Professional Finance Ireland: Loans for Doctors, Dentists & Solicitors (2026)
Alan Bermingham
10 Years in non banking finance
Published:
At Simpli Finance, we work with a significant number of healthcare and professional services clients — dentists purchasing practices, solicitors expanding into new offices, pharmacists acquiring second locations, and medical consultants equipping their private clinics. These businesses share a common characteristic that lenders value highly: predictable, recurring revenue from a regulated, qualified professional.
This characteristic translates directly into better lending terms. Specialist professional finance products exist precisely because regulated professionals represent a lower credit risk than most business borrowers. If you are a doctor, dentist, vet, pharmacist, solicitor, or accountant, you have access to finance products that most business owners do not.
Who Professional Finance Is For
Professional finance is specifically designed for regulated professionals who operate in private practice or who are acquiring a stake in a professional business. The most active borrowers in this category in Ireland are dental practitioners (for surgery purchases, equipment, and fit-outs), medical doctors and consultants (for private clinic fit-outs and diagnostic equipment), pharmacists (for pharmacy purchases), veterinary surgeons (for practice acquisitions and equipment), solicitors and barristers (for office fit-outs and working capital), and accountancy practices.
The common thread is that each of these professions requires a qualification, operates under a regulatory body, and serves a client base that generates consistent, recurring revenue. Lenders specialising in professional finance understand these business models deeply — they know what a dental practice is worth, what a reasonable goodwill multiple looks like, and what post-acquisition income projections should resemble.
What You Can Finance
Practice purchase finance is the largest category — funding the acquisition of an established practice, which typically involves a goodwill component (reflecting the value of the patient or client list) and potentially a property element if the premises are included. Practice purchases in Ireland range from €150,000 for a small sole-practitioner surgery to several million euros for a multi-practitioner group.
Equipment finance for professionals covers everything from dental chairs, X-ray equipment, and CBCT scanners to medical diagnostic equipment, veterinary surgical tables, and pharmacy dispensing systems. Most specialist lenders offer hire purchase or finance lease arrangements specifically structured for clinical equipment. Fit-out and refurbishment finance covers the cost of fitting out premises to the standard required for professional practice, including plumbing, electrical, fit-out, and signage.
Why Professionals Get Better Rates
Regulated professionals receive preferential lending rates for a simple reason: their income is more predictable and more defensible than almost any other business category. A dental practice with an established patient list will generate broadly similar revenue year after year, largely regardless of economic conditions. This predictability reduces the lender's risk and is reflected in the rate offered.
Most specialist professional lenders in Ireland — including dedicated units within AIB and Bank of Ireland, and independent lenders like Investec and Close Brothers Healthcare Finance — price professional loans at rates below their standard business lending. Simpli Finance works with these providers and can access their professional rates on behalf of clients.
Irish Lenders with Professional Schemes
AIB has a dedicated healthcare and professional services lending team and has been active in dental and medical practice finance in Ireland for many years. Bank of Ireland has similar specialist capabilities, particularly in the healthcare sector. Investec has a strong presence in professional practice finance, particularly for larger transactions. Close Brothers Healthcare Finance is active in dental and veterinary equipment finance.
At Simpli Finance, we maintain relationships with all of these lenders and can identify the most appropriate provider for your specific professional finance need. Whether you need a €200,000 practice purchase or a €50,000 equipment replacement, we compare across the full panel and present you with the best available option.
- ✓Professional regulatory body membership
- ✓Practice accounts or income history
- ✓Details of the practice or asset being purchased
- ✓Revenue compliance and clean CCR record
- ✗Goodwill valuation not supported by evidence
- ✗Revenue CCR outstanding on personal account
- ✗Applying to a general business lender rather than a specialist
- ✗Insufficient personal equity contribution in practice purchase
FAQ: Professional Finance Ireland
Why do professionals get better interest rates on business loans?
Regulated professionals have predictable, stable income streams that are significantly less volatile than most business types. A dental practice, GP surgery, or solicitor's firm has recurring revenue that is largely immune to economic cycles. Lenders recognise this reduced risk with lower rates. Professional status is also associated with personal financial discipline and strong CCR records, which reinforces the lower-risk profile.
Can a newly qualified professional get a practice purchase loan?
Yes — specialist professional lenders, including some units within AIB and Bank of Ireland, and independent lenders like Investec, will consider lending to newly qualified professionals with limited trading history if the professional credentials are strong and the practice being acquired has a solid revenue track record. The lender's assessment shifts from the borrower's personal trading history to the practice's established performance.
What can professional finance be used for?
Professional finance can fund practice purchases (including goodwill and property), fit-outs and premises refurbishments, specialist equipment (dental chairs, medical scanners, diagnostic equipment), practice management software, practice consolidation, and working capital. Most professional finance providers offer a suite of products tailored to the full range of capital needs a practice is likely to have.
How much can a professional borrow in Ireland for a practice purchase?
Practice purchase finance in Ireland typically ranges from €100,000 for smaller sole-practitioner acquisitions to €2 million or more for larger group practices. The amount is determined by the practice's annual revenue and EBITDA, the goodwill multiple applied, and the amount of personal equity the purchaser is contributing. Most lenders look for a personal contribution of at least 10–20% of the purchase price.
Conclusion
Professional finance is one of the most accessible and competitive lending markets in Ireland for those who qualify. If you are a regulated professional considering a practice purchase, equipment upgrade, or premises fit-out, you have access to lending terms that most business borrowers cannot achieve.
At Simpli Finance, we specialise in professional finance and understand the specific considerations that apply to each profession. From valuing goodwill on a dental practice acquisition to structuring an equipment finance arrangement for a medical imaging system, we bring the expertise needed to get the deal done.
Get in touch today. The first call is free and there is no obligation.