Updated for 2025 • SelfEmployedDocs

How to Prove Income If You’re Newly Self-Employed (No History Yet)

Becoming self-employed is exciting… until someone asks you to prove your income. Apartments, car dealerships, lenders, and even phone companies want “income verification.”

But here’s the problem:

You just started.
You have no tax returns.
You don’t have a long history of deposits.
Your bank statements look thin.

Here’s the good news:
You can prove income even if you’re brand-new to self-employment.
You just need the right documents — and you already have more than you think.

What lenders really want to see

They’re not looking for perfect paperwork. They’re looking for:

predictable income
consistency
a reasonable story
a real source of earnings

You don’t need years of history — you need clarity.

The best ways to prove income when you just started

1. A Self-Employed Pay Stub (Fastest & Most Common)

A pay stub shows your income in a format everyone understands. It immediately makes your income look structured and professional.

Your pay stub can show:

weekly income
biweekly income
monthly income
year-to-date (automatically calculated from your start date)

This is exactly how new freelancers, gig workers, and contractors get approved when they have limited history.

Need a clean pay stub as a new self-employed worker?

Create a professional pay stub in minutes — even if you’re brand new. Perfect for apartments, loans, and documentation.

Generate My Pay Stub →

2. Recent Bank Deposits

Even if you only have:

one deposit
a few small deposits
a partial month of work

— you can still use these to show your income.

Most places want 30–60 days of activity, even if it’s small.

3. A Self-Employment Income Letter

Write a short letter (or use a template) stating:

what work you do
when you started
how you get paid (Cash App, bank deposits, Zelle, invoices, etc.)
your average weekly or monthly income

This is highly accepted for new self-employed individuals.

4. Screenshots or Earnings Reports

If you get paid through apps like:

Cash App
Venmo
Zelle
PayPal
DoorDash / Instacart / Uber / Lyft

— these screenshots count as income documentation when paired with a pay stub.

5. Invoices or Receipts

If you invoice clients — even one or two — those invoices show you’re actively earning.

They don’t need to be fancy.

How to calculate income when you’re new

Use your last few payments to estimate your average income.

Example

Week 1: $165
Week 2: $220
Week 3: $195

Your average weekly income is:

($165 + $220 + $195) ÷ 3 = $193/week

That’s the number you put on your pay stub.

Do you need an LLC or business license?

No. That’s a myth.

You can prove income using your personal name. No LLC. No business license. No EIN required.

You’re simply a sole proprietor — which is the default for all new self-employed workers.

How long until your income looks “strong”?

If you’re brand new, most people build solid-looking income in:

30 days (light documentation)
60 days (standard documentation)
90 days (strong documentation)

But you can still get approved on day one if your paperwork is clean.

FAQ: Proving Income When You Just Became Self-Employed

Can I rent an apartment if I just became self-employed?

Yes. A pay stub and recent bank deposits are usually enough.

What if I only have one or two deposits?

That’s fine — use your average income and create a pay stub that reflects your current earnings.

Do I need tax returns?

No. Tax returns only show last year’s income. Lenders mainly want current income.

What’s the easiest proof of income if I’m new?

A self-employed pay stub paired with your recent deposits is the fastest and most widely accepted combo.

Need help showing your self-employed income? Start on the homepage, generate your self-employed pay stub, or visit our About Us or Contact pages.