Self-Employed Home Loans
Your income is real, even when your tax return plays it down. We match self-employed borrowers with lenders who understand business income.
Sole traders, contractors, company directors and trust operators all hit the same wall: home loan applications built around payslips. Self-employed home loans work differently, and the difference is where a broker earns their keep. Mason Finance Group is a boutique, independent finance brokerage in Maroochydore with access to a panel of 60+ banks and lenders, and because we're not owned by a bank, our job is finding the lender whose policy actually fits your business, not fitting your business to one bank's script.
- Access to a panel of 60+ banks and lenders, including lenders with flexible self-employed policies
- Independent and non-bank-affiliated: we work for you, not the banks
- Full-doc, low-doc and alt-doc pathways explained in plain English
- Local Sunshine Coast brokers, working with clients Australia-wide
- How we're paid is disclosed upfront, before you commit to anything
How Lenders Assess Self-Employed Income
Most lenders start with two years of personal and business tax returns, your ATO Notices of Assessment, and business financial statements, with the last 12 months of BAS added where the business is GST-registered. From there, many average your income across the two years, and some simply use the lower year. If last year was your best year, that maths matters.
Here's the part that surprises business owners: it's your taxable income the lender assesses, so every deduction that trimmed your tax bill also trimmed your borrowing power. Some of it can be recovered through add-backs, where lenders add items like depreciation and genuine one-off expenses back to your assessable income. Knowing which lenders allow which add-backs is exactly the kind of policy detail we deal in daily.
Full-Doc, Low-Doc and Alt-Doc Options
Full-Doc Home Loans
The standard pathway if you have two years of lodged financials. You're assessed much like any other borrower, with access to the widest range of lenders and generally the most competitive pricing available for your circumstances.
Low-Doc and Alt-Doc Home Loans
If your tax returns aren't up to date or don't reflect your current trading, selected lenders verify income through alternatives: six to twelve months of BAS, business bank statements, and an accountant's declaration. The trade-offs are honest ones: maximum LVRs are usually lower, so a larger deposit or more equity helps, and rates can sit above standard loans. Many clients use a low-doc loan as a bridge, then refinance to a full-doc loan once two clean financial years are on the books.
One Year of Financials
Some lenders will assess an application on one year of financials where the overall position is strong, particularly if you moved from PAYG work into the same industry. Policies here vary widely, which is precisely why shopping the panel matters.
Why The Right Lender Beats The 'Best' Lender
People ask us for the best lender for self-employed borrowers, and the honest answer is that no single lender holds that title. Some major banks have tightened self-employed assessment and may ask for two to three years of financials; at least one doesn't offer low-doc loans at all; specialist lenders offer flexibility at a price. The lender that approved your mate's loan might decline yours, purely on policy.
The win isn't finding a magic lender; it's matching your paperwork, structure and goals to the lender whose policy already suits them. That's the legwork we do across our panel. And sometimes the right advice is to wait: if you're one lodged tax return away from far stronger options, we'll tell you that, because our relationship doesn't end at settlement and we'd rather you get the loan right the first time.
How We Work With You
- 1. Understand Your Goals
We look at your business, your structure and what you're trying to buy, in plain English and without judgment. - 2. Present Real Options
We shop the market across our lender panel and show you the options that fit, including the trade-offs of each. - 3. Handle The Details
We package your financials the way lenders want to see them, manage the application and keep you informed through to settlement. - 4. Ongoing Support
As your business grows or fixed rates roll off, we review the loan so it keeps earning its place.
Sunshine Coast Local, Australia-Wide
We're based in Maroochydore and work with self-employed borrowers across the Sunshine Coast, from Caloundra and Kawana to Mooloolaba, Buderim, Coolum and Noosa, as well as clients interstate. Distance is never a barrier; plenty of our clients we've never met outside a video call.
Helpful Calculators
Knowledge empowers better financial decisions. Use these tools to understand your borrowing capacity and potential repayments:
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I need to be self-employed to get a home loan?
Two full financial years of trading is the most common benchmark for a full-doc loan, because it lets lenders average your income across two lodged returns. That said, some lenders will consider one year of financials, and alt-doc pathways exist for shorter histories. The answer genuinely depends on which lender's policy your situation fits, which is what we check across the panel.
What documents will I need?
For a full-doc application, expect to provide two years of personal and business tax returns, ATO Notices of Assessment, business financial statements, and the last 12 months of BAS if you're GST-registered, along with the usual identification and bank statements. For low-doc options, the set changes to BAS, business bank statements and an accountant's declaration. We'll give you a precise checklist for your structure before anything is lodged.
Do low-doc home loans cost more?
Often, though not always dramatically. Low-doc loans typically cap the LVR lower, so you'll need a larger deposit or more equity, and rates can sit above standard loans because the lender carries more uncertainty. Many borrowers treat low-doc as a bridge and refinance to a full-doc loan once two solid financial years are lodged, and we plan for that from day one.
Will my deductions hurt my application?
They can. Lenders assess your taxable income, so aggressive deductions that minimise tax also minimise what a lender believes you earn. Some items, such as depreciation and genuine one-off expenses, can be added back by some lenders. If a purchase is on the horizon, it's worth a conversation with your broker and accountant together before this year's return is lodged.
Can you help if a bank has already declined me?
Frequently, yes, because a decline usually reflects one lender's policy rather than your prospects everywhere. A different lender on the panel may assess your income, industry or history quite differently. We'll be honest with you either way: sometimes the answer is a different lender now, and sometimes it's a short plan to strengthen the application first.
Get in touch today
Talk to Mason Finance Group's independent brokers in Maroochydore about your self-employed home loan. We'll explain your options in plain English, and if the timing isn't right yet, we'll tell you that too.