Running your own business
shouldn't cost you a home loan.
Echidna Equity specialises in lending for business owners, contractors, and freelancers all over Australia. We know which lenders understand self-employed income and how to put your application in the best possible light. No fees for our service.
Self-Employed Lending in Sydney and All Over Australia
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.
We're based in Sydney, but we work with self-employed borrowers all over Australia, including green and ethical lender options if that's part of what you're after. Most of the process happens by phone, video call and email, so your location never limits your options.
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, including green and ethical lenders if an energy-efficient home is part of your plan, 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, wherever in Australia you're based.
Free income assessment
We review how your income is structured and identify which lender policies work in your favour.
Document checklist
We send a clear, specific list of what's needed. No guessing, no back and forth with the lender on your behalf.
Lender selection
We identify the lender whose policy gives your application the strongest chance of approval at the best available rate.
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.
The Team
You'll always know who's working on your file.
We keep our client load manageable by design. Every file is handled directly by Lorenzo or Tom, not passed to a junior processor or lost in a queue.
Lorenzo Suarez
Lorenzo runs the end-to-end process for most client files, from initial strategy and lender selection through to submission, approval, and settlement.
If your situation is straightforward, he will make it fast. If it is complex, he will find the way through.
Cert IV Finance & Mortgage Broking
Tom Williams
Tom co-founded Echidna Equity with a clear brief: personal service, genuine lender access, and a business that gives back. He oversees strategy and stays close to every client relationship.
When he says the job is not done until clients start defying gravity, he means it literally.
Cert IV Finance & Mortgage Broking
Why This Matters To Us Too
We put a portion of our own profit behind conservation, not just your business.
You've built something of your own, so it's not lost on us what that takes. A portion of Echidna Equity's profit goes to the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, which protects native species and manages land across the country.
We don't think a mortgage broker can solve conservation on its own. But we can make sure some of what we earn from every settlement, including yours, goes toward looking after the country your business is built in.
A share of our profits is donated to the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, supporting the protection of native species and habitat across Australia.
It's a small, ongoing commitment built into how we do business — the same one we made long before you found this page.
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.
Get in Touch
Speak to a broker today.
Fill in the form and Lorenzo or Tom will be in touch within one business day. No obligation, no sales pitch — just a straight answer on what's possible for your situation, wherever in Australia you're based.
Book a free income assessment
We'll get back to you within one business day.
By submitting this form you consent to Echidna Equity contacting you regarding your enquiry. We do not share your details with third parties. General information only — this does not constitute financial, tax or legal advice.
Message received.
Lorenzo or Tom will be in touch within one business day.
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.
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. Echidna Equity is based in Sydney and provides mortgage broking services to clients all over Australia. 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.