Which loan fits what you need the money for?
A professional loan is a personal loan priced and sized for people in practice. It suits one-off needs such as equipment, a clinic or office fit-out, or a family expense. For running costs that go up and down every month, a working capital limit usually fits better; for very large amounts, a loan against property.
| Your need | Usually the best fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Medical equipment, a new clinic, chamber or office fit-out, up to tens of lakhs | Professional loan (unsecured) | No property papers, quicker, fixed EMI over 1 to 8 years |
| A larger amount, or the lowest possible rate, and you own a house, flat or shop | Loan against property | Lower published rates and up to 15 years, but the property is mortgaged |
| Day-to-day running costs: staff salaries, stock, receivables, GST payments | Working capital or overdraft limit | You pay interest only on what you use |
| A family need such as a wedding, education or treatment | Professional loan or personal loan | Same product family; lenders look at your practice income |
| Several EMIs and card dues are squeezing your cash flow | Debt consolidation loan | One EMI at one rate instead of many |
| You already have a home loan running | Home loan top-up | Secured on the same home, often at a home loan rate |
What do lenders offer self-employed professionals?
Each lender's own published terms, checked on 10 November 2026. Rates are ranges; your offer depends on your income, credit score, years in practice and amount. None of these loans needs collateral.
| Lender and product | Published rate | Amount and tenure | Processing fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| HDFC Bank, Loan for Professionals (doctors, CAs, CSs, architects, physiotherapists) | From 10.75%; rack rate 11.01% to 14.00% p.a. | Up to ₹75 lakh in select locations; 12 to 60 months | Up to 2% of the loan |
| Bajaj Finserv, Professional Loan (doctors and CAs) | 11% to 17.50% p.a. | Up to ₹80 lakh; up to 96 months | On its fees and charges page |
| Aditya Birla Capital, Professional Loan for Doctors | Not stated as a range on the page | ₹2 lakh to ₹75 lakh; 12 to 84 months | Not stated on the page |
| SMFG India Credit, Personal Loan for Doctors | 11.99% to 36% p.a. | Up to ₹30 lakh; 12 to 60 months | Up to 3% of the loan |
| ICICI Bank, Personal Loan for Self-Employed | Not published as a range; set by credit profile, income and business vintage | Up to ₹50 lakh; 12 to 72 months | On ICICI Bank's charges page |
| Bank of Maharashtra, Personal Loan for Professionals (for its account holders) | On its retail rates page | Up to ₹20 lakh; 60 months | 1% plus GST (minimum ₹1,000), plus 0.20% documentation charge |
GST at 18% is added to processing fees. Insurance and other add-ons, where a lender includes them in the loan amount, raise the real cost: ask for the Key Facts Statement, which shows the annual percentage rate (APR) with all charges.
How much can a doctor or CA borrow without security?
Lenders size the loan on the income in your income tax returns, not on your gross receipts, and then check that the new EMI fits alongside your existing EMIs. A practice that shows low taxable income will get a smaller offer.
Bank of Maharashtra publishes its formula, which shows how this works: the loan can be up to 60% of your gross average annual income of the last two years, capped at ₹20 lakh, and it asks for a minimum annual income of ₹3 lakh and two years of returns.
- Example: your returns show gross income of ₹12 lakh last year and ₹14 lakh this year. The average is ₹13 lakh, so 60% allows up to ₹7.8 lakh at that bank.
- Other lenders use their own multiples and look at bank statements, years in practice and credit score, so the same profile can get a larger offer elsewhere. HDFC Bank, for example, asks for a profitable practice for the last 2 years and 3 years of returns.
- Existing EMIs come off what you can borrow. Test how much new EMI your monthly income supports on the eligibility calculator.
Worked example: ₹20 lakh to set up a clinic
A doctor in practice for six years needs ₹20 lakh for equipment and a clinic fit-out, and also owns the flat she lives in. She compares an unsecured professional loan with a loan against her flat.
Illustration only. 12% is a round figure inside HDFC Bank's published rack rate of 11.01% to 14.00% for its loan for professionals; 10.50% is inside Bajaj Housing Finance's published 9.55% to 12% loan against property range for self-employed borrowers (checked 8 November 2026).
| ₹20 lakh borrowed as | Monthly EMI | Total interest |
|---|---|---|
| A. Professional loan at 12%, 5 years | ₹44,489 | ₹6,69,334 |
| B. Professional loan at 14% (top of the range), 5 years | ₹46,537 | ₹7,92,190 |
| C. Loan against property at 10.50%, 5 years | ₹42,988 | ₹5,79,268 |
| D. Loan against property at 10.50%, 10 years | ₹26,987 | ₹12,38,440 |
- Same 5 years: the loan against property (C) saves about ₹90,000 of interest against the professional loan at 12% (A), and about ₹2.13 lakh against 14% (B).
- Longer tenure: option D cuts the EMI to about ₹26,987 but the interest almost doubles to about ₹12.4 lakh. Choose the shortest tenure your practice income can carry.
- Fees: HDFC Bank's maximum processing fee of 2% on ₹20 lakh is ₹40,000 plus 18% GST, ₹47,200. A loan against property adds valuation and legal charges on top of its processing fee.
- Speed and risk: the professional loan needs no property papers. The loan against property puts the flat at risk if EMIs are missed.
EMIs use the standard reducing-balance formula; try other rates and tenures on the EMI calculator. Your offer may be higher or lower, and the lender decides.
Who is eligible, and which documents are needed?
Practising professionals with a recognised qualification, a few years of practice and tax returns that show steady income. Requirements differ by lender, so a profile that misses one lender's rule can still fit another.
| Lender | Published eligibility (checked 10 November 2026) |
|---|---|
| HDFC Bank | Age 25 to 65; doctors and CAs 4 years after qualification, company secretaries, architects and physiotherapists 5 years; practice profitable for the last 2 years; minimum annual income ₹1 lakh |
| Bajaj Finserv | Doctors and CAs with at least 1 year of practice after qualification; age 21 to 80 at the end of the loan; Indian citizen; CIBIL score 650 or higher |
| Aditya Birla Capital (doctors) | MBBS, MD, MDS, BDS, Ayurveda and Homeopathy practitioners; age 25 to 72; practice counted from the year of registration; a CIBIL score of 700 is preferred |
| SMFG India Credit (doctors) | Age 21 to 60; salaried or independent practice; minimum profit after tax for self-employed doctors (figure not published) |
| Bank of Maharashtra | CAs, doctors (MBBS, MD, MS, MDS), architects and company secretaries in practice who bank with it; minimum annual income ₹3 lakh; 2 years of returns |
Documents most lenders ask for:
- PAN and KYC (Aadhaar, passport, driving licence or voter ID).
- Proof of qualification or registration: medical registration certificate, CA certificate of practice, or equivalent.
- Income tax returns for the last 2 to 3 years with the computation of income; HDFC Bank also asks for balance sheets for 2 years audited by a CA.
- Bank statements for the last 6 months (current and savings accounts).
- Proof of office or clinic address, and for some lenders proof that you own the residence or office.
Professional loan, loan against property or working capital limit?
| Professional loan | Loan against property | Working capital / OD limit | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Security | None | Your house, flat or shop is mortgaged | Depends on the lender; may need security or a CGTMSE guarantee |
| Published rates (examples on this page) | 11% to 17.50% p.a.; up to 36% at some NBFCs | 9.55% to 12% p.a. for self-employed (Bajaj Housing Finance) | Interest only on the amount used |
| Tenure | 1 to 8 years | Up to 15 years | Usually renewed every year |
| Speed | Fastest: income and KYC checks only | Slower: valuation and legal checks | Needs business financials |
| Best for | One-time spend up to tens of lakhs | Large amounts at the lowest rate | Monthly running costs |
See loan against property for lender LTV limits and fees, or AdvanceCred Business Funding for working capital and CC/OD limits.
What to check before you sign
- The APR, not just the rate. The Key Facts Statement must show the annual percentage rate including the processing fee and other charges. Compare offers on APR.
- Insurance and add-ons. Some lenders include insurance premiums and other fees in the loan amount. Ask what is optional.
- Foreclosure terms. Ask what it costs to prepay. RBI's 2025 directions bar pre-payment charges on floating-rate loans to individuals for non-business purposes; a loan for your practice may be treated differently, so get the terms in writing.
- A secured loan is still a loan. With a loan against property your home or shop is the security: missed EMIs can lead to action under the SARFAESI Act, 2002, a 60-day demand notice and then possession and sale of the property.
How AdvanceCred helps
An advisor looks at your returns, your bank statements, your existing EMIs and whether you own property, then compares professional loans from partner banks and NBFCs with a loan against property or a working capital limit where those cost less. You see the EMI, total interest and fees of each option before you decide. AdvanceCred is not a lender; the lender decides approval, amount, rate and tenure.
Check what you can get for your practice
Share a few details. An advisor will call you to go through your income and options. Free, and no obligation to apply.
Frequently asked questions
What is the interest rate on a professional loan for doctors and CAs?
Published ranges checked on 10 November 2026: HDFC Bank's loan for professionals has a rack rate of 11.01% to 14.00% a year; Bajaj Finserv quotes 11% to 17.50% for doctors and CAs; SMFG India Credit quotes 11.99% to 36% for its doctor loan. Your rate depends on your income, credit score, years in practice and the loan amount, and the lender decides.
How much loan can a self-employed doctor or CA get without security?
Lenders publish upper limits of about ₹20 lakh to ₹80 lakh: Bank of Maharashtra up to ₹20 lakh, HDFC Bank up to ₹75 lakh in select locations, Aditya Birla Capital ₹2 lakh to ₹75 lakh for doctors and Bajaj Finserv up to ₹80 lakh for doctors and CAs. Your actual amount is set by the income shown in your tax returns and your existing EMIs.
How many years of practice do I need for a professional loan?
It varies by lender. HDFC Bank asks for 4 years after qualification for doctors and CAs and 5 years for company secretaries, architects and physiotherapists. Bajaj Finserv asks for at least 1 year of practice after qualification. Aditya Birla Capital counts practice from the year of registration.
Which documents do lenders ask self-employed professionals for?
KYC and PAN, proof of your qualification or registration (for example a medical registration certificate or a CA certificate of practice), income tax returns for the last 2 to 3 years with the computation of income, 6 months' bank statements, and for some lenders balance sheets audited by a CA and proof of office or clinic address.
Is a loan against property cheaper than a professional loan?
Usually per year, but your property is mortgaged. Bajaj Housing Finance published 9.55% to 12% for self-employed borrowers on 8 November 2026, against 11.01% to 14.00% for HDFC Bank's unsecured loan for professionals. On ₹20 lakh over 5 years, 10.50% instead of 12% saves about ₹90,000 of interest, but valuation and legal checks take longer and missed EMIs put the property at risk.
Is AdvanceCred a lender?
No. AdvanceCred is a Mumbai-based credit advisory and loan intermediation firm. It compares options from partner banks and NBFCs and helps process the application. The lender alone decides approval, amount, rate and tenure.
Sources
Checked on 10 November 2026 unless stated. EMI figures are AdvanceCred's own arithmetic using the standard reducing-balance EMI formula.
- HDFC Bank, Loan for Professionals (from 10.75%; rack rate 11.01% to 14.00%; up to ₹75 lakh in select locations; 12 to 60 months; processing fee up to 2%; no collateral; age 25 to 65; doctors and CAs 4 years after qualification, CSs, architects and physiotherapists 5 years; profitable for 2 years; minimum ₹1 lakh annual income; 3 years' returns with computation, 6 months' bank statements, 2 years' CA-audited balance sheets).
- Bajaj Finserv, Professional Loan (doctors and CAs 11% to 17.50% p.a., up to ₹80 lakh; lawyers 11% to 17%, up to ₹30 lakh; up to 96 months; 1 year of practice after qualification; age 21 to 80 at loan end; CIBIL 650 or higher; practice certificate documents).
- Aditya Birla Capital, Professional Loan for Doctors (₹2 lakh to ₹75 lakh; 12 to 84 months; MBBS, MD, MDS, BDS, Ayurveda, Homeopathy; age 25 to 72; vintage from year of registration; CIBIL 700 preferred; unsecured; 6 months' bank statements).
- SMFG India Credit, Personal Loan for Doctors (11.99% to 36%; up to ₹30 lakh; 12 to 60 months; processing fee up to 3%; age 21 to 60; collateral-free).
- ICICI Bank, Personal Loan for Self-Employed (up to ₹50 lakh; 12 to 72 months; rate set by credit profile, income, business vintage and repayment capacity; ITR for 2 years, 6 months' bank statements, office address and business continuity proof; unsecured).
- Bank of Maharashtra, Personal Loan Scheme for Professionals (CAs, doctors, architects, CSs with an account at the bank; up to ₹20 lakh; 60 months; 60% of gross average annual income of the last two years; minimum annual income ₹3 lakh; 2 years' ITR; processing fee 1% plus GST, minimum ₹1,000; documentation charge 0.20% plus GST; clean loan, no guarantor).
- Bajaj Housing Finance, Loan Against Property fees and interest rates (self-employed 9.55% to 12.00% p.a., floating), checked 8 November 2026.
- Reserve Bank of India, Pre-payment Charges on Loans Directions, 2025 (no pre-payment charges on floating-rate loans to individuals for non-business purposes), checked 26 October 2026.
- Government of India, SARFAESI Act, 2002, section 13 (60-day demand notice, then possession and sale of the secured asset), checked 26 October 2026.
This page is general information, not financial or legal advice or an offer of credit. Lenders' rates and eligibility rules change; check the lender's current Key Facts Statement before applying.