Australian Business News and Times

Business News ,Reports and Times of Australia

Website builder

How to build a small business website with wordpress in 25 minutes

by Leave a Comment

Make a Small Business Website - 2015

Article updated 02 May 2018

If you’re selling online services or products, or just have a small business – then having a website today is essential and wordpress makes this easy. But even if you don’t sell anything directly online, the website can be useful just like a business card of yours on the internet to get more customers in touch with you, with information about you, your business, and the services offered.

What we will show below in short ( summary )

1. Pick and purchase a domain

2. Set up hosting ( 1& 2 are both covered together with bluehost hosting)

3. Install WordPress and a Theme

4. Add content and set up your site (part2)

 

Well for many of you who possibly don’t know what is wordpress, it’s one of the most popular website building software on the internet and its easy to use. This Website software is being used by tops brands like BBC America, Sony Music, FORD Social, Ourselves and Beyonce.

 

Latest Bluehost Website starter 2018 Offer

 

 

You can easily build your website for a small business in 25 minutes flat and it can take a bit longer than that if you’re not as computer savvy as some. With the wordpress easy set-up, you can be up and writing for your website the same day after it’s installed.

You will need to sign up with a hosting company to set up your website. Installation of your website is made easy in this process with the 1 click install available from bluehost hosting which also provides a free domain with their 36 month plan. More details below..

This software is so versatile and flexible you can use it to create a professional looking website or just a personal blog, in-fact you can create a many different kind of websites with it – be it a Ecommerce shop website, A fashion blog , a photography webpage, a gadget showcase or a personal story blog.

You get hundreds of free designs from within word press ( wordpress themes) to change and customise the look of your blog. Free is good, but I always recommend that you purchase a paid theme from a good wordpress theme provider (I have good experience  with elegant themes-Great designs at an affordable price and a large number of themes to choose from) to ensure your blog is always upto date and secure and doesn’t break.

What is wordpress themes ?

It’s a skin that you can put over your blog to change its look or design. You get pre-made designs for a word press website that you can get free or then purchase from a wordpress theme provider.

All you need to do is,  to download that design and upload it to your blog and click install. It will change the whole look of your blog and this can be done in less than 5 minutes

Having a well-designed website can also be an effective way to market your business and compete with larger brands in your industry.

Whether you’re creating your first website or rebuilding an outdated one, here’s a step-by-step guide to help you design, market and maintain a great professional site.

Below is a quick Step by step procedure on how to get your wordpress website installed and started in 25 minutes

I have provided bluehost hosting for this tutorial as I have used them before and I am happy with them and they also provide a domain name with your hosting which makes the whole process easier and quicker to do.

Here is the step by step guide

1. Go To bluehost – Click here

 

1 starting a small business website 36

( or click on the get started now button image)

 

2. Get your Domain Name

2 get your domain nameIt It will tell you if  the name is not available and you can search for another name

3 if domain is availabel or not

 

3.Enter your details for sign up,once you find and appropriate domain name

4 sign up

 

4. Choose what additional options you need with your website  like privacy ,backups etc (as you can notice  below the domain name is free with the 36month plan,which gives you a discounted price of $3.49 a month)

5. what options yu need for your website privacy etc

 

5. Enter your credit card details on the bluehost secure site and  click submit.

 

6. billing details

You will get emailed  your receipt  and  login details and  You can  access their 1 click install set up after login into the admin panel to set up your word press website by following the prompts.

Here are the steps you should follow after logging in ( this should be similar/same on all the major web hosting companies):

  1. Log in to your hosting account.
  2. Go to your control panel.
  3. Look for the “WordPress” icon.
  4. Choose the domain where you want to install your website.
  5. Click the “Install Now” button and you should get access to your NEW WordPress website.

 

Your wordpress website should be ready now

Choosing a Design Theme or Template for your site

Once you have successfully installed WordPress to your domain, you’ll see a very basic yet clean deafault site
But while default design is basic ,you need a good looking site – a design template that tells people that you mean business and attract people to your blog/website. Once you have found a good looking  theme you like, installing it is as simple as clicking “Install” followed by “Activate” to change the look of your site

Pros: Of building your own website

· No technical skills needed. You can create a website in minutes.

· Affordable. Also, reduce costs by making your own site changes.

· Often includes, free integrated hosting.

Cons:

· Advanced functionality is limited to number of plugins available in the website builder program
Small business offer from godaddy


Tired of Waiting for your Website to Load? $1/ mo Hosting + Free domain!

A$1.99 per month Website Builder™ with Free domain

Some other website building options

 

Moonfruit

Moonfruit is a free website host and editor with a plethora of fresh designs and detailed editing options.

Weebly

Weebly’s online website designer is a little easier to use than Moonfruit’s. Quite a few of Weebly’s themes are the same as those offered by WordPress, though Weebly optimizes your site for mobile devices.

 

Why wordpress ?

I chose WordPress for this guide because it was the easiest CMS or (website platform) I found that non-web savvy people could get installed and work with. There is lots of free web-site automatic software and websites out there that let people build a website for free.

The problem with this being

1) it only works on their hosting so you don’t really have full control of your own site

2) When it comes time for you to have a designer come in to add functionality you need to or improve the site according to your needs, they won’t be able to use that software, and likely ask you to start all over again.

Don’t procrastinate and get your business online and give it a good chance to get more customers to your business. Good luck!

Jeff is an avid blogger and website builder and writes about website creation when he is not blogging on start-a-website.info or talking about technology at digitalgrog.com.au his Australian blog.You can get in touch with him here on twitter and G+.

The Best Webhosting Deal For 2018 in Australia

by Leave a Comment

So What does it take to build a blog or a business website ?

For years having a high quality business website has been an expensive and often tiresome experience for small businesses until wordpress website software arrived on the scene.

Large businesses that can afford to pay the fees of $1500 to $10,000 for a custom unique website will still probably use the full traditional website option and pay this fees.

For everyone else who cant afford this initial outlay of money,  there is now a much more cost effective, affordable  and user friendly option called WordPress CMS. You can make a website by D.I.Y ( do it yourself ) or get someone to do it at a very low cost.

2018 australia webhosting

2018 – Best platform for websites 

The very first thing you must decide is which blogging/website platform you wish to use. Without a doubt the most popular platform available today is WordPress. This Software is suitable for a blog or even a professional business website like.

Websites like  CNN and MTV among others use this software for their website.
See How You Can Set Up a WordPress Blog in 15 Minutes at Bluehost.com

Here is what you need  to Start a website with wordpress in 5 Steps:

  1. Choosing a blogging platform, domain name, and hosting option.
  2. Design your blog using a simple theme.
  3. Modify your blog to get your desired look and feel.
  4. Select the best plugins for your blog.
  5. Write compelling content that adds value to readers.

This five steps if done properly  will surely get you on your way to success  quickly as you learn on your website or blog journey and keep climbing he ladder to success and perfection.

This process is made easy and supported well by one of the most popular Website CMS software called wordpress.

The wordpress.org  organisation itself recommends bluehost as one of its preferred wordpress website hosting partners. One of the reasons this platform is so popular is the fact that it allows complete novices to set-up, build and customise entire blogs (or professional websites for that matter) with the click of a few buttons.

Below featured is the 4 day only  $2.95 a month cheapest ever offer (link below) for wordpress hosting from bluehost. It wont last.

If this offer expires our discount link below will be updated to the next best offer.

MEMORIAL DAY WEBSITE HOSTING AND START A BLOG DEAL

Memorial Day Savings

As Low As $8.99 $3.45/month*

Leverage advertising offers from Google, Bing, and other leading sites

Launch your site and save over 60% for a limited time only!

  • FREE Domain
  • FREE Website Builders
  • 1-Click WordPress Install
  • 24/7 Support

Deal just updated – Its not often that you get such a good hosting offer from bluehost at  60 % off. The price – Its an  amazing $2.95 a month for 36 months just for YOU – Grab it here via my link (50% off -$3.45) while it lasts.

Bluehost  was kind enough  to send me this special deal  for my readers, due to being an ongoing customer and affiliate partner. If your looking to start a new blog or looking to get a spare hosting account ,this is just what you needed.

[Deal available From Thursday, May 19, through Friday May 31 at 11:59 PM (MT) AND TODAY memorial day for month of May]

The benefits and advantages of using WordPress as for a business site are quite simply MANY. Not only will a WordPress business site allow you to make all of your own site modifications without the need to pay for a designer but it also has huge advantages with SEO and support.

You can also add many optional or additional functions to your website yourself  by just adding a plugin in a minute or two.

 

BLUEHOST 2.95 DEAL

When you say you are starting a blog –

Why are you doing it?

  1. For Money?

  2. For Fame?

  3. Passionate about writing?

  4. Want to share your experiences about your expertise in a specific field of your interest?

If you’re new to blogging or on a very tight budget, you’re better off starting with a free blog with one of the providers below. Gain some experience writing regularly and promoting your blog before you decide to go for the paid option.

If you’re semi-professional or serious about earning money from your blog , or the blog is for a business/ club/group that wants extra features and has a bit of money to put towards it, a paid wordpress blog might be right for you.

Free blogging sites

READ MORE AT LINKS BELOW

Some more deals:

Tags:[ how to start a blog australia ]  [ how to start a blog and make money ] [ how to start a blog on wordpress ] [ how to write a blog]

Stay tuned for more helpful blogging tips. Stay safe /jeff

How To Make A Perfect Website And The Best Tools To Achieve It

by Leave a Comment

building something online

So you want to build a website, but you have no idea how to get started. You’ve never done it before, and you have no idea how to code. Are you really capable of doing this? Of course you are. Here’s some tips on how to get the perfect website built, and some very useful tools to help you achieve your vision.

You don’t need to know how to code

Even a few years ago, you couldn’t have created a website without knowing at least some code. Now, though, there’s lots of software available online that will help you get your website together. It’s all online, so there’s no need to download anything. It’s easy to use, too. Most software just lets you drag and drop features, so everything is exactly where you want it. The best part is that it’s all simple to understand.

Use templates

If you’re a real newbie when it comes to putting a website together, you may not know where each element of the site should go. That’s why templates are a good idea for you. You can pick one, and then change the text and images to get it looking unique and designed with your purposes in mind.

Buy your own domain name

1 click install for webs and cpanel

Using online website builders is a good idea, but one drawback is that you won’t have your own domain name. That can be easily fixed, though. All you have to do is go and buy your domain. Think of something short and snappy, that will describe what your website does. Buy that domain, and then link it to your website. The directions will this differ depending on which software you’re using, but finding the instructions is easy. Once that’s done, if you type in your new website address, it’ll point to that website. Easy!

Integrating eCommerce

If you’re going to sell through your website, before you do anything you need to check if your software can handle it. Most website creators have some form of eCommerce tools available, but you want to ensure that it will be safe for people to buy from you. That’s why Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology must be present, to avoid identity theft.

Have confidence in yourself

You may not have built a website before, but you’ve used plenty and you know what a good website looks like. You can create a website with just a few clicks, so it’s easier than ever to get started. You too can create something great online.

Tools to get you started

Ready to get making your website? Then here are some tools that you can put to good use:

– Avocode: This website gives you the easier way to code your own website. You can even invite in collaborators to give you a hand.

– Sketch: This graphic design tool is used by high ranking websites such as Buzzfeed, Paypal and Google. It makes the process of designing your site much simpler and easier to understand.

– Best Australian Writers: You’re going to need content, so why not get help? This site gives you access to all of the writers that you will ever need.

– UXPin: You’ll need to play around with different elements of your website design before you can implement them. This tool allows you to do this with ease.

– Marvel: This is the best tool to start creating prototypes of your website. Get a feel for how it looks before it goes live.

Now you have the tools to hand, go create that website. You too can create a website that visitors will love.

Super Guide to Get The Best Value Web Hosting in 2017

by Leave a Comment

Like renting an apartment or an office space, you need to get the best value for your money when considering a web hosting service to pay for.

certate a website

Many websites out there are offering different web hosting services. Some are as cheap as sand while some others could be very expensive.

While it all boils down to your preference and how much money you are willing to pay, there are certain considerations to take when deciding who will be your website host.

Your web host is an influential part of your website and you should only go for the best quality available for your financial muscle.

Here are certain things you should look out for in a potential web host.

1. Reliability

Is your website host offering a 24-hour service? You lose customers and money whenever your website goes down or is inaccessible.

“Your website visitors often won’t have the patience of waiting and trying again later, especially as there are many other websites out there who offer the same or similar services as you do.Your web hosting service provider should be reliable and consistent. Going for experience is important here.”_ Brandan from Umbrella Website Hosting

The best web host will offer a round-the-clock service, which means your website will always be reachable at all times of the day.

2. 24/7 Customer support

What happens if you suddenly encounter an issue with your website? Does your host have a support system in place to help you solve any technical difficulties? Is your host readily available to help out?

These are important questions to which you should seek clarity before deciding to invest your hard-earned money into a web hosting service. You should be able to contact your web host and get quick feedback via email, phone or other available channels.

3. Disk capacity

Web space is cheap. Try to get as much disk space as you can get.

Although this may not matter much as the onset, as your website grows, you may require more and more web space to store your content.

It is an important factor for you to consider and make sure your host can make more space available to you as your demands grow without charging extra costs.

4. Speed

The world is moving at a break neck speed and time is the new currency.

Everyone is looking for the fastest option and speed is synonymous with quality. From iPhones to android phones, everyone is focusing on speed.

Your website has to load fast to keep visitors interested. A research by Akamai shows that 40% of online visitors quickly abandon sites that take too long to load. And how much is ‘too long’? Just 3 seconds.

This further highlights the importance of your website’s loading speed. Your web host should be able to provide a fast and easy to load website that will allow you keep your customers and attract new visitors.

5. Ease of access

You should not have to take a special course to be able to use your website. Basic computer skills should be sufficient.

Your website should be easy to use. It should be simple enough for you to get the best out of it. You should be able to carry out simple tweaks and template designs on your website.

A well-structured, user-friendly control panel that allows you carry out essential tasks with minimum stress is a necessity.

6. Pricing and subscription

You should get what you pay for. Your web host should clearly state the terms and conditions of the package to which you subscribe without any hidden charges.

A standard pricing system is essential both for the first year sign up and for subsequent annual renewals.

7. Add-ons

Email is an important business marketing tool and many web hosting companies offer email hosting together with, or separate from, the web hosting package. It is important that you make sure of the subscription terms rather than acting under assumption.

Other features such as subdomains, advertising credits, SSL certification, shopping carts, one-click app installs are also important for your website. These are features that add more value to your website.

8. Back up

I have decided to save the best for the last.

Beyond all the factors discussed above, an essential feature of a good web hosting service is having a secure back up.

What happens if your site suddenly crashes? Are all your files and contents just – gone?

You must ensure that your web hosting service provider has a secure, and up-to-date back up for your website at all times. Not having an adequate back up or no back up at all can prove very costly for your website.

The need for back up can be easily overlooked. But it something you ignore at your own loss.

The price of web hosting is one of the costs of running your business. However, it is a cost that is necessary; more so in this technology age.

For the best value web hosting and domain names, visit https://www.umbrellar.nz/our-solutions/domain-names/

Experts top stories that allowed them to create a winning logo.

by Leave a Comment

promo products australia

If you are serious about taking your business to the next level, you need to look at developing a branding strategy that makes use of your business’s logo. The logo is the branding stamp that will quickly communicate the values and benefits that your brand represents. Whether you use the logo on product designs, in your marketing materials or on promotional products, the right logo will allow your business to scale awareness to the wider audience in your market. Below are a few tips from logo design experts that you can use to develop a winning logo.

Caroline Davidson – Creator of the Nike ‘Swoosh’ logo in 1971.

Caroline Davidson is credited with creating one of the world’s most easily recognisable logos. She helped Nike founder Phil Knight with the rebrand of his ‘Blue Ribbon Sports’ business to the ‘Nike brand’ when he and his business partners were also looking for a new logo concept. Caroline was offered the opportunity to create the logo and after coming up with several designs, she fell in love with the Swoosh. She said that she never got tired of looking at it. Harvard Business School professor Stephen A. Greyser was quoted saying, “The Swoosh has become a living, vibrant symbol of the firm.” She aimed to develop a static design that appeared fluid. She would draw her designs on tissue papers and lay it over the shoe to make sure it would look good on the product.

Milton Glaser – Creator of the ‘I love New York’ logo in 1977.

Milton Glaser was able to use the influence of pop culture and art to develop the logo, which was also used as a slogan for New York’s State Department of Commerce. The idea evolved from a ‘one-line’ concept to ‘stacking’ to develop a higher impact on the audience. The logo became closely associated with New York City and was even modified by Glaser following the 2001 September 11 attacks, with a black dot in the heart representing the World Trade Centres.

Rob Janoff – Creator of the Apple logo in 1977.

The Apple logo was created by Rob Janoff who was the art director at advertising and PR firm Regis McKenna. One of the thoughts behind his design was how iconic it was for people to take a bite out of an apple, since it was something that anyone could experience. The design is said to have used the ‘Golden ration’, which has been used since the 16th century to create harmonious, aesthetically eye-pleasing designs.

Ruth Kedar – Graphic design artist for the Google logo – 1999-2015.

The original Google design was conceptualised by Larry Page, one of the original founders of Google. However, the formal design was completed by Ruth Kedar. The Google founders liked the playful elements and typeface that she used in the design. Another element was the use of colours in the typeface that reinforced how Google “Doesn’t follow the rules.”

Bill Cleary – Graphic designer for the first EBay logo

Bill Cleary was a part of the CKS Group, a Californian design agency. One of the key factors to the original design was how ‘baseline shift’, which displayed the characters in a zigzag manner. The colours were used to convey entertainment, enthusiasm and energy. There was also an abnormal use of capital letters to enhance the display. The logo was used for 17 years before undergoing a revamp in 2012.

The right logo design can enhance the recognition and brand recall for the business. Every business wants to have a logo design that is memorable, easily recognisable and that easily communicates the core values of the brand. Get inspired by these experts today!

Flexible, Affordable Web Hosting

by Leave a Comment

start your website today

The best Australian web hosting is going to be cost-effective and actually effective.  It’s no good paying five dollars a month for internet services if it takes you twenty minutes to check an e-mail.  Furthermore, a cheap web hosting provider probably won’t have any customer service to speak of; how can they afford it?  The fact is, you get what you pay for and service is part of this equation.

One of the most encouraging signs that a particular service is the best Australian web hosting service out there, is if the company commits to provide the absolute highest quality web hosting packages in the industry.

There are very few web hosting services with the resources or customer service expertise to handle such an exceptional claim.  Any organisation willing to make this claim is certainly willing to back it up, which means if there is any area in which they fall short, they’ll work with you rather than send you into some bureaucratic purgatory sure to craze your eyes.
Flexibility is really the next big thing to look for.  The environment of the hosting space should have a definite elasticity to it.  IT services that come from flexibility will be able to match the needs of the client.  IT services that will not leave both parties frustrated.  Look for a variety of avenues of contact and communication.

The best Australian web hosting company will have your best interests at heart.  They will essentially understand that their piece of mind is your piece of mind; so instead of listening to you because they’re trying to delegate a response, they’ll listen to you because they have a vested interest in what you’re saying.  In fact, personable service providers will be a staple of their business.  Feedback should not be something that the best Australian web hosting company is afraid of.  They’ll understand that criticism actually increases value, as it provides an opportunity for betterment.

In fact, the best Australian web hosting companies will encourage their clients to suggest ideas for new features and services.  Some of those ideas will even be up for vote amidst the other clientele the web hosting service caters to, such that if there is enough demand, theidea will be implemented.
The best Australian web hosting services fundamentally understand that communication is a primary component of solid hosting.

Furthermore, staff won’t be outsourced to some other country conglomerate with a bunch of guys letting on to be “Steve Smith”.  Here are some offerings worth expecting: a ten-minute turn around on support tickets, e-mail that directly supports users, phone support of a direct nature, live online support, and a knowledge base of do-it-yourself techniques that can be communicated to a client in the event a fix can be done simply and swiftly with guidance.  Furthermore, such an organisation will understand the system it is running and the needs of its clientele such that its service providers and IT personnel can communicate in language that doesn’t require six years in a technology college to understand.
EZi Hosting publicly declares that it is the best Australian web hosting service in Oz, and wants you to let them prove it.

They offer comprehensive, flexible packages and top-tier customer support from local craftsmen that are dedicated and knowledgeable about the task at hand.  IT personnel from EZi will work with you, not against you.  You will save time, aggravation, and money with EZi, and there is a definite reason for that: because they are the best Australian web hosting service available on the continent.

Distinguish Your Business with Smart Online Marketing

by Leave a Comment

There are millions of websites on the internet, and sometimes it can be tough for business to rise above the crowd. A business owner might offer great services and products, but if they can’t differentiate their business from the many others in the industry that also have websites, it is unlikely they will improve their business much.

web site theme wordpress

wordpresstheme

Part of a “smart online marketing campaign”, though, focuses on distinguishing your business from all the competitors and imitators. The most effective online marketing will leave you with a memorable brand and impactful online presence.

1. Polish Your Website

The first step in distinguishing your website is to project a distinguished image. Web users should navigate to your site and immediately think they are dealing with a professional, reliable company.

If your business doesn’t have a website, or if the website you do have is dull, you won’t be able to take advantage of the benefits the internet can have for business. Fortunately, setting up a website has gotten easier and easier over the years. Now, many sites offer templates and low-cost site hosting, so you need neither design skills nor a huge budget for online expenses to run a professional-looking website.

You might think about setting up a blog. Blogs can be very effective because they allow businesses to communicate directly with readers, and with more content (and more page views), the company’s search ranking will improve. To do that, Premium WordPress themes look through some  and choose one that is suitable for your company’s brand. Modify the colors and graphics to fit your style, and you will be good to start blogging.

2. Have a Clear Message

Confusion on your website is only going to encourage users to click over to other sites. If you have five million products posted to your front page, your visitors will be overwhelmed and turned off. If, on the other hand, you are not clear enough about any of the services you offer, your visitors will be similarly discouraged from purchasing your products.

building websites australia wordpress small business

WordPress theme

Strike a balance by giving customers a clear idea of what your business does and how they can use your website. The shotgun approach to advertising—putting as many products on the screen as possible and hoping for success—will not pay off. Instead, provide an honest account of what your business is and how you can help. Also, don’t over-exaggerate your services. With all of the hyperbole on the net, users can easily recognize it when they see it.

3. Connect with Users

Does your company offer awesome services that can help lots of people? Prove your confidence in the brand by reaching out directly to your potential customers. Engagement is a central part of online marketing, and it is a great way for businesses to express their personality and bolster their reputation.

Get involved in social media. It can feel a bit empty at first, because building a community is slow and you won’t actually sell any products on your social media feeds, but it’s a great way to get noticed. Active social media will eventually result in a larger audience online, with more potential customers coming to your business’s website rather than that of a competitor.

In addition, be sure that you use every opportunity to boost customer service by communicating with customers and addressing their needs. Be proactive in offering answers and advice regarding your field, and get back to customers quickly whenever they have a question or concern. In addition, thank customers for any positive feedback, and always work to modify your company and its online activities according to feedback you get from your visitors.

About author Anny Solway is a dedicated writer at ThemeFuse – a leader in the Premium WordPress Themes area. She likes to discover new ideas about internet marketing, social media and blogging.

Mortgage Tips and building you own Business

by Leave a Comment

More and more Australians are taking the plunge and starting their own home-based businesses. There are currently over 1 million individuals operating a business from home, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. This number looks set to grow even larger with the easy availability of website building software.

The best website templates allow new business owners to create a professional ecommerce site from scratch, with little to no prior knowledge of web design. Recently there has been a surge in Real estate Start ups in Australia

Small business owner WEbsites builder

 

However, starting a home business requires more than simply setting up a website. You’ll need to think of legal issues like registering for company names, business licences, and taxation. Using your residence as a place of business will mean that you must comply with all state, territory, and federal government regulations. To get started with this process, it’s best to contact your local council for more information.

At the same time, home business owners in need of a new mortgage may find that they face some unique issues. Applying for a home loan when you are self-employed can involve a completely different process than the usual one for salaried workers. There may be zoning issues that could affect your mortgage, as well as different standards for assessing your income. It’s best to weigh all these issues to finance a home that will be suitable for your business needs as well.

Choosing the Right Live/Work Property

One of the first unique challenges that a home business owner faces is choosing a property that provides adequate room for business needs. If you have just started up a basic ecommerce site using a Shopify website builder, you will most likely only need one spare room. However, those who plan on meeting with clients could need a full floor of the home. This could also impact your mortgage rates if a significant percentage of the property is used for commercial purposes. The exact percentage will depend on the lender.

How Lenders Assess your Finances

Every lender uses its own methods for assessing your income. In most cases they’ll look at your income using one of three basic methods.

1. Using the most recent year’s income – Although most lenders will use an average over a greater time period, some will only look at earnings from the past year to assess your income.

2. Using the average income from the past two years – Calculating the average income from the past two financial years gives lenders a well-rounded picture of your self-employed earnings.

3. Using the lowest income out of the past two years – If the most recent year’s income is lower than the previous year’s, it may worry a lender who will assume that this downward path could continue into the future. In this circumstance, they may use the lower figure out of the two years as the basis of their assessment.

To assess your earnings from a home-based business, lenders will look at your most recent tax returns as well as other expenses and financial information. Income from other sources, such as rental income, will usually be deducted from the figure that is scrutinized.

Low Document Loans

If you’re unable to find a lender who will help finance a mortgage using traditional methods like tax returns, you may qualify for a low doc home loan. These are available to home business owners who don’t have adequate financial proof available to satisfy income requirements. However, they usually require a higher down payment of at least 20% of the purchase price, and incur higher interest rates than traditional mortgages.