Banks don't always know what to do with business owners. When your income comes through a company, trust or as a sole trader, the standard application form doesn't capture your situation accurately — and the wrong lender will decline you for the wrong reasons. Blambles understands business income inside out.
If you're self-employed, you've probably heard some version of "we can't help you" from at least one bank. It's frustrating, especially when you know your business is doing well — but the bank's assessment is based purely on what's showing on the tax return, which often doesn't tell the full story. Tax-minimisation strategies that reduce your assessable income for the ATO can work against you at the bank. Non-cash expenses like depreciation and amortisation reduce your paper profit without affecting your real cash flow. And business income that varies year to year can be averaged in ways that understate your current earning capacity.
What makes this particularly challenging is that different lenders assess self-employed income very differently. Some use a two-year average of taxable income, with specific addbacks. Others look at the most recent year only. Others use BAS statements or bank statements to assess trading income. Some require two years in business; others will consider one year with strong evidence of ongoing trading. The lender who is right for you depends on your specific income structure, your business's age and your documentation.
This is where Blambles background as a Chartered Accountant becomes genuinely valuable. He doesn't just broker the loan — he reads your financials the way a lender's credit team does, understands what the numbers actually mean and knows how to present your income position accurately and credibly. He's worked with hundreds of self-employed borrowers across a wide range of business structures: sole traders, companies, trusts, partnerships — and he knows which lenders suit which income types.
If you've tried your bank and been turned away, or if you're not even sure where to start with a home loan as a self-employed person, Blambles is exactly the right person to talk to. The consultation is free, and the advice is genuinely tailored to your situation.
Full-doc assessment for self-employed borrowers — using your tax returns, financials and addbacks to present your true income to the right lender.
Learn more →If your tax returns don't reflect your current income, BAS statements or bank statements can support your application through a specialist lo doc lender.
Learn more →Building a property portfolio as a self-employed borrower — structured correctly so your business income and rental income work together for maximum borrowing capacity.
Learn more →If you hold assets through a family or discretionary trust — as many self-employed business owners do — Blambles knows which lenders work with trust structures.
Learn more →Self-employed borrowers are often on old, expensive loans because refinancing felt too hard. Blambles can find a better deal — even with complex income.
Learn more →Blambles Chartered Accountant background is the defining advantage for self-employed borrowers. He can read your financial statements, understand the structure of your business income — distributions, director salaries, addbacks, retained earnings — and translate that into a lending application that a lender's credit team can follow clearly. This matters enormously when your income isn't simply a salary figure on a payslip.
With access to 40+ lenders — including specialist non-bank lenders who actively target self-employed borrowers — Blambles can identify the right lender for your specific income type and documentation. Whether you're a sole trader with one year of financials, a company director paying yourself a combination of salary and dividends, or a business owner with complex trust distributions, there's a lender who suits your situation. Finding that lender quickly — without wasting credit enquiries on the wrong ones — is what a good broker does.
There is no cost to you for the broker service. The consultation is free, and the outcome is better loans for more people who run their own businesses — which is exactly the type of client Blambles most enjoys helping.
Most full-doc lenders require at least two years of self-employment history — backed by two years of tax returns and financial statements. Some lenders will consider one year of self-employment if the business is in the same industry as your previous employment. Lo doc lenders typically require a minimum of 12 months in business (often 2 years) with an ABN and GST registration. Blambles can advise on the most suitable approach based on how long you've been in business.
Lenders can "add back" certain non-cash deductions — like depreciation, amortisation and some one-off expenses — to your taxable income to arrive at a higher assessed income figure. The specific addbacks vary between lenders. Blambles reviews your financials to identify all legitimate addbacks and presents them correctly in the application — which can meaningfully increase your assessed borrowing capacity compared to using raw taxable income.
Yes — some lenders will use the most recent year's income only, rather than a two-year average, if it's higher and the growth is justified. Not all lenders offer this flexibility, but those who do are often the right match for a business that has grown strongly. Blambles identifies lenders who can use a single-year assessment where the income growth is genuine and well-documented.
Some lenders assess director salary only — which can severely limit your borrowing capacity if your salary is low. Others look at the company's profit and can include dividends or company profit as part of your assessed income. Still others assess on a combination of salary, dividends and company net profit — allowing them to consider your true income from the business. Blambles knows which lenders take which approach and matches you to the one that best reflects your real income position.
This is one where an honest answer matters: if your business is currently making a loss or generating minimal profit, most lenders will find it very difficult to approve a loan — because the assessment is based on demonstrated capacity to repay. However, if the personal income (salary, dividends, other income) is strong relative to the loan amount, there may still be options. Blambles can assess the situation honestly and tell you clearly whether now is the right time to apply or whether it's better to wait until the business position improves.
Free consultation, no obligation. Blambles will review your income structure and documentation — and tell you exactly what your options are and which lenders suit you best.