Why Every Tradie Needs a Strategic Broker in Their Corner (It’s Not Just About Home Loans)

Real lending advice for real working blokes

29th June 2025 | Mohammed Zahr

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Why Every Tradie Needs a Strategic Broker in Their Corner — It’s About More Than Just a Home Loan

If you’re a tradie, you already know how full-on life gets. Between quoting jobs, chasing payments, running the crew, and maybe squeezing in a bit of downtime, the last thing you want is to deal with loan paperwork or sit on hold with a bank that doesn’t understand how your income works.

Here’s the thing most tradies don’t realise — having the right broker can seriously change the game for both your personal finances and your business.

Let’s break it down.

How Lenders Look at Your Income

This is where most tradies hit a wall. You’re earning solid money, but the banks don’t always see it that way. Here’s how they usually assess your income:

1. Full Financials
If you're a sole trader or company director, most lenders want to see two years of tax returns. They average your income across those two years, and if the latest year is lower, they might only use that one. Not ideal if you've just invested in your business or had a slower year.

2. Addbacks
A good broker will go through your tax returns and add back things like depreciation, one-off expenses, or even your car lease. These can boost your usable income on paper — which means a bigger borrowing capacity.

3. Low-Doc Options
Some lenders offer low-doc or alt-doc loans where we use your BAS, business account statements, or an accountant's letter instead of full tax returns. This is handy if your books aren’t fully up to date or you’ve only been self-employed for a short time.

4. PAYG vs. Self-Employed
If you're working under an ABN but also picking up PAYG jobs here and there, lenders might treat you as self-employed, which means more paperwork. That’s why strategy matters. A good broker will figure out the cleanest way to present your income so you're not getting knocked back for silly reasons.

It's Not Just About the House

Sure, getting into the market is important. But working with the right broker means looking at the bigger picture.

  • Got equity in your home? You could use it to buy a second property or fund business upgrades.

  • Need new gear or a new ute? Equipment and vehicle finance can be structured properly so it doesn’t kill your borrowing capacity.

  • Want to grow the business? A smart finance plan can help with cash flow, especially when you’re waiting on big invoices to clear.

You Build Things. So Should Your Broker.

You’re already working hard. Your broker should be helping you build something too — whether it’s long-term wealth through property, smart business lending, or just better control of your money.

A strategic broker doesn’t just process your loan. They look at where you’re at now and help plan where you want to be in 5 or 10 years — even if you're not 100% sure what that looks like yet.

If you’re keen to have a straight-up conversation about what’s possible, no pressure, no fluff — reach out. I’ll show you how we can make the numbers work for you and your business.


Ready to get Started?

Book a chat with a Finance & Mortgage Broker at Zahr Financial today.

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