The dream job: owning your own business or being self employed in some shape or form. The advantages are vast, but among the reasons this job status is over hyped is the fact loans can be hard to get approved for. That isn’t to say it is not possible to get a loan, but you will have to work harder than the average consumer.
Lenders like to see an income that is going to be long term. The reasoning behind this is that you will have a job in the future, throughout the course of the loan. Without steady work to show, you will find it hard to get approved. Having a long term contract agreement with clients or partners is the best way to show that your employment isn’t flimsy or temporary.
A long-term income is going to be mandatory in a mortgage loan. Don’t expect to find a lender that will agree to offer a loan to anyone self employed for under two years. The de facto standard is set at two years, but with some extra merit, you might be able to sway a lender. The standard two years will prove that you have verifiable income, if nothing else.
An accountant can help you in formulating your business to a secure financial model. Sure, you have the tools and access to the knowledge to save money to do it yourself, but some find out the hard way that accountants are paid well for a reason. It’s recommended to get an accountant to get advice in archiving, financial planning, and formulating projections.
It’s best to have a separate business account so that a lender can easily track your finances. If you prefer an easier route, Internet services allow you to tack on an online account to a personal account you already hold. That way you can route any Internet business through to your personal account, yet still know exactly what your business received or paid with automatic reporting options.
Often times you will be alone in your struggle of building a business from scratch. Some forms of business models will help you get a loan- such as a partnership or establishing a corporation. A sole proprietorship doesn’t always look the best to lenders, who know that “two heads are better than one” in a sense, and that businesses tend to succeed more when there are more people involved.
In Conclusion
If you find that you are still having a problem finding a lender, you can always find a guarantor to verify you are credible. If you happen to be married, you can also sign on with a mortgage loan in your spouse’s name. Don’t give up if you get denied once or twice!
