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Non-bank lender Pepper Money has noted that the growing number of small businesses in Australia is creating a “golden opportunity” for brokers, who are well-positioned to help these business owners access the finance they need to grow.
The lender’s CEO of mortgages and commercial lending at Pepper Money, Barry Saoud, noted that more than 500,000 new Australian Business Numbers (ABNs) were generated between April 2023 and October 2025 (up from the 436,000 new ABNs registered between July 2023 and June 2024, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics and Lawpath’s New Business Index).
Moreover, August 2025 saw a record 104,784 new business registrations, up 21 per cent year on year.
However, access to finance remains one of the biggest roadblocks to growth, according to the lender.
Pepper Money – which is currently seeing around 40 per cent of its home loans going to self-employed borrowers (excluding SMSF and commercial real estate) – said brokers who aren’t already servicing this area would reap the rewards if they were to support this segment of the market.
“Small businesses and sole traders are one of the most dynamic sectors of the economy, but they’re also among the most underserved when it comes to finance,” Saoud said.
“The real opportunity lies in helping clients tell the story behind their income. Whether that’s through BAS, business statements, or alternative documentation, brokers who can translate the reality of self-employed earnings are the ones unlocking finance that fuels business growth.”
Indeed, he flagged that traditional lenders may be cautious about lending to newer businesses or those trading with irregular cash flow, but brokers can help find solutions by partnering with a non-bank lender.
“For 25 years we’ve helped self-employed Australians who’ve struggled to find a lender that understands how their business really works. They’ve got the ambition and income to grow, but their numbers don’t always fit the traditional lender profile,” he said and noted that Pepper Money’s digital tools were helping brokers, accountants, and self-employed borrowers manage documentation with ease and speed, eliminating the back and forth of documentation processes.
Earlier this year, Pepper Money adjusted its policy to cater to the self-employed segment by introducing AltDoc Xpress – a solution that reduces the need for borrower paperwork through a “streamlined digital process.”
Through the new offering, brokers, customers, and accountants can provide and verify documentation with a single platform, with one-time password verification at each stage to promote data security and compliance.
He concluded: “We work with brokers to help them deliver real outcomes for their self-employed clients.
“From higher LVRs to extended loan terms that help cash flow, we help brokers tailor finance solutions that let small businesses invest, expand, and get on with what they do best.”
[Related: Westpac, Pepper introduce self-employed changes]