Providers We Serve
CT Scanner Financing for Mobile Imaging Providers
Mobile imaging operators run trailer-mounted and van-based CT programs for hospitals, rural facilities, and events. We finance mobile CT units and the trailers that carry them.
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Mobile CT programs earn by moving. The scanner is only generating revenue when the trailer is at a hospital, a rural clinic, a correctional facility, or another contracted site pulling studies. The financing structure for a mobile imaging business has to account for that utilization pattern, because the revenue is contract-driven and deployment-dependent rather than tied to a fixed schedule at a single facility.
We work with mobile imaging operators who run trailer-mounted CT programs under contracts with hospitals and health systems, rural and critical-access hospitals that use mobile imaging to supplement permanent staff, and independent mobile imaging companies that cover multi-site deployment schedules across regional geographies. The business model is distinct from freestanding imaging, and the financing approach needs to reflect it.
Mobile CT transactions typically fall in the range of $500,000 to $1.5 million when the trailer is included with the scanner, since a fully equipped trailer-mounted CT unit is a significant capital asset. We also finance mobile CT scanners acquired separately from the trailer for operators who already have the transport infrastructure in place. Minimum transaction is $50,000, and we can fund in one to two weeks for deals with complete documentation.
Mobile Imaging Operators We Finance
The mobile imaging market includes a range of operator types, from a single-unit independent operator with one hospital contract to a regional fleet operator with 10 or more units deployed across multiple states.
- Single-unit mobile imaging operators entering the market with one trailer-mounted CT unit and one or two hospital contracts
- Regional mobile imaging companies adding units to cover additional deployment sites or to replace aging trailers
- Hospitals that own their own mobile CT unit and operate it for satellite clinic coverage or overflow capacity
- Rural health systems that use mobile imaging to provide specialty imaging services at critical access facilities without permanent CT infrastructure
- Mobile imaging operators who provide services to correctional facilities, sporting events, or other temporary high-utilization deployments
For operators who are just starting in mobile imaging, we also provide startup imaging financing when the principals have relevant clinical or operational experience and can document a deployment contract or letter of intent from the first customer site.
Equipment Mobile Imaging Operators Finance
The mobile CT asset is more complex than a fixed-site installation because it involves both the scanner and the transport infrastructure, and because the equipment needs to tolerate the mechanical stresses of repeated road transport without compromising performance or alignment.
- Trailer-mounted CT systems that include the scanner, the trailer, climate control, power management, and site-connection infrastructure as a fully integrated unit
- Van-based or self-propelled mobile CT units for operators serving sites with access constraints that limit trailer-based deployment
- Portable CT scanners for specialized mobile applications including ICU and point-of-care imaging where the scanner needs to move within a building rather than between sites
- Refurbished scanner platforms installed into existing trailers, which is a cost-effective path for operators who already have a compliant trailer and want to replace an aging scanner without replacing the entire system
We can also finance the mobile imaging trailer separately from the scanner when an operator acquires the assets independently, which sometimes happens when a hospital decommissions a trailer-mounted system and sells the components separately.
How Mobile CT Financing Works
Mobile CT financing underwriting looks at the deployment contract structure alongside the operator's financials. A signed multi-year contract with a hospital system is strong collateral evidence, because it demonstrates that the asset has a defined revenue stream attached to it. Operators with deployment contracts can sometimes qualify on the strength of those contracts even when their operating history is limited.
For operators without existing contracts, underwriting leans more heavily on the principals' experience, credit history, and the plausibility of their deployment pipeline. We look at the number of potential customer sites, the competitive landscape in the operator's target geography, and the market demand for mobile CT services in that region.
Common financing structures for mobile CT include equipment finance agreements, which give the operator ownership of the asset at the end of the term, and operating leases, which allow the operator to upgrade the scanner platform at the end of the term. For operators who already have a deployed unit and want to pull capital out, a Sale-Leaseback Financing on a fully owned mobile unit is a common way to free up capital for a second unit acquisition.
Terms for mobile CT financing typically run 60 to 84 months, with 72 months being common for trailer-mounted system acquisitions where the full capital cost makes shorter terms impractical for monthly cash flow management.
Finance Your Mobile CT Program
Tell us about the unit you are acquiring or replacing, your deployment contract situation, and your operating history. We will structure financing that fits the economics of how mobile imaging actually earns. Most deals close in one to two weeks from a complete application.
Questions
Can we finance a trailer-mounted CT system as a single transaction even though it involves multiple vendors?
Yes. We regularly finance integrated mobile CT systems that involve a scanner supplier, a trailer builder, and a systems integrator under a single facility. We work with the operator to structure the payment flow appropriately when multiple vendors are involved in the delivery and commissioning.
We have one hospital contract but no operating history. Can we qualify?
A signed multi-year deployment contract from a hospital or health system is meaningful collateral evidence of future revenue. Operators with a contract but limited operating history can often qualify, particularly when the principals have prior experience in mobile imaging or healthcare operations. We review each startup situation on its individual merits.
Can a mobile imaging operator refinance a unit that still has an existing loan balance?
Yes, provided the unit's current market value supports the refinance. Mobile CT trailers retain value well when properly maintained, and a unit with strong service history from a major manufacturer often qualifies for refinancing even when the original loan balance is substantial.
We want to add a second mobile unit. Can we use the equity in our first unit to help fund it?
Yes. If your first unit is paid off or has significant equity, a sale-leaseback or cash-out refinance on that unit can generate capital that contributes to the down payment or initial costs on the second unit. This is a common structure for mobile imaging operators growing from one unit to two.
Does the trailer need to be inspected or appraised before financing?
For new integrated systems purchased directly from a manufacturer or dealer, standard documentation is usually sufficient. For used or refurbished mobile CT systems, we may request a condition report or inspection, particularly for older trailers or systems with significant mileage. We coordinate the process and let you know what is needed.
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