Self Employed Clients

If your situation doesn't fit the standard mould, this is where you start.

Getting finance as a self-employed borrower is rarely straightforward. The same income on paper, can be treated very differently depending on the lender, which can have a significant impact on borrowing capacity.

At TS Finance Broking, we've been working with self-employed clients since 2013. We understand trust/company structures, add-backs, director salaries and the nuances of lender policy that determine whether a deal gets approved or declined. We know how to read a set of financials and, more importantly, how to present them.

Whether you're buying a home, purchasing commercial property, growing your business or looking to release equity — we can help you structure the right solution.

Who we help

We work with a range of self-employed clients, including:

Sole traders and partnerships
Company and Trust structures
Clients with multiple entities or interrelated business structures
Business owners with recent structural changes (e.g. PAYG to Company)
Self Managed Superannuation Funds (SMSF)

If your situation has complexity, that's exactly what we're here for.

What we can help with

We arrange finance across the full spectrum of self-employed needs:

Home loans — purchase, refinance and equity release
Investment property loans — residential and commercial
Commercial property — owner-occupied and investment
Business loans and working capital facilities
Asset finance — equipment, vehicles and fitout
SMSF lending

Real deals. Real outcomes.

Here are three recent examples of self-employed deals we've structured and approved.

Case Study 1: Recent structural change - PAYG to Trust

Scenario	Challenge	Strategy	Outcome
Client in family business since 2016	Trust ABN only 1 year old	Reframed as structural change, not economic	Exception approved by credit
FY2023: PAYG wages	Lenders triggering 'insufficient history' policy	Demonstrated income continuity FY2023-FY2024	Income accepted across both years
FY2024: Moved to Trust structure	Initial lender response: declined	Requested 2-year assessment across PAYG + Trust income	Equity release approved
FY2025 returns not yet lodged		Positioned to credit as same underlying income source	Commercial acquisition funded
Seeking equity release for commercial purchase

Case Study 2: Approved without 2 years tax returns

Scenario	Challenge	Strategy	Outcome
Self-employed business owner	Standard policy requires 2 years financials	Identified lender director salary policy	Approved without 2 years tax returns
Strong income and healthy deposit	Client assumed she'd need to wait	Verified income via ATO records	Income assessed on director's salary
Most recent tax returns not yet lodged	No completed financials available	Evidenced consistent salary over 6 months	Purchase timeline brought forward significantly
Wanted to purchase now, not wait		Applied under alternative income verification pathway	No delay to settlement

Case Study 3: Unit Trust + 55-acre acreage - when most lenders said no

Scenario	Challenge	Strategy	Outcome
Two clients purchasing jointly via Unit Trust	Many lenders won't lend to Unit Trusts	Bypassed standard retail channel entirely	Approved at 80% LVR
Each holding units through Family Trusts	Large acreage triggered reduced LVRs	Leveraged banking relationships to access NAB Business Banking	Interest-only investment lending secured
55-acre residential investment property	Standard residential channel not suitable	Presented as broader banking relationship	2-year rate lock at 5.99%
Income from shared business venture	Initial feedback: limited appetite, higher rates	Matched deal to appropriate lending channel	Competitive pricing despite complexity

KH

Karen Harrington

Tim and Jayden guided me through the whole process and were able to get me a loan for my unit at the age of 69. I am extremely grateful for the professionalism and the way I was guided and kept in touch with during the whole process.

KS

Kelvin Slade

Thank you Tim & Jayden for going above and beyond as always. You made the process as simple as possible and explained it thoroughly from start to finish and in very quick time too! I highly recommend you to others who might be looking for a broker!

PD

Peter Dickson

Tim and Jayden were a pleasure to deal with during the stressful period of myself and my wife purchasing our property. They kept in constant communication and always updated us on where our loan was at. We always felt and ease and would highly recommend Tim and his team.

Why self-employed clients choose TS Finance Broking

Over a decade of experience working exclusively with self-employed borrowers
We understand financial statements, tax returns, trust/company structures and lender policy — not just loan products
We advocate with lenders on your behalf, not just submit applications
We find the right lender for your structure — not the easiest one
Ongoing support across your full financial picture as your business grows

Ready to talk through your situation?

If you're self-employed and unsure whether you can borrow, we'd welcome the conversation. Many deals that look difficult on the surface have a clear pathway once the right approach is taken. Book an appointment or get in touch to talk through your scenario.

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