My tax return shows low income but my restaurant turns over $1M+. Will banks lend?

Major banks struggle with this. Specialist alt-doc/low-doc lenders use BAS turnover instead.

What documents will I need to submit?

Full-doc: 2 years tax returns + BAS. Alt-doc: 12–24 months BAS + accountant's letter.

Will lenders accept cash deposits in my business bank account?

Yes — restaurant cash deposits are expected. Consistency matters more than payment method.

How much deposit do I need?

Full-doc 15–20% (10% with LMI possible). Alt-doc/low-doc 20–30%.

I run a Bangladeshi/Lebanese/Indian restaurant. Does culture-specific lending help?

Yes — some lenders far more flexible with ethnic restaurant businesses. Language support available.

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Restaurant Owner

Restaurant Owner Home Loan Sydney: For Cash Businesses Banks Don't Understand

Mortgagefy Broker Team · Published 2026-04-29 · Last reviewed 2026-04-29

Banks see your tax return showing modest taxable income and decline. They don't see the cash flow, the GST turnover, the actual viability. Mortgagefy lenders look deeper.

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Who this guide is for

Sydney restaurant owners — Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Indian, Lebanese, Vietnamese, Chinese and others — wanting home loans from lenders who understand cash-heavy hospitality businesses.

Restaurant owners with 2+ years trading and BAS history
Owners with low taxable income but strong GST turnover and bank deposits
Family-run restaurants with multiple owner-operators
South Asian / Lebanese / Vietnamese restaurant owners wanting cultural language support

The real challenge

The biggest single barrier for restaurant owner home loans is the gap between your tax return and your actual financial reality. Restaurants often legitimately show low net taxable income (after wages, food costs, rent, depreciation) — but generate strong cash flow that supports loan repayments comfortably.

Major banks reject. They look at the bottom-line tax return number and stop. Specialist lenders look at the full picture — BAS turnover, bank statements, business viability.

How Mortgagefy helps

Mortgagefy works with lenders who specifically handle restaurant owner income — including low-doc, alt-doc and full-doc options. Some lenders use BAS turnover instead of taxable income. Others apply add-back calculations that recognise depreciation and one-off expenses.

We know which lenders work for restaurant owners with 2+ years trading. Free, honest advice.

How it works — 4 simple steps

Free restaurant owner chat

20-minute call about your trading history, BAS turnover, taxable income and target home.

Compare lender options

We identify which lenders work for your specific situation — full-doc, alt-doc or low-doc.

Application package

We compile your tax returns, BAS, business bank statements and supporting documents.

Settle your home

Approval through to settlement with ongoing support.

Frequently asked questions

We use offer letters and vesting schedules to value RSUs conservatively. We present current vesting value + projected future vesting as a 3-5 year income average. This gives lenders confidence in your income stability while accounting for market volatility.

Both. We work with W2 employees, 1099 contractors, and consultants. For contractors, we use 2 years of tax returns plus business financials. We have lenders who specialise in contractor income—they understand the variability.

Unvested options have zero value for refinancing. We count only vested equity. If you have a 4-year vest, we use 25% of the grant value (what's vested) plus a conservative projection of future vesting.

If you've been in your new role 6+ months, most lenders will refinance. We'll use your offer letter plus 6 months of pay stubs. If less than 6 months, it's harder but possible with specialist lenders.

Yes, if you have 2+ years of bonus history. We average the past 2 years and present it conservatively. Some bonuses get counted at 50% to be conservative with variable compensation.

ESPP is counted as deferred compensation. If your company matches or you have a discount, we value it as part of total compensation package.

Get a restaurant owner home loan assessment

Free 20-minute call about your real options as a restaurant owner. No judgement on your tax return.

Start Your Free Assessment Call 0432 634 648

Get your personalised answer in 2 minutes

Free, no obligation. We'll match you with the right lender for your situation.

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