strategy.
Before a loan, a plan.
Every engagement opens with a complimentary Lending Strategy Session — ninety minutes devoted entirely to your goals.
Our services
Loans for Self-Employed
Tailored lending solutions for business owners, sole traders, contractors and freelancers — because your income tells a bigger story than a single payslip.
Why it matters
Home Loans Built Around How You Actually Earn
If you run your own business, work as a contractor or freelance for a living, you already know the drill: your income is strong, but it doesn’t always look that way on paper. Tax minimisation strategies, seasonal revenue cycles and complex business structures can make standard lending criteria feel like a square peg in a round hole.
That’s where we come in. Financial Elements specialises in low doc loans, alt doc loans, BAS-based lending and ABN lending — the full spectrum of self-employed finance solutions. We work with a carefully curated panel of lenders who genuinely understand business income, so you’re not penalised for doing what every good accountant recommends.
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Whether you lodge quarterly BAS statements, provide an accountant’s declaration of income, or rely on one to two years of ATO tax returns, we know exactly which lenders will assess your application fairly. We also understand how add-backs work — reinstating depreciation, one-off expenses and other legitimate deductions that reduce your taxable income but don’t reflect your true earning capacity.
From sole traders and partnerships to company and trust structures, our brokers have the expertise to package your application in a way that highlights your real financial position. The result? Competitive rates, higher borrowing power and a smoother path to approval — without the stress of trying to fit a lender’s cookie-cutter mould.
More than just a pretty rate — it’s lending that finally makes sense for how you work.
Your adviser
Joshua Halls Finance Consultant
2M +
Self-employed Australians
0
yr
Year minimum ABN history
0
+
Lenders on our panel
2M +
Self-employed Australians
Is this you?
This is you if…
- You're a sole trader or business owner without 2 full years of tax returns
- Your income relies on add-backs, BAS statements, or an accountant's letter
- A mainstream lender has already knocked you back over "non-standard" income
How it works
Four elements. One outcome.
Inside every Financial Elements engagement there is the same four-part sequence. We never skip steps. We never re-order them.
- 01strategy.Session
- 02structure.Modelling
- 03solutions.Lender match
- 04support.Annual review
Stage 01 / 04FE Method
structure.
The part that compounds.
Offset, redraw, split, fixed, variable — structure is the part that compounds for or against you. We model fourteen.
solutions.
The right one. Not the loudest.
A careful match across forty-plus lenders for the strategy and structure already agreed. We negotiate the rate and the small print.
support.
Reviewed yearly. Always.
A relationship, reviewed annually — rate, structure, product. Most brokers vanish on settlement. We schedule the next twelve.
The process
How We Get You Approved
Our five-step process is designed to make self-employed lending straightforward — from first conversation to settlement.
01 / 05
We start with a detailed conversation about how your business earns money. Sole trader, contractor, company director — every structure is different, and we map out your real income including add-backs for depreciation, one-off costs and other deductions your accountant has applied.
02 / 05
Based on your situation, we identify the most streamlined documentation pathway — whether that's ATO tax returns, recent BAS statements, an accountant's declaration, or six to twelve months of business bank statements. No unnecessary paperwork.
03 / 05
We compare your profile against our panel of over 40 lenders, zeroing in on those with the most favourable self-employed policies, the best add-back allowances and the most competitive pricing for your specific scenario.
04 / 05
Your application is packaged to present your financials in the strongest possible light. We prepare a clear income summary, highlight positive business trends and pre-empt the questions assessors typically ask about self-employed borrowers.
05 / 05
We manage the application from submission right through to formal approval and settlement, keeping you updated at every stage. If conditions are raised, we handle them quickly so there are no surprises or delays.
Why Self-Employed Borrowers Choose Us
Low Doc & Alt Doc Options
No full financials? No problem. We structure applications using BAS statements, accountant declarations or bank statements — whichever path gets you the best outcome with the least paperwork.
Competitive Rates for Non-Standard Income
Self-employed doesn't have to mean higher rates. We match you with lenders who price competitively for low doc and alt doc borrowers, so you're not paying a premium just because your income is structured differently.
BAS & Accountant Letter Acceptance
Many of our panel lenders accept recent BAS statements or a letter from your accountant as primary income verification, making it faster and simpler to prove your earning capacity.
Business Structure Expertise
Sole trader, partnership, company or family trust — we understand how each structure impacts serviceability and know which lenders assess them most favourably.
40 +
Lenders on our panel
2M +
Self-employed Australians
Start the conversation
Ready to Get Started?
Fill in the form below and one of our advisers will be in touch within 24 hours.
Self-Employed Lending FAQs
Most lenders require a minimum of two years’ ABN registration with matching ATO tax returns. However, some of our panel lenders offer solutions for borrowers with just one year of trading history, provided you can supply BAS statements or an accountant’s letter confirming your income. In certain cases, even six months of strong business bank statements may be considered. We’ll assess your situation and match you with the right lender.
Acceptable income evidence varies by lender and loan type. The most common forms include:
- ATO tax returns (one or two most recent years)
- ATO Notice of Assessment
- BAS statements (most recent two to four quarters)
- Accountant’s declaration or letter confirming your income
- Business bank statements (six to twelve months)
- Company or trust financial statements
We identify the pathway that requires the least paperwork while giving you access to the most competitive rates.
Absolutely. Borrowing through a company or trust is common among self-employed Australians, but it does add complexity to the application. Lenders need to understand how income flows from the business entity to you personally. We regularly help clients with sole trader, partnership, company and discretionary (family) trust structures. The key is presenting your financials clearly — including trust distribution minutes, company tax returns and director’s loan accounts — so the lender can accurately assess your serviceability.
Add-backs allow certain non-cash or one-off deductions to be added back to your taxable income when calculating borrowing capacity. Common add-backs include:
- Depreciation and amortisation — non-cash expenses that reduce taxable income but don’t affect your actual cash flow
- One-off or extraordinary expenses — such as a large equipment purchase that won’t recur
- Interest on loans being refinanced — because that expense will disappear after settlement
- Personal superannuation contributions — some lenders add these back in certain circumstances
Not every lender allows the same add-backs, and the rules vary significantly. We know which lenders are the most generous and will structure your application to maximise your borrowing power.
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Ready to start?
Ready to start?
Let's chat.
Book a complimentary Lending Strategy Session. We'll spend ninety minutes on your goals, your structure, and what good actually looks like for your decade.