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Self Employed Home Loans: Finance for Business Owners and Sole Traders

If you’re self-employed, you’ve probably found that getting a home loan isn’t as simple as it is for someone on a regular salary. Many business owners earn strong income and run healthy businesses, yet lenders focus on tax returns that don’t show the full picture.

Helping self-employed Australians get finance is one of our core specialties. Whether you’re a sole trader, freelancer, contractor, tradie, consultant or company director, we work with lenders that understand how self-employed income really works. Running a business doesn’t make you a higher-risk borrower. It just means choosing the right lender matters more.

Talk to Albert about your situation

Why self-employed borrowers struggle with banks

  • Tax returns tell part of the story. Smart tax planning can make your taxable income look lower than what the business actually earns.
  • Income moves around. Good and quiet years are normal in business, but some lenders only see risk.
  • Newer businesses get overlooked. Many lenders want two full years of financials, even if your business is clearly strong.
  • One-size-fits-all policy. The big banks often assess every borrower the same way. Specialist and non-bank lenders can be far more flexible.

Ways lenders can assess your income

  • One year financials loans: some lenders will consider just one year of tax returns for a strong business
  • BAS-only loans: using your Business Activity Statements to show turnover, consistency and growth when full tax returns aren’t ready
  • Low doc and alt doc loans: flexible documentation such as BAS, bank statements or an accountant’s declaration
  • Accountant declaration loans: some lenders accept a declaration from your accountant, which helps when financials aren’t finalised or income has grown quickly
  • Add-back income: adding back depreciation, one-off expenses and other non-cash items can lift your assessable income

Guides for your business structure

How we help

  1. We look at the whole picture. Your tax returns, BAS, bank statements and how the business is really trending.
  2. We match you to the right lender. Bank, non-bank or specialist, based on how they treat your type of income.
  3. We package it properly. A clear story for the lender, so your application is assessed fairly the first time.
  4. We work with your accountant. So the finance lines up with your tax planning.

Get credit ready before you apply

Self-employed or not, your rate comes down to four things lenders call the 4Cs of credit. Clean credit history, manageable debts and a solid deposit or equity all help. Read how to get the cheapest home loan and how lenders work out what you can borrow.

Frequently asked questions

How many years of tax returns do I need?

Two years is the standard, but some lenders will consider one year for a strong business, and others can use BAS or an accountant’s declaration instead.

Are low doc loans more expensive?

Often a little, because the lender takes on more risk. But the right structure can still be competitive, and many borrowers refinance to a standard loan once their tax returns catch up.

Can I use my company’s profits to borrow?

Some lenders will count company profits, not just the wage you pay yourself. It depends on the lender and your structure.

Do I need a big deposit if I’m self-employed?

Not always. Many self-employed borrowers buy with 10% to 20%, depending on how income is verified and the lender. Low doc loans often need a larger deposit.

Finance for your business

Running your own business often means more than a home loan. We can also help with:

Albert Waldron is a Credit Representative (407514) of Australian Finance Group Ltd, Australian Credit Licence 389087. This is general information only and does not take into account your personal circumstances. Please seek advice before acting. We are not tax advisers; please speak with your accountant about tax matters.