The best business checking accounts offer no monthly fees and free transactions while giving tools to help you keep track of expenses, accounting and tax needs. Over the last few years, digital banks have risen to take the crown when it comes to high interest rates, few fees and additional business features. But if you’re primarily a cash-run business, brick-and-mortar banks still have their place. Peruse through the best business bank accounts to find the right one that gives you a clear view of your business’ cash flow.
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With an attractive rate of up to 2% APY and no monthly fee, no opening deposit requirement, unlimited transactions and more than 38,000 ATM locations nationwide, Bluevine's free Standard plan lands as our best overall business checking account. To earn this APY, you'll need to spend $500 or earn $2,500 each month. For an even higher APY, you can opt for one of the paid plans Plus or Premier for a 3% to 4.25% APY with no activity requirements. Plus is $30 per month and Premier is $95 per month, but you can waive the fee by meeting balance or transaction requirements. In addition, Bluevine sports very high FDIC insurance up to $3 million thanks to its partner bank Coastal Community Bank and a network of program banks.
Pros
Earn 2% APY on up to $250,000 with Standard plan
Few fees
Unlimited transactions
High 3% to 4.25% APY with paid plans
No required minimum opening deposit
8 software integrations
Cons
2.90% transaction fee when you pay bills with your credit card
APY
4.25% on balances of $0 to $3,000,000 3.00% on balances of $0 to $250,000 2.00% on balances of $0 to $250,000
Novo carries no monthly fees and has no minimum deposit requirement to open. Plus, there's no ATM fees, foreign transaction fees, incoming wire fees, or debit card replacement fees. But what makes it really shine is the number of software integrations supported. You can connect Novo to Slack, Stripe, Zapier, Venmo and more. This makes Novo an ideal choice for accountants, e-commerce and small businesses like restaurants or hair stylists that want to keep their business finances and information all in one place.
Pros
Free invoicing with multiple payment options, including ACH and card payments
Unlimited ATM reimbursements
15+ integrations with business services like Quickbooks
Novo is a fintech company; not a bank. Deposit account services provided by Middlesex Federal Savings, F.A., Member FDIC. Physical debit cards issued by Middlesex Federal Savings or Patriot Bank, N.A., Member FDIC; virtual cards issued by Patriot Bank, pursuant to licenses from Mastercard® International Incorporated. Mastercard can be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard is a registered trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.
Relay is a flexible business checking account with a baseline of no minimum opening deposit and no monthly, foreign transaction or ATM fees. But the real draw is that businesses can create up to 20 checking accounts and customize them as needed, whether as a way to categorize finances or assign accounts to specific teams for their own needs. You assign up to 50 debit cards to employees, while maintaining control over daily spending and ATM withdrawals. Relay also offers a savings account with a 1.00% to 3.00% APY, depending on your balance - but the highest balances earn the best rates.
Pros
Create up to 20 checking accounts and issue up to 50 debit cards
No monthly fee or basic plan
No overdraft, bounced check, or ATM fees
Set spending limits on any ATM cards you distribute to your team
Cons
No paper checks
Requires $1 million savings balance to earn 3.00% APY
APY
3.00% on balances of $1,000,000+ 2.00% on balances of $250,000 to $999,999 1.50% on balances of $50,000 to $249,999
Relay is a financial technology company, not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services and FDIC insurance are provided through Thread Bank and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.The Relay Visa® Debit Card is issued by Thread Bank pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa® debit cards are accepted.
Found is designed to serve freelancers and self-employed people. It comes standard with no monthly fees or balance requirements. It offers some great specialized features useful for freelancers, including the ability to create invoices, track expenses and income, create basic reports, and manage cash flow with custom pockets. A standout perk is the ability to calculate and save taxes in the Found savings account. You can also upgrade to Found Plus for $19.99 a month or $149.99 per year to get extras, such as 1.50% APY on balances up to $20,000 and custom expense categories.
Pros
No required monthly or overdraft fees
Automated tools for taxes and write-offs
Track expenses and send invoices
Cons
Not available to larger businesses
No outgoing wires
APY
1.50% on balances of $0 to $20,000 Only for Found Plus members.
Found is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services are provided by Piermont Bank, Member FDIC. The Found Mastercard®️ debit card is issued by Piermont Bank pursuant to a license from Mastercard Inc. Found’s core features are free. Found also offers a paid product, Found Plus.
Open a business checking account by June 30 and get up to $400 when you use promo code NEW400 on your application and maintain a minimum average daily balance of $50,000.
Axos Bank's Basic Business Checking account is largely free: you will pay no monthly maintenance fee and there is no minimum opening deposit. Axos also offers unlimited domestic ATM fee reimbursements, while competitors tend to cap such reimbursements. This, along with hardy access to 91,000 ATMs, is why this Axos business account makes the cut as the best choice for cash deposits.
Pros
No monthly fees or opening requirements
Unlimited domestic ATM fee reimbursements
Accepts cash deposits
Integrates with Quickbooks
Cons
Support limited to phone or email
APY
N/A
Intro or bonus offer
Open a business checking account by June 30 and get up to $400 when you use promo code NEW400 on your application and maintain a minimum average daily balance of $50,000.
The Mercury Business checking account is designed for startups that are comfortable managing everything online. There's no monthly fee, no fees for overdrafts or sending and receiving ACH transfers, and it comes with free domestic wire transfers and free outgoing international wires in USD. This is quite generous as many business checking accounts at least charge international wire transfers. Mercury also comes with a few other perks, including remote check deposit and an option to open Mercury Treasury, an automated cash management account that automatically invests extra cash into mutual funds. On the downside, the savings account rate is low at 0.001% APY, and as an online bank, you won't be able to make cash deposits.
NBKC bank states its favorite number is zero, and its business checking account takes the win for best free business checking. There's no monthly fee and you only need $0 to open the account. There are also no fees for returned electronic or paper items, free e-statements, no charges for stop payments and it's free to deposit checks at a branch or online. If you're receiving a wire transfer in the US, that's also free. But there are only physical branches in the Kansas City area, so if you prefer in-person banking, this may not be the bank for you. And if you frequently do wire transfers, there are two fees to watch out for: $5 for domestic and $45 for international wire transfers.
Pros
$0 monthly fee
$0 account deposit to open
Minimal fees
Free to receive US wire transfers
Cons
Branches only in Kansas City area
$45 for incoming and outgoing international wire transfers
Grasshopper is a free business checking account that offers 1% cash back on eligible purchases and a 2.25% APY on balances between $25,000 and $250,000. Balances under $25,000 earn 1.51% APY. Most competitors lack both of these features altogether, and Grasshopper continues to add value with no monthly fees or overdraft charges and built-in bookkeeping software. While its main competitor, Oxygen, has a higher cash back rate, Grasshopper has a much higher APY. But to qualify for cash back, you must maintain an average balance of $10,000 and have an account in good standing
Pros
Earn 1% cash back on eligible debit card purchases
Earn up to 2.25% APY
No monthly fees or overdraft charges
Cons
No cash deposits
Limited weekday customer support
APY
2.25% on balances of $25,000 to $250,000 1.51% on balances of $0.01 to $25,000 1.51% on balances of $250,000+
The Chase Business Complete Banking® account keeps things simple. It offers free same-day deposits, unlimited transactions, free same-day deposits and an integrated system that allows for banking and payment processing from the same account. It's also one of the few business checking accounts on the market to offer a signup bonus: new customers earn a $300 bonus when they meet certain balance and transaction requirements.
Pros
Unlimited transactions
Free same-day deposits
$300 signup bonus
Cons
$15 waivable monthly fee
$2.50 per $1,000 fee on deposits made after the first $5,000 deposited each month
Card readers sold separately for $49.95 fee
APY
N/A
Intro or bonus offer
Earn $300 when you open a new Chase Business Complete Checking® account. For new Chase business checking customers with qualifying activities.
Fee
$15 per month
To waive the fee
Or meet any one of these requirements each month: - $2,000 minimum daily balance - $2,000 in purchases on your Chase Ink Business Card - $2,000 in deposits from QuickAccept or other eligible transactions - Link a Chase Private Client Checking account
Square's popular point of sale software naturally works well with the optional Square checking account and debit card. Using the checking account eliminates the need for bank transfers for your business and there are no service fees, overdraft fees or ATM fees charged by overdrafts associated with the account or debit card. If you prefer using Square with your business and want a frictionless banking experience, Square checking is your best bet.
Pros
No need for bank transfers
No monthly service, overdraft or ATM fees fees
Square sellers get 2.75% off when using their card with other Square sellers
Cons
ATM withdrawals limited to $250 per transaction and $2,000 per month
Can't spend more than $10,000 in a single transaction or more than $25,000 per day
No ATM network
APY
N/A
Intro or bonus offer
When you use your Square Card at any other Square seller, you get 2.75% off your purchase.
Revolut Business is best for businesses that operate in the US and globally. A UK-based bank, it accepts a wide variety of business types including freelancers, partnerships and large companies. It stands out for its acceptance of multiple currencies, allowing you to spend in over 150 currencies, and hold, save or send in many currencies as well. You can choose a free or paid plan, with the free options full of features, like up to 200 virtual cards, software integrations, invoice tracking and more. The paid plan options have extra perks, such as monthly allowances for currency exchanges at the real-time exchange rate, and cashback rewards up to 1.9%. However, Revolut doesn't accept checks or cash deposits, and as an online bank, there are no physical branches.
Finder’s banking experts research and analyze over 41 business checking accounts to find the best ones that offer perks and features helpful to businesses, such as software integrations, tax tools, interest, transaction limits and ATM access. We weigh these features against the account’s fees and opening deposit requirements.
We also consider the following factors when choosing the best list:
Up to $15 monthly fees as long as there’s an easy way to avoid the fee such as
Balance requirements of no more than $2,000
Up to $100 minimum opening deposits
For interest-bearing business checking accounts, the APY must occur on high balances and at least $2,500 a month in deposit requirements
How to choose a business checking account for your needs
Keep these factors in mind when shopping around for a business checking account:
Monthly fee. Most business checking accounts have monthly maintenance fees that are only waived if you meet certain deposit or transaction requirements each month.
Opening deposit. Some small business checking accounts require significant initial deposits, while others don’t require any deposit at all.
Interest. While rare, some business accounts offer interest on your funds. This is a great incentive for your funds, though checking APYs still can’t match up to what you’ll earn with a savings account.
Account integrations. If you have employees, choose an account that works seamlessly with your payroll system. And if you plan to make itemized deductions on your taxes, your account’s system for reporting transactions can have a big impact on how easy that is.
Transaction limits. Some accounts let you make an unlimited amount of deposits, withdrawals and transfers. While others limit how many business transactions you can do in a month and charge you a fee if you go over. Look for an account that supports the number of transactions you typically make.
Employee access. Banks typically limit the total number of employee cards or employee access they’ll grant per account. But if you only need a business account for yourself, consider a dedicated self-employed checking account.
Cash deposits. Most online banks don’t allow for cash deposits. If this is a concern to your business, you’ll want to look at accounts offered by brick-and-mortar banks.
Signup bonus. Though rare, some business checking accounts come with signup bonuses. But make sure the account itself is solid as well, as you’ll be stuck with it after the signup bonus is completed.
Do I need a business checking account?
Any business owner, whether large, small, or independently owned, should have a business checking account. With a dedicated business account, you’ll benefit from these perks:
Access payroll or accounting software integrations
Can I use my personal checking account for my business?
Yes, but you shouldn’t. It’s best to separate your personal expenses from your business expenses for tax purposes. This protects you from personal liability for costs and debts if your business closes.
There are a few fees that are common across most business checking accounts. The most common include:
Fee
What it is
How to avoid it
Monthly maintenance fee
Charged by the bank each month for maintaining your account.
Look for a business account with no monthly fees or fees that are easily avoidable when you meet certain deposit or transaction requirements.
Cash handling
You have a set amount of cash you can deposit for free each month. Go over this limit, and your bank may charge you a fee of around 30 cents for every $100 you deposit.
Calculate how much cash you bring in each month and find an account that matches this limit.
Excess transaction
There’s a limit to how many paid checks, ATM deposits and electronic transfers you can make each month. Go over this limit, and you’ll pay a fee of around 40 cents for each additional transaction.
Choose an account that matches the number of transactions you typically make. Or, look for an account with unlimited transactions.
Are there free business checking accounts?
Yes. Most of the business checking accounts on our best list are free to open and use, with some such as NBKC offering even fewer fees than average, like on foreign transaction and overdraft fees. Most free business checking accounts come from online banks.
What you need to open a business checking account
Depending on the type of business you operate, different financial institutions may require different documents when opening your checking account. However, most will require the following:
Name and address of business
Business tax ID number
Date business was established
Country and state of legal formation
Country and state of business operation
Personal information, such as SSN or date of birth for everyone on the application
How to open open a business checking account with bad credit
Unless you’re opening a line of credit or loan, you shouldn’t have issues opening up a business checking account. This is because banks ultimately check your ChexSystems report to look at past banking history and determine if you’re eligible to open a checking account. Banks use this report to make sure you don’t have a negative banking history that reflects habits like involuntary account closures, past overdrafts and bounced checks. Your credit is taken into account, but it matters more for other types of accounts and riskier businesses such as sole proprietors.
What to do if you’re denied
If you’re denied a business checking account, you can look at second-chance business accounts that have less strict criteria for opening a business bank account. Bear in mind they usually come with fees and may not offer features like overdraft protection.
Where should I open my business checking account?
There are three options to choose from: Online banks, brick-and-mortar banks or credit unions. Here’s how they compare:
Type of bank
Who it’s best for
Major features
Digital bank
Businesses that prefer higher APYs, fewer fees and prefer managing their account online
Highest potential APY among banks
Few fees
Integration tools
Payment app/processor support
Brick-and-mortar bank
Businesses that prefer in-person customer support, depositing cash regularly, or prefer an established major bank
Easy cash deposits
Physical locations
Credit union
Businesses that want lower fees and better interest rates than brick-and-mortar banks, but don’t want a digital bank
Lower interest rates and fewer fees than brick-an- mortar banks
Good customer service
Physical locations
4 additional accounts to support your business needs
Business banks accounts can help you manage your company’s finances, but there are other options. Aside from a bank account, your business may also benefit from:
Business savings accounts.Opening a savings account for your business helps you build up cash reserves so you have money for unexpected expenses, a rainy day or a cash infusion when you’re ready to expand your offerings.
Business credit cards.Opening a strong business credit card that’s linked to an account that is intended primarily for business expenses can be valuable instrument in managing your cash flow. If used strategically, these cards can be good tools to earn interest by putting your money in a savings or cash management account during the interest-free period of your credit card. It’s also good to note that these cards can earn points.
Business loans. If your business plans to expand in the future, you may be able to get a better deal by using a bank you already have a business account with. Keep in mind that many financial institutions won’t lend to business owners who don’t have a dedicated business account. If you don’t plan to use the same bank, check out these top business loans.
Cash management accounts. Similar to checking accounts, some cash management accounts (CMAs), such as
Brex Cash, have higher APYs with fewer fees. The downside is that CMAs are less convenient than business bank accounts, and they’re not always FDIC insured.
Cassidy Horton is a freelance personal finance copywriter and past contributing writer for Finder. Her writing and banking expertise have been featured in Forbes Advisor, Money, The Balance, Money Under 30, Insure.com, and other top digital publishers. She holds a BS in public relations and an MBA from Georgia Southern University.
As we are a comparison website, we do not offer any loans. However, you can use our comparison page to see and compare your options on loans for nonprofit organizations to help you find a lender that might work for you.
Before applying, please ensure that you meet all the eligibility criteria and read through the Product Disclosure Statements/Terms and Conditions before making a decision on whether it is right for you.
As of now, we only cater to customers in the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. You can check out your local credit card companies in Indonesia to apply. I’m sorry I wasn’t of help.
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Do you offer business lines of credit for non profits?
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Thanks for contacting Finder.
As we are a comparison website, we do not offer any loans. However, you can use our comparison page to see and compare your options on loans for nonprofit organizations to help you find a lender that might work for you.
Before applying, please ensure that you meet all the eligibility criteria and read through the Product Disclosure Statements/Terms and Conditions before making a decision on whether it is right for you.
I hope this helps.
Kind Regards,
Faye
for a credit card application suggested by finder, is it applicable to all citizens? like me who are in indonesia?
Hi Kelly,
Thanks for leaving a question on finder.
As of now, we only cater to customers in the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. You can check out your local credit card companies in Indonesia to apply. I’m sorry I wasn’t of help.
Cheers,
Joel