Lendus.

Freeze Dryer Finance

Spread the cost of laboratory freeze dryers (lyophilisers) from £8,000 to £120,000+ with flexible finance options. HP, lease, or refinance, compare rates from 40+ lenders.

Can you finance a freeze dryer?

Yes, freeze dryers are financed as a standard asset purchase, usually on hire purchase or a lease, with the machine itself acting as the security. UK prices typically run £8,000 to £120,000, and most deals are written over 24–72 months with a deposit of around 10–20%. Decisions typically take 48 hours. Used machines are financeable too, usually with a shorter term.

200+ UK lenders
2-minute application
No credit check to apply
FCA-regulated brokers

Typical Cost

£8k – £120k

Approval Speed

48 hours

Same-day for < £25k

Rates From

4.5% APR

What would a freeze dryer cost per month?

£35,000
10%
60 months
9%
£0

Your estimate

Indicative only. Not a quote and not an offer of finance.

Pre-filled with a typical freeze dryer price. Indicative only, not a quote.

Compare freeze dryer finance rates from 200+ lenders

Check Eligibility

Finance options

Hire Purchase (HP)

Rate
From 4.9% APR
Term
24–72 months
Deposit
10–20%
Ownership
Yours at the end
Best for
Labs wanting to own the freeze dryer outright

Finance Lease

Rate
From 4.5% APR
Term
24–72 months
Deposit
None required
Ownership
Return or buy (balloon payment)
Best for
Tax-efficient, claim the full lease payment against profit

Operating Lease

Rate
From 5.2% APR
Term
24–60 months
Deposit
None required
Ownership
Return at end
Best for
Off balance sheet, scale up capacity as production grows

Representative example

On a purchase price of £35,000: a 10% deposit of £3,500, then 48 monthly payments of £738 at 5.9% APR representative (fixed). Total amount payable £38,924, including the deposit. The rate you are offered depends on your business and the asset.

What buyers actually specify

Guide prices for sizing a finance agreement, not quotes. Manufacturers in this market mostly price on application, so where a current UK list price could not be confirmed the row describes a specification class rather than naming a model. Your supplier quote is what the agreement is written against.

Machine or specification Guide price Type
Benchtop Freeze Dryer, Small Batch (spec class) £8,000 – £18,000 Benchtop Freeze Dryer
Buchi-class Lyovapor Bench Freeze Dryer (spec class) £15,000 – £35,000 Bench Lyophiliser
Pilot-Scale Freeze Dryer with Manifold (spec class) £35,000 – £70,000 Pilot-Scale Lyophiliser
Production-Scale Freeze Dryer (spec class) £60,000 – £120,000 Production-Scale Freeze Dryer

Ready to compare freeze dryer finance? 2 minutes, no credit check.

Check Eligibility

Tax benefits

Freeze dryers qualify for Annual Investment Allowance (AIA), meaning you can deduct the full cost from taxable profits in year one, up to £1,000,000. For HP agreements, you claim capital allowances on the freeze dryer. For leases, you typically deduct the full lease payment from profits.

Market context

Freeze dryers are bought by pharmaceutical formulation labs, biotech and vaccine developers, food science labs and contract manufacturing organisations preserving heat-sensitive samples, cultures or formulations by removing water under vacuum. Many pharmaceutical and biotech buyers, particularly early-stage and contract manufacturing businesses, are funded by investment rounds or client contracts rather than steady trading, and lenders look closely at that funding runway when setting a term for what is typically a significant single purchase. Vacuum pumps, condenser servicing and chamber seals are recurring maintenance costs on a freeze dryer used regularly, and over its working life these can add substantially to the total cost of ownership beyond the purchase price. A specialist refurbished market exists, particularly for bench and pilot-scale units, giving smaller labs a lower-cost route into lyophilisation.

Bad credit?

Several of our 200+ lenders specialise in businesses with imperfect credit histories. You may need a larger deposit or personal guarantee, but options exist. Checking your options here does not affect your credit score, because we do not run a credit search to match you. A lender will run their own checks only if you decide to apply.

Compare rates from 200+ lenders, takes 2 minutes.

Check Eligibility

Frequently asked questions

Can I finance a refurbished freeze dryer?
Yes, refurbished bench and pilot-scale freeze dryers from specialist resellers are financed on similar terms to new equipment, provided the vacuum pump and condenser have been serviced and tested. This is a common route for smaller formulation labs, since new production-scale units can be a significant capital outlay. Ask for a written record of the service carried out and any remaining warranty, since this is usually what a lender relies on when assessing a used instrument's condition.
Does my funding stage, seed investment versus revenue, affect the application?
It can. An early-stage biotech funded by an investment round will typically be asked more about runway and the next funding milestone than a business with steady trading income, and the lender may size the term to match that. Being upfront about your funding position and timeline when applying tends to lead to a smoother process. Sharing your most recent cap table summary or funding round details, where relevant, can also help the lender understand the business stage accurately.
Should I budget for vacuum pump servicing separately from the finance?
Yes, vacuum pump maintenance, condenser servicing and seal replacement are ongoing running costs that aren't usually included in the finance payment unless you specifically ask a lender to bundle in a service contract. Given these costs recur throughout the instrument's life, it's worth planning for them alongside the monthly finance payment. Setting aside a monthly reserve for servicing, separate from the finance instalment, is the simplest way to avoid an unplanned cash flow gap.
How quickly can freeze dryer finance be arranged?
Bench-scale purchases under £35,000 from an established lab are typically approved within 48 hours. Larger pilot or production-scale systems, or applications from newer, investment-funded businesses, usually take longer while the lender reviews funding evidence and the installation specification. Having your funding round details and installation quote ready at application stage helps avoid unnecessary delay to the underwriting decision. Getting the installation specification confirmed with the supplier before you apply is the single most useful thing you can do to keep things moving.

Related equipment finance

More laboratory finance

See how lenders treat laboratory assets

Guides and resources

Ready to finance your freeze dryer?

Compare rates from 200+ lenders. No credit check.

Check Eligibility →
Check Eligibility, 2 min, no credit check