Self employed home loans

Your accountant keeps your taxable income low, and that is the figure lenders start from. We compare 50+ lenders to find the ones that count more of what your business really earns.

50+ lenders, including the big four
No fee to you, the lender pays us
Sole traders, company directors and contractors

Based on 250+ reviews

The Adviser Elite Broker 2024 & 2025

Self employed business owner reviewing home loan options with a Stryve Finance broker

We compare your rates with 50+ lenders

Couple taking a selfie among moving boxes in their new home

Why Stryve for self employed lending

The number on your tax return isn't the number you can borrow on

Your accountant's job is to keep your taxable income as low as the law allows. Then you apply for a home loan, and that same low figure is the one the lender starts from.

Much of what you claimed is still money you have. Lenders add some of it back, but each one has its own rules on what counts, and a bank will only ever apply its own. We work out whose rules suit your figures before we apply, rather than hoping the first lender says yes.

Add-backs applied properly

Depreciation, one-off expenses, extra super contributions and interest on debt you're refinancing. Not every lender counts all four, and the difference shows up in what you can borrow.

One year of figures, sometimes

Many lenders use the lower of your last two years, or an average of both. Some will use your latest year on its own. If your business is growing, that can change what you can buy.

Any business structure

Sole trader, company, trust, or a mix. We work out how your income actually reaches you before a lender sees an application.

How lenders assess self employed income

There are three ways a lender can check what you earn. Which one fits depends on how long you've been trading and what paperwork you have. Full doc is worth checking first, even if you've been told low doc is your only option.

Full docMost common

Who it suits: Two or more years trading, with tax returns lodged.
What you provide: Two years of tax returns and notices of assessment.
Rate impact: Standard rates, same as a PAYG borrower.

Low doc

Who it suits: Trading under two years, or returns not yet lodged.
What you provide: BAS (business activity statements), business bank statements, or an accountant's declaration.
Rate impact: Usually higher, varies by lender.

Alt doc

Who it suits: Returns lodged, but they don't show a recent rise in income.
What you provide: Recent BAS plus an accountant's letter confirming current trading.
Rate impact: Can be close to standard with the right lender.

Features

Full docMost common

Low doc

Alt doc

Who it suits

Two or more years trading, with tax returns lodged.

Trading under two years, or returns not yet lodged.

Returns lodged, but they don't show a recent rise in income.

What you provide

Two years of tax returns and notices of assessment.

BAS (business activity statements), business bank statements, or an accountant's declaration.

Recent BAS plus an accountant's letter confirming current trading.

Rate impact

Standard rates, same as a PAYG borrower.

Usually higher, varies by lender.

Can be close to standard with the right lender.

Some people are told low doc is their only option because the first lender they asked doesn't offer anything else. Before you accept a higher rate, check whether a full doc lender would take your file as it is. If low doc does turn out to be the right fit, our low doc home loans page explains how it works.

Which self employed borrower are you?

Lenders treat a sole trader, a company director and a contractor differently. Pick the one closest to how you earn.

Business owner home loans

A home loan through a company, trust or partnership, and how your structure changes what a lender counts as income.

Sole trader home loans

Your business income is your personal income, so add-backs do most of the work.

Contractor home loans

Paid per invoice through your own ABN, and which lenders assess that closer to PAYG.

Self employed under two years

One tax return, or none yet. The lenders who will still look at your file.

Low doc home loans

BAS, bank statements or an accountant's letter in place of lodged tax returns.

Refinancing when you're self employed

Already have a loan? A new lender will assess your income again, on your latest figures.

What documents you need, and why lenders ask for them

Two people with the same paperwork can get different answers, depending on what the lender reads into it. Here is what each document tells them.

Two years of tax returns and notices of assessment

Your income history, and whether it's rising, flat or falling. A drop in your latest year is one of the first things a lender will ask about.

Recent BAS or business bank statements

The business is still trading now, not just last financial year.

Profit and loss statement and balance sheet

Where the add-backs come from. Without these, there is nothing to add back.

ABN and GST registration details

How long you've been trading, which decides whether full doc is open to you.

Personal and business bank statements

Living expenses, existing commitments, and how you actually run your money.

Accountant's letter on unusual expenses

Can turn a one-off cost into an add-back, rather than a lower income figure.

	Document	What it proves
	Two years of tax returns and notices of assessment	Your income history, and whether it's rising, flat or falling. A drop in your latest year is one of the first things a lender will ask about.
	Recent BAS or business bank statements	The business is still trading now, not just last financial year.
	Profit and loss statement and balance sheet	Where the add-backs come from. Without these, there is nothing to add back.
	ABN and GST registration details	How long you've been trading, which decides whether full doc is open to you.
	Personal and business bank statements	Living expenses, existing commitments, and how you actually run your money.
	Accountant's letter on unusual expenses	Can turn a one-off cost into an add-back, rather than a lower income figure.

The accountant's letter is worth asking for. One letter explaining a one-off equipment purchase or a bad debt can change the income a lender uses, and most people don't know to ask for it. For more detail, see our self employed document checklist, the tax return requirements for self employed borrowers, and general home loan eligibility requirements.

How we handle your application

Every application you lodge leaves an enquiry on your credit file. We only lodge once we know the lender's policy fits your file, not to find out whether it does.

From first call to settlement, you deal with the same broker who structured your file.

Discovery

A short call to understand how you earn, how you're structured, and what you want to buy. Nothing gets pulled or lodged at this stage.

Strategy

We test your figures against 50+ lenders and find the ones whose add-back rules suit your structure. You see an estimate of what you can borrow before anything is submitted.

Preparation

We package your documents the way the lender you've chosen reads them, and go back to your accountant for anything that needs explaining.

Application

We lodge with the lender whose policy already fits, answer their questions for you, and keep it moving until you have an answer.

Review

We check your rate every six months and move you if a better one has opened up.

Why self employed borrowers choose Stryve

A bank can only offer you its own policy. We compare the whole market and take your file to the lender it already fits.

The whole market, not one bank

Your own bank has one set of add-back rules. We compare 50+ lenders and find the one whose rules suit how you're structured.

Used to complex income

Trusts, retained earnings, distributions and reinvested profit. We show the lender the full picture, not one line from a tax return.

Banks and specialist lenders

The big four, Macquarie, ING and specialist lenders that focus on self employed borrowers. The right policy matters more than the brand on the door.

You don't pay us, the lender does

Our commission comes from the lender once your loan settles, not from you. So if now isn't the right time to borrow, we'll tell you.

What our customers
say about us

Don't just take our word for it. See what hundreds of satisfied clients across Sydney say about their experience with Stryve Finance.

“We had a great experience with Dylan and the team. Very professional and they took care of everything. We will definitely go through Stryve in the future.”

Carrissa Huisman

Google review, 27 Oct 2026

“Best in the business! Dylan and the team made getting my home loan simple and stress-free. They were attentive, responsive, and always kept me in the loop. Highly recommend!”

Zeki Ismen

Google review, 22 Oct 2026

“The team is awesome. Douglas and Dylan, are very thorough and are generous with their time to explore the best product that meets my needs and when they cover all the details, they follow through to the last details ensure the transaction is complete. They will also check after the issue is settled to see if any more support is needed. Simply A service. Best wishes and am sure where to go fir my next mortgage or financial advice.”

Emil

Google review, 13 Oct 2026

“Dylan and his staff have been fantastic, they have made the process very easy and stress free. They walk through everything with you from start to finish and guide you to the best options. Thank you guys much appreciated”

Paul Coleiro

Google review, 22 Sept 2026

“Dylan and the Stryve Team have been so amazing during our search for a first home. Dylan was so communicative, patient and knowledgable and kept us updated throughout the whole process. I can’t recommend them enough!”

Michael O'Malley

Google review, 30 Aug 2026

“My partner & I have had a fantastic experience with Stryve Finance. Dylan and Douglas were incredibly helpful, responsive and supportive throughout the entire process. We’re very grateful for their help and would highly recommend Stryve to anyone looking for a reliable and knowledgeable mortgage broker.”

Tanvi Mara

Google review, 19 Aug 2026

“Dylan and the team at Stryve are exceptional. He made the process so easy to understand and helped secure the loan I was after. A special mention to how efficient the team are and can move things really quickly when needed. Can’t thank them enough for everything they’ve done. Strongly recommend if you’re looking for a first class mortgage broker!”

JAMES HARVEY

Google review, 18 Aug 2026

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Frequently asked questions

Yes. Being self employed changes how a lender checks your income, not whether you can borrow. Most lenders want two years of tax returns, and some accept less. If you qualify for a full doc loan, you can get standard rates.

It can, but often by less than you'd think, because lenders add some of your deductions back. Which lender you go to matters more. A bank will only apply its own rules, and it won't tell you another lender's would suit you better.

It depends on the path. Full doc needs lodged tax returns and notices of assessment. Low doc uses BAS, business bank statements or an accountant's letter instead, and our low doc home loans page covers how that works. We'll tell you which path your file suits before you gather anything.

Often, yes. Depending on the lender, your wage from the company, director's fees, dividends and sometimes the company's own profit can count towards your income. How much counts depends on your structure and the lender's policy. Our business owner home loans page explains how it works for companies and trusts.

Yes. Some lenders accept one full year of returns, and low doc options work off BAS and an accountant's declaration. Fewer lenders will look at you, but the ones who do don't automatically charge more. We cover this on our self employed under two years page.

A 20% deposit avoids LMI (Lenders Mortgage Insurance) and gives you the widest choice of lenders. Full doc loans can generally go to a higher LVR (loan-to-value ratio) than low doc loans, so if you qualify for full doc you may need less saved. Our LMI calculator shows what a smaller deposit would cost.

Most start with your taxable income, then add back costs that lowered it on paper but didn't leave your pocket. Common ones are depreciation, extra super contributions, one-off expenses and interest on debt you're refinancing. Lenders don't agree on which of these count, so the same file can produce very different borrowing figures.

Yes. A new lender will assess your income again, using your latest returns or low doc evidence. If your income has grown since you took out the loan, or you started on a low doc loan, you may now qualify for a better deal. See refinancing a self employed home loan.

There isn't one. The right lender depends on your structure, how long you've traded, and which add-backs matter most to your figures. That's the comparison we run before anything is lodged.

Ready to find out what you can actually borrow?

One call and we'll tell you which lenders suit your structure and roughly what they'd lend you. No credit check, nothing lodged, no obligation to go ahead.

Family unpacking moving boxes in their new home

Self employed home loans