{"menuItems":[{"label":"Best free business checking accounts","anchorName":"#best-free-business-checking-accounts"},{"label":"Methodology: How we choose the best accounts","anchorName":"#methodology-how-we-choose-the-best-accounts"},{"label":"How to find the best free business checking account","anchorName":"#how-to-find-the-best-free-business-checking-account"},{"label":"Free business checking accounts by state","anchorName":"#free-business-checking-accounts-by-state"},{"label":"Compare free business checking accounts by monthly transactions","anchorName":"#compare-free-business-checking-accounts-by-monthly-transactions"},{"label":"What are the pros and cons of free business checking?","anchorName":"#what-are-the-pros-and-cons-of-free-business-checking"},{"label":"How do I know if it's really a fee-free business checking account?","anchorName":"#how-do-i-know-if-it-s-really-a-fee-free-business-checking-account"},{"label":"How to open a free business checking account online","anchorName":"#how-to-open-a-free-business-checking-account-online"},{"label":"Compare other business checking accounts","anchorName":"#compare-other-business-checking-accounts"},{"label":"Bottom line","anchorName":"#bottom-line"}]}
The best free business checking account offers unlimited transactions and built-in tools to help you manage your cash flow. But unlike personal checking accounts, there’s usually a limit to how many deposits and transfers you can make each month. Once you hit that limit, you pay a fee for additional transactions.
Best free business checking accounts
Do a deep dive into the best accounts by comparing their pros and cons:
Quick view
Best free checking account for new freelancers: Lili
Best free checking account for online businesses: Novo
Lili helps freelancers stay on top of their business finances and taxes, automatically saving a percentage of revenue for tax time. From the app, categorize expenses between business and personal with a swipe and upload receipts. And if you open an emergency savings bucket with Lili Pro, you'll earn a 1.5% APY that isn't available on the basic plan.
Pros
No hidden fees. The standard version of Lili has no monthly maintenance fee, and there's no charge for overdrafts, account inactivity, bill pay, card replacements and more. But there is a Pro tier that costs $4.99 per month.
Savings buckets. Stay on top of taxes by having a percentage of your paycheck automatically sent to a tax savings bucket each time you get paid.
Early direct deposit. Freelancers can get deposits up to two days quicker than they would with a traditional bank account.
Supports cash deposits. Unlike most digital banks, this one accepts cash deposits at over 90,000 Green Dot locations.
Cons
Limited customer support. Lili's customer support team is only available weekdays from 9 a.m to 7 p.m. ET.
Low transfer limit. You can't transfer more than $1,000 a day to your linked bank account, which could be restrictive if you typically pay yourself more than that.
No EINs. You can only set up your Lili account using a Social Security number. No business EINs allowed.
APY
1.50% With Lili Pro and by opening an Emergency savings account
If you like doing all your business banking with apps, Novo may suit you with its 15+ integrations for accounting, payroll, processing payments and more. Bypass processing fees when customers send you an ACH or check or with up to $20,000 in Stripe payments. Plus, create up to 10 Reserve savings accounts and automatically save part of your revenue to the accounts you choose.
Pros
No hidden fees. With Novo, you won't pay anything for monthly maintenance, ACH transfers, stop payments, debit card replacements and more.
Integrations. Novo integrates with Wise, Slack, Xero, Stripe, Square and more to help you seamlessly manage cash flow.
Discounts and perks. Sign up for an account and get discounts to popular services like Hubspot, Quickbooks, Gusto, Google Ads, Zendesk and more.
Cons
No recurring payments. You can't schedule automatic payments from this account. You'll have to do it manually.
No payroll providers. Novo doesn't currently integrate with any payroll providers, although it's looking to offer this feature in the future.
No cash deposits. As with most digital banks, Novo doesn't accept cash deposits of any kind.
Axos Bank likes helping small businesses with unlimited, free rebates for US ATMs. Access its extensive ATM networks to withdraw or deposit cash, and get up to 60 mobile check deposits per month with unlimited transactions. Not all business accounts offer these features. Finally, having no monthly maintenance fee or minimum balance is ideal for times when profit margins are tight.
Pros
No fees or minimum balance requirements. This account is free to open and you won't get penalized for running low on funds.
Unlimited transactions. While many business checking accounts cap your transactions, Axos doesn't impose a limit, so you can use your account as often as you want.
Unlimited ATM refunds. Axos refunds any and all domestic ATM fees you incur each month.
Quickbooks compatibility. If you use Quickbooks for your business, you can link up your accounts to budget and manage your money all in one place.
Cash deposits. Deposit cash at thousands of MoneyPass and AllPoint ATMs nationwide.
Cons
No interest. Axos offers some interest-bearing checking accounts, but this Basic Business Checking account isn't one of them.
Limited in-person support. You can visit one of its six offices for in-person support. Otherwise, you'll need to be comfortable with phone or email support.
Bluevine blends the best of both worlds — few fees and a high 2% APY on qualifying balances. Don't worry about a monthly maintenance fee or keeping a minimum dollar amount in your checking. Then, create up to five subaccounts to categorize your finances, and give dedicated logins to your team for secure access. Bluevine also offers check-writing, which isn't available on other online-based business accounts.
Pros
Unlimited transactions. Open a Bluevine account with as little as $0 and enjoy unlimited transactions and no fees for monthly maintenance, incoming wires and non-sufficient funds.
Competitive interest. You'll earn 2.0% APY on balances up to $100,000 as long as you spend at least $500 or receive $2,500 in customer payments.
Software integrations. Sync your Bluevine account to QuickBooks Online, Wave, Freshbooks, PayPal, Stripe and more for easy money management.
Cons
Fee for cash deposits. You'll pay $4.95 when you deposit cash at a Green Dot location. This is a standard fee charged by the retailer, not Bluevine.
No savings account options. Bluevine doesn't have any other bank accounts, but considering your balance earns 2.0% APY, this may not be a big deal.
APY
2.00% on balances of $0 to $100,000 You need spend $500 a month or receive $2,500 a month in customer statements.
With many day-to-day transactions to deal with, NBKC makes sure that you don't deal with fees for monthly maintenance, overdrafts, bill payments or incoming domestic wire transfers. Also, use its mobile or ATM deposits at your convenience, features that aren't available with many online banks. If you need help, reach out to top-rated customer support by live chat, phone or email on weekdays.
Pros
No fees. You won't pay anything for overdrafts, stop payments, incoming domestic wires or monthly transactions.
Large ATM network. You get free access to over 32,000 MoneyPass ATMs nationwide. Plus, NBKC reimburses up to $12 in non-network ATM fees a month.
Allows cash deposits. Even though NBKC is almost entirely an online bank, you can deposit cash through any in-network ATM that accepts cash.
Cons
Other fees. You'll pay $5 to send a domestic wire transfer and $45 to send or receive an international wire transfer.
Limited in-person support. NBKC has four branch locations in Kansas, a downer for in-person banking but not unusual for a digital-first bank.
Wave Money caters to single-owner businesses with no monthly maintenance fee or minimum balance requirement. Your account automatically categorizes debit card purchases, and you can connect other bank accounts and credit cards for seamless record-keeping. See your business' financial health at a glance, including monthly cash flow, bills and invoices. And if you need them, accounting advisors, payroll and payment processing features are at the ready for an added charge.
Pros
Built-in bookkeeping. Most accounting software costs $70 or more a month, but you get access to Wave's software for free when you open this checking account.
Free instant payouts. Instant payouts typically have a 1.5% fee on other platforms, but you'll receive them for free when someone pays you using Wave Payments.
Third-party app integrations. Wave Money connects to Shopify, Stripe, PayPal and Square for faster payment processing.
Cons
No joint accounts. You can't currently open a Wave Money account with a business partner, but it's hoping to change this in the future.
High payment processing fees While you can accept payments from clients, you'll pay 1% to receive bank transfers and around 3% for credit card payments. These are higher fees than with many payment processing services.
Our banking experts peruse through over 50 business checking accounts to find the best free accounts available. First, we zero in on accounts with no monthly fees, then consider any requirements like minimum balances or opening deposits. We also look for accounts with free monthly transactions, favoring those that don’t put a cap on how many free transactions you can make.
Finally, we consider whether the account has ATM access, cash deposits or local branches. Our top picks may be accessible in one or two of these areas, but it’s rare to find all three features available with digital banks.
How to find the best free business checking account
Find the best free business checking account for your needs by considering these factors:
Fees and transaction limits. It’s not uncommon for business bank accounts to have monthly fees — and it’s also not uncommon for banks to charge you even more fees once you’ve made 200 or 500 transactions a month to and from your account.
Account perks. Depending on the account, it could earn interest, integrate with your accounting software, come with free invoicing and more. Consider which features will help you grow your business.
Accessibility. Most free accounts don’t come with cash deposits, but some like Bluevine are starting to offer it. Others may not support wire transfers or ATM withdrawals. Think about how you’ll deposit and withdraw money and find an account that supports those methods.
Free business checking accounts by state
Generally, you must open your business bank account in the same state where you conduct business. These free business checking accounts are offered throughout several states.
Institution
Monthly fee
Minimum opening deposit
Availability
Features
Huntington Business Checking 100 accountRead Review
$0
$0
CO, IL, IN, KY, MI, MN, OH, PA, SD, WV, WI
No charge for first 100 transactions and $5,000 in cash deposits per month
$100 sign up bonus when you open a new Huntington Business Checking 100 account by March 7, 2022, and deposit at least $2,000 within 60 days and keep the account open for at least 90 days.
BBVA Business Connect Checking
$0
$100
AL, AZ, CO, FL, NM, TX
Up to $5,000 in free cash processing per month
Two free in-branch deposits monthly
Access to over 43,000 free ATMs
Citizens Bank Clearly Better Business Checking account
$0
$10
CO, MA, NH, NJ, PA, RI, VT
Up to 200 free check transactions a month
Overdraft transfer or line of credit
Access to 1,100 branches and over 3,100 ATMs
First National Bank of Omaha Business Free Checking account
$0
$0
CO, IA, KS, NE, SD, TX, IL
Up to 150 free transactions a month
Free online bill pay
$200 mortgage closing cost credit
Cathay Bank Business Checking
$0
$200
CA, NY, WA, IL, TX, MD, MA, NV, NJ
25 free deposits a month
50 free checks paid a month
Free business bill pay
Business debit card
First Citizens Bank Basic Business Checking
$0
$0
AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, KS, MD, MO, NM, NC, OK, OR, SC, TN, TX, VA, WA, WV
175 free transactions a month
$5,000 in free cash deposits a month
United Bank Free Business Checking
$0
$100
DC, MD, VA
500 free transactions a month
Free bill pay
Business debit card
First National Bank Free Small Business Checking
$0
$0
MD, NC, OH, PA, SC, WV
150 free transactions a month
Unlimited check deposits
Access to 550 FNB ATMs
America First Credit Union Basic Business Checking
$0
$0
AZ, ID, NE, NM, OR, UT
250 free transactions a month
Free online bill pay
Compare free business checking accounts by monthly transactions
Compare which free business checking account you need depending on monthly transactions and your business type.
Accounts for small businesses
Here’s a list of free business checking account options for startups and small businesses.
Institution
Monthly fee
Minimum opening deposit
Free monthly transactions
Features
Axos Bank Basic Business Checking account
Go to site
on Axos Bank's secure site
$0
$0
Unlimited
Unlimited ATM reimbursements
Compatible with Quickbooks
TIAA Bank Small Business Checking accountRead Review
$0
$1,500
200
10 free online bill pays a month
Earns 0.5% APY
Access to over 80,000 free ATMs nationwide
Navy Federal Credit Union Business Checking account
$0
$0
Unlimited (Online) 30 (In-person)
Earns 0.05% APY
Bank of the Ozarks Small Business Checking account
$0
$100
250
Free online bill pay
US Bank Silver Business Checking
$0
$0
125
25 free cash deposits a month
Accounts for online businesses
These free business checking accounts are offered online.
Institution
Monthly fee
Minimum opening deposit
Free monthly transactions
Features
First Internet Bank Small Business Checking
Go to site
No stop payment fees, no incoming domestic wire transfer fees, access to 32,000 free ATMs
Up to $12 in monthly ATM refunds
Free overdraft protection when you have an NBKC business savings account
What are the pros and cons of free business checking?
Most free checking accounts are offered by online-only banks or small credit unions. Let’s take a look at some pros and cons.
Pros
No fees. Nothing is better than free, and you won’t pay any monthly maintenance fees when you choose a free business checking account.
Features to help you run your business. Some free business checking accounts come with helpful perks like app integrations, payroll services and fraud monitoring that help you run your business with ease.
Low opening deposits. Most free business checking accounts are ideal for new and small businesses because they have minimal opening deposit requirements.
Cons
May not accept cash deposits. Because most free business checking accounts are offered by online-only banks, you may not be able to easily deposit cash.
May have limited transactions. Most free business checking accounts have a cap on the number of free transactions you can make a month. If you go over this limit, you’ll pay a small fee for each additional transaction.
Watch out for small fees. Just because a bank offers a free business checking account, it could still nickel-and-dime you for other expenses. Make sure you read the fine print to get a clear idea of how to avoid costly fees.
How do I know if it’s really a fee-free business checking account?
Usually, a free business checking account doesn’t have monthly fees. But a fee-free checking account takes it a step further by doing away with common fees charged by most banks.
If you’re looking for a business checking account that’s truly free, watch out for these small charges that could eat up a chunk of your profits:
Minimum balance fees. If an account requires a minimum balance, make sure you can comfortably maintain it each month. Otherwise, you may pay a fee.
Transaction fees. Some banks give you a set number of free monthly transactions, but then charge you a fee if you go over this limit. Make sure you choose an account that won’t charge you an arm and a leg if your business performs better than usual.
Overdraft fees. What happens if your account balance drops below $0 after a big purchase? The bank may cover the overdraft and charge a hefty fee, automatically decline the transaction or move money from your savings account.
ATM fees. Either look for a bank with a large ATM network or find one that reimburses fees.
Transfer fee. Check to see if you’ll pay a fee to transfer money to a checking account at another bank. ACH transfers are typically free, but outgoing wires can be expensive.
How to open a free business checking account online
Applying online for a business account typically takes a few minutes with the right documens in hand, but the exact steps will look different from bank to bank.
Navigate to the bank’s website and choose a business account to start your application.
Get your important documents ready, including your Social Security number, government-issued ID, Employee Identification Number and business certifications.
Follow the prompts to enter your personal and business information, uploading documents to the application as needed.
Provide details to fund your account, such as an external account number or credit card information.
Can you open a free business account with no deposit?
Yes, you’ll see a variety of free business accounts that don’t require a minimum opening deposit, especially with digital banks like Bluevine. Businessowners used to rely on brick-and-mortar banks to open their accounts — and many require either a hefty minimum balance or charge a monthly fee.
However, digital business accounts have less overhead than traditional accounts, making features like no minimum opening deposits more available.
Compare other business checking accounts
Narrow down business accounts by monthly fee, APY and ATMs to find the best for your budget and financial goals. Select Compare for up to four products to see their benefits side by side.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
Whether you started your business today or have been making money for years, there’s a free business checking account out there to meet your banking needs. Be sure to find one that can accommodate the size of your business and won’t hit you with little fees if you have a better month than usual. The best business checking accounts are ones that offer a perfect mix of features, high transactions and low fees.
Cassidy Horton is a writer for Finder, specializing in banking and kids’ debit cards. She’s been featured on Legal Zoom, MSN, and Consolidated Credit and has a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations and a Master of Business Administration from Georgia Southern University. When not writing, you can find her exploring the Pacific Northwest and watching endless reruns of The Office.
How likely would you be to recommend finder to a friend or colleague?
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Very UnlikelyExtremely Likely
Required
Thank you for your feedback.
Our goal is to create the best possible product, and your thoughts, ideas and suggestions play a major role in helping us identify opportunities to improve.
Advertiser Disclosure
finder.com is an independent comparison platform and information service that aims to provide you with the tools you need to make better decisions. While we are independent, the offers that appear on this site are from companies from which finder.com receives compensation. We may receive compensation from our partners for placement of their products or services. We may also receive compensation if you click on certain links posted on our site. While compensation arrangements may affect the order, position or placement of product information, it doesn't influence our assessment of those products. Please don't interpret the order in which products appear on our Site as any endorsement or recommendation from us. finder.com compares a wide range of products, providers and services but we don't provide information on all available products, providers or services. Please appreciate that there may be other options available to you than the products, providers or services covered by our service.