What is a Business Checking Account?

A business checking account is a bank account tailored for handling the financial operations of companies, offering features like higher transaction limits and multi-user access. Choosing the best business checking account is crucial as it helps manage cash flows, pay bills, and keep business finances separate from personal funds. These accounts are foundational for maintaining orderly finances and facilitating efficient business transactions.

What to Consider When Choosing a Business Checking Account

Before you sign up for a business checking account, it’s important to think carefully about what financial services your business needs. Business checking accounts differ widely, particularly when it comes to transaction limits, fees, interest, and balance requirements.

1. Transaction Limits

Many banks place limits on both deposits and withdrawals to your business checking account. For example, you may only be allowed to deposit a certain amount of cash into your account each month for free. If you exceed this cash deposit limit, you could face hefty fees that eat into your business’s revenue.

Just as frequently, banks place limits on the number of transactions your business can make for free. For example, you may only be allowed to make a certain number of check payments, electronic transfers, debit card payments, or cash withdrawals each month. If you exceed that, expect to pay more fees.

2. Fees

Fees are one of the most important things to look at when choosing a business checking account. Banks often advertise business checking accounts as “free,” but in reality the account is only free under certain - often very restrictive - conditions.

• Monthly Account Fees

To start, check whether a bank will charge a monthly account fee. This is a fee that you’ll pay every month, no matter how often you make transactions from your account. Small monthly fees may be worthwhile if the bank eliminates other fees, but in general it’s a good idea to stick with business checking accounts that come with $0 monthly charges.

You also need to watch out for “maintenance” fees. These are often listed separately from the primary monthly fee, and they can be as high as $50 per month at some banks. If a bank you like offers an account with a maintenance fee, ask them to waive it. If they won’t, you should reconsider whether that business checking account is worth it.

• Transaction Fees

For banks that offer “free” business checking accounts, transaction fees are the most common way to make money off of your business. Typically, business checking accounts come with anywhere between 200 and 500 transactions per month. While that sounds like a lot - and it may be for some businesses - it’s easy to run over that limit towards the end of the month if your business is processing dozens of transactions per day.

Transaction fees are often a flat fee per payment over your limit. So, for example, you might be charged $0.50 for every excess debit card transaction. That’s not much if you’re placing a supply order worth thousands of dollars, but it can be as much as a 25% surcharge if you’re using your business debit card to buy a $2 cup of coffee.

3. Interest

Another important factor that differs between banks is whether they offer interest on cash inside your business checking account. With interest rates low for the foreseeable future, this might not be a huge deal. 

Still, if you have a $100,000 balance in your business checking account, earning interest at even a modest 0.1% APY adds up to an extra $100 per year. Although that’s not much, it’s enough to throw a small office party for your employees.

So, be sure to check whether a bank offers interest payments to business account holders and how the interest rates compare to competitors.

4. Balance Requirements

Many banks require that you keep a minimum balance inside your business checking account. If you fall below this minimum balance, you could be subject to more fees.

On the other hand, some banks reward you rather than punish you for keeping a higher balance with them. For example, if you have more than a threshold amount of cash in your business checking account, you may qualify for higher transaction limits or higher interest rates.

This reward structure can make some business checking accounts that initially seem too expensive much more appealing.

5. Physical vs. Digital Banking

Another thing to consider when choosing a bank for your business checking account is whether it has a physical footprint or whether it’s an online-only institution. Digital banks can often offer better account terms and higher interest rates since they have less overhead than traditional banks.

On the other hand, if you need access to physical infrastructure like ATMs or want the ability to talk to someone at your bank in person, then a physical bank might be better for your business.

Whichever option you prefer, take a look to see what other services your bank offers. If your business needs a loan down the road, the bank that runs your business checking account is a good place to start. Plus, banks frequently offer better terms to existing customers. 

If you choose a small local bank or an online-only checking account, just keep in mind that you might have less financial flexibility in the future. 

Which account is right for you?

Bank	Monthly Fees	Earns Interest	Explore
	None	Yes	Visit Site
	None for Standard account	Yes, on paid accounts	Lili Visit Site
	None	No	Mercury Visit Site

Explore Online Business Checking Accounts

1. Relay

Relay is an online banking platform for small businesses, accountants, and bookkeepers to automate their bill pay and manage their cash flow and operating expenses. It charges no fees and makes it easy to send and receive ACH transfers, checks, or wires. You can sync transaction data directly in QuickBooks or Xero, and set up role-based permissions so there’s no need to share login information between staff.

Relay Visit Site

2. Lili

Lili Banking is ideal for small businesses looking to get a better hold on their finances. Lili makes it easy to set money aside for taxes, organize expenses, and even get early access to direct deposits. The Lili Smart account offers advanced expense management tools and a unlimited invoices and payments. Lili's Standard account is completely free, and their Smart account is just $35 per month.

Lili Visit Site

3. Mercury

Mercury is a banking* services platform that offers high-tech business checking and savings accounts for startups and growing companies. Mercury charges zero account fees and doesn’t require a minimum deposit. You can request physical debit cards or create your own virtual cards for employees. Mercury also offers an API so you can integrate your bank account with the rest of your business software.

Mercury Visit Site

Disclaimers

Lili:

¹ Lili is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Sunrise Banks N.A., Member FDIC.

² The Lili Visa® Debit Card is issued by Sunrise Banks N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc.

³ The Annual Percentage Yield (“APY”) for the Lili Savings Account is variable and may change at any time. The disclosed APY is effective as of September 1st, 2023. Must have at least $0.01 in savings to earn interest. The APY applies to balances of up to and including $100,000. Any balance over $100,000 will not earn interest or have a yield. Available to Lili Pro, Lili Smart, and Lili Premium account holders only.

Bluevine:

¹ No limit on numbers of transactions, However, all accounts are subject to the aggregated monthly deposit and withdrawal amount limits of the Account Agreement.

² To earn the $300 bonus, customers must apply for a Bluevine Business Checking account anytime between now and 12/31/2024 using the referral code above. After opening the account, customers must add funds within 30 days, then meet at least one of the following eligibility requirements every 30 days for the next 90 days from account funding:

• Deposit at least $5,000 from eligible merchant services to your Bluevine account

• Make at least $5,000 of outbound payroll payments from your Bluevine account using eligible payroll providers

• Spend at least $2,000 with your Bluevine Business Debit Mastercard® and/or Bluevine Business Cashback Mastercard®

Axos:

*Open a business checking account by Jan. 31 and get up to $400 when you use promo code NEW400 on your application and maintain a minimum average daily balance of $50,000.

Bank of America:

The offer is for new eligible business checking customers only. Offer expires 12/31/2024. To qualify, open a Bank of America Business Advantage checking account through the promotional page and make New Money deposits totaling $5000 or more into that new account within 30 days of opening, and maintain an average balance of $5000 or more for 60 days during the Maintenance Period. Bank of America will attempt to pay bonus within 60 days. Additional terms and conditions apply. See offer page for more details.

U.S Bank:

Promo code Q4AFL24 MUST be used when opening a U.S. Bank Silver, Platinum, or Business Essentials (Available in AZ, NV, CO, NM, OH, IN, KY and TN) Business Checking account. Limit of one Business Checking bonus per business. A $100 minimum deposit is required to open one of the referenced accounts.

Earn your $400 Business Checking bonus by opening a new U.S. Bank Silver Business Checking or Business Essentials (not available in all markets) accounts between 10/1/2024 and 1/15/2025. You must make deposit(s) of at least $5,000 in new money within 30 days of account opening and thereafter maintain a daily balance of at least $5,000 until the 60th day after account opening.

or

Earn your $900 Business Checking bonus by opening a new U.S. Bank Platinum Business Checking account between 10/1/2024 and 1/15/2025. You must make deposit(s) of at least $30,000 in new money within 30 days of account opening and thereafter maintain a daily balance of at least $30,000 until the 60th day after account opening.

New money is considered money that is new to U.S. Bank. Funds must come from outside U.S. Bank and cannot be transferred from another U.S. Bank product or a U.S. Bank Affiliate. Checking account fees (e.g., monthly maintenance, paper statement fee, etc.) could reduce the qualifying daily balance, therefore you must make deposit(s) to cover the fees to maintain the daily balance during the qualifying period to be awarded the bonus. Refer to the Business Pricing Information or Business Essentials® Pricing Information Document for a list of fees.

The business checking bonus will be deposited into your new eligible U.S. Bank Business Checking account within 30 days following the last calendar day of the month you complete all of the offer requirements, as long as the account is open and has a positive available balance.

Offer may not be combined with any other business checking account bonus offers. Existing customers (businesses) with a business checking account or customers (businesses) who had an account in the last 12 months, do not qualify.

All regular account-opening procedures apply. For a comprehensive list of checking account pricing, terms and policies, reference your Business Pricing Information or Business Essentials® Pricing INformation and YDAA Disclosure. This document can be obtained by contacting a U.S. Bank branch or calling 800.872.2657.

Bonus will be reported as interested earned on IRS Form 1099-INT and recipient is responsible for any applicable taxes. Current U.S. Bank employees are not eligible. U.S. Bank reserves the right to withdraw this offer at any time without notice.

Member FDIC.

U.S Bank Business MMA:

Receive a bonus interest rate of 4.25% from the account opening date when you open a new Platinum Business Money Market Account and complete qualifying activities, subject to certain terms and limitations. Offer valid through July 10, 2024. Member FDIC.
Complete these steps to earn the offer:
- Open a new Platinum Business Money Market Account
- Deposit $25,000 - $2,999,999.99 in new money deposits
For Platinum Business Money Market accounts with $3 million or greater in balances, the bonus interest rate does not apply, and the full account balance will earn the standard variable interest rate in effect at that time.

Mercury:

*Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust, Members FDIC.

¹ Up to $5 million in FDIC insurance through their partner banks/sweep networks.
² Free wire transfers in USD. Mercury is a fintech company, not an FDIC-insured bank.
³ Mercury Treasury is not insured by the FDIC. Mercury Treasury are not deposits or other obligations of Choice Financial Group or Evolve Bank & Trust, and are not guaranteed by Choice Financial Group or Evolve Bank & Trust. Mercury Treasury products are subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal invested. See mercury.com/treasury for additional disclosures.
⁴ Deposits in checking and savings accounts are held by our banking services partners, Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust ®; Members FDIC. Deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured bank. Certain conditions must be satisfied for pass-through insurance to apply.

American Express:

¹ Qualifying activities include:
- Deposit a total of $5,000 or more in eligible deposits within 30 days of opening your first account, AND Eligible deposits are any deposits except deposits using our Redeem for Deposits feature, deposits from interest payments, and deposits from any other American Express Business Checking accounts.
- Maintain an average account balance of $5,000 for the next 60 days,
AND
- Make 5 or more qualifying transactions within 60 days of opening your account Qualifying transactions are mobile deposits, check deposits by mail, and electronic/online transactions including ACH, Wire, and Bill Payments. Business Debit Card transactions and deposits using our Redeem for Deposits feature are not qualifying transactions.

² At Allpoint® and MoneyPass® locations in the U.S., you can withdraw cash and get balance information with no fee. Access to ATMs outside of the Allpoint® and MoneyPass® networks are subject to fees by the ATM owner and/or network. ATM withdrawal limits apply. American Express applies foreign exchange fees to withdrawals in foreign currencies. American Express does not accept ATM cash deposits into your Business Checking account at this time. Visit americanexpress.com/atm-locator to find participating ATMs in the U.S.

Cash withdrawals from ATMs outside of the MoneyPass® or Allpoint® networks may be subject to fees by the ATM owner and/or network.

Membership Rewards® Program - Redeem for Deposits Terms:

You may redeem Membership Rewards® points for deposits into your American Express® Business Checking Account at the standard rate of 1000 points for an $8 deposit. If you have a Business Platinum Card® and an American Express Business Checking Account linked to the same Membership Rewards Account, you can redeem points for a deposit at a rate of 1000 points for $10 for up to 1,000,000 points per calendar year, after which you may continue to redeem points at the standard rate. There is no minimum number of points needed to use Redeem for Deposits. American Express will deduct the number of points you select from your Membership Rewards Account and deposit a corresponding dollar amount into your checking account. Generally, deposits will post to your account within 48 hours of redemption. For more information, visit www.membershiprewards.com/terms.

Found:

*To qualify for the $125 bonus, a user must (1) have a balance of $5,000 in their Found account within 30 days of account creation; and (2) must maintain a minimum balance of $5,000 for 30 days. Account must be opened by 11/31/2024. This offer is valid through 12/31/2024 and is limited to one reward per account

Found is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services are provided by Piermont Bank, Member FDIC. The funds in your account are FDIC-insured up to $250,000 per depositor for each account ownership category The Found Mastercard ®️ debit card is issued by Piermont Bank pursuant to a license from Mastercard Inc. and may be used everywhere Mastercard debit cards are accepted.

Relay:

Relay is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services and FDIC insurance are provided through Thread Bank; Member 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.