Updated for 2025 • SelfEmployedDocs

Can You Make Your Own Pay Stub for Proof of Income?

If you’re self-employed, sooner or later someone will ask you for a pay stub. Apartments, car dealerships, banks, insurance companies — everyone seems to want “proof of income” these days.

So the big question is:

“Can I make my own pay stub… and will anyone accept it?”

Short answer:
Yes — you can legally make your own pay stub as long as the income you list is accurate and based on your real earnings.

This is completely normal for freelancers, gig workers, contractors, and anyone who works for themselves.

Why self-employed people create their own pay stubs

Traditional workers get pay stubs automatically from payroll. But if you’re self-employed:

no employer sends you one
no HR department exists
you still need proof of income

So you’re responsible for documenting your own income.

Is it legal to make your own pay stub?

Yes — as long as the numbers you enter are real and based on actual income.

You’re not “faking” income. You’re documenting income you already earn.

Millions of self-employed people do this every year because pay stubs are the most widely recognized form of income verification.

When a self-made pay stub is commonly accepted

Self-employed pay stubs are used every day for:

renting an apartment
financing a car
applying for insurance
setting up utilities
opening a bank account
getting a personal loan

Landlords and lenders don’t care that you created it — they care that the income is real and consistent.

What goes on a legitimate self-employed pay stub?

A real pay stub should include:

Your name (or business name)
Your address
Your pay period (weekly, biweekly, monthly)
Your gross income
Your net income
Year-to-date totals

That’s it. Nothing complicated.

How to calculate your income accurately

Most self-employed workers use:

bank deposits
Cash App / Venmo / Zelle payments
gig app earnings summaries
recent invoice totals

Pick an average weekly or monthly amount and use that as your income.

How to create your own pay stub (step-by-step)

1. Go to the Pay Stub Generator

This is where you’ll enter your information and instantly generate a PDF pay stub.

Open the Pay Stub Tool →

2. Enter your personal info

Name
Address
Job title

3. Choose your pay schedule

Weekly
Biweekly
Semi-Monthly
Monthly

4. Enter your income

Use your average based on real deposits.

5. Generate and download your PDF pay stub

You’ll receive a clean, professional pay stub instantly.

Need a self-employed pay stub right now?

Create a clean, credible pay stub in minutes — perfect for apartments, loan applications, and income verification.

Create My Pay Stub →

When a self-made pay stub may not be enough

Some lenders — not many, but a few — may ask for additional documents like:

bank statements
gig app earnings summaries
invoices

This is normal. Just pair your pay stub with matching deposits.

FAQ: Creating Your Own Pay Stub

Is it legal to make your own pay stub?

Yes — as long as your earnings are real and you’re documenting your true income.

Will apartments accept a self-employed pay stub?

Yes. Millions of renters use self-made pay stubs when they work for themselves.

What’s the fastest way to create one?

Using a self-employed pay stub generator. It formats everything correctly and calculates year-to-date totals instantly.

Do I need an LLC to make a pay stub?

No. Your personal name is perfectly fine. Most self-employed people operate as sole proprietors.

Want a clean, credible pay stub in minutes? Visit our homepage, generate a self-employed pay stub, or read our About Us and Contact pages.