Self-Employed
Built for people who sign the front of the paycheck.
A full menu of self-employed qualification methods: bank statements, 1099s, a P&L, one year of returns, assets, or a combination. We pick the method that produces the strongest file.
What makes this loan different
- Six different ways to document the same income
- One year of self-employment accepted by some lenders
- Partnership and multi-entity structures welcome
- No penalty for legitimate tax planning
Who this is built for
- Business owners with two or more years of operation
- Partners taking distributions instead of salary
- Anyone declined because of write-offs
Method selection is the whole game
The same borrower can qualify for wildly different loan amounts depending on which documentation method is used. We model your income under bank statement, 1099, P&L, and asset methods before choosing a lender, because the difference is routinely six figures of purchase power.
That analysis is free and takes about a day once we have the raw numbers.
Common obstacles we clear
Declining year-over-year income, a recent entity change, a partner who will not share financials, and businesses that file an extension in the middle of your escrow. All of these have documented workarounds.
What lenders typically ask for
- Documentation matching the method chosen — bank statements, 1099s, a prepared P&L, or tax returns
- Business license, entity formation documents, or third-party verification that the business exists and is active
- Ownership percentage documentation
- Standard credit, ID, and asset documentation
Requirements vary by lender and by file. This is a general picture of what is commonly requested, not a checklist for a specific loan.
Worth knowing
The documentation method is the whole decision.
Self-employment is not itself a program. The same borrower can qualify for very different amounts depending on whether the file runs on returns, deposits, a P&L, or assets — and picking that method deliberately, before an application, is where the outcome is actually determined.
Two years in business is common but not universal.
Many programs want a two-year history. Some accept less, particularly where the borrower worked in the same field beforehand. A recent entity change can restart that clock even when the work did not change.
A strong tax strategy and a strong loan file pull in opposite directions.
Deductions that reduce taxable income also reduce what a return-based program will count. That is a real tension, and the alternative-documentation programs exist precisely so that it does not have to be resolved by paying more tax.
Recent declines get examined.
A down year, or a downward trend across two years, is generally averaged toward the lower figure or questioned. Context helps, and it is better supplied upfront than requested late.
See what this program would take in your case.
We are brokers — this program is shopped across hundreds of wholesale lenders, not quoted off one rate sheet. A short application gives us enough to compare real options.
Program availability, terms, guidelines, and documentation requirements vary by lender and are subject to underwriting and change without notice. This is not a commitment to lend.