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Science Lab Fit Out Finance

Spread the cost of a school science lab fit out from £15,000 to £150,000+ with flexible finance options. HP, lease, or refinance, compare rates from 40+ lenders.

Can you finance a science lab fit out?

Yes, science lab fit outs 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 £15,000 to £150,000, and most deals are written over 12–60 months with a deposit of around 10–20%. Decisions typically take 24–72 hours. Used machines are financeable too, usually with a shorter term.

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Typical Cost

£15k – £150k

Approval Speed

24–72 hours

Longer where governance approval is needed

Rates From

5.9% APR

What would a science lab fit out cost per month?

£45,000
10%
60 months
9%
£0

Your estimate

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

Pre-filled with a typical science lab fit out price. Indicative only, not a quote.

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Finance options

Hire Purchase (HP)

Rate
From 6.4% APR
Term
12–60 months
Deposit
10–20%
Ownership
Yours at the end
Best for
Independent schools and training providers wanting to own the equipment outright

Finance Lease

Rate
From 5.9% APR
Term
12–60 months
Deposit
None required
Ownership
Return or buy (balloon payment)
Best for
Tax efficient for fee-paying schools; claim 100% of payments against profit

Operating Lease

Rate
From 6.7% APR
Term
24–48 months
Deposit
None required
Ownership
Return at end
Best for
Refresh equipment on a set cycle. Off balance sheet.

Representative example

On a purchase price of £45,000: a 10% deposit of £4,500, then 48 monthly payments of £949 at 5.9% APR representative (fixed). Total amount payable £50,052, 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
Lab Bench and Stool Package (spec class, e.g. Trespa-topped units) £15,000 – £40,000 Single Lab Bench Package
Mobile Storage and Prep Room Fit Out (spec class, e.g. Gratnells trays) £10,000 – £30,000 Prep Room Storage
Full Science Lab Refit (fixed benches, services, fume cupboard) £60,000 – £150,000 Full Lab Refit

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Tax benefits

Fixed and mobile science lab furniture such as benching, stools and mobile storage units are moveable equipment for a company operating a fee-paying school or training provider, and generally qualifies for Annual Investment Allowance, letting the cost be deducted from taxable profits in the year of purchase; gas, water and electrical services built into a fixed lab installation are usually treated as part of the building instead. A maintained school or academy trust does not pay corporation tax and so cannot use capital allowances in this way, since there is no taxable profit to set the cost against; for these bodies the finance decision is about managing budget and cash flow rather than tax relief, and should be worked through with the trust's finance team.

Market context

Science lab fit outs are commissioned by secondary schools, academy trusts, colleges, universities and independent schools, and by specialist science and STEM training providers, with the scope ranging from replacing furniture in a single lab to a full multi-lab refit including fixed services. The buyer for this kind of project is very often a school or academy trust rather than a standalone trading company, which changes how the purchase is approached: a private limited company can enter a finance agreement in a fairly standard way, while a maintained school or academy trust operates under its own governance and funding rules that determine whether and how it can enter this kind of agreement, and this should be checked before committing rather than assumed. Replacement is generally driven by a curriculum change, a wider building refurbishment, or furniture reaching the end of its practical working life under continuous school use.

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.

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Frequently asked questions

Can a school or academy trust get finance for this?
It depends what kind of body you are. An independent fee-paying school, nursery or training provider operating as a company can generally apply for science lab furniture finance in the same way as any other business, subject to the usual credit checks. A maintained school, academy trust, college or university is different: these bodies operate under their own borrowing and finance approval rules, which have changed over recent years and can restrict or require approval for entering a finance lease or similar agreement. Before committing to any finance agreement, check your current funding body guidance and your own scheme of delegation or governance procedures rather than assuming the process works the same way as it would for a private limited company.
Can I finance just the furniture and storage, not the building work?
Yes, and this is usually how a science lab fit out is structured. The lab benches, stools, mobile storage units and Gratnells-style trays are financed as equipment, while any fixed gas, water or electrical services and building alterations are generally treated as a separate construction cost, since they become part of the building once installed. Your supplier or contractor should be able to split the quote into an equipment element and a works element to make this clear.
Can an independent (fee-paying) school finance a lab refit like a business?
Yes, an independent school operating as a company or a charitable trust can generally apply for equipment finance in a similar way to any other business, subject to the usual credit assessment. If the school operates as a registered charity, it is worth checking with the trustees whether entering a finance agreement needs separate sign-off under the charity's own governance rules, in addition to any lender requirements.
How quickly can a science lab fit out be financed?
For a single lab's worth of furniture, most applications are reviewed within a few days once the lender has the full supplier quote. A full multi-lab refit involving a larger sum and, for state-funded bodies, internal governance approval, typically takes longer, since the finance timeline needs to run alongside the school or trust's own internal sign-off process rather than the lender's decision alone.
Can used or refurbished lab furniture be financed?
Yes, most lenders will finance used lab furniture from an established educational furniture supplier, and this is a realistic option for a school working to a tighter capital budget. Condition and remaining working life matter more than age with furniture like this, so it is worth asking the supplier for details of wear and any refurbishment carried out before you apply.

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