Dental practice financing: which specialty lender fits your deal?
Provide, Live Oak, BoA Practice Solutions, BHG. Different lenders for first-time vs established buyers.
Lender fit by deal type
| Deal type | Best fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Associate buying first practice, < $1.5M | Provide (Fifth Third) | Digital-first; underwriting for new associates with limited collateral |
| Acquisition $1M+, especially rural / specialty | Live Oak Bank | #1 SBA dental lender; deep specialty teams |
| Existing BoA relationship | BoA Practice Solutions | Relationship pricing if you bank elsewhere with BoA |
| Refi or working capital top-up | BHG Financial | Refi-heavy; faster than SBA but higher rate |
FAQ
- Do I need a down payment?
- For dental acquisition loans, most specialty lenders fund 100% LTV (no down payment) for qualified associate buyers. Live Oak and Provide both do this routinely.
- SBA or conventional?
- SBA 7(a): lowest rate, longer process, document-heavy. Conventional dental loan: faster, slightly higher rate, more flexible structure. Most dental specialty lenders do both.
- What if I'm a new grad?
- Provide is built for new associates. Live Oak will lend to recent grads with strong DSCR on the target practice's cash flow.
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