Sole Traders and ABN Holders
Working for yourself, freelancing or contracting? Start with how your income is earned, recorded and paid.
Home Loans for Self-Employed Borrowers Melbourne
Your Business Has Its Own Story.
Let’s Make Your Income Clear.
Running your own business should not leave you guessing about home finance. Explore options for sole traders, company directors and business owners, with clear guidance on the records lenders need.
- Compare options from our 30+ lender panel
- Understand full-doc and alt-doc pathways
- Support across Melbourne and Australia
Your business.
Your next home.
Your next home.
70+ Google ReviewsHear from LeMerit clients ↗
30+ Lender PanelA wide range of lending options
Personal Broker SupportTalk directly with Lester Li
Based in BayswaterWorking with clients nationwide
Self-Employed Income.
Clear Home Loan Options.
Tell us how you work and what you want to buy. We help identify the questions to answer before an application.
If you already have a home loan, a refinancing review can help you compare your current rate, features and switching costs.
Company Directors
Discuss your salary, ownership and business records so your personal and company finances can be explained clearly.
Partnerships and Trusts
If income comes through a partnership or trust, we help clarify the structure and supporting records the lender may request.
Start with your financial picture
How Do Lenders Assess
Self-Employed Income?
Turnover is not the same as income available to repay a home loan. Lenders look at business performance and commitments, alongside your personal expenses and debts.
Different lenders can assess the same records differently. We help explain your income sources and check the relevant policy before you choose where to apply.
Discuss My Income and Loan Options →What We Look at with You
- How long the business has traded and how it is structured
- Tax records and the financial statements available
- Income patterns, including seasonal or changing earnings
- Personal expenses, business debts and other commitments
- Your deposit or equity and the property you have in mind
A practical starting checklist
What Documents Do You Need
for a Self-Employed Home Loan?
You do not need to gather everything before our first chat. We will confirm a checklist for your circumstances and the lender.
Personal and Business Income
- Personal tax returns and ATO notices of assessment
- Business tax returns, where relevant
- Profit and loss statements and balance sheets
- Evidence of other income relied on for the loan
Trading and Financial Position
- ABN and, where applicable, GST registration details
- Business and personal bank statements
- BAS or accountant-supported information if required
- Identification, deposit evidence and existing debt details
Document periods and acceptable evidence vary. A lender may request further information after reviewing your application. Please use an agreed secure process to share financial records.
Different ways to evidence income
Full-Doc, One-Year Financials
or Alt-Doc?
The right starting point depends on your records. A shorter document checklist does not remove the lender’s assessment.
Full Documentation
Established records can support a standard home loan application. Lenders commonly use tax returns, notices of assessment or business financial statements to verify income.
Start with your available financial records.One-Year Financials
Some lenders assess eligible borrowers using one financial year. Conditions still apply, including how long the business has traded and the loan-to-value ratio.
One year of records is not a universal rule.Alternative Documentation
Often called alt-doc or low-doc, this pathway may use BAS, business statements or an accountant’s declaration. Rates, fees and borrowing limits can differ.
Income and affordability must still be verified.
Lester Li · Mortgage Broker
Good Finance Starts
with Understanding You.
With over a decade of experience in mortgage broking and a solid academic foundation in Applied Finance, Accounting, and Risk Management, I am dedicated to helping individuals, families, and business owners achieve their financial goals through smart lending solutions.
My expertise lies in structuring complex loan scenarios, including self-employed lending, investment finance, debt consolidation, construction lending, and strategic borrowing solutions. I work closely with my clients to understand their unique circumstances and develop tailored finance strategies that deliver real results.
I believe that exceptional customer service starts with listening. By taking the time to understand your needs and providing honest, transparent advice, I aim to make every finance journey simple, stress-free, and rewarding.
At LeMerit Finance, you can expect professional guidance, clear communication, and a trusted partner who is committed to supporting you every step of the way.
Get to Know Lester →People First.
Every Step of the Way.
Review Us on Google ↗From Business Records to Your Next Home.
01
Talk Through Your Plans
Tell us about your business, income sources and the home purchase or refinance you are considering.
02
Clarify the Records
We help identify the documents needed and any questions to resolve with your accountant.
03
Compare and Apply
Discuss suitable options, rates, features and costs before choosing whether to submit an application.
04
Support the Next Step
We help with lender queries and, following approval, the steps through to settlement.
Preparation makes the discussion clearer
Recently Started a Business,
or Changed How You Work?
Tell us when you started trading, what you did before and which records you have now. A move from employment to contracting, or from a sole trader to a company, deserves a closer look.
Do not assume one lender’s response applies everywhere. We can review the requirements of lenders on our panel and explain whether more trading history or updated records are needed.
Talk Through My Business History →Before You Apply
- Bring a clear outline of your business and income sources
- Check which tax and financial records are up to date
- List personal and business loans, cards and leases
- Set aside time to discuss your household budget
- Keep tax and accounting decisions with your accountant
Put a repayment figure beside your plans
Estimate Repayments.
Then Check Borrowing Capacity.
Use the Home Loan Calculator to explore loan amounts, interest rates and terms, including offset balances and extra repayments. It is a starting point for your budget, rather than a lending assessment.
Free Home Loan Calculator →Need to Know What You Could Borrow?
A self-employed borrowing capacity review needs your financial details and the lender’s income rules. Tell us about your records so we can explain the next step.
Discuss My Borrowing Capacity →Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. Australia-wide support.
A Local Mortgage Broker
for Self-Employed Borrowers.
Based at 1 Valma St, Bayswater, LeMerit Finance supports business owners across Melbourne, including Ringwood, Rowville, Boronia, Lilydale, Burwood, Vermont, Glen Waverley, Wantirna, Wantirna South and Croydon. We also work with clients across Australia.
Book a Chat About Your Home Loan →Self-employed home loan FAQs
Your Questions,
Answered Simply.
Wondering how your records fit? Call Lester →
Can I get a home loan if I am self-employed?
Yes, self-employed borrowers can apply for home loans. The lender needs to verify your income and assess whether repayments are affordable. Your business structure, trading history and available financial records help determine which assessment options may suit.
How long do I need to be self-employed before applying?
Requirements differ. Many lenders look for an established trading history, while some consider shorter histories subject to additional conditions. Tell us when the business started and about any earlier experience in the same field. We can check relevant lender policies before you apply.
Can I get a home loan with one year of tax returns?
Some lenders offer a one-year financials assessment for eligible applicants. One year of financial records does not necessarily mean only one year in business is enough. Trading history, deposit, loan purpose and the rest of your financial position still matter.
What is a low-doc or alt-doc home loan?
These terms describe loans that accept alternative evidence of self-employed income. Depending on the lender, this may include BAS, business bank statements or an accountant’s declaration. They still require income verification and an assessment of repayment capacity. Compare rates, fees and deposit requirements.
Can I apply without up-to-date tax returns?
There may be an alternative documentation option, depending on your circumstances and the lender. BAS, business statements and accountant-supported records can be relevant. This does not remove your tax obligations or mean that a declaration alone is enough for every lender.
How much deposit does a self-employed borrower need?
There is no single deposit percentage for all self-employed applicants. The amount depends on the lender, documentation pathway, property and your circumstances. Budget for purchase costs as well. Ask whether lenders mortgage insurance would apply to the loan you are considering.
Will I pay a higher interest rate because I am self-employed?
Being self-employed does not automatically mean a higher rate. Some borrowers qualify for standard home loans. Alternative documentation loans can have different pricing and lending limits. We compare the available options and explain the costs before you choose.
How do lenders assess a company director’s income?
The lender may review wages, tax records, company financial statements, ownership and business commitments. Some have a specific pathway for directors paid a regular wage. Business profit is not automatically all available as personal income, and the same income must not be counted twice.
Can business expenses or depreciation be added back to my income?
Some lenders allow certain adjustments when assessing business income. These depend on policy and evidence, so an expense is not automatically an add-back. We can discuss the records needed with your accountant, with your permission. Tax advice stays with your accountant.
Can I refinance my home loan while self-employed?
Yes, you can discuss a refinance. We review the income evidence available now, your current loan and any switching costs. A lower repayment can still mean higher total interest if you extend the term. Visit our home refinancing page for the comparison steps. Explore Home Loan Refinancing →
Can I apply with a partner who earns a salary?
You can discuss a joint application. The lender assesses the income it accepts from each applicant along with their expenses, debts and commitments. Having a salaried co-applicant does not remove the need to verify any business income relied on for the loan.
Does the repayment calculator show my borrowing capacity?
No. It estimates repayments from the amount, rate and term you enter, with optional offset and extra repayment modelling. Borrowing capacity requires an assessment of your verified income, expenses, debts and lender policy. Ask Lester to review your figures before setting a purchase budget.
Your business. Your property plans.
Big Plans?
Let’s Start with a Chat.
Tell Lester where you are up to. We will contact you to discuss your home loan enquiry and the information needed for the next step.
General information only. Lending criteria, documentation, rates and fees vary by lender and may change. All applications are subject to assessment and approval. LeMerit Finance does not provide tax or legal advice.
Further reading on income evidence
Examples of lender requirements: ANZ’s application checklist, NAB’s self-employed guide and Pepper Money’s full-doc and alt-doc information. These are general examples, not recommendations of a particular loan.