Ongoing
Ongoing
No monthly fees
0% AER
Business overdraft available upon invitation
Apply in minutes
No monthly or annual fee
Helpful UK based telephone customer service
Ongoing
No monthly fees
3.55% AER
Various credit options available
*Use code GET200 on signup. to be eligible for £200 cashback. Further TCS apply
Register a company for only £14.99
Award-winning business account and no monthly fees
No monthly fee for three months
£12.50
0% AER
Not available
No credit checks & available to all business types
*LIMITED OFFER* Free business account for 3 months
Application takes minutes and your business account can be open on the same day you apply
Ongoing
No monthly fees
0% AER
None
Sign up today and unlock 1 month of a paid plan without subscription fees. T&Cs apply
Business account: hold, send and receive funds in 25+ currencies, exchange up to £1,000 at the interbank rate and only 0.6% fee for anything over this allowance. 1% for exchanges outside market hours.
Free smart debit cards for you and one team member: track and control spending in real-time
Ongoing
No monthly fees
0% AER
Loan facility Subject to terms
Up to 35% Cashback on selected categories
Open an account in minutes
No additional transaction or transfer charges
Having less than £50,000 in the account may earn a reduced rate of interest and may incur fees
No monthly fees
4.33% AER* (variable) instant access Savings Pot
None
Seamless money management at no cost using integrated accounting tools like Sage and Xero
Your business must be over 1 year in age and you must have a greater than £50K balance or an exisiting Allica's Loan Product Customer
Get a dedicated relationship manager
No monthly fee for three months
£3.00
0% AER
Not available
Business account with integrated invoicing, accounting and bookkeeping features
Trusted by 50,000+ sole traders and UK businesses
Apply for a business account in minutes
2 Years
No monthly fees
0% AER
None
FreeAgent is included as long as you retain your account
A dedicated Relationship Manager - a single point of contact to look after your business banking needs (turnover and eligibility criteria apply)
No monthly fee in the first 12 months. T&Cs apply
£8.50
0% AER
Please see ‘Credit facility’ information
No monthly account fee in the first 12 months, for new customers, thereafter a fee of £8.50 applies. T&Cs apply
Free invoicing and accounting software provided by FreshBooks, with your Barclays business account, worth over £260 per year. T&Cs apply
Charges for some bank transfers and card payments apply
No monthly fee in the first 12 months. T&Cs apply
£8.50
0% AER
Please see 'Credit facilty' information
No monthly account fee in the first 12 months, for new customers, thereafter a fee of £8.50 applies. T&C's apply. Other charges apply
Free invoicing and accounting software, provided by FreshBooks, with your Barclays business account, worth over £260 per year. T&C's apply.
Charges for some bank transfers and card payments apply
No monthly fee in the first 12 months. T&Cs apply
£8.50
0% AER
Please see ‘Credit facility’ information
No monthly account fee in the first 12 months, for new customers, thereafter a fee of £8.50 applies. T&Cs apply.
Free invoicing and accounting software, provided by FreshBooks, with your Barclays business account, worth over £260 per year. T&Cs apply
Charges for some bank transfers and card payments apply
2 Years
No monthly fees
0% AER
Credit options available
FreeAgent is included as long as you retain your account
No transaction fees for 2 years (then standard tariff applies)
No account fee for 12 months
£8.50 *
0% AER Credit Interest
Subject to eligibility and application
Free accounting software available to business account holders. T&C's Apply
Bank in whatever way suits your business - online, with our mobile app, over the phone or in branch
Support from our UK-based relationship team
Not applicable
No monthly fees
0% AER
None
Instant Access Savings Pots, 1.6% AER interest (variable) paid monthly (Ts&Cs apply)
Apply for a business account in minutes, no monthly fees
"Free UK bank transfers, spending categories and 24/7 customer support"
Our comparison service features a selection of providers from whom we receive commission. This table is ordered according to our commercial arrangements.
Finding the right bank account is an essential part of your business
We're here to help you switch bank accounts
Over 10,000 businesses have used our service
We help people compare with ease
For a start-up, many banks will offer an introductory free banking period which means that you won't face monthly charges for using the account! However, other fees may apply.
What's important?
Additional fees for paying with cash
Is your branch local enough for you to get to?
Many banks will offer support to start-ups, whether that is offering a mentor or someone to help with software
All fees must be checked in case they are relevant to your business
It's not always the safest option to go with your current bank unless you have done the above and it fits into your businesses criteria!
If you are stuck when it comes to choosing the right business bank account, then speak to other business owners and learn about their experiences with branches in the area. Remember once you have the account, make sure you are reviewing it on an annual basis. Businesses are covered by the 7-day switcher guarantee.
It's a fact that people are more likely to divorce their other half than switch their business bank account. If you are worried about switching, then you shouldn't be as all business accounts are covered by a 7-day switcher guarantee. (Just make sure your bank is registered with this scheme!).
What's important?
Don't just look at the free period, work out how much it will it cost after the fee free period
Ensure you know all fees relevant to your business to avoid surprises!
Switching can be done within 7 days
Make sure that those you bill are aware
If you are savvy enough to use online banking regularly then you may want to ask other business owners what their thoughts are on the application. Standards of online banking vary and no one wants to go backwards when they are trying to move forward.
If you are having trouble setting up a business bank account or switching from your current one, then there are still options available where you can avoid credit checks.
What they offer:
Debit cards
Online banking
The ability to pay into post offices or other establishments
Potential improvement on your credit rating
Quick setup and going to the branch is not required
Fees on the account can be paid monthly or annually. The account is simple and easy to use and it can also be cheaper than a standard business bank account!
If you are currently paying for a business account, it could be costing you more than it needs to, as there are free business bank accounts available. When you are growing your business, monitoring your outgoings is an important factor. There are likely to be costs which can be reduced, with your bank account being an excellent example. To help you find the best deal, we have created this guide to the best free business banking UK wide.
If you are familiar with business accounts, you will probably be aware of the many account options available. Many of the business accounts available will charge fees, such as:
A monthly fee for holding an account
Transaction fees for card payments, electronic transfers, cash payments and cheque payments, both in and out of your account
Transactions involving foreign currencies
Getting change from the bank
However, we have good news! There are free business bank accounts available! Some business banks will charge for some of these facilities, while others could be completely free for your business. To find a free business bank account, the first step is to look at how you will use your account. Next, you should search for the accounts which do not charge for the transactions you make. For example, paying a small charge for your account each month could provide you with free business bank account transactions.
If you are looking for free business banking for life, look no further. There are a range of banks which offer a free business bank account for life, including Tide, Revolut and Cashplus.
The Tide Business Current Account is a free business bank account, available to both limited companies and sole traders. There are some charges to consider, including 20p per bank transfer and £1 for ATM withdrawals. Although, benefits include accounting software integration and free card purchases in the UK and abroad. If you are looking for a free small business bank account, the Tide account is designed specifically for small businesses.
The Revolut Start Business Account is another free business account. The account is available to limited companies, partnerships and sole traders, with no annual turnover limit. The account will let your hold 29 currencies, with a competitive interbank exchange rate. It is also possible to arrange multiple employee banks cards, the first debit card is free, however, subsequent ones are chargeable.
The Cashplus Business Current Account is a free account designed for limited companies, partnerships, sole traders and charities. The account also offers benefits such as no UK ATM fees, free bank transfers and wage payments. Although, you will need to pay a card issue fee when opening the account of £5.95.
In some situations, although a bank may provide free business bank accounts, they may charge other fees. For example, if you take cash out from the account you could be charged. Or, if you regularly make bank transfers, there may be charges which apply to the transaction. It is also common for businesses accounts to charge for transfers involving international money transfers.
Although a bank may provide free business current accounts, the charges for your regular transactions could make the account expensive to run in the long term. There are some banks which charge a competitive monthly fee, in exchange for free transactions and other benefits. For example, HSBC, Yorkshire Bank, Clydesdale Bank, Countingup, Santander, CardOneMoney, Acorn and Anna.
Finding a competitively priced business account is important, but you should also bear in mind other features. Think about what you want your free business current account to offer. What is important to your business? Are there some features which you will be willing to pay for? Popular examples include:
A well-designed website and app
The ability to borrow through loans, overdrafts and credit cards
The assistance of a business advisor
24/7 customer support through a website and/or telephone banking
A conveniently located branch
The ability to sync with accounting and invoicing software
Another factor which you should always check are the service levels offered by the bank. There are many reviews available online from other customers, which will provide an honest insight. Once you understand what you require, you will be in a great position to compare and find the ideal accounts.
To help you in your search for the best free business account, we have developed our innovative account finder tool. It is completely free to use and there is no-obligation to open a new account. Whether you are a start-up or a business looking to switch, our tool will help you compare business bank accounts.
Simply select the ideal features using our quick filter tool, then compare fees and the length of any free introductory periods. As you compare the no fee business bank accounts, it is important to ensure your business meets the eligibility criteria. Many of the banks will offer deals to new customers, which have a turnover below a specific amount. You will also be able to compare the key bank account features and facts.
If you have compared accounts and found the perfect fee free business bank account, it is a simple process to open an account. For the online banks, the whole process is completed online.
If you are looking to open a traditional account, you will be able to open an account in branch or online. Although, once the online application form is completed, you will need to arrange an appointment to provide some key documents. At least one representative must sign a bank mandate to complete the account application.
Whichever account you choose, you will need to provide proof of ID and proof of address. The documents need to be provided for each company director or shareholder. To speed up the application form it can be useful to have the following available:
A passport, ID card or driving license to prove your identification
A utility bill, bank statement or council tax statement to prove your address
If you are not a UK resident, it may still be possible to open a free business bank account in the UK. In recent years many banks have provided greater flexibility to non-UK residents which need to open a UK account. By discussing the situation with the bank, they may provide a list of other acceptable forms of ID.
You will also need to provide some key company information:
The full business address
Your contact details
For limited companies and partnerships, the Companies House registration number
The estimated annual turnover
For accounts which require a credit check, you may be required to show proof of your personal financial situation
Once you complete the application, the time it takes to open the account will depend on the individual bank. For example, some accounts will be open in less than 7 days, while others could take several weeks.
If you are searching for free business banking for existing businesses, you will probably be looking for a switching service. Many people are worried about moving bank accounts, as they are concerned that it may be difficult. However, the new bank will manage the whole process so switching to a free business bank account is very simple.
There are many banks which are members of the current account switch guarantee scheme, that promises that your account will be switched within 7 days. Although, it is possible to choose an exact transfer date. The bank will move everything across, including your regular payments. Once complete, your old bank will pass any accidental payments across to your new account for up to 13 months.
To use the switching service, you will need to provide details of your old bank account and the ideal switch date. Once the switch is complete, all you need to do is update your bank details on your business invoices and any parties who sends payments to you.
If you would like to discuss any of the free business bank accounts listed on our website, our team are available to help, contact us today.