Updated for 2025 • SelfEmployedDocs

How to Create Your Own Pay Stub as a Self-Employed Worker (Step-by-Step)

If you’re self-employed, you’ve probably run into this problem before:

Someone asks for a pay stub… but you don’t have one.

Apartments, car dealerships, banks, and even some utility companies want “proof of income.” Traditional employees get pay stubs automatically — but when you’re self-employed, you have to create your own.

Good news:
You can create a legitimate, clean, professional self-employed pay stub in minutes — and it’s completely normal to do so.

Why self-employed workers need pay stubs

A pay stub is the easiest way to show:

how much you earn
how often you get paid
your year-to-date income
your self-employed status

It instantly makes your income look organized and credible — which is exactly what lenders and landlords want.

What goes on a self-employed pay stub

A proper pay stub should include:

Your Name (or your business name, if you have one)
Your Address
Pay Period (weekly, biweekly, monthly)
Gross Pay
Net Pay
Year-to-Date Income
Your occupation or title

That’s it. No W-2. No employer. No payroll company.

How to calculate your self-employed income

If you don’t have exact records, use your last few deposits. Add them up and find the average.

Example

$420 Cash App deposit
$460 Venmo deposit
$500 bank transfer

Your average income is:

($420 + $460 + $500) ÷ 3 = $460/week

That’s the number you’ll enter when creating your pay stub.

STEP-BY-STEP: How to create your own pay stub

Step 1 — Go to the SelfEmployedDocs generator

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

Open the Pay Stub Generator →

Step 2 — Enter your personal info

Your name
Your address
Your job title (e.g., “Self-Employed Contractor”)

Step 3 — Choose your pay schedule

Weekly
Biweekly
Semi-Monthly
Monthly

Pick the one that best reflects how you earn.

Step 4 — Enter your income

This should match the average of your bank deposits or app payments.

Step 5 — Generate and download your pay stub

Once you check out, you’ll instantly receive a clean PDF pay stub that you can print or save.

Want to create your pay stub now?

You can generate a professional, self-employed pay stub in minutes — perfect for apartments, car dealerships, income verification, and more.

Create My Pay Stub →

Can self-employed workers legally create their own pay stubs?

Yes — as long as the income you list is accurate.

You’re simply documenting the money you already earn. This is how millions of contractors, gig workers, and freelancers verify income every year.

When people usually need a self-employed pay stub

Common situations include:

renting an apartment
buying or financing a car
opening a bank account
getting a personal loan
applying for utilities or cell phone service
renewing a lease

FAQ: Creating Your Own Self-Employed Pay Stub

Is it legal to make your own pay stub?

Yes. As long as the income is real, this is completely legitimate and widely accepted.

Do I need an LLC?

No. You can operate under your personal name as a sole proprietor and still create a pay stub.

Will landlords and lenders accept self-employed pay stubs?

Absolutely. Pair your pay stub with bank deposits and you’re good to go.

How do I know what income amount to enter?

Use your average weekly or monthly deposits from the last 1–3 months.

You can get started by visiting our homepage, using the Pay Stub Generator, or learning more on our About Us and Contact pages.