Free business checking accounts are easy to find, and they help you keep track of revenue and expenses as well as gain legitimacy. They might even help you reduce your personal liability. There are two ways your business can bank for free: We’ve listed several good options below. Review each bank’s account agreement carefully before you open an account. As you may know from your personal accounts, it’s not uncommon for banks to charge fees on checking accounts. Consumers can often bank for free by setting up direct deposit or keeping a minimum amount on deposit with the bank. But with a business account, you might need substantially more to qualify for fee waivers. Fortunately, there are still free checking accounts for both consumers and businesses.
Truly Free Business Checking Options
One excellent place to find free business checking accounts is your local bank or credit union. These institutions want to build relationships with local businesses, and they don’t have the same overhead as big banks, so they’re able to offer free services. Call local banks to ask what they provide and whether they’re willing to waive fees while you get up and running. Building a local relationship may help if you ever need financing for your business. For options available nationwide, consider the banks below.
BBVA
Although BBVA comes from the brick-and-mortar world, BBVA’s Business Connect Checking is a robust digital offering. Highlights include:
No monthly feeFree bill payMobile check depositAccount alerts for monitoring transactions in your account$100 minimum to open
US Bank
US Bank’s Silver Business Package is a free business checking account for businesses that don’t need much. If you keep transactions to a minimum (many consulting and service businesses can stay under the limit), you’ll be able to bank for free. If you add volume at a later date, you’ll need to change to a different package or pay fees. Key features of US Bank’s free business account include:
No monthly fee Make deposits with your mobile device Free online bill pay A business debit card 125 free transactions per month 25 free cash deposits per month
TIAA Bank
TIAA offers a Small Business Checking Account for small businesses. The drawback? It’s only available for sole proprietorships and single-member LLCs. If you have a corporation, a larger LLC, or another type of entity, your organization might not qualify for the account. Key features of the offering include:
No monthly fee Earn interest on your deposits (this is interest checking) Make deposits with your mobile device $1,500 minimum to open an account
Banks That Waive Monthly Fees
If you can’t find anything locally, and the accounts above don’t work for you, you can still get free business checking through fee waivers. In most cases—even at small banks and credit unions—you can bank for free simply by keeping a minimum amount in your account at all times. Banks may also waive fees when you use multiple services: In addition to using the bank’s checking account, you might also use them for payment processing or payroll needs.
Chase
Chase’s Business Complete Banking account costs $15 per month, but there are several ways to dodge that fee. For example, if you keep at least $2,000 on deposit or spend more than $2,000 on a qualifying Chase card, you may qualify for a waiver. The account also makes it easy to accept card payments from customers.
Axos Bank
Axos Bank has free interest-bearing business checking for those who keep substantial cash on deposit. With an average daily balance of $5,000, you can avoid monthly maintenance fees in the Business Interest Checking account and earn a decent rate on your balance. Axos also has a fee-free option if you plan to keep less in your account.
Bank of America
Bank of America offers a slightly different way to avoid fees with the Business Advantage Fundamentals account, which may appeal to businesses with regular expenses. The standard charge is $16 per month, but that fee is waived when you spend at least $250 on your business debit card or maintain a $5,000 combined average balance each statement cycle.
How to Choose an Account
Price is important, but sometimes you get what you pay for. If you can bank for free, that’s great. The accounts above should be sufficient to get you started, and the questions below should help you refine your search for a business checking account. Depending on your business, it might make sense (or might be necessary) to pay more.
How many transactions are allowed per month, and how much do additional transactions cost? Can employees get debit cards? How much do those cost? What are the fees for international transactions? Will you send or receive wire transfers? How much do they cost? What protection do you have against fraud and other unfortunate events? (Consumer protection laws don’t apply to business accounts.) Do you offer account activity alerts to help manage risk? Can I deposit cash and checks in person? Can I conduct business and open accounts entirely online, or do I need to visit a branch?
What About Personal Accounts?
After reviewing the accounts above, you might decide that you’ll save money by using a personal checking account for business purposes instead of an account designed for business. That approach might work, but it’s far from ideal. If you fail to keep business matters separate from personal matters, a creditor could “pierce the corporate veil” and make you personally responsible for business debts or liabilities.
