The UK dental sector remains one of the most attractive—and competitive—spaces for acquisition and growth. But if you’re looking to buy a practice, refinance, or expand in 2025/26, one thing is clear:
You need to stand out to your lender.
Gone are the days of easy approvals based on sector alone. Yes, lenders still love dental—recurring income, essential services, strong resale value—but in today’s market, they want more than just a good idea.
They want clarity. Confidence. And a clear plan.
So how do you impress them?
Let’s break it down.
1. Have Your Financials Laser-Sharp
Whether you’re buying or refinancing, lenders will want to see:
- Personal financials: Assets, liabilities, income. Clean and well-presented.
- Business forecasts: Not just hopeful numbers—realistic, well-thought-out projections based on current market data.
- Evidence of stability: If you’re buying an existing practice, they’ll want at least 2–3 years of solid trading figures. If you’re starting up, they’ll want a clear path to breakeven and profitability.
Pro tip: Have a qualified accountant review your documents before you even approach a lender. First impressions matter.
2. Know the Practice Inside Out
If you’re acquiring, treat the deal like an investor would:
- What’s the chair occupancy rate?
- What’s the NHS/private split?
- Are there any upcoming retirements or key-person risks?
- What’s the patient retention rate?
The stronger your understanding, the more confident a lender feels that you’re buying something sustainable—not just pretty on paper.
3. Show Operational Readiness
This is where a lot of buyers drop the ball.
Lenders want to know you’ve thought through:
- Who will manage the day-to-day?
- What systems are in place?
- How will you handle staffing and compliance?
Especially in multi-chair or multi-site practices, lenders want to see that you’re not just a clinical professional—you’re ready to run a business.
4. Demonstrate Your Track Record—or Your Team’s
If you’re a first-time buyer, lenders will look at your experience in the sector. If you’re a principal or associate with solid clinical experience, that helps. But if you’ve never run a business before, they’ll want to know:
- Who’s advising you?
- Who’s helping with finances, marketing, HR?
- Are you bringing in experienced staff or consultants?
Lenders fund people, not just numbers. Show them you’re not going it alone.
5. Bring the Right Broker to the Table
This isn’t a sales pitch—it’s real talk.
A good broker can:
- Position your application in a way lenders actually want to see
- Spot weaknesses in your deal before a lender does
- Negotiate better terms and match you with the right funding source (not just the cheapest)
In a competitive lending environment, speed and structure win deals. Trying to do it all solo can cost you time, leverage, and ultimately the deal itself.
Final Word
The demand for dental practices isn’t slowing—but neither is the scrutiny from lenders. In this market, being a dentist isn’t enough. You have to be prepared like an owner.
The good news? If you get the right team around you and approach the deal strategically, lenders want to fund you. They just need to see that you’re serious, prepared, and thinking long-term.
I work with buyers and owners across the UK every day to structure deals that work—not just on paper, but in real life. If you’re planning to step into ownership or scale up, let’s make sure you’re putting your best foot forward.
No fluff. No pressure. Just the insight you need to move with confidence.
