Why Self-Employed Professionals Need Pay Stubs
Traditional W-2 employees receive pay stubs automatically. As a self-employed individual, you need to create your own documentation for various purposes.
Rental Applications
Landlords require proof of income. Pay stubs show you earn 2.5-3x monthly rent.
Loan Applications
Lenders need income verification for auto loans, mortgages, and personal loans.
Personal Records
Maintain organized records of your income, deductions, and tax withholdings.
Government Benefits
Apply for programs, subsidies, or benefits that require income documentation.
Perfect for All Types of Self-Employment
Independent Contractors
- 1099 contractors working for multiple clients
- Construction, plumbing, electrical contractors
- IT consultants and software developers
Freelancers
- Writers, designers, photographers
- Marketing and social media managers
- Virtual assistants and consultants
Gig Workers
- Uber, Lyft, and rideshare drivers
- DoorDash, Uber Eats delivery drivers
- Instacart, TaskRabbit workers
Small Business Owners
- LLC and S-Corp owners paying themselves
- Sole proprietors documenting draws
- Online sellers and e-commerce owners
Creative Professionals
- Artists, musicians, and performers
- YouTubers and content creators
- Coaches and online course instructors
Service Providers
- Tutors and private instructors
- Personal trainers and wellness coaches
- Airbnb hosts and property managers
How to Create Pay Stubs for Self-Employment Income
Enter Your Business Information
Use your business name as the employer (e.g., "Johnson Consulting LLC" or "Sarah Smith Photography"). Include your business EIN or SSN, address, and contact information.
Calculate Your Income
Determine your gross income for the pay period. For contractors, this is your total earnings before deductions. For business owners, this is your draw or salary. Use monthly, bi-weekly, or weekly periods based on how you track income.
Include Self-Employment Tax
Self-employed individuals pay both employee and employer portions of Social Security (12.4%) and Medicare (2.9%), totaling 15.3%. You can also include estimated federal and state tax withholdings based on your income bracket.
Add Deductions
Include any deductions like health insurance premiums (if paying for your own coverage), retirement contributions (SEP-IRA, Solo 401k), or business expense allocations.
Generate & Download
Review your pay stub for accuracy, then download the professional PDF. Create consecutive stubs for 2-3 pay periods to show income consistency when applying for loans or rentals.
Important Considerations for Self-Employed Pay Stubs
Accuracy is Critical
Only document your actual income. Lenders and landlords often verify self-employment income through bank statements, 1099 forms, or tax returns. Your pay stubs should match these documents.
Additional Documentation May Be Required
While pay stubs help document your income professionally, self-employed individuals typically also need to provide: 1099-NEC forms, 2 years of tax returns (showing Schedule C or business income), business bank statements (2-3 months), and/or profit & loss statements.
Consistent Income Works Best
Create pay stubs showing consistent monthly income rather than highly variable amounts. If your income varies significantly, calculate an average based on the last 3-6 months. This shows stability to lenders and landlords.
Track YTD Accurately
Year-to-date totals should increase logically with each pay period. Keep records of all your stubs so YTD amounts are consistent. Lenders check that YTD ÷ months worked matches your stated monthly income.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can self-employed people create their own pay stubs?
Yes! Self-employed individuals, freelancers, and independent contractors can create pay stubs documenting their business income. Since you don't receive traditional W-2 pay stubs, creating your own is a legitimate way to provide proof of income for rentals, loans, and other applications. Just ensure all information is accurate and verifiable.
What should I list as the employer on my pay stub?
Use your business name as the employer. If you operate as an LLC or corporation, use that legal name (e.g., "Smith Consulting LLC"). If you're a sole proprietor, you can use "[Your Name] dba [Business Name]" or simply your name (e.g., "John Smith - Independent Contractor"). Include your business EIN or SSN, business address, and business phone number.
Do I need to include self-employment tax on my pay stubs?
While not strictly required, it's recommended to include estimated tax withholdings to show net income accurately. Self-employed individuals pay 15.3% self-employment tax (12.4% Social Security + 2.9% Medicare) plus federal and state income tax. Including these shows lenders and landlords your realistic take-home income after tax obligations.
Will lenders accept pay stubs from self-employed applicants?
Pay stubs alone typically aren't sufficient for self-employed loan applicants. Lenders usually require additional documentation: 2 years of personal and business tax returns (with Schedule C), 1099-NEC forms from clients, business bank statements (2-3 months), and/or profit & loss statements. Pay stubs help present your income professionally but should be supported by these other documents.