The situation
You went self-employed recently. Every leasing form asks for “at least 12 months” of trading and a full set of accounts. You don't have either yet, but the work is real, the income is coming in, and you need a vehicle now — not in six months when the calendar catches up.
We start with a soft credit check via Creditsafe and accept evidence that fits the situation: bank statements, signed contracts, recent invoices. Not a 12-month accounts requirement, not a paywall.
Eligibility module
What we accept instead of accounts
Honest answer: we look at three things together. The shorter your trading history, the more weight each one carries.
Bank statements
3–6 months. Business or personal. Consistency over time matters more than the absolute number.
Signed contracts
Ongoing client work in writing. A strong signal that the income is not a one-off.
Recent invoices
A handful of paid invoices showing the contract is being honoured.
Subject to status. We do not offer guaranteed approval.
Two products to choose between
The process, end to end
- 1
Soft check via Creditsafe
Online or phone. Identity, address and fraud checks. Does not normally affect your credit score the same way as a full lending application.
- 2
Send documents
Bank statements + contracts + invoices, whichever apply. We will tell you what we need.
- 3
Honest indication
Yes, no, or what would change the answer. Plain language.
- 4
Vehicle & agreement
Choose vehicle, term, mileage, initial rental.
- 5
Sign (and hard search if needed, with your permission)
A hard search may be required if a soft search highlights something for further review. We always ask first.
What affects the price
The same things as any lease — vehicle, term, mileage, and initial rental. Newly self-employed applicants typically sit on the 3-month initial-rental structure rather than 1.5 months until trading history builds up. Total cost over the lease is the same; only the cash up front differs. See our initial-rental explainer for a worked side-by-side example.
A real example
Placeholder — awaiting real case study
Anonymised approval — under-12-months self-employed
Short paragraph describing one real customer (no name) who was approved within their first year of self-employment, what evidence we accepted, and the vehicle / term they ended up with. Client to supply.
Related
Frequently asked questions
How long do I need to have been self-employed?
There is no fixed minimum. Even applicants in their first three months can be considered if they have signed contracts, ongoing invoicing, and a credible affordability picture. The shorter the trading time, the more we lean on contracts and bank statements.
What documents do you accept?
Three to six months of bank statements (business or personal), signed contracts where you have ongoing work agreed, recent invoices showing trading, and ID. We tell you what is needed for your specific application — nothing more.
Can I use my contract as proof of income?
Yes. A signed contract from a credible client is one of the strongest pieces of evidence for under-12-months applicants, especially when paired with bank statements showing the contract being honoured.
Will the soft credit check affect my score?
A soft credit check via Creditsafe does not normally affect your credit score the same way as a full lending application search. We use it for identity, address and fraud-prevention checks. If something needs further review, a hard search may be required — but only with your permission.
What is the minimum deposit?
Initial rentals are typically structured as 1.5 or 3 months. Newer self-employed applicants usually sit on the 3-month structure. The total cost over the lease is the same — only the cash up-front differs.
What happens if I'm declined?
We tell you, plainly. No mark on your file from the soft check. Where we can suggest something that would change the outcome (additional months of statements, a guarantor, a different vehicle), we will.
Reviewed by
Billy Lang, Director
FCA Registration No: 835008
All applications are subject to status.
We do not offer guaranteed approval. First Flexi Lease is a trading name of Oak First Investments Ltd. FCA Registration No: 835008. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Send your documents — get an honest answer
No mark on your file. No 12-months-or-nothing rule.
