10 Best Business Bank Accounts for Small Businesses UK, Compared (2026)

Top 10 Business Bank Account Providers in the UK [Fees, Features and Benefits]

1. Revolut Business Account – Best for International Payments

   

   Suitable for UK-registered companies that make international payments or manage funds in multiple currencies.

   Revolut Business Account Features

   Feature	Details
   Monthly Fee	Basic: £10/month Grow: From £30/month Scale: From £90/month Enterprise: Custom pricing
   Access and Currencies	Mobile app and web access. Hold and manage over 30 currencies.
   Cards and Payments	Up to 3 physical and 50 virtual cards per team member (fees may apply). Recurring, scheduled and instant card transfers available.
   Transfers	Local transfers: Basic: 10/month, Grow: 100/month, Scale: 1,000/month. Additional transfers cost £0.20 each. International transfers: Basic: None included, Grow: 5/month, Scale: 25/month. Additional transfers cost £5 each.
   Foreign Exchange	A 0.6% fee applies above the monthly exchange allowance. A 1% fee applies outside market hours.
   Integrations	Xero, Sage, QuickBooks and other business tools
   Support	24/7 English-language support
   Protection	Eligible deposits with Revolut Bank UK Ltd are protected by the FSCS up to £120,000.

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2. Starling Bank – Best Fee-Free Business Bank Account

   

   Suitable for UK businesses and sole traders seeking a branchless business account with no monthly fee.

   Starling Bank Business Account Features

   Feature	Details
   Eligibility	UK limited companies, LLPs and sole traders, subject to eligibility
   Monthly Fee	£0
   Access and Cards	Mobile app and online banking. Business debit card included.
   UK Payments	Free UK bank transfers, Direct Debits and standing orders
   International Banking	International transfers: 0.4% currency-conversion fee plus a delivery fee. Local-network payments start from 30p, while SWIFT payments cost £5.50. Foreign currency accounts: Euro account: £2/month. US dollar account: £5/month.
   Cash and Cheques	Cash deposits: 0.7% at the Post Office, with a £3 minimum fee. Cheque deposits: Free through the app or by post.
   Business Tools	Spaces, Bills Manager, real-time payment notifications, and free invoicing tools for creating and sending invoices
   Integrations	Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent and other Marketplace tools
   Protection	Eligible deposits protected by the FSCS up to £120,000
   Support	Free 24/7 UK customer support

3. Barclays Start-Up Business Account – 12 Months of Free Digital Banking

   

   Suitable for start-ups and small businesses seeking digital banking with access to branches and telephone support.

   Barclays Start-Up Business Account Features

   Feature	Details
   Eligibility	Applicants aged 18 or over. At least one person on the application must be a UK resident.
   Monthly Fee	£0 monthly account fee for the first 12 months. After the introductory period, charges depend on the applicable Barclays business banking tariff.
   Access and Cards	Barclays app, Online Banking, branches and telephone banking. Business debit card available.
   UK Payments	Faster Payments, Direct Debits, standing orders and debit card payments are free.
   Cash and Cheques	Cash deposits: Available through branches, self-service machines and the Post Office (fees may apply). Cheque deposits: Available through the Barclays app and other supported deposit methods (fees may apply).
   Payment Acceptance	Barclaycard payment solutions are available separately, subject to fees and approval.
   Accounting and Business Tools	Sage Accounting or Sage Accounting Sole Trader may be available through Barclays, subject to the current offer terms. SmartBusiness Dashboard and other business-support services are available.
   Fraud Protection	24-hour fraud protection
   Protection	Eligible deposits protected by the FSCS up to £120,000

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4. Airwallex – Best Multi-Currency Business Account

   

   Suitable for registered businesses that receive, hold or send money in multiple currencies.

   Airwallex Business Account Features

   Feature	Details
   Eligibility	Registered and active businesses, subject to verification and supported-industry requirements
   Monthly Fee	£0 or £19 per month, excluding VAT. The monthly fee is waived when the business deposits or maintains at least £10,000, subject to the current terms.
   Access and Multi-Currency Accounts	Online platform and mobile app. Local account details are available in more than 20 currencies.
   Transfers and Foreign Exchange	Local transfers: Free through Airwallex’s local payment network to supported destinations International transfers: SWIFT transfers cost £10 to £20 per transfer (SHA and OUR). Foreign exchange: From 0.5% above the interbank rate for major currencies
   Cards	Multi-currency company and employee cards available
   Integrations	Xero, QuickBooks and other business platforms
   Support	In-app support, email support and online Help Centre
   Protection	Customer funds are safeguarded. Airwallex is an electronic money institution, so the account is not directly protected by the FSCS.

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5. Zempler Bank – Free Business Account with Post Office Cash Deposits

   

   Suitable for sole traders and small businesses seeking a £0 monthly account with cash-deposit facilities and built-in financial tools.

   Zempler Bank Business Account Features

   Feature	Details
   Eligibility	UK-based sole traders, limited companies, partnerships and charities. Applicants must be UK residents aged 18 or over.
   Monthly Fee	£0
   Access and Cards	Mobile app and online banking. Business Go card included and additional cards cost £5.95 each, with up to 20 available.
   UK Payments	Receiving money: Free and unlimited Sending money: 3 free payments or transfers per month, then £0.35 each
   Cash and Cheques	Cash deposits: Available at UK Post Offices. A 0.55% fee applies, subject to a £4 minimum Cash withdrawals: £2 in the UK and £3 outside the UK Cheque deposits: Not available
   International Payments	Incoming international payments can cost up to £22. Outgoing fees are shown before payment. A 2.99% non-sterling fee applies to card spending abroad.
   Business Tools	Invoicing, receipt capture, cashflow tracking, savings pots and Making Tax Digital tools
   Integrations	Xero, QuickBooks, Sage and FreeAgent
   Support and Security	UK telephone customer support and 24/7 account fraud monitoring
   Protection	Eligible deposits protected by the FSCS up to £120,000

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6. TSB Business Plus Account – 30 Months of Free Day-to-Day Banking

   

   Only open to existing TSB customers at the time of writing – check before you rely on it.

   Suitable for qualifying existing TSB customers seeking a business account with digital, telephone and branch banking.

   TSB Business Plus Account Features

   Feature	Details
   Eligibility	UK-registered businesses. Applications are currently limited to qualifying existing TSB customers
   Monthly Fee	£0 for 30 months, then £5 per month if the average balance is below £10,000
   Access and Cards	Mobile app, internet, telephone and branch banking. Business debit card included
   UK Payments	Free Faster Payments, Direct Debits and standing orders. Free UK ATM withdrawals using the business debit card (limits apply).
   Cash and Cheques	Cash deposits: Free during the 30-month introductory period, then 70p per £100 paid in or out Cheque payments: Free during the introductory period, then 70p per cheque paid in or out
   International Payments	Send payments in more than 20 currencies through Business Internet Banking (fees apply)
   Borrowing	Overdraft available to eligible customers, subject to approval
   Business Support	One year of Enterprise Nation membership included
   Customer Support	Business Banking Call Centre available (Monday to Saturday)
   Protection	Eligible deposits protected by the FSCS up to £120,000

7. Mettle – Best for Self-Employed Business Owners

   

   Suitable for sole traders and small limited companies seeking a £0 business account with invoicing, tax and accounting tools.

   Mettle Business Account Features

   Feature	Details
   Eligibility	Sole traders and limited companies with up to two owners. Only one owner can access the account.
   Monthly Fee	£0
   Access and Cards	Mobile app and online access. Mettle card with Apple Pay and Google Pay.
   Account Limits	Account balance limit of up to £1 million
   Payments	Send and receive payments, Direct Debits, standing orders and scheduled payments.
   Cash Services	Cash deposits: £2.75 per deposit at the Post Office Cash withdrawals: £1 per withdrawal
   Invoicing and Business Tools	Create and send invoices, track payments and match payments to invoices. Mettle+ adds invoicing and quotation tools for £4 per month.
   Accounting and Tax Tools	FreeAgent included when at least one Mettle account transaction is made each month. Tax calculations, Tax Pots and automatic tax savings are also available.
   Savings	Savings Pot offering 0.95% AER variable on balances from £10
   Support	In-app support and online Help Centre

8. Countingup – Best for Built-In Accounting and Tax Tools

   

   Suitable for sole traders and small limited companies that want business payments, bookkeeping and tax tools in one app.

   Countingup Business Account Features

   Feature	Details
   Eligibility	UK-resident sole traders and directors of eligible limited companies
   Monthly Fee	Free for 3 months, then: £5/month for deposits up to £750 £12/month for deposits from £750.01 to £7,500 £20/month for deposits above £7,500
   Access and Cards	Mobile app with no physical branches. One business debit Mastercard per account.
   UK Payments	Account transfers in or out and outgoing Direct Debits include 3 free transactions per month, then cost £0.27 each.
   Cash Services	Cash withdrawals: £1 per ATM withdrawal
   International Card Use	A 3% foreign transaction fee applies to card spending abroad.
   Invoicing and Payments	Create invoices and payment links, with card payments processed through Stripe.
   Accounting and Tax Tools	Automatic transaction categorisation, receipt capture, cashflow insights, tax estimates, Tax Pots, filing reminders and VAT return filing.
   Business Finance	Eligible businesses can apply for business finance of up to £1 million through iwoca.
   Support	In-app support from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays
   Protection	Countingup accounts are provided by Griffin Bank Ltd. Eligible deposits are protected by the FSCS up to £120,000 per depositor. Older Countingup accounts on sort code 23-69-72 are e-money accounts, where funds are safeguarded instead.

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9. ANNA Money – Best for Invoice Management

   

   Suitable for sole traders and small companies seeking a business account with built-in invoicing, expense and tax-management tools.

   Anna Money Business Account Features

   Feature	Details
   Eligibility	UK sole traders, limited company directors and eligible LLP partners
   Monthly Fee	Free: £0 Grow: £12.90 + VAT per month Business: £22.90 + VAT per month Big Business: £59.90 + VAT per month
   Access and Cards	Mobile app and online account access. ANNA Mastercard business card and virtual expense cards available.
   UK Payments	Free: Unlimited outgoing transfers. The first £1,000 of incoming payments each month is free, then 0.95% applies. Grow: 15 free local transfers per month, then £0.27 per transfer. Business: 60 free local transfers per month, then £0.20 per transfer. Big Business: Unlimited free local bank transfers.
   Cash Withdrawals	Free and Big Business: Free ATM withdrawals. Grow: 1.5% per withdrawal, minimum £1. Business: 3 free ATM withdrawals per month, then 1%, minimum £1 per withdrawal.
   International Payments	SWIFT payments available. Currency-conversion fees apply.
   Expense Cards	Free: 1 included card, with additional expense cards available at no monthly charge. Grow: 2 included cards, then £5 per additional card per month. Business: 5 included cards, then £3 per additional card per month. Big Business: Unlimited included cards.
   Invoicing and Payments	Create invoices, add payment links, accept payments through QuickPay and automate invoice chasing.
   Accounting and Tax Tools	Receipt capture, transaction categorisation, tax reminders, VAT filing tools, Xero integration and accountant access.
   Support	24/7 customer support
   Savings	Separate easy-access savings account provided by Griffin Bank. Rates vary by ANNA plan.
   Protection	Funds in ANNA’s main business account are safeguarded and are not FSCS-protected. Its separate savings account is provided by Griffin Bank, where eligible deposits are protected by the FSCS up to £120,000 per depositor.

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10. Virgin Money Business Account for Start-Ups and Growing Businesses

    

    Suitable for UK businesses seeking digital banking, branch access, cashback on eligible card spending and accounting software integrations.

    Virgin Money Business Account Features

    Feature	Details
    Eligibility	UK-based start-ups and switchers with annual turnover below £6.5 million
    Monthly Fee	£0 for 25 months, then £6.50 per month
    Access and Cards	Mobile app, internet banking and telephone banking. Contactless Mastercard business debit card with Apple Pay and Google Pay.
    UK Payments	Free UK bank transfers of up to £30,000 per transaction
    Cash and Cheques	Cash deposits: Available through Virgin Money branches and the Post Office. A £250,000 annual cash-transaction limit applies. Cheque deposits: Available through the app, branches and supported deposit machines.
    International Payments	International and CHAPS payments are available (fees apply)
    Accounting and Business Tools	Xero free for 6 months, subject to the offer terms. Integrations with Xero, Sage and QuickBooks. Spending categorisation, scheduled payments, account alerts and multiple-user access are also available.
    Support	Live chat, secure messages and telephone support
    Protection	Eligible deposits protected by the FSCS up to £120,000

How We Compared Business Account Providers

We compared providers using publicly available information on monthly account fees, transaction charges, introductory offers, eligibility criteria, cash and cheque facilities, international payment options, accounting integrations, customer-support channels, account access, regulatory status and the protection applying to customer funds. Fees and introductory offers were checked against each provider’s published pricing on 16 October 2026.

Fees, offers, features and eligibility criteria can change, so check the provider’s latest terms before applying.

Best Business Bank Account for a Limited Company

A limited company must keep its banking separate from the personal banking of its directors and shareholders. The most suitable account will depend on the company’s ownership structure, payment activity and need for additional user access.

Starling, Barclays, Zempler, TSB, Mettle, Countingup, ANNA Money and Virgin Money accept eligible limited companies, although their residency, ownership, turnover and industry requirements differ. Revolut and Airwallex can be particularly suitable for companies that make frequent international payments or manage multiple currencies.

Of those two, Revolut Business is the one whose eligible deposits sit with a UK bank and are FSCS-protected.

Best Business Bank Account for Sole Traders

Sole traders are not generally required by law to open a business bank account. However, a personal account’s terms may restrict business use, and keeping business transactions separate can simplify bookkeeping, Self Assessment and payment tracking.

Starling suits sole traders seeking an account without a monthly fee. Mettle includes invoicing and tax tools, with access to FreeAgent subject to its conditions. Zempler supports Post Office cash deposits, while Countingup and ANNA Money combine payment accounts with bookkeeping and tax-management features.

How to Choose a Business Bank Account

Choosing the right business bank account depends on how your business operates. Beyond monthly costs, compare the services, features and protections each provider offers to ensure the account supports your day-to-day banking needs and future growth.

Monthly Fees and Transaction Charges

Compare the total cost of using the account rather than focusing only on the monthly fee. Check charges for bank transfers, cash deposits, international payments, additional cards and any optional services you are likely to use.

FSCS Protection and Safeguarding

Check how your money is protected. Eligible deposits held with authorised banks may be protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), while electronic money institutions generally protect customer funds through safeguarding arrangements. The level and type of protection depend on the provider and product.

Cash, Cheque and Payment Facilities

If your business regularly handles cash or cheques, make sure the provider offers suitable deposit and withdrawal options. Also compare payment limits, international transfers, merchant services and other payment features that match the way your business operates.

Accounting Software and App Integrations

Many providers integrate with accounting software such as Xero, QuickBooks, Sage and FreeAgent. These integrations can simplify bookkeeping by automatically importing transactions, reducing manual data entry and making it easier to reconcile your accounts.

Customer Support and Account Management

Consider how you prefer to manage your account. Some providers offer branch access and relationship managers, while others provide support through mobile apps, live chat, email or telephone. Compare support channels and availability before making your decision.

Current Account Switch Service

If you already have a business current account, you may be able to switch to a participating provider through the Current Account Switch Service. Eligible businesses generally need annual turnover of no more than £6.5 million and fewer than 50 employees. The service transfers the available balance and regular payments and closes the old account.

Business Bank Account vs Personal Bank Account

A business bank account is designed for commercial transactions and may include features such as accounting integrations, invoicing tools, employee cards and payment controls. Personal accounts are intended for individual income and spending, and their terms may restrict business use.

Limited companies must keep company banking separate from directors’ personal banking. Sole traders can usually use a separate personal account if its terms permit business transactions, but a dedicated business account can make record-keeping easier.

How to Open a Business Bank Account

You can usually apply for a business bank account online, through a mobile app or at a branch, depending on the provider. The application itself may be relatively quick, but the time required to approve and open the account varies according to the business, ownership structure and verification checks.

1. Choose an Account That Fits Your Business

Compare fees, payment facilities, cash and cheque services, international banking, accounting integrations and customer support.

2. Check the Provider’s Eligibility Requirements

Confirm that the provider accepts your business structure, industry and ownership arrangements. Also check any residency, turnover or account-use restrictions. Residency matters most if you live outside the UK: several accounts on this list are open only to UK residents, so non-residents usually need the company in place first – see our Non-Resident UK Company Formation Package.

3. Gather Your Personal and Business Information

Prepare identification, address information and details about the business, its owners and its expected account activity. The exact requirements vary between providers.

4. Complete the Application

Apply online, through the provider’s app or at a branch. You will normally be asked about the business’s activities, turnover, customers, suppliers and expected payments.

5. Complete Identity and Business Verification

The provider will verify the identities of relevant directors, owners, partners or persons with significant control. For limited companies, it will also check company information held at Companies House. Depending on the business and the checks required, the provider can ask for contracts, invoices, licences, bank statements or other evidence of trading activity.

6. Wait for the Provider’s Decision

Some straightforward applications are processed quickly, while others take longer because they require manual checks or further documents. Once approved, follow the provider’s instructions to activate the account, receive any cards, and begin making payments.

What You Need to Open a Business Bank Account

Before applying, gather the information and documents your chosen provider is likely to request. The exact requirements vary between providers and business structures, but you will generally need:

• Proof of identity, such as a valid passport or UK driving licence.
• Proof of address for each director, owner or authorised applicant, where required.
• Your company registration number if you are opening an account for a limited company.
• Your business address and a brief description of your business activities.
• Estimated annual turnover and details of your expected account activity, such as the types and values of payments you expect to receive and make.

Can I Open a Business Account with Bad Credit?

You may still be able to open a business account with poor credit, but acceptance depends on the provider’s eligibility and risk checks. Applying for an account without an overdraft or other borrowing facility may provide more options.

Before applying, check whether the provider performs a credit search and whether it offers an eligibility checker. You should also review your personal and business credit reports for incorrect information and ensure that your application matches your identification and Companies House records.

About the Business Banking Service Quality Survey

Following requirements introduced after the Competition and Markets Authority’s retail banking investigation, major business current account providers publish independent service-quality survey results.

In Great Britain, the August 2026 Business Banking Service Quality Survey covered 17 business current account providers and approximately 1,200 customers per provider across the survey year. The results are updated every six months, in February and August.

The published results allow businesses to compare overall customer recommendations and, where applicable, online and mobile banking, branch services, overdrafts and loans, and relationship or account management services. The surveys are conducted independently rather than being carried out directly by the FCA.