It’s no exaggeration to say that self-employed Australians are the backbone of the nation’s economy. More than 2 million of us are self-employed,1 making up around 15 per cent of the workforce2 and contributing $29.5 billion to labour incomes in the March quarter 2025.3

But Aussies who run their own show can find navigating the housing market and securing a home loan challenging.

They might have strong cash flow but fluctuating income. They might retain their earnings in their company. Or they might have complex businesses, trusts, or partnerships that aren’t fully reflected in a tax return. These factors can make it harder for self-employed individuals to present a clear picture of their borrowing power.

That’s where Brighten steps in. As a leading non-bank lender, Brighten is committed to supporting self-employed borrowers with flexible policies, sharp pricing, and superior service. Its flagship Brighten Boss ® Alt Doc solutions are designed to simplify the loan process – requiring just one form of income verification to streamline documentation.

“Our competitive pricing and simplified documentation requirements have attracted significant interest from brokers since launch,” says Brighten CEO Jason Azzopardi.

Azzopardi adds that customers can borrow up to $2.5 million, with no risk fee for loans up to 80 per cent LVR. To help maximise borrowing capacity, Brighten has also introduced a lower buffer of 1 per cent for eligible refinance loans.

Building, buying, or bridging

As entrepreneurs, self-employed Australians tend to need flexible borrowing options, whether they’re buying land, building a new home, or purchasing a new property before selling an existing one.

That’s why Brighten’s construction, vacant land, and bridging loans all offer an Alt Doc option for self-employed customers. They can borrow up to:

  • $2 million for vacant land loans
  • $3.5 million for construction loans
  • $5 million for bridging loans

“These products underpin our focus on creating a one-stop lending shop for self-employed customers to achieve their property ownership goals,” says Azzopardi.

“By regularly reviewing our offerings and making necessary adjustments, we demonstrate our commitment to supporting self-employed borrowers and ensuring our loan products remain competitive and tailored to meet their evolving needs.”

Supporting brokers every step of the way

The non-bank lender also provides regular training for brokers looking to diversify their customer base and help borrowers with financials that may be ‘out of the box’.

“Education is a core part of our offering,” says Azzopardi. “We offer webinars and workshops to equip brokers with not only knowledge about products and policies, but also with industry best practices to better serve their self-employed customers.

“Central to our approach is our Sydney-based team of experienced credit assessors, who offer a nuanced understanding of the financial profiles of self-employed borrowers.

“Their expertise enables us to provide a more accurate and efficient loan assessment experience for our brokers and customers.”

Whether it’s purchasing, refinancing, or building a dream home, Brighten is proud to support the ambitions of self-employed Australians – offering clarity, flexibility, and confidence at every stage of the lending journey.

1 Global Data, Number of Self-Employed Workers in Australia (2010–21)
2 Australia Institute, Short Changed, 2023
3 Australian Bureau of Statistics, Labour Account Australia, March 2025