Salon and aesthetics equipment finance add treatments without the upfront cost

What is aesthetics equipment finance?

Aesthetics equipment finance spreads the cost of lasers, IPL, radiofrequency and other skin devices, treatment beds, salon chairs and tanning equipment into fixed monthly payments. It is usually set up as hire purchase or a lease, with the equipment as security, so you can offer a new treatment before you have saved for the device.

A single aesthetics device can cost tens of thousands of pounds, but each treatment it delivers brings in income. Finance lets you compare the monthly payment with the number of treatments you need to sell to cover it, which makes the decision easier to plan. Many clinics start with one flagship device and add more as demand grows.

Lenders look at the device as well as your business. Well-known, medically certified devices from established manufacturers tend to be easier to fund, because they hold more value. Lenders may also ask about your qualifications, insurance and premises, particularly as regulation of the sector tightens. As a broker, we compare lenders on our panel rather than offering one supplier's finance deal.

If you're also refurbishing treatment rooms or opening a new salon, our fit-out finance page covers the building works, and our beauty and wellness finance page looks at funding across salons, clinics, spas and gyms.

Key features

What clinics and salons fund with it

• Laser hair removal and IPL systems
• Radiofrequency, HIFU and skin-tightening devices
• Hydrodermabrasion and facial treatment systems
• Body-contouring and cryolipolysis devices
• Salon styling chairs, backwash units and treatment beds
• Tanning booths, sunbeds and nail stations

Supplier finance vs a broker-arranged agreement

Regulation is changing: what it means for finance

According to the House of Commons Library, there are currently no specific controls in England on who can offer most non-surgical cosmetic procedures, but the Health and Care Act 2022 gives the government power to introduce a licensing scheme. The government has said lower-risk treatments, including Botox and fillers, will come under a local authority licensing system with training, safety and insurance standards, while the highest-risk procedures will be restricted to qualified healthcare professionals working for providers registered with the Care Quality Commission. A consultation on restricting high-risk procedures was published in October 2026.

For finance, this matters in two ways. Lenders are increasingly likely to ask about your qualifications, indemnity insurance and premises, and you should check that any treatment you plan to offer with a new device will still be something you are allowed to provide once the rules are in place. Details are still being finalised, so it is worth keeping an eye on official updates.

VAT and tax on treatments and equipment

HMRC's VAT Notice 701/57 says services undertaken purely for cosmetic reasons are standard-rated for VAT, even when provided by a registered health professional, while cosmetic work that forms part of a healthcare treatment programme may be exempt. If your treatments are standard-rated and you are VAT registered, you may be able to reclaim VAT on equipment used to provide them. Buying equipment, including on hire purchase, may also qualify for capital allowances. Your accountant can confirm your position.

What lenders typically look at

• Supplier quote for the device, including training and installation
• Business bank statements, typically the last three to six months
• Latest accounts or tax returns, or projections if you are newly trading
• Details of your qualifications and indemnity insurance
• Information about your premises and any relevant registration
• Owner or director details for identity and credit checks