Self-employed home loans
Self-employed? We get it done.
Variable income, tax-minimised accounts, a bank that doesn't understand your business. We've seen it all, and we know which lenders say yes to people like you.
Written by Gareth King · Last updated May 2026
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Why self-employed is harder
Banks love payslips. You don't have one.
When you're on a salary, proving your income is simple: three payslips and a letter from your employer. Banks love that. It's predictable, it's verifiable, and the credit model handles it without a second thought.
Self-employed income is messier. It fluctuates. It's structured to minimise tax (as it should be). It comes through a company or trust, not straight into your personal account. And every bank assesses it differently.
That's where most self-employed borrowers run into trouble — not because they can't afford the loan, but because the application doesn't show the bank what they can actually afford. The right broker fixes that.
What banks want to see
The documents that matter.
- Two years of financials
- Profit and loss statements and a balance sheet for the last two trading years. If you've only got one year, some lenders will still consider you — especially if you were doing the same work as an employee before going out on your own.
- GST returns
- Your most recent GST returns show the bank that your business is active and earning consistently. They're cross-referenced against your financials — any big gaps raise questions, and we'll help you explain them before the credit team asks.
- Accountant's letter
- A letter from your accountant confirming your income and that the business is a going concern. Some banks have their own template. We'll send your accountant the right one.
- Tax summary (IR3 or IR4)
- Your personal or company tax return for the last two years. This is where add-backs come in — depreciation, vehicle expenses, and other deductions that reduce your taxable income but don't reduce your actual spending power.
- Six months of bank statements
- Both business and personal. The bank wants to see regular income flowing in and how you manage your day-to-day cash. Messy statements aren't a deal-breaker, but we'll explain anything unusual upfront.
How it works
Five steps. We handle the complicated bit.
01
Send us the basics
Your last two years of financials, recent GST returns, and a rough idea of what you want to borrow. We'll tell you where you stand before you fill out a single form.
02
We find the right lender
Not every bank treats self-employed income the same way. Some want two years of accounts. Some accept one year if the trajectory is right. We match you to the lender that fits how you earn.
03
We package the story
Bank credit teams want to see stable income. We present your financials in a way that shows the full picture — not just the bottom line of your tax return, which is usually understated on purpose.
04
Submission and approval
We submit to the lender that's most likely to say yes. If they come back with questions (they usually do with self-employed), we handle the back-and-forth.
05
Settlement
Same clean settlement process as any other loan. Your broker does the legwork. You sign where we tell you.
Why use a broker
We save you from the bank that was never going to say yes.
We know which banks like self-employed borrowers
Some banks want two years of full financials. Others will work with one good year and an accountant's letter. We know who's comfortable with contractors, sole traders, and company directors right now — not six months ago.
We present your income properly
Your taxable income doesn't show what you actually earn. We work with your accountant to present add-backs, retained earnings, and shareholder salary in a way the bank understands — because a good application tells a story the credit team can say yes to.
We don't waste your time on banks that will say no
One of the biggest frustrations for self-employed borrowers is getting strung along by a bank that was never going to approve them. We know the policies. We submit where it's going to work.
FAQs
The questions we get asked most.
Got a different question? Send it through — we reply within a business day.
Self-employed and ready to buy?
Send us your last two years of financials. We'll tell you what's possible.
No commitment. We'll tell you which lenders fit your situation and what you'll need to get approved.
