Veterinary practice loans: SBA rates and terms
Veterinary Clinics · NAICS 541940 · Program that usually fits: 7(a)
A veterinary practice loan through the SBA is close to a dental or medical practice loan: lenders specializing in professional practices will finance a veterinarian's purchase or start-up at or near 100%, because veterinary revenue is steady and practice owners rarely default. Corporate consolidators have pushed practice prices up, which makes the SBA's longer terms more valuable.
Who qualifies
Veterinarians buying a practice from a retiring owner, associates buying in as partners, and vets opening their own clinic. Lenders want a DVM license, a production history, and for a purchase, three years of seller financials and a practice appraisal.
Which SBA program fits
7(a) for a practice purchase
Covers the price including goodwill, equipment, working capital and any remodel, up to $5 million, on a 10-year term.
7(a) for a start-up clinic
Funds build-out, surgical and imaging equipment, and 6 to 12 months of working capital while the client base builds.
504 for the clinic building
Buying or building the clinic fits a 504 at a fixed rate, paired with a 7(a) for equipment and working capital.
What borrowers use the money for
- Buying an existing veterinary practice
- Build-out of exam rooms, surgery and kennels
- Digital radiography, ultrasound and lab equipment
- Working capital during the start-up period
- Buying the clinic building
Typical loan amounts, down payment and terms
Practice purchases range from $400,000 to $2.5 million. Several lenders finance 100% for veterinarians; others ask for 10%. Terms are 10 years for the practice and 25 years for real estate. Lenders size the loan to practice cash flow after a market salary for the owner.
Example: a $600,000 loan
At today's maximum variable 7(a) rate of 10.00% over 10 years, the payment would be about $7,929 a month. Most well-qualified borrowers get a lower rate. Try your own numbers.
Today's rate caps
These are the SBA's maximum 7(a) rates with prime at 7.00%. See current SBA 7(a) rates and SBA 504 rates for the full picture.
| Loan amount | Maximum spread | Maximum variable rate today |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 or less | Prime + 6.5 | 13.50% |
| $50,001 to $250,000 | Prime + 6.0 | 13.00% |
| $250,001 to $350,000 | Prime + 4.5 | 11.50% |
| Over $350,000 | Prime + 3.0 | 10.00% |
Related industries and lenders
Related industries
SBA lenders active nationwide
Questions about veterinary practice loans
Can a veterinarian get an SBA loan to buy a practice?
Yes. Veterinary practice purchases are a standard 7(a) use, and lenders that focus on professional practices commonly offer 100% financing. The practice's cash flow, not your personal assets, is the main collateral.
How much does it cost to start a veterinary clinic with an SBA loan?
A single-doctor start-up usually runs $500,000 to $1 million including build-out, equipment and working capital. A 7(a) loan can fund all of it, with 10% equity or less for a vet with a solid production history.
What term do veterinary practice loans have?
10 years for the practice and equipment. If you buy or build the clinic and real estate is over half the project, the whole loan can go to 25 years.
What is the interest rate on a veterinary SBA loan?
Capped at prime plus 3 for loans over $350,000, which is 10.00% today. Practice lenders often price well below the cap for veterinarians, and some offer fixed rates.
Can an associate vet use an SBA loan to buy into a practice?
Yes, for a partial buy-in of 20% or more where the practice shows it can support the added debt. The selling partner usually has to agree to the lender's lien on practice assets.
Sources: SBA 7(a) terms, conditions and maximum variable rates; Federal Reserve H.15 selected interest rates (bank prime loan rate); October 2026 SBA 504 debenture pricing, as published by CDCs; SBA FOIA 7(a) and 504 loan-level data.