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Equipment utilisation: when a laser pays for itself.

Expensive equipment is bought for its potential. Whether it earns money depends on how many days it is actually used – and that is a question of planning, not of the device.

As of November 20265 min readBy Sebastian Grossmann and Dávid Szandtner

AT A GLANCE

  • A device has fixed annual costs: depreciation, servicing and financing – whether it is used or not.
  • Break-even = fixed annual costs ÷ gross profit per treatment.
  • The cost per use falls sharply with every additional day the device is used.
  • Plan fixed device days and check demand before you buy.

What a device really costs

The purchase price is only the start. Spread over its life, a device has fixed annual costs: depreciation, servicing and maintenance contracts, software licences and financing. These costs are the same whether the device is used two days a week or five.

Sample calculation: a €90,000 laser

ASSUMPTIONSLaser, 5-year life

SAMPLE CALCULATION

Depreciation: €90,000 ÷ 5 years€18,000 a year
Servicing and maintenance€6,000 a year
Financing costs€3,000 a year
Fixed costs per year€27,000
Gross profit per treatment (price minus consumables)€150
Break-even180 treatments a year

With 44 working weeks, that is just over 4 treatments a week. Sample calculation with assumed values, not client data.

All figures in euros. The logic works in any currency.

The break-even looks easy to reach. But the real question is how much of the device’s capacity you use. With six treatments per laser day:

Laser days per weekTreatments a yearFixed cost per use
1264€102
2528€51
41,056€26

Every additional laser day lowers the cost per use – and the gross profit from each extra treatment goes almost entirely to profit. Idle days, on the other hand, cost the same as busy ones.

Before you buy

  • Check demand: how many enquiries for this treatment do you get today, and how many do you turn away?
  • Calculate with cautious numbers: treatments per week in year one, not in year three.
  • Include all time: doctor time, staff time and room time – see full-cost pricing.
  • Compare options: buying, leasing, renting by the day or sharing with another practice.

After you buy

  1. Fixed device days instead of scattered appointments – easier to fill and to staff.
  2. Track utilisation monthly: used ÷ available device days, in your practice cockpit.
  3. Fill gaps actively: waiting lists and reminders for this treatment – see fewer no-shows.

This page explains the business and financial context. It is not a substitute for tax, legal or medical-regulatory advice in your country.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

In brief.

How do I calculate the break-even of a medical device?

Add up the fixed annual costs – depreciation, servicing, financing – and divide them by the gross profit per treatment. The result is the number of treatments a year needed to cover the device.

Is buying better than leasing?

It depends on financing costs, expected utilisation and how quickly the technology changes. Compare the total cost per year for each option at realistic utilisation.

What utilisation should I aim for?

Well above break-even, with a buffer for slower months. More important than a single number is the trend: if utilisation falls, act early.

How does Mevia help?

We calculate the business case before an investment and set up utilisation tracking and device-day planning afterwards.

Does your equipment earn its keep?

In the free initial consultation we look at your devices, their utilisation and your next investment.

Free initial consultation

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