Updated for 2025 • SelfEmployedDocs

How to Prove Income If You Get Paid in Cash (Self-Employed Guide)

Getting paid in cash makes life easy — until someone asks you for “proof of income.”

If you’re a cleaner, handyman, hairstylist, babysitter, landscaper, barber, mechanic, or any kind of cash-paid contractor, you’ve probably run into this situation:

“We just need to verify your income.”

And suddenly you’re stuck. No pay stubs. No employer. No payroll system. Just real work and real earnings.

Here’s the good news:

Yes — you can absolutely prove your income even if you’re paid 100% in cash. You just need the right documentation.

The 5 easiest ways to prove income when paid in cash

These are widely accepted by landlords, loan companies, car dealerships, and most government programs:

Self-employed pay stubs
Bank deposit summaries
Signed income letter
Invoices or receipts you create yourself
Cash earnings log

You don’t need all five — usually one or two is enough.

1. Self-employed pay stubs (cleanest + easiest)

This is by far the fastest and most professional-looking method.

You simply enter your real income and generate a legitimate pay stub instantly.

It doesn’t matter that you’re paid in cash. Your pay stub reflects the income you already earned, just in a clean, familiar format.

Perfect for:

renting an apartment
buying a car
setting up utilities
insurance applications

Need income proof for cash-paid work?

Create a clean, credible pay stub in minutes using your real earnings.

Generate My Pay Stub →

2. Bank deposit summaries

If you deposit your cash into a bank account, your statements become your income proof.

Even small, regular deposits look great because they show consistency.

3. Signed income letter

A simple letter stating your monthly earnings can work for:

landlords
schools
public assistance programs
insurance

We’ve created a full template you can use:

Self-Employed Income Letter Template →

4. Invoices or receipts

If you perform services (cleaning, repairs, childcare, etc.), you can issue invoices even if your customers pay in cash.

These help establish a paper trail.

5. Cash earnings log

This is simply a record you keep showing:

date of each payment
amount earned
type of job

Pairing this with a pay stub makes your income rock-solid.

How to calculate your cash income for documentation

Most people average their last 3 months of income and use that number for their pay stub or income letter.

When someone wants “official” documents

If an agency needs something more formal, you can provide:

bank statements with deposits
1099 forms (if you receive any)
earnings summaries if you also use payment apps

But for most everyday reasons, a pay stub works perfectly.

Need a professional cash-income pay stub?

You can generate one instantly — clean, simple, and accurate.

Create My Pay Stub →

FAQ: Proving Income When Paid in Cash

Can I create a pay stub if I get paid in cash?

Yes — as long as the income you enter is real. Millions of self-employed people do this.

Will apartments accept this?

Yes. Pay stubs and bank statements are the top two accepted forms of income proof for cash-paid workers.

What if I don’t have bank deposits?

You can still create a self-employed pay stub using your actual earnings. Pair it with a signed income letter if needed.

Is a pay stub the fastest option?

Yes — it’s clean, quick, and instantly recognizable by whoever is reviewing your application.

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