PET scanner finance is among the most specialized medical equipment categories we route. PET-CT systems (the dominant configuration) run $1.2M to $2.8M new, with PET-MR systems running materially higher. The buyer base is concentrated: hospital systems, oncology-focused practices, and academic medical centers. Our partner network for PET is selective, but the lenders that work this asset class are deeply expert.
The structural variable that dominates PET finance is the radiopharmaceutical supply chain. PET imaging requires short-half-life radiopharmaceuticals (FDG, F-18 fluorides, novel tracers) that must be sourced from local or regional cyclotron facilities. Buyers in markets without nearby cyclotron access face higher operational costs and supply risk. Lenders factor this into approvals.
Rate ranges we have seen on pet scanners financing
Pulled from the deals our partner lenders quoted us in the last 12 months. Your actual rate depends on credit, time in business, equipment year/hours, and structure. Treat these as starting reference points, not quotes.
| Credit profile |
36-month term |
48-month term |
60-month term |
Typical down |
| Hospital system or academic, prime |
6.5 - 7.8% |
6.8 - 8.2% |
7.2 - 8.6% |
0 - 5% |
| Established oncology practice |
7.4 - 8.8% |
7.7 - 9.2% |
8.1 - 9.6% |
0 - 10% |
| Imaging center 3+ yr |
7.8 - 9.4% |
8.2 - 9.8% |
8.6 - 10.4% |
5 - 15% |
| New imaging center on PET |
9.0 - 11.0% |
9.5 - 11.5% |
10 - 12% |
15 - 25% |
PET equipment commonly qualifies for 84-96 month terms aligned with the longer clinical useful life. Manufacturer captive financing bundled with multi-year service often beats commercial bank rates.
Three deals we routed in the last quarter
Each scenario below is a real structure from our partner lender network, with identifying details removed. The borrower-profile, equipment, and structure are accurate; the price points are within five percent of actual.
Scenario 1
Hospital system replaces aged PET-CT
- Borrower
- Regional hospital, prime credit, $400M revenue
- Equipment
- Siemens Biograph Vision Quadra PET-CT, $2.42M new
- Structure
- 84-month TRAC lease, 0% down, 18% residual
- Payment
- $28,600/mo, $435,600 residual
Outcome: Funded direct from manufacturer captive at sub-bank rates. Service contract embedded in lease.
Scenario 2
Oncology practice adds dedicated PET-CT
- Borrower
- 9-yr oncology group, principals 740+ FICO, $14M revenue
- Equipment
- GE Discovery MI Gen 2 PET-CT, $1.85M new
- Structure
- 72-month loan, 5% down, $1 buyout
- Payment
- $28,400/mo, 7.8% APR
Outcome: Approved through established practice program. Trade-in equity from prior unit reduced effective down payment.
Scenario 3
Imaging center launches PET service line
- Borrower
- 11-yr imaging center, 735 FICO, $5.8M revenue
- Equipment
- Philips Vereos digital PET-CT refurbished authorized, $1.18M
- Structure
- 84-month loan, 15% down, $1 buyout
- Payment
- $15,800/mo, 8.6% APR
Outcome: Approved with authorized refurbished status supporting near-new financing terms. Required signed radiopharmaceutical supply agreement.
Lender programs in our partner network for pet scanners
The programs below describe the buckets our partner lender network underwrites for this equipment. We route every application to the program that fits the credit profile, time in business, and structure preference. The program assignment is the single biggest driver of rate, term, and approval speed.
Manufacturer captive financing
Direct from PET OEM finance arms (GE, Siemens, Philips, Canon). Most competitive rates at this asset class, particularly bundled with multi-year service contracts.
Hospital and academic program
Bank-rate pricing for hospital systems and academic medical centers. Longest terms in our network. Programs structured to align with hospital capital budgeting cycles.
Established oncology and imaging program
Built for oncology-focused practices and established imaging centers adding PET capacity. Recognizes oncology referral pattern as primary revenue support.
What an underwriter will ask about pet scanners
These are the questions we hear our partner lenders ask on every pet scanners application. Preparing answers in advance closes the deal one to three business days faster.
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Cyclotron or radiopharmaceutical supply access?
PET requires short-half-life radiopharmaceuticals from regional cyclotrons. Supply chain affects operational viability.
-
PET-CT or PET-MR configuration?
PET-MR is meaningfully more expensive and serves different clinical applications.
-
Crystal type: BGO, LYSO, digital?
Crystal technology affects clinical performance and equipment generation.
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Referral pattern: in-house oncology or external?
Referral source affects volume projections and revenue stability.
-
Site infrastructure: shielding, exhaust, hot lab?
PET installation requires specific shielding and hot lab infrastructure beyond MRI or CT requirements.
Issues specific to pet scanners deals
These are not the standard equipment-finance pitfalls. They are the patterns we see on this exact equipment, in this exact market, that buyers without recent experience tend to miss.
Radiopharmaceutical supply chain disruption
PET imaging depends on radiopharmaceuticals with hours-long half-lives sourced from regional cyclotron facilities. Disruptions at the cyclotron level (maintenance, weather, supply issues) can halt scanning operations. Buyers should diligence supply chain resilience before purchase.
Hot lab infrastructure not budgeted
PET imaging requires a hot lab for radiopharmaceutical handling, separate from the imaging room. Hot lab construction costs $80K-$200K and is often missed in equipment-only budgeting.
Crystal degradation on used PET units
PET detector crystals (particularly BGO) degrade over time and with use. Used PET units approaching detector replacement (typically year 8-12) carry impending capital exposure that buyers and lenders should factor into pricing.
Documents the vendor must produce on pet scanners
Lenders fund off documents, not promises. The items below are the ones we have seen hold up funding on pet scanners deals. Confirm each is in hand before signing.
- Itemized bill of sale. PET, CT or MR component, software, shielding, hot lab construction on separate lines.
- Detector crystal age and condition. Crystal age, condition, and any prior replacement records on used units.
- Site survey and infrastructure plan. Imaging room, hot lab, shielding, exhaust, and patient access requirements.
- Radiopharmaceutical supply agreement. Documented agreement with cyclotron supplier for ongoing radiopharmaceutical delivery.
- Software license documentation. Clinical applications, oncology-specific software packages.
- Service contract and crystal coverage. Service terms specifically addressing detector and crystal coverage.
Resale and depreciation on pet scanners
PET equipment depreciates moderately in years one through five (typically 22-26 percent year one, 45-50 percent by year five) because of strong continued clinical demand and limited supply of late-model units. Authorized refurbished PET-CT through OEM-partner programs holds residuals strongest.
The international resale market for PET is significant. Late-model PET-CT units find buyers in major hospital systems globally, providing residual support that smaller imaging equipment categories do not have. Brand resale ranking: Siemens, GE, and Philips dominate the market. Canon Medical tracks behind in resale despite strong specs. Crystal type matters: LYSO-based and digital PET technologies hold residuals better than older BGO systems as the market continues shifting.
What you actually finance when you buy pet scanners
Three quotes for the same pet scanners can come back with three different numbers, and the gap is rarely the equipment itself. The gap is what each dealer rolls in, what each lender treats as cost-of-deal, and what shows up as separate paper at funding. Knowing the line items in advance tells you what you are actually negotiating.
Base equipment. The unit itself, in the configuration the seller is offering.
For pet scanners, base pricing typically runs $1.8M to $2.5M depending on configuration, year, hours, and condition.
Two units of the same model can price differently based on software license tier, included consumables, and the service contract status at the time of sale.
Attachments, options, and add-ons.
Probe heads, software modules, additional licenses, and consumable starter packages appear as separate lines. Each is financeable. On medical imaging in particular, the software and license stack often costs as much as the base hardware.
Delivery, setup, and training.
Delivery, on-site installation, calibration, and operator training can run 3 to 8 percent of base price. For medical and high-touch indoor equipment, the manufacturer commonly sends a representative on site for commissioning. Negotiate the inclusion of this service into the base price rather than as a separate add-on.
Sales tax and use tax.
Sales or use tax is owed in most states and typically rolls into the financed amount; the lender remits it at closing. State conformity rules vary, and a few states offer manufacturing or production exemptions that change the math. Confirm the tax line with the seller before signing rather than discovering it at funding.
Extended warranty, service contract, and consumables.
Service and software-maintenance contracts on this class of equipment commonly run 8 to 18 percent of base price annually. Bundling the first year into the loan is standard. Bundling multiple years into the loan converts a recurring expense into a financed asset, with the same trade-off as financing any other soft cost.
The buyer profiles we see most on pet scanners deals
Equipment financing is more buyer-driven than the rate sheets imply. Two applications for the same pet scanners at the same price can land at meaningfully different rates because of where the buyer sits on the four profiles below. Knowing where you fit lets you frame the application to its strongest reading.
The seasonal operator
A business with revenue that concentrates in certain months. Lenders price this risk by either requesting larger down payments, asking for proof of working capital reserves, or structuring seasonal payment skips that match the revenue pattern.
The contractor adding owned equipment
A business that has historically rented adding equipment to its own book to reduce rental spend. Lenders look favorably on this story because the rental cost is documented and the math is transparent. The conversion from rent to own is one of the cleanest financing applications.
The first-time owner
An owner-operator who has been working for a previous employer or as a contractor and is now buying the equipment to run their own book. Programs exist for this profile but expect 10 to 20 percent down, personal guarantees, and proof of relevant work history.
The growing operator
A two-year-old business with two existing units and a third on order to chase the next contract. We see this profile most often in trades, fleet, and field services. Lenders weigh the equipment as collateral, then look at revenue trajectory and time in business. Most growing operators qualify for standard programs at fair-to-good credit.
What underwriting weighs on pet scanners deals
The five factors below drive most of the rate variance we see across pet scanners applications. Lenders weigh them in roughly this order and price the deal off the combination. Your application is a story the underwriter reads against these five factors.
- Use of equipment. Will the asset generate revenue immediately, will it replace an existing producing asset, or is it additive capacity. Revenue-replacement deals close most easily.
- Time in business. The single most weighted factor for most equipment lenders. Two years in business opens up the full program menu. Under one year narrows the lender pool and often requires larger down payment.
- Existing debt service. Lenders look at total monthly debt obligations against cash flow. Adding a new payment that pushes the debt service coverage ratio below 1.20 typically requires additional support or a larger down payment.
- Business credit profile. D&B Paydex, Experian Intelliscore, and trade references from current vendors. Stronger business credit reduces personal-guarantee scope and improves the rate.
- Geographic operating territory. Where the equipment will operate matters. Some lenders prefer single-state operation; others price interstate or cross-border use differently. The lender match changes if the equipment will operate outside the home state regularly.
The pet scanners pre-purchase walk
The dollars saved in equipment financing are made or lost at the pre-purchase walk, not in the rate negotiation. Saving 50 basis points on a $200,000 loan is real money; missing a $40,000 powertrain issue on the same unit is not recoverable. The walk-through items below cover what we have seen surface most often on funded deals that went sideways post-funding.
- Delivery and acceptance terms. Who pays for delivery, what condition the unit must be in at delivery, and what the buyer accepts. The funding documents will reference the delivery and acceptance certificate, which the lender uses to release payment to the seller.
- Hydraulics and ancillary systems. Full range of motion on every hydraulic function, no leaks, smooth operation, no chatter or pump whine. Hydraulic repairs on heavy equipment run into five figures fast.
- Wear items documented. Tires, tracks, undercarriage, cutting edges, brakes. Photograph and note remaining life. These are the items that will need replacement first and that buyers under-budget for.
- Hours-meter or odometer history. Beyond the current reading, confirm the historical pattern of use. A unit with 4,000 hours from regular daily use is different from a unit with 4,000 hours from intermittent project work. Service records, when available, document the use pattern.
- Recall and campaign status. Manufacturer recalls and service campaigns sometimes go uncompleted on used equipment. Verify outstanding recalls before purchase; some are mandatory and prevent the equipment from being registered or operated in certain jurisdictions until completed.
- Manufacturer warranty status. On used equipment, confirm what is left of the original manufacturer warranty. Some warranties transfer with title and continue; others are tied to the original owner. The remaining warranty has dollar value and should factor into the purchase price.
Where pet scanners deals go sideways post-funding
Every one of the issues below is documented on the funding paperwork. The buyer signed off on each. The buyer surprise comes from the gap between what the dealer said in conversation and what the documents actually say. Read the documents at signing rather than after.
Doc fee surprises
Lender documentation fees range from $150 on the low end to $1,500 or more on larger transactions. These are disclosed in the funding documents but easy to skim past. Ask up front what the doc fee is, and whether it is being added to the financed amount or paid out of pocket at funding.
Trade-in payoff timing
If your transaction includes a trade-in with an existing lien, the new lender pays off the trade-in lien as part of the funding. Verify the trade-in payoff amount the new lender uses matches the actual payoff from the prior lender (which can include accrued interest and fees through the funding date). A $500 to $2,000 gap is common if this is not reconciled.
Cross-collateral creep
Adding new equipment financing through the same lender often includes cross-collateral language that ties the new equipment to the prior loan and vice versa. Not always bad, but it limits flexibility if you need to sell or refinance one piece of equipment without paying off the other.
Pre-payment penalties
Equipment loans often carry pre-payment penalties for the first 12 to 36 months of the term. Standard structures range from 3 percent of the payoff in year one declining to zero by year three, to a flat fee of $500 to $2,000. If you expect to refinance or pay the loan off early, understand the penalty math before signing.
Quick answer
PET Scanners financing typically prices at 7-12% APR for prime credit (720+ FICO) and 11-17% for fair-to-challenged credit (600-679). Standard terms run 36-72 months with 0-15% down. Approvals close in 24-72 hours on app-only programs (typically under $150K) and 3-7 business days on full-financials deals. Required documents: driver license, voided business check, last 3 months bank statements, and the equipment quote.
How we route the decision
The financing structure that fits depends on the actual situation. Below are the most common decision branches we walk through with buyers, in plain "if X, then Y" form.
- If You have existing equipment loans in good standing with this lender
- Then Your application qualifies for relationship pricing. App-only programs often skip financials when you have a clean history with the lender.
- If You are a startup with strong principal credit and industry experience
- Then Apply to startup-specific programs that recognize principal credit and experience as substitutes for entity history. Expect higher down payment but a real path to approval.
- If You have access to manufacturer captive promotional financing
- Then Compare carefully against bank/independent lender rates. Captive promotions sometimes look better on stated rate but include adjustments (lower discount, required service bundles) that change the net economics.
- If Your equipment will be operated by a hired driver or operator
- Then Document the operator certification status in advance. Some lenders require proof of OSHA training, CDL, or industry-specific certification before funding on certain equipment categories.
- If You plan to bundle attachments with the base equipment
- Then Get them all on a single bill of sale and single paper. Bundled financing typically costs 50 to 100 basis points less than financing the base unit and adding attachments separately.
Timeline expectations
What actually happens day-by-day, from application to equipment in service. Most buyers underestimate one or two of these steps; knowing them up front prevents surprises.
Document signing to funding
1 to 3 business days
Lender operations team processes signed docs, files UCC, and funds the seller. Wire transfers funded same-day if processed before cutoff.
Refinancing existing equipment loan
2 to 4 weeks
Refinancing requires payoff of existing loan, UCC release from prior lender, and funding of new loan. The UCC release coordination drives most of the timing.
UCC-1 filing and search
Filing: same-day. Search: 1-2 business days
UCC-1 financing statement files electronically same-day in most states. Pre-funding UCC search to confirm no existing liens runs 1-2 business days.
Title transfer on titled equipment
1 to 4 weeks
Title transfer through state DMV adds weeks to closing on titled equipment. Out-of-state transfers run on the longer end. Title escrow accelerates this in many cases.
Lease end-of-term decision deadline
60 to 90 days before term end
Most lease structures require notice of intent (purchase, return, or renew) 60-90 days before term end. Missing the deadline can trigger automatic renewal or other default consequences.
Soft-pull pre-qualification turnaround
1 to 4 hours during business hours
Soft-pull pre-qualification surfaces lender matches and indicative rates within hours, without affecting credit score.
Cost stack: what total ownership actually includes
The equipment purchase price is one line on the financed amount. The actual cost of ownership over the life of a pet scanners deal includes the items below. Buyers who only budget for the purchase price often hit cash-flow surprise within the first 12 months.
- Delivery and freight. Equipment delivery from dealer to operating site. Runs 1 to 5 percent of equipment price on standard equipment, higher on heavy or oversized equipment requiring permits and escorts.
- Equipment purchase price. Base equipment price as quoted by the dealer. Negotiable, especially on used equipment and end-of-quarter new equipment.
- Documentation and dealer fees. Lender doc fee runs $150 to $1,500. Dealer doc fee varies. Both may roll into financed amount or pay at signing.
- Title transfer and registration. Titled equipment (trucks, trailers, some construction equipment) requires title transfer and registration. State-specific fees from $50 to $500+.
- Insurance premiums. Commercial equipment insurance with lender named as loss payee. Annual premiums run 1 to 5 percent of equipment value depending on coverage and equipment category.
- Operator training. Manufacturer-provided or third-party operator training. Runs $1,500 to $25,000 depending on equipment complexity. OSHA-compliant training required on many categories.
- Operating consumables. Recurring costs not included in the equipment purchase: fuel, fluids, filters, tools, parts. Equipment-specific.
- Software licenses. CAM, design, control, and operational software. Often subscription-based with annual renewal. Can run $5,000 to $50,000+ per seat depending on equipment category.
Authoritative sources
The rate ranges, structures, and program details on this page are informed by our partner-lender book and the public industry resources below. We link out so you can verify any specific claim or go deeper.
