Finance for people who run their own show

Your tax return doesn't always tell the whole story. I take the time to understand your business and explore how suitable lenders may assess your income.

Having owned and operated businesses for around 18 years — including about 15 years running Cockles Café — I know that self-employed life rarely fits neatly into a lender's application form. Income can be lumpy. You might have reinvested heavily last year, bought equipment, taken on staff or had a quieter season. Your accountant may have (quite rightly) worked to minimise tax, which can make your taxable income look lower than what the business can really support.

None of that means finance is off the table. It means your application needs someone who'll take the time to understand it properly.

Why self-employed lending is different

When you're employed, a lender can usually look at your payslips and see a steady figure. When you're self-employed, lenders generally want to understand how stable and sustainable your income is over time. Each lender has its own policies on things like:

• How long you've been trading and how long you've held your ABN or GST registration
• Which years of financials they use, and how they treat a change between years
• Whether certain expenses (such as depreciation or one-off costs) can be added back
• How they look at income from companies, trusts and partnerships
• What documents they need to verify everything

Because these requirements differ between lenders — and change over time — the options available to you will depend on your circumstances. Having an ABN on its own isn't enough to qualify for a loan, and no broker can promise an approval. What I can do is understand your situation, explain where you're likely to fit and help you present a clear, well-prepared application.

Buying a home when you're self-employed

Whether it's your first home or your next one, we'll start by working out what a comfortable borrowing range might look like based on your business income, your other commitments and your goals. I'll explain what lenders are likely to ask for, which years of income they may focus on, and what you can do now to be ready.

If you're planning to buy in the next year or two, talking early can help. There may be things worth discussing with your accountant — such as when your next tax return will be lodged — so the right information is available when you need it.

Refinancing an existing home loan

Many business owners took out their home loan years ago and haven't looked at it since. A review might be worthwhile if your business has grown, you want to consolidate debts, your fixed rate is ending or your loan no longer suits how you manage money. We'll look at the overall picture — rate, fees, features like offset accounts and redraw, and loan structure — to see whether a change makes sense. Sometimes the answer is to stay put, and I'll tell you if that's the case.

Purchasing an investment property

For many business owners, property is a way to build wealth outside the business. We'll talk through how an investment loan might be structured alongside your home loan and business commitments, and how lenders may view your overall position. I won't give tax advice — I'll encourage you to speak with your accountant about the tax side — but I'll help you understand the lending side clearly.

Borrowing when income varies between years

A strong year followed by a softer one (or the other way around) is common. Lenders handle this differently. Some may average two years, others may use the lower year, and some may consider the most recent year in certain circumstances. I'll take the time to understand why your income changed — growth, a one-off expense, a big equipment purchase, a quiet season — because that context can matter when exploring suitable lenders.

Understanding how business financials can affect an application

The way your business is structured and how your financials are prepared can influence how a lender assesses your income. Things that may come into play include:

• Your business structure (sole trader, partnership, company or trust)
• Wages or drawings you take from the business
• Depreciation, interest and one-off expenses
• Existing business debts and equipment finance
• Any outstanding ATO debt or payment arrangements

I'm not an accountant, and I'll never suggest changing your financials just to get a loan. But I can help you understand how lenders may read what's there, so you and your accountant can make informed decisions.

Exploring alternative income documentation

If your tax returns aren't up to date, or don't reflect your current income, some lenders offer options that use other forms of evidence — for example, business activity statements, business bank statements or a letter from your accountant. These are sometimes called "alt doc" or "low doc" loans.

They aren't right for everyone. Where available, they may come with different interest rates, fees, deposit requirements or conditions, and they still require you to show you can afford the repayments. If this type of loan might suit your situation, I'll explain the trade-offs honestly so you can decide.

Purchasing a business

Buying an existing business is a big step — and a very different transaction from buying a property. Lenders will generally want to understand the business's trading history, its financial statements, the purchase price and what's included (such as goodwill, equipment and stock), your experience in the industry, and what security is available. I can help you understand what to prepare before applying and how the finance might be structured. More on business and commercial loans →

Financing commercial property, vehicles or equipment

Whether you're buying your own premises, investing in commercial property or upgrading the work ute, the requirements depend on the asset, the transaction and the lender. I'll help you compare repayment structures and terms that suit your business's cash flow. I don't recommend a structure purely for tax reasons — please speak with your accountant about that side of things.

Commercial loans · Vehicle and equipment finance

Exploring business cash flow funding

Even healthy businesses can face timing gaps between paying for stock, wages or suppliers and getting paid by customers. Some eligible businesses use finance to help bridge those gaps or support growth. It's important to understand the total cost, the repayments and whether the business can comfortably service the facility — borrowing isn't a fix for ongoing losses. More on cash flow finance →

What to have ready (when the time comes)

You don't need anything for our first chat. When it's time to apply, the documents will depend on your situation and the lender, but commonly include:

• Personal and business tax returns and ATO notices of assessment
• Business financial statements (profit and loss, balance sheet)
• Recent business activity statements and bank statements
• Details of existing personal and business debts
• ID and details of your assets and living expenses

I'll give you a tailored checklist, so you only gather what's actually needed. Please don't send financial documents through the website enquiry form — I'll provide a secure way to share them.