There is no single “you must be self-employed for two years” rule. Lenders contain pathways ranging from selected specialist routes under 12 months through to the traditional two-year full-doc requirement, but a shorter trading history genuinely does narrow the field, and it’s worth knowing roughly where you sit before applying anywhere.
The business-age ladder
| ABN / trading history | What tends to be available |
|---|---|
| Under ~6 months | Very narrow. A small number of specialist-style pathways exist, usually requiring related prior industry/employment experience and strong current-trading evidence. |
| ~6–12 months | Selected specialist and alt/mid-doc pathways open up, typically wanting current BAS or business bank statements alongside industry experience. |
| ~12–18 months | Several one-year and specialist professional pathways become available, though plenty of policies still want a longer history. |
| ~18–24 months | More mainstream-style assessment approaches start to fit, subject to documentation, business performance and LVR. |
| 24+ months | The traditional two-year history most policies are built around, generally the broadest choice of assessment method. |
This is a pattern across lenders, not a fixed rulebook, GST registration age, industry experience before you started the business, and how strong your current trading evidence is can all move you between these bands.
What to prepare, whichever band you’re in
- ABN and GST registration dates
- Whatever financial statements/tax returns you do have, even if it’s less than a full two years
- Current BAS or recent business bank statements
- Evidence of relevant industry experience before you started the business, if applicable
Next step: work through your exact business-age and documentation position in the Scenario Lens‘s Self-employed tab, then talk with KartikKumar about which pathways actually fit.