Self Employed Home Loan Broker Sydney | Echidna Equity
Self Employed Home Loan Broker, Sydney

Running your own business
shouldn't cost you a home loan.

Echidna Equity specialises in lending for business owners, contractors, and freelancers. We know which lenders understand self-employed income and how to put your application in the best possible light. No fees. Ever.

Book a Free Assessment Call 0485 981 099
75+ Lenders Compared
No Fees for Our Service
Self-Employed Lending Specialists
Low Doc Options Available
Based in Sydney

Self-Employed Lending in Sydney

Banks are built for PAYG. Most self-employed borrowers fall through the gaps.

Standard loan applications are designed around a payslip. If your income comes from a business, a trust, dividends, or a combination of sources, most lenders don't know what to do with it and many simply say no.

The problem is rarely that you can't afford the loan. It's that your income doesn't fit the template. We know which lenders assess self-employed income properly, what documentation they need, and how to present your application in a way that gets approved.

Whether you've been running your business for two years or two decades, there is almost always a path forward. Let us find it.

75+
lenders on our panel, including specialists in self-employed and low doc lending
$0
cost to you for our service from first conversation to settlement
1 yr
minimum ABN history some lenders will accept for self-employed applicants

Who We Help

Self-employed comes in a lot of different shapes.

We work with borrowers across every type of self-employment structure. If your income doesn't come from a single employer, we can help.

🏢

Business Owners

Sole traders, company directors, and partnership owners whose income flows through a business entity. We know how to present business financials in a way lenders can actually assess.

💻

Contractors and Freelancers

Whether you work on short-term contracts or juggle multiple clients, we find lenders that treat contract income as stable rather than a red flag.

📊

New ABN Holders

Recently started your business? Some lenders will consider applications with as little as one year of ABN history. We know which ones and what they need to see.

🔀

Mixed Income Borrowers

Part PAYG, part self-employed, or drawing income from multiple sources including investments and trusts. We piece the full picture together and find a lender that assesses it fairly.

How Lenders Assess Self-Employed Income

The rules vary more than most people realise.

Not all lenders assess self-employed income the same way. Knowing the differences is what gets applications approved that would otherwise be declined.

✦

Two Years of Tax Returns

Most lenders want two years of personal and business tax returns to establish income. We help you present these in the format each lender prefers to maximise your assessed income.

✦

Add-Backs and Adjustments

Depreciation, one-off expenses, and certain deductions can often be added back to your taxable income to give a more accurate picture of what you actually earn. Not all lenders do this, so we target the ones that do.

✦

Low Doc Loans

If your tax returns don't tell the full story of your income, some lenders offer low doc products that use BAS statements, accountant declarations, or bank statements as alternative verification. We assess whether this route suits your situation.

✦

ABN Age Requirements

Most lenders want two years of ABN history, but some will consider applications from borrowers who have been trading for as little as twelve months. We know which lenders sit in that category and what supporting evidence they need.

✦

Business Financials vs Personal Income

Some lenders assess you on personal taxable income only. Others will look at the business profit and serviceability at the entity level. The right approach depends on how your business is structured and how your income flows through it.

✦

Income Trending

If your income has been growing, some lenders will use the most recent year rather than an average of two years. If it has dropped, some will average the two. We find the lender whose policy works best for your income trajectory.

What You Can Apply For

Being self-employed doesn't limit what you can borrow for.

Self-employed borrowers can access the same loan types as PAYG employees. The difference is in how the application is put together.

🏠

Owner-Occupied Purchases

Buying your own home as a self-employed borrower. We match you to lenders who assess your income type properly and get you to pre-approval with confidence.

📈

Investment Property Loans

Growing a property portfolio while running a business. We structure your lending to support both your current purchase and future acquisitions without compromising your borrowing capacity.

🔄

Refinancing

Already have a loan but want a better rate or structure? We review your current position, compare the market, and manage the switch if it makes financial sense.

🔑

Equity Release

Accessing equity in an existing property to invest, renovate, or grow your business. We identify the cleanest way to structure this without disrupting your existing lending.

How It Works

We do the heavy lifting on the documentation.

Self-employed applications involve more paperwork than standard ones. We tell you exactly what's needed, help you gather it, and present it in the format each lender requires.

01

Free income assessment

We review how your income is structured and identify which lender policies work in your favour.

02

Document checklist

We send a clear, specific list of what's needed. No guessing, no back and forth with the lender on your behalf.

03

Lender selection

We identify the lender whose policy gives your application the strongest chance of approval at the best available rate.

04

Application and settlement

We submit, manage the process, and keep you updated through to approval and settlement.

Client Story

A business owner the banks kept turning away.

When the standard approach doesn't work, the answer is usually a different lender and a better-presented application.

Two Years In, Still Told No

Marcus had been running a successful trade business for just over two years. His revenue was growing, he had a solid deposit, and his accountant confirmed he could comfortably service the loan. Three banks turned him down because his taxable income was reduced by legitimate business deductions. We found a lender that added back depreciation and equipment write-offs to his assessed income, presented his BAS statements to demonstrate cash flow, and had him approved within three weeks. He settled on his first home a month later.

3 wks
From application to approval

Common Questions

What self-employed borrowers ask us most.

Self-employed lending raises questions that PAYG borrowers rarely encounter. Here are the ones we hear most often.

Yes, in some cases. Most lenders require two years of ABN history, but a small number will consider applications from borrowers with twelve months of trading history, particularly if you have strong BAS statements, a solid deposit, and a history of employment in the same industry. We assess your situation first and only approach lenders who have a realistic chance of approving you.
It can with lenders that only look at your tax return at face value. But many lenders allow add-backs for depreciation, one-off expenses, and certain other deductions that don't reflect your actual cash position. We identify which deductions can be added back and target lenders whose policies reflect your real income, not just the number on your return.
A low doc loan is a product designed for borrowers who can't provide the standard two years of tax returns. Instead of tax returns, lenders may accept BAS statements, an accountant's declaration, or twelve months of business bank statements as income verification. Low doc loans typically carry a slightly higher rate. Whether you need one depends on your documentation situation and we will always try a full doc option first if it's available to you.
Yes. Sole traders, company directors, and trust beneficiaries are each assessed differently. How your income flows through to you personally affects how lenders calculate your serviceability. We map this out at the start of the process so we know exactly which lender policies suit your structure.
Some lenders accept business bank statements as part of the income verification process, particularly for low doc applications. The statements need to demonstrate consistent cash flow and typically cover a minimum of six to twelve months. We advise on what's required for each lender before you gather anything.
Not necessarily. If you qualify for a full doc loan, you access the same rates as any other borrower. A rate premium typically only applies to low doc products. We always look for a full doc solution first, and we only move to low doc if that's genuinely the better path for your situation.

There's likely a lender for your situation. Let's find out.

Book a free assessment with Lorenzo or Tom. We'll review your income structure and tell you exactly what's possible before you apply anywhere.

Book a Free Assessment Call 0485 981 099

Echidna Equity Pty Ltd ACN 678 592 713. Credit Representative Number 562940 of Australian Credit Licence 384704. Suite 302, 13/15 Wentworth Ave, Sydney NSW 2000. General information only. This does not constitute financial, tax or legal advice and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Credit criteria, terms and conditions apply. Lending policies, interest rates, fees and product features are subject to change without notice. Low doc loans are subject to additional eligibility criteria and lender assessment.