Frequently Asked Questions

Successful applicants will usually have a minimum of 3 years post qualification clinical experience but if the borrower is supported by an experienced clinical and professional advisory team and a strong investment then some lenders will take into consideration.  Let’s discuss your individual circumstances

It is possible to obtain finance for the purchase of premises, internal build, fitting out and equipping of a new dental business but the number of lenders is quite limited and a strong business case has to be prepared. We have experience of supporting clients through this process so please do talk to us at the earliest possible opportunity if you are considering a ‘squat’ project.  

Banks will lend on both freehold and leasehold dental businesses subject to the sustainable EBITDA being sufficient to fund the additional costs of purchasing the building. We advise checking the unexpired term of the lease at the earliest opportunity as lenders tend to match their repayment term to the remaining years on the current lease and if a new lease or an extension cannot be negotiated then this will restrict borrowing. 

We can help with preparing a proposal document that will cover all the key areas that a lender is looking for in a Business Plan. This document will include a Professional Profile and a Personal Profile covering all the things the lender will want to know about your experience but also your personal circumstances including asset & liability statement and household income & expenditure. We will incorporate a full profile of the business being purchased, your short and medium term strategy for the unit and a detailed first year forecast demonstrating that the requested level of debt meets the Bank’s serviceability tests

Most of our panel lenders offer both Fixed Rate and Floating Rate loans, the latter linked to Bank of England Base Rate.  Fixed Rate fixture periods are usually quoted for 3,5 and 10 year periods and upon expiry the borrower can either select the prevailing fixed rate or move onto a variable rate.

We can include your existing Bank at your option provided that there is an existing Broker Agreement with that lender. Lily Head Finance have Broker Agreements with the majority of mainstream lenders in this sector. Discuss your requirements with us and we can agree an appropriate strategy.

Pricing is very competitive in this sector but there are still significant differences between the main players and much can depend on the loan to cost ratio, your personal background assets, available security and the length of the Bank’s commitment (please see our article on Banking Covenants). As a national broker we can offer the most competitive terms from our lending panel.

It is possible to get 100% finance on the lower of the purchase price or Bank panel valuation of the Freehold subject to the Banks servicing tests being met. Credit appetite for the goodwill element does vary quite considerably between lenders ranging from 75% to 95% depending on the practice, the security offered and the servicing case.  The maximum amount of debt is driven by the ability of the business to service the repayments. Each practice is different and we therefore recommend we undertake a detailed Practice Review before you make a bid on a practice.

Banks do change their lending parameters from time to time in response to market changes and it is our job to keep abreast of those changes and direct your tender to those lenders on our panel who we believe will have the appetite for the specific transaction and can offer the most favourable terms. 

All lenders are subject to FCA regulations in terms of adequate client identification and at some point in the process either shortly before or after the Underwriting Stage a meeting with the Bank will usually be scheduled.  However, we can obtain indicative terms from all our lending panel without you having met them and if you require our support at the introductory meeting then this can be arranged.  We do seek proof of address and identity as part of our own regulatory checks but credit checks are undertaken only by the Bank chosen to proceed to Underwritten terms.  

Our panel lenders will respond to a competitive tender with headline or indicative terms – this response will cover loan amounts, repayment term, interest margins, fees and security requirements.  Having discussed the detail of those terms we normally select one lender to undertake a full credit assessment and return with an Underwritten Offer – until the proposal has been approved by the Banks underwriters/credit team the offer remains indicative but our knowledge of each Bank, their credit appetite and relationship with our key contacts means that it is rare for there to be a significant change in terms at this second stage. All underwritten offers are usually subject to an acceptable independent valuation of the practice including the freehold where appropriate

We usually seek some basic general information to include the date of birth and private residential address of all borrowers supplemented by an Asset & Liability Statement and Income & Expenditure Statement, CV/professional BIO plus financial accounts for any existing dental unit or remuneration accounts or tax returns for self employed associates. The lender will also usually seek 3-6 months of personal and business bank account statements but we do not ask for these until a lender is selected to obtain underwritten terms.

Facilities will be agreed by the Bank with a list of pre-drawdown conditions, one of which is usually a professional valuation but there will be other documentation that needs to be produced including proof of deposit, confirmation that all taxes are paid up to date, delivery of the Bank’s security requirements including sometimes, life cover. The legal and CQC processes will of necessity take your full attention and Lily Head Finance are on hand to liaise with the Bank and your other professional advisers to ensure that all of the Bank’s requirements are met ahead of the drawdown of funds.  We will also provide an overview and interpretation of the professional valuation and address any questions that the lender may have in the run-up to completion. It is sometimes in this period that our experience of Bank risk analysis and process can be of immense value to the client. 

The bulk of our fees are contingent on securing credit-backed terms from a lender for the transaction and payable by the client on drawdown. These fees will cover preparation and tender of a funding proposal including financial model/forecast for Year1, review and recommendation of indicative offers, selection and mandating of a lender to deliver underwritten terms, liaison with the lender during all stages of the process including valuation and satisfaction of conditions precedent up to and including the deal completion. Our fees are competitive based on the expertise of the individual Practice Finance Consultant who will manage your case and that fee is always agreed with the client and fixed at the outset.   

Lily Head Finance is a Credit Broker, not a Direct Lender. We are authorised and regulated by the FCA and a member of the National Association of Commercial Credit Brokers

Lily Head Finance hold documented Broker Agreements will all the major lenders and these lenders will pay commissions direct to Lily Head Finance for business introductions. Commissions payable are disclosed on request but as separate documented agreements with financial institutions are not divisible with the client.