Finance & Rental
Three ways to put a scanner in your practice.
Buy it outright, spread it over up to seven years, or rent it from us with everything included. We will quote all three and tell you honestly which one suits your numbers — including when the answer is "none of them yet".
Your options
Which one fits.
Option one
Buy outright
- Lowest total cost over the life of the machine
- You own the asset from day one
- Annual Investment Allowance may give 100% relief in year one
- Full VAT payable up front
- Two-year manufacturer warranty, then cover is yours to buy
- Depreciation and obsolescence are yours
Best if you have the cash, the profits to absorb the allowance, and you keep equipment a long time.
Option two
Finance it
- Terms from 12 to 84 months
- You own the asset at the end
- Capital allowances plus relief on the interest element
- VAT usually payable up front on hire purchase
- Subject to status and a credit application
- Rate fixed at today's rates for the whole term
Best if you want ownership without the capital outlay.
Option three
Rent from us
- One fixed monthly figure, everything inside it
- Servicing, repairs, PC, install and training included
- No interest charged at any point
- VAT spread across the term rather than paid up front
- Payments fully deductible in the year you make them
- Return it, keep going, upgrade or buy at the end
Best if you want a predictable cost and no exposure to rates, repairs or obsolescence.
We sell and support every machine we finance, whichever route you choose. That is the point of asking us rather than a broker — we are still here when the scanner needs an engineer.
Calculator
What will it cost a month?
Put in the price of the equipment and choose a term. This uses our current flat rate card and gives an indicative figure — not a quotation.
Rates shown are flat rates, not APR — a flat rate is calculated on the original amount for the whole term, so the equivalent APR is higher. Figures are illustrative, subject to status and to the lender's own terms, and do not constitute a quotation or an offer of finance. Working-day figure assumes 26 working days a month. Ask us for a written quotation showing the APR before you commit to anything.
Who we work with
Lenders who understand dentistry.
We do not tie you to one lender. We will put your application to whichever of these is likely to give you the best answer, and you are free to use your own bank instead.
360 Visualise Ltd introduces customers to third-party finance providers. We are not a lender. All finance is subject to status and to the provider's own terms and conditions.
Without interest
Not everyone can use conventional finance.
Some practices avoid interest-bearing agreements on principle, whether for religious reasons or otherwise. Our rental is not a finance product and charges no interest at any stage — you pay a rent for the use of a machine we own, service and insure.
How the rental is structured
We keep ownership of the scanner throughout. We carry the servicing and the maintenance, because it is our asset. You pay a fixed rent, agreed and known in advance, for as long as you use it. At the end you may hand it back, continue monthly, upgrade, or buy it — a genuine choice, not a condition of the agreement.
If you need the agreement reviewed by your own advisor before you sign, we will send the full terms in advance and answer any questions they raise. Call 01943 601222.
We describe the structure openly so you can assess it. We do not hold a formal certification, and nothing here should be taken as a religious ruling — please take your own advice.
Side by side
The comparison in one table.
| Buy outright | Finance | Rent from us | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up-front cost | Full price + VAT | Deposit, VAT often up front | Deposit only, VAT spread |
| Interest | None | Yes, fixed at today's rates | None |
| Servicing | You buy a contract | You buy a contract | Included |
| Repairs and maintenance | You arrange and pay | You arrange and pay | Ours, for the whole term |
| Tax relief | AIA, or 14% a year | Allowances + interest relief | Full payment, every year |
| Who owns it | You | You, at the end | Us — you may buy at the end |
| Obsolescence risk | Yours | Yours | Ours |
| Balance sheet | Asset | Asset and liability | Right-of-use asset and liability |
From January 2026 most leases appear on the balance sheet under FRS 102, so renting is no longer an off-balance-sheet arrangement. The main-pool writing down allowance also fell from 18% to 14% in April 2026, which slows relief on a purchased machine where your Annual Investment Allowance is already committed. Tax treatment depends on your own circumstances — this is not tax advice, and your accountant should confirm the position before you decide.
Questions
What people ask us.
Is a flat rate the same as an APR?
No, and the difference matters. A flat rate is charged on the original amount for the whole term, so it looks lower than the equivalent APR. Always compare finance offers on APR and on total payable, never on the flat rate alone. We will show you both in writing.
Can I reclaim the VAT?
Usually not. Dental treatment is VAT exempt, so most practices cannot recover input VAT on equipment. That makes the VAT a genuine cost rather than a cash-flow item, and it is one reason spreading it across a rental term is worth considering.
Will a finance application affect my credit file?
A full application usually leaves a footprint. Tell us before we submit anything and we can often get an indicative decision first. Our own rental is not a finance product and is assessed differently.
Can I settle a finance agreement early?
Normally yes, though the settlement figure will include some of the remaining charges. It varies by lender, so ask for the early settlement terms before you sign rather than afterwards.
Do you finance used or refurbished machines?
Sometimes, though fewer lenders will and terms are usually shorter. Note that second-hand assets do not qualify for the new 40% first-year allowance introduced in 2026, which changes the tax comparison.
What if I want to change machine part-way through?
On finance you own it, so you would sell or part-exchange. On our rental you can upgrade — that flexibility is the main reason practices choose it.