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Advertised Rate 5.75% Variable up to 7.99% | Comparison Rate* 6.47% | Company ![]() | Monthly repayment $909 36 months | Loan term 1 year to 7 years | Total repayments $32,733 | Go to site | Enjoy the flexibility of a variable-rate personal loan on a competitive interest rate. | Winner of Excellent credit personal loans, RateCity Gold Awards 2021 More details | Highlighted | ||
Advertised Rate 5.99% Fixed up to 9.39% | Comparison Rate* 6.27% | Company ![]() | Monthly repayment $913 36 months | Loan term 3 years to 5 years | Total repayments $32,851 | Go to site | Enjoy lower rates and no early repayment fees with this 2020 RateCity Personal Loan Gold Award Winner. More details | ||||
Advertised Rate 6.99% Fixed up to 9.49% | Comparison Rate* 6.99% | Company ![]() | Monthly repayment $926 36 months | Loan term 2 years to 3 years | Total repayments $33,342 | Go to site | Sign up online for a personal loan with this digital marketplace lender, and pay no ongoing fees. More details | ||||
Advertised Rate 6.95% Fixed up to 8.99% | Comparison Rate* 6.95% | Company ![]() | Monthly repayment $926 36 months | Loan term 1 year to 5 years | Total repayments $33,323 | Go to site | An unsecured personal loan with a competitive interest rate and no ongoing or extra repayments fees, giving you the flexibility to pay it off faster. | Winner of Excellent credit personal loans, RateCity Gold Awards 2021 More details | |||
Advertised Rate 7.95% Fixed up to 8.5% | Comparison Rate* 7.95% | Company ![]() | Monthly repayment $939 36 months | Loan term 3 years to 5 years | Total repayments $33,818 | Go to site | More details | ||||
Product | Advertised Rate 5.99% Fixed up to 21.99% | Comparison Rate* 7.26% | Company ![]() | Monthly repayment $913 36 months | Loan term 1 year to 7 years | Total repayments $32,851 | Go to site | More details | |||
Advertised Rate 6.95% Fixed up to 17.95% | Comparison Rate* 6.95% | Company ![]() | Monthly repayment $926 36 months | Loan term 1.5 years to 7 years | Total repayments $33,323 | Go to site | More details | ||||
Advertised Rate 6.75% Fixed up to 7.05% | Comparison Rate* 7.10% | Company ![]() | Monthly repayment $923 36 months | Loan term 1 year to 7 years | Total repayments $33,224 | Go to site | Winner of Excellent credit personal loans, RateCity Gold Awards 2021 More details | ||||
Advertised Rate 9.39% Fixed | Comparison Rate* 9.64% | Company ![]() | Monthly repayment $959 36 months | Loan term 0 year to 7 years | Total repayments $34,540 | Go to site | More details | ||||
Advertised Rate 7.99% Fixed | Comparison Rate* 8.62% | Company ![]() | Monthly repayment $940 36 months | Loan term 1 year to 7 years | Total repayments $33,838 | Go to site | More details | ||||
Advertised Rate 12.69% Fixed | Comparison Rate* 13.56% | Company ![]() | Monthly repayment $1006 36 months | Loan term 1 year to 7 years | Total repayments $36,228 | Go to site | More details | ||||
Product | Advertised Rate 6.95% Fixed up to 17.95% | Comparison Rate* 8.57% | Company ![]() | Monthly repayment $926 36 months | Loan term 1 year to 7 years | Total repayments $33,323 | Go to site | More details | |||
Product | Advertised Rate 12.69% Variable | Comparison Rate* 13.56% | Company ![]() | Monthly repayment $1006 36 months | Loan term 1 year to 7 years | Total repayments $36,228 | Go to site | More details |
$606
based on $20,000 loan amount for 3 years at 6.47%
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What is a self-employed loan?
A self-employed loan is a personal loan designed for people who own their own business or are self-employed.
Who offers self-employed loans?
A wide range of lenders offer self-employed loans. Some lenders have specific requirements surrounding employment and documentation, so it’s best to check your eligibility before applying, because if you get refused a loan, it can negatively impact your credit score.
An easy way to see whether you might be eligible for a loan is to visit RateCity's personal loan marketplace, which can tell you your chance of being approved for a loan, based on your personal criteria.
How do you compare self-employed loans?
To compare self-employed loans, you should consider the interest rate, fees, repayment schedule, and your own specific needs. Loans for self employed people can range greatly in their features and interest rates, so it’s best to compare several loans to find the one that fits within your budget.
How can you improve your chances of being approved for a self-employed loan?
Getting a loan while self employed can be a challenge. One way to improve your chances of being approved for a self-employed loan is to gather as much documentation as you can. This documentation may include tax returns, financial statements, proof of income, and recent bank statements. The more documentation you can gather, the better a lender can understand your financial situation.
How do you take out a self-employed loan?
Many self-employed loan lenders supply a simple online application process. Applicants must complete the online form and provide any required documentation before submitting. The lender then reviews the application and either approves or denies the loan.
How long does it take to get a self-employed loan?
The time it takes to receive your self-employed loan varies depending on the lender you choose. While some lenders deposit your money within 48 hours, others take a few days to pay out their loans.
What are the pros and cons of self-employed loans?
Like all borrowing options, self-employed loans have both positives and negatives. Of course, the positives are that they give you the funds you need to grow your business or cover expenses, and have a relatively easy application process.
One of the negatives of self-employed loans is that they often require documentation that can be challenging for self-employed people. Acquiring a personal loan self employed with no proof of income or other financial documents is challenging, and may require research to find a lender that works with your specific situation.
What are the alternatives to self-employed loans?
Alternatives to self-employed loans include low-interest credit cards and guarantor personal loans, which allows a family member or friend to act as a guarantor. Essentially, a trusted family member or friend can co-sign the loan and agree to accept responsibility for the repayments if you default. This guarantee may help you secure a personal loan with a reputable lender.
CASE STUDY: Chris gets a guarantor
Chris owns his own business and was struggling to find a lender that would approve a personal loan based on the documentation he had. After his first application is denied, Chris asked his brother to act as a guarantor for a personal loan. Because his brother agreed to accept responsibility for the repayments should Chris default, a reputable lender was able to approve his personal loan.
Mark Bristow
Senior Financial Writer
Mark Bristow is a senior financial writer for RateCity and an experienced analyst, researcher, and producer. Working for over ten years, Mark previously wrote and researched commercial real estate at CoreLogic, and has seen articles published at Lifehacker and Business Insider, among others. Most recently, Mark has joined RateCity working across finance as a whole. Whatever the topic, Mark’s goal is always to provide simple solutions to complex problems.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I get a self-employed personal loan with bad credit?
It may be much more difficult for a self-employed borrower to successfully apply for a personal loan if they also have bad credit. Many lenders already consider self-employed borrowers to be riskier than those in full-time employment, so some self-employed personal loans require borrowers to have excellent credit.
If you’re a self-employed borrower with a bad credit history, there may still be personal loan options available to you, such as securing your personal loan against a vehicle of equity in a property, though your interest rates may be higher than those of other borrowers. Consider contacting a lender before applying to discuss your options.
What documentation is needed for a self-employed personal loan?
Personal loans may require a borrower to provide proof of identity, proof of residence, details of any other outstanding loans (including credit cards), details of assets they own (e.g. savings, car, property), and proof of income.
While borrowers in full-time or part-time employment can often provide payslips and similar documents to prove their income, self-employed borrowers may need to provide other documents, such as bank statements or tax returns, to demonstrate that their income can cover a loan’s repayments.
Can unemployed single parents get personal loans?
It can be more difficult for unemployed borrowers to successfully apply for a personal loan. Most lenders require borrowers to have a regular income available to cover the cost of loan repayments.
If you’re self-employed, or if less than half of your income comes from Centrelink, you may not be eligible for some personal loan options. Consider contacting the lender before applying.
Can I get a $4000 personal loan if I’m unemployed or on Centrelink?
Before most providers of personal loans or medium amount loans will approve an application, they’ll want to know you can afford the loan’s repayments on your current income without ending up in financial stress. Several lenders don’t count Centrelink benefits when assessing a borrower’s income for this purpose, so these borrowers may find it more difficult to be approved for a loan.
If you’re unemployed, self-employed, or if more than 50% of your income come from Centrelink, consider contacting a potential lender before applying to find out whether they accept borrowers on Centrelink.
Are there low doc personal loans?
Self-employed borrowers may be eligible for low doc personal loans, which require less documentation in their application process than many other personal loan options.
It’s important to remember that though low doc personal loans may require less paperwork, you may need to provide additional security, or pay a higher interest rate.
Can you refinance a $5000 personal loan?
Much like home loans, many personal loans can be refinanced. This is where you replace your current personal loan with another personal loan, often from another lender and at a lower interest rate. Switching personal loans may let you enjoy more affordable repayments, or useful features and benefits.
If you have a $5000 personal loan as well as other debts, you may be able to use a debt consolidations personal loan to combine these debts into one, potentially saving you money and simplifying your repayments.
How much can you borrow with a bad credit personal loan?
Borrowers who take out bad credit personal loans don’t just pay higher interest rates than on regular personal loans, they also get loaned less money. Each lender has its own policies and loan limits, but you’ll find it hard to get approved for a bad credit personal loan above $50,000.
What is a bad credit personal loan?
A bad credit personal loan is a personal loan designed for somebody with a bad credit history. This type of personal loan has higher interest rates than regular personal loans as well as higher fees.
How can I get a $3000 loan approved?
Responsible lenders don’t have guaranteed approval for personal loans and medium amount loans, as the lender will want to check that you can afford the loan repayments on your current income without ending up in financial hardship.
Having a good credit score can increase the likelihood of your personal loan application being approved. Bad credit borrowers who opt for a medium amount loan with no credit checks may need to prove they can afford the repayments on their current income. Centrelink payments may not count, so you should check with the lender prior to making an application.
What is a personal loan?
A personal loan sits somewhere between a home loan and a credit card loan. Unlike with a credit card, you need to sign a formal contract to access a personal loan. However, the process is easier and faster than taking out a mortgage.
Loan sizes typically range from several hundred dollars to tens of thousands of dollars, while loan terms usually run from one to five years. Personal loans are generally used to consolidate debts, pay emergency bills or fund one-off expenses like holidays.
What is the average interest rate on personal loans for single parents?
Like other types of personal loans, the average interest rate for personal loans for single parents changes regularly, as lenders add, remove, and vary their loan offers. The interest rate you’ll receive may depend on a range of different factors, including your loan amount, loan term, security, income, and credit score.
How long does it take to get a student personal loan?
Completing an online personal loan application can often take anywhere from 10 minutes to 1 hour. Depending on your lender, processing your personal loan application may take anywhere between 1 and 24 hours. If your personal loan application is approved, you may receive the money in your bank account the following business day, or, in some cases, the same day.
What do single parents need for a personal loan application?
Much like applying for other personal loans, applying for personal loans for single parents will likely require the following:
- Proof of identity
- Proof of residence
- Proof of income
- Details of assets (e.g. car, home)
- Details of liabilities (e.g. credit cards, other loans)
- Loan amount
- Loan term
Should I get a fixed or variable personal loan?
Fixed personal loans keep your interest rate the same for the full loan term, while interest rates on variable personal loans may be raised or lowered during your loan term.
A fixed rate personal loan keeps your repayments consistent, which can help keep your budgeting consistent. You won't have to worry about higher repayments if your rates were to rise. However, on a fixed loan you’ll also potentially miss out on more affordable repayments if variable rates were to fall.
Can I get a bad credit personal loan with a guarantor?
Some lenders will consider personal loan applications from a borrower with bad credit if the borrower has a family member with good credit willing to guarantee the loan (a guarantor).
If the borrower fails to pay back their personal loan, it will be their guarantor’s responsibility to cover the repayments.
Do student personal loans require security?
While some personal loans can be secured by the value of an asset, such as a car or equity in a property, student personal loans are often unsecured, which typically have higher interest rates.
Some lenders also offer guarantor personal loans to students. These loans have lower interest rates, as a guarantor (usually a relative of the borrower with good credit) will fully or partially guarantee the loan, taking on the financial responsibility if the borrower defaults.
Will comprehensive credit reporting change my credit score?
Comprehensive credit reporting may change your credit score, either positively or negatively, depending on an individual's situation.
Under comprehensive credit reporting, credit providers will share more information, both positive and negative, about how you and other Australians manage credit products. That means credit reporting bureaus will be able to make a more thorough assessment of everyone’s credit behaviour. That will lead to higher scores for some consumers and lower scores for others.
Can students with no credit history get loans?
It is possible for students with no available history of borrowing or managing money to get a personal loan, though it may be more difficult as well as expensive than for borrowers with a good credit history.
Having no credit history means having no credit score. While many lenders may consider having no credit score to be better than having a bad credit score, they may still consider it riskier to lend to an unknown borrower and may charge higher interest rates or fees than to borrowers with good credit scores.
Can you pay off a quick loan early?
Many lenders will allow you to make extra repayments onto a quick personal loan when you can afford them, or even exit the loan early, which can help reduce the total interest you are charged. Be sure to check your quick loan’s terms and conditions, as some lenders charge early exit fees for paying off a loan ahead of schedule.
Is it hard to improve your credit score?
It can be hard to improve your credit score, as it usually requires sacrifice and discipline, but hard doesn’t necessarily mean complicated. Some simple ways you can give your credit score a boost include closing extra credit cards, reducing your credit card limit, pay off any loans and make loan repayments on time.
As a general rule, the lower your credit score, the more remedies you can apply and the greater the scope for improvement.