Why choose National for pharmacy financing
Here’s how National compares with other pharmacy financing companies:
| What to Consider | National | Other Lenders |
|---|---|---|
| Your pharmacy needs | Looks at the bigger picture and your growth plans | May focus mainly on current margins |
| Financing structure | Builds financing around what you need to accomplish in your pharmacy | May offer more limited financing options |
| Growth opportunities | Can help fund acquisitions and other growth opportunities | May be less focused on long-term growth |
| Future funding | Your advisor stays with you for future funding needs | May focus mainly on the current loan |
How it works
How National funds a pharmacy
Pharmacy financing company National starts with your immediate need for capital, then determines the financing structure that best fits it:
- 1
Tell an advisor what you need capital to accomplish:
Covering wholesaler invoices during a slow reimbursement quarter calls for a different structure than buying a second location or remodeling for clinical services.
- 2
Share your pharmacy’s financial picture:
Your advisor reviews how reimbursement flows through your pharmacy, weighing the full picture well beyond a credit score.
- 3
Compare structures side by side:
Your advisor models repayment against your reimbursement cycle so payments don’t come due before the money does.
- 4
Get funded:
Eligible accounts receive funding in hours, and most applications resolve within three business days.
Every pharmacy funding request ultimately comes down to timing. Cash leaves for inventory long before reimbursement arrives, creating pressure points that most often appear in these areas:
The greatest challenge independent pharmacies face? It’s PBMs reimbursing pharmacies for brand-name drugs at less than acquisition cost, according to Avalere Health. A Line of Credit lets you keep filling high-cost scripts without draining the operating account every cycle.
Since January 1, 2024, CMS has required Part D plans to reflect pharmacy DIR fees in the negotiated price at the point of sale, which lowered the check on every Part D claim. Cash Flow Financing replaces the working capital those smaller checks removed while you adjust your payer strategy.
Drug Channels reports that many pharmacies receive reimbursements below their cost of goods on GLP-1 prescriptions purchased through a wholesaler. Financing carries that inventory burden so one drug class cannot dictate your entire cash position.
Independent pharmacies closed at a rate of more than one per day, according to NCPA’s 2024 Digest. Owners with ready capital can purchase script files or entire stores at favorable prices, and a Term Loan or Private Credit funds the purchase before another buyer steps in.
Banks often see compressed prescription margins as a risk. National evaluates revenue and cash flow performance, keeping funding available to pharmacies that traditional underwriting screens out.
Choosing the right funding structure for your pharmacy
Each funding structure solves a different timing problem, and the right choice depends on, as our analysis in the table below shows:
| Funding Structure | Pharmacy Use | Why It Fits |
|---|---|---|
| Line of Credit | Weekly wholesaler payments during reimbursement lag | You draw only what the gap requires and repay as claims settle |
| Cash Flow Financing | Working capital after the 2024 DIR change | National secures it against cash flow performance |
| Term Loan | Store acquisition | Fixed structure for a one-time investment with a long payoff |
| Term Loan | Renovation or clinical services buildout | Spreads a large project cost across the years it generates revenue |
| Private Credit | Multi-location expansion above bank caps | Funding reaches up to $15M through National’s direct lending |
Pharmacy financing best practices
These best practices can help you choose the right financing and avoid costly cash-flow gaps:
Arrange flexible capital before the crunch arrives
The 2024 DIR transition hit hardest in the first months of the year, when pharmacies paid trailing fees on 2023 claims while new claims settled at lower point-of-sale prices. Owners who secure a Line of Credit while financials look strong typically borrow on better terms than owners who apply mid-squeeze.
Match the repayment length to what the capital buys
Inventory that turns in 30 days should never carry a 5-year loan, and a store acquisition should never lean on short-term credit. Your advisor aligns the financing term with the life of the investment.
Structure today’s funding so it can improve later
National has helped businesses that couldn’t secure government loans access capital they can refinance once their financials strengthen. A pharmacy can fund growth now and move into a lower-cost structure as performance improves.
As a direct lender, National offers the speed and control of balance-sheet lending while also working closely with capital providers when a situation calls for a more tailored solution. Most products require no collateral, so you don’t have to pledge your script files or building to qualify. With $3B+ funded to date, National’s advisors have structured capital for healthcare businesses facing the same reimbursement pressures your pharmacy deals with every week.
Contact an Advisor TodayFrequently asked questions
Eligible accounts receive funding in hours, and most applications resolve within three business days.
Most products require no collateral. National secures funding against cash flow performance, which reflects how a pharmacy earns.
Yes. Financing reaches up to $15M through National’s Direct Lending, which covers single-store purchases that exceed SBA caps.
National evaluates the full business picture. A bank decline does not end the process; an advisor looks at and whether a structure fits your cash flow.
Most lenders see a pharmacy’s shrinking gross margin and stop there. National’s advisors see a $103 billion industry, according to the 2025 NCPA Digest, where pharmacy owners with the right capital can acquire stores that close around them. Your advisor looks at the pharmacy over the next six months to five years, then recommends the financing structure that supports it, even if a smaller or simpler transaction makes more sense. Because National builds long-term capital relationships with the companies it supports, that advisor stays with you for the next round of funding.
Ready to finance your pharmacy?