedule against your cash flow in a slow month, after payroll, rent and existing obligations. A monthly loan payment and a daily debit can cost very different amounts even when they look similar. Also ask whether paying early lowers the total cost.
No one company is best for every practice. The right choice depends on what you are financing, how long it takes to pay back, your credit and collateral, and how quickly you need funds. Choose the product type first, such as an SBA loan, bank loan, equipment financing or working capital, then compare several providers of that type on total cost and terms.
No. An inquiry or pre-qualification starts a review. It is not an approval, and it does not commit any provider to fund. Final approval, amount, cost and timing are set in underwriting and stated in the agreement, and underwriting or partner-funder review may ask for more information first.
Sources
All sources were reviewed on November 4, 2026.
- U.S. Small Business Administration, 7(a) loans
- U.S. Small Business Administration, 504 loans
- Live Oak Bank, SBA loans
- Bank of America, Healthcare practice loans
- Provide, a division of Fifth Third Bank, getprovide.com
- Panacea Financial, a division of Primis Bank, panaceafinancial.com
- BHG Financial, Business loans
- Trust Capital, trustcapitalusa.com
- PracticeFloat, home page: overview, qualifications, FAQ and calculator disclosures, and About
Editorial note: This article is general education, not financial, legal or tax advice. Provider information was taken from public websites on November 4, 2026, and may have changed since then. PracticeFloat offers working capital advances and is included in this comparison. Compare options and review any agreement with your accountant or attorney before signing.
Want PracticeFloat to review your practice’s options?
If a working capital advance may fit alongside or instead of a loan, request a review for $40,000 to $500,000. There is no hard credit pull to submit. A review is not an approval. Any offer, its funding party and its terms are set in underwriting, and not every practice qualifies.
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