Understand your position
We review your goals, income, commitments, deposit or equity and timescale.
MORTGAGES FOR BUSINESS OWNERS
Self-employed mortgages
Mortgage advice for sole traders, contractors, partners and limited-company directors. Speak to an adviser who will assess your full circumstances, not just a headline number.
No obligation · Initial conversation does not affect your credit score
Written and reviewed by Smart Mortgages specialistsReviewed 21 August 2026 · FCA reference 912358
How we help with self-employed mortgages
The right mortgage is about more than finding a rate. We assess affordability, income, deposit or equity, credit history, property and future plans before recommending an appropriate route.
Compare suitable options
We assess lender criteria, overall cost and suitability, not only the initial rate.
Manage the application
Your adviser and case manager keep the lender, valuation and legal process moving.
Present your income properly
Lenders do not all assess self-employed income in the same way. Depending on your structure, they may use salary and dividends, net profit, share of profit, retained profit or contract value.
Sole traders
Accounts and tax calculations can demonstrate sustainable trading income.
Company directors
We identify lenders able to understand salary, dividends, profit and ownership share.
Contractors
Some lenders may assess an established contract or day rate rather than accounts alone.
Recent growth
We explain year-on-year changes and choose lenders whose approach fits the business.
Company director using retained profit
The director’s salary and dividends did not reflect the strength of a profitable limited company.
How we approached it
Read the full case study →Individual circumstances and outcomes vary. This example is not a guarantee of acceptance.We reviewed the accounts, ownership and sustainable business performance, then identified lenders able to assess a broader measure of director income.
Specialist knowledge that can make the difference
Our team regularly works with one-year accounts, retained profit, salary and dividends. If a lender or another broker has already said no, that does not always mean there is no route forward. We can review your circumstances and whether a different lender or structure may be appropriate.
Frequently asked questions
How much can I borrow?
It depends on the property, income or rent, deposit or equity, experience, credit profile and lender policy. We provide a case-specific assessment.
Does an initial conversation affect my credit score?
No. An initial discussion with our team does not involve a lender credit search.
Can you help throughout the UK?
Yes. Our branches cover Northern Ireland and Scotland, and we advise clients across the UK.