Suppose you’re a builder who has only been operating and working for yourself for a year or so — but you’ve been working in the industry since you started an apprenticeship 5 years ago. In this case, you could try applying for what’s called a “low doc loan” (i.e. low documentation) — special consideration would be taken for being in the same line of work for many years, even if your books are relatively limited.

Keep in mind that due to responsible lending requirements, not every lender will allow low doc loans. If you’ve been in business for less than a year — even if you have plenty experience working for someone else — it is up to the lender’s discretion to decide on your loan application.