Dental Practice Loan Affordability Calculator

If this monthly payment fits your practice budget, your next step is to qualify for a dental practice acquisition loan with a soft-pull rate check and basic financial review. Your actual rate depends on credit profile, loan type, collateral, and lender—the estimate above reflects 2026 market conditions for well-qualified borrowers.

What changes your rate / answer

• Credit score. A FICO of 680+ qualifies for standard SBA 7(a) rates (7–10%); 620–679 typically costs 1–3% more. Below 620, only specialist lenders are available, often at 11–14%.
• Loan term. Shorter terms (36–60 months) reduce total interest but raise the monthly payment. Equipment loans often run 60–84 months; acquisition loans up to 120 months.
• Down payment / collateral. A 20% down payment typically lowers your rate by 0.5–1%. Unencumbered practice real estate or equipment pledged as collateral improves terms further.
• Debt-service coverage ratio (DSCR). Lenders want to see at least 1.25x annual profit after this new loan payment. Lower DSCR means higher rates or a smaller loan offer.
• Loan purpose. Equipment financing rates differ from practice acquisition or working capital loans. Acquisition loans run 8–10%; working capital for dentists averages 8–11%.

How to use this

• Enter your target loan amount. This is the principal you need after any down payment you'll put down yourself.
• Adjust the APR field if you know your credit tier or preferred lender's range. Default reflects 2026 market mid-point for good credit (680+).
• Set term in months. Typical dental equipment runs 60–84 months; acquisitions, 84–120 months; working capital, 36–60 months.
• Read the monthly payment output. Divide this by your expected monthly practice gross revenue. Lenders prefer this ratio to stay under 8–10%.
• Check your DSCR. If your annual practice profit (after expenses, before this loan) is less than 1.25× the annual loan payment, expect rate adjustments or a smaller offer.

Bottom line

A workable loan payment is one you can service from cash flow without starving operations. This calculator shows you the monthly number; your lender will verify income, credit, and collateral before committing a rate. Use it to test scenarios—larger down payment, longer term, different rate—so you walk into pre-qualification knowing your range.