If you’re a dentist looking to buy a practice and you’ve assumed a cash deposit is unavoidable, it’s worth pausing for a moment.
The lending landscape for dental practice purchases has shifted, and in a meaningful way. Where 80–90% funding used to be the norm, 100% finance for goodwill is now very much on the table for a wide range of dental practices.
This is a reflection of how lenders now view the dental sector – stable, resilient, and low risk. And that confidence is translating directly into higher LTV levels of funding.
On this page:
- A Clear Shift in Lender Appetite
- 100% Funding Is No Longer the Exception
- What Kind of Practice Qualifies?
- First-Time Buyers and Established Dentists
- Why Dentists Are So Well Supported by Banks
- Buying a Dental Practice Without a Deposit
- Why Specialist Advice Makes the Difference
- Final Thoughts
- More Than Just Practice Finance
A Clear Shift in Lender Appetite
Over recent years, banks have become increasingly comfortable lending into dentistry. More recently, that comfort has turned into genuine competition.
Several lenders who historically capped goodwill funding at lower levels have taken a far more aggressive stance recently. The result is higher loan-to-value options across the board and 100% goodwill funding becoming far more accessible than many dentists realise.
Put simply: when lenders see a good dental deal they are prepared to back them!
100% Funding Is No Longer the Exception
There’s still a perception that full funding is rare or only available in exceptional cases. That might have been true not even that long ago, but it’s no longer the reality.
For strong dental practices:
100% goodwill funding is being actively offered
deals are being supported without personal cash input
buyers are no longer expected to “fill the gap” with savings
In today’s market, 100% finance is a realistic starting point, not an unrealistic aspiration.
What Kind of Practice Qualifies?
This is where clarity matters without dampening confidence.
Lenders are typically looking for practices that:
are profitable and well run
have sustainable income
are priced in line with the market
can comfortably service the borrowing
That description fits a large proportion of practices currently being sold.
If the fundamentals stack up, the absence of a deposit is no longer a barrier in itself.
First-Time Buyers and Established Dentists
Another common misconception is that full funding is only available to experienced practice owners.
In reality:
first-time buyers are most likely to get 100% funding
dentists buying their second or third practice can also benefit
What matters most isn’t your past ownership history. It is:
the strength of the practice
the structure of the deal
how the funding request is positioned
Get those right, and full funding becomes very achievable.
Why Dentists Are So Well Supported by Banks
From a lender’s point of view, dental practices tick all the right boxes:
consistent demand
predictable income
strong long-term outlook
proven resilience
That’s why dentistry remains one of the most attractive professional sectors for bank lending and why the appetite to support acquisitions is as strong as ever.
This confidence is exactly what’s driving the availability of 100% finance.
Buying a Dental Practice Without a Deposit
For many dentists, the appeal of full funding is obvious:
personal savings stay untouched
cash remains available as a buffer
growth plans don’t need to be delayed
With the right advice, it’s entirely possible to buy a dental practice without putting down a deposit, while still structuring the finance sensibly and sustainably.
Why Specialist Advice Makes the Difference
While 100% loan-to-value funding is available, outcomes still depend on how deals are presented.
This isn’t about ticking boxes or submitting generic applications. It’s about:
understanding real lender appetite
positioning the practice correctly
structuring the proposal in the right way
solid relationships with lenders
That’s where working with a specialist, relationship-driven broker matters.
Final Thoughts
The key takeaway is simple:
100% finance to buy a dental practice is no longer unusual. It is genuinely achievable.
The market has moved.
Lender appetite is strong.
And dentists who explore their options properly are securing full funding.
If you’re considering buying a dental practice and want to understand whether 100% finance could work for you, it’s worth having a proper conversation with someone who specialises in supporting dentists through the process of buying a practice.
If you would like to see how 100% finance has been successfully arranged for dentist previously, check out our 100% dental practice funding case studies.
More Than Just Practice Finance
One of the benefits of working with a fully FCA-regulated finance broker is that support doesn’t stop at the practice purchase itself.
Alongside arranging funding to buy a dental practice, we can also assist with related requirements such as:
life insurance linked to lending – it is typically a mandatory requirements to have life insurance with these types of loans
residential mortgages, buy-to-let mortgages, commercial mortgages
Keeping this support under one roof often makes the process simpler, quicker, and far less stressful, especially during a busy acquisition.
