Preparation hub
Preparing as a self-employed applicant
Self-employed preparation is usually about documentation and consistency rather than anything unusual. This hub explains the records commonly requested and how to present them clearly.
What to focus on
Six areas worth organising first
Educational preparation areas, not requirements. Every lender sets its own criteria and only a qualified adviser can tell you what matters in your case.
Tax records
Accounts
Business banking
Income pattern
Company structure
Timing of tax filings
Guides for this situation
Read these next
Each guide covers what tends to be asked for, what varies and which questions are worth taking to a qualified adviser.
Income · 9 min
Self-employed and preparing for a mortgage? Start with the evidence
Income · 7 min
Preparing an income map when your pay varies
Documents · 7 min
Bank statements: what to review before you apply
Documents · 8 min
What documents are usually needed for a mortgage application?
Credit · 8 min
Understanding your credit files before you apply
Planning · 6 min
Questions to ask a qualified mortgage adviser
Preparation tools
Work it through yourself
Free educational tools. Nothing is submitted to a lender and no credit search is performed.
- Readiness checker
Broad preparation questions, educational result bands
- LTV calculator
Work out loan-to-value from value and loan amount
- Document checklist builder
Build a printable paperwork list
- Application timeline
Educational milestones from a target month
An optional resource for this situation
Optional educational preparation resources. Nothing here is mortgage advice, a lender or product recommendation, an eligibility assessment or a prediction of whether an application would be accepted.
- Mortgage Preparation Starter Checklist — free
A one-page starting point for the paperwork most people are asked for.
- Readiness checker
Eight broad preparation questions. It never says whether you would be eligible, approved or declined.
- Self-Employed Mortgage Preparation Organiser — £7.99
A preparation resource, not mortgage advice or a lender recommendation. Purchases are not switched on yet.
Common questions
Questions people ask at this stage
- How many years of records will be asked for?
- This varies by lender, structure and circumstances. Gathering what you have and asking an adviser what is relevant is more useful than assuming a fixed number.
- Do retained profits count?
- Treatment differs between lenders and is a question for a qualified adviser. We do not describe individual lender criteria.
Independent advice
When you need personal advice
Preparation and advice are two different things. We can help you get organised; only a suitably qualified, FCA-authorised mortgage adviser can advise you on your own circumstances, assess what you may be able to borrow or recommend a product.
Before You Apply is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and is not a mortgage adviser, broker or lender. We provide educational preparation resources only. We do not give mortgage advice, recommend lenders or products, assess eligibility, arrange mortgages or introduce you to advisers. If you need advice about your own circumstances, contact a suitably qualified FCA-authorised mortgage adviser directly.
- Choose and contact an adviser independently. We do not introduce you to anyone, name any firm or receive any payment for anyone you contact.
- You can check whether a firm or individual is authorised on the Financial Conduct Authority’s public register before you share any information.
- Take your prepared documents and written questions with you — that is what this site is for.
What this hub does not do
It does not assess eligibility, estimate what you could borrow, compare or recommend lenders or products, arrange a mortgage or introduce you to an adviser. Those are regulated activities and Before You Apply is not FCA authorised.