Quick answer
Medical equipment finance helps clinics and practices buy diagnostic, imaging, procedural, rehab and IT equipment without paying the full cost upfront. It can be arranged as equipment finance, an unsecured facility for trading practices (typically $5,000 to $500,000) or as part of a property-secured loan ($20,000 to $5,000,000). The right structure depends on the cost, the item's working life and what else the practice is funding.
Key points
- Funds diagnostic, imaging, procedural, rehab, sterilisation and IT equipment
- Match the repayment period to the equipment's working life
- The $20,000 instant asset write-off is permanent from 1 July 2026 for eligible small businesses
- New or used, from a supplier or a private sale, can be funded
- Loan size
- $5k – $500k unsecured; up to $5m secured
- Structures
- Equipment finance, unsecured, secured
- Tax note
- $20k per-asset write-off, turnover under $10m
- First step
- 60-second enquiry, no credit check
Clinical equipment ages faster than most business assets. Imaging gets sharper, software support ends, and patients notice when a clinic’s gear looks dated. Replacing it is a steady, recurring cost. Paying cash for each item drains the reserves a practice relies on for slow months. Medical equipment finance spreads the cost across the years the equipment earns its keep.
What kind of equipment can be funded?
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Diagnostic | ECG, spirometry, Holter monitors, audiometry, dermatoscopes |
| Imaging | Ultrasound, digital X-ray, OPG and CBCT, retinal cameras |
| Procedural | Procedure tables, surgical lights, cautery, cryotherapy, lasers |
| Sterilisation | Autoclaves, washer-disinfectors, tracking systems |
| Rehab and allied health | Shockwave, reformers, treadmills, gait analysis, orthotic milling |
| Patient care | Treatment beds, examination chairs, monitoring |
| IT and communications | Servers, workstations, telehealth set-ups, phone systems |
| Vehicles | Cars and vans for home visits and mobile services |
New or used, from a supplier or a private sale, most clinical equipment can be financed. For dental-specific items, see dental equipment finance.
How is medical equipment finance usually structured?
There are three common routes:
- Equipment finance. Funding tied to a specific item, with repayments over a term that suits its expected life. business.gov.au’s guide explains the differences between buying outright, borrowing and leasing, including ownership and maintenance responsibility.
- Unsecured business facility. For trading practices, typically $5,000 to $500,000, with limits set by turnover and account history. Useful for a package of smaller items or when you want flexibility over what you buy.
- Property-secured loan. From $20,000 to $5,000,000, as a first or second mortgage or a caveat over residential or commercial property. Suits large packages, new practices, or equipment bundled with a fit-out.
A good rule of thumb: don’t repay equipment over a longer period than you expect to use it. Otherwise you may still be paying for a machine you’ve already replaced.
Want to know which route suits your purchase? Start a short enquiry and a specialist will tell you straight.
How does the instant asset write-off fit in?
The ATO says the $20,000 instant asset write-off has been made permanent from 1 July 2026 for small businesses with aggregated turnover under $10 million. It applies per asset, so a practice can immediately deduct several eligible items that each cost less than $20,000, provided it uses the simplified depreciation rules. Items costing $20,000 or more generally go into the small business pool, which the ATO describes as a 15% deduction in the first year and 30% each year after.
The write-off affects tax, not cash. You still pay for the equipment upfront or through finance. What it can do is reduce the tax bill for the year you start using the item. Our instant asset write-off guide for clinics explains how practices plan purchases around it. Your accountant should confirm your eligibility.
What do lenders need to see?
- The supplier quote or invoice, including installation and training
- Recent business bank statements
- BAS and financial statements, or management accounts
- Details of what the equipment will do: a new service, replacing an old unit, or extra capacity
- For used equipment, its age, condition and service history
Lenders also like to understand how the equipment pays for itself. A new ultrasound that lets you bring referrals in-house is a stronger story than a like-for-like replacement, though both are fundable.
An illustrative example
Illustrative only. A GP clinic wants to add skin checks and minor procedures. It needs a dermatoscope system, a procedure table, surgical lighting and cautery, plus some room works. Several items fall under the $20,000 per-asset threshold; the room works don’t. An unsecured facility sized on the clinic’s turnover could fund the whole package, with repayments spread over a term that matches how long the equipment is expected to last.
Planning equipment alongside a fit-out?
If you’re building or refurbishing at the same time, it’s worth modelling both together. The fit-out and equipment calculator adds up building works, equipment and a cash buffer, then shows what could be property-secured and what might suit an unsecured facility. See also clinic fit-out finance.
Replace, repair or upgrade?
Not every ageing machine needs replacing straight away. A simple way to decide is to compare three things: what the next repair is likely to cost, how much revenue you lose each time the equipment is out of action, and what a newer model would add in speed, accuracy or new services. If downtime is costing appointments, or the supplier has signalled that support is ending, replacing earlier usually makes sense. If the equipment is reliable and still does the job well, a service contract may be the better spend this year. Either way, having the numbers on paper makes the conversation with your accountant, and with a lender, far easier.
Timing purchases across the year
End of financial year is a popular time to buy, but it isn’t always the best. Suppliers are busy, installation slots fill up and cash is often tightest in June when BAS and super also fall due. Buying earlier in the year, when you’ve planned for it, can mean better installation dates and less pressure on the account.
Check what your practice could qualify for
Good equipment helps you give better care, and it shouldn’t leave the practice short. The enquiry takes about a minute and doesn’t involve a credit check. We don’t spread your details around a panel of lenders, so no rush of calls. A person who understands clinical equipment and practice cash flow reads your enquiry and calls you.
Please fill in the form accurately, including the equipment cost, what it’s for and whether property is available, so we can get you to the right structure first time.
Frequently asked questions
Can I finance used medical equipment?
Often, yes. Used or refurbished equipment can be funded, though lenders may want details of age, condition and service history. A supplier quote or an invoice from a private sale helps.
Should I lease or buy medical equipment?
It depends on whether you want to own the item, how quickly the technology dates and who you'd like to be responsible for maintenance. business.gov.au's guide compares buying outright, borrowing and leasing. Your accountant can explain the tax effect of each.
Can I finance several items at once?
Yes. A package of equipment can be funded together, either with an unsecured facility or as part of a larger secured loan. It's often simpler than separate agreements for each item.
Does the instant asset write-off apply to medical equipment?
It can. The ATO says eligible small businesses with aggregated turnover under $10 million can immediately deduct eligible depreciating assets costing less than $20,000, per asset, and that the threshold is permanent from 1 July 2026. Ask your accountant how it applies to your purchases.
Do I need property security for equipment?
Not usually for smaller amounts. Trading practices can often use unsecured facilities, typically $5,000 to $500,000, sized on turnover and bank statements. Large equipment packages or new practices may need property security.