The best business checking accounts deliver perks like automatic ATM fee refunds, cash back on debit card purchases and interest earned on even the smallest balances, all for little to no monthly fee. Many small-business checking accounts also include tools to streamline invoicing and bookkeeping, making it easier to run — and grow — your business. Here are our picks for the best checking accounts for small businesses.
Why you can trust NerdWallet: We evaluated dozens of business checking accounts from national, regional and online banks, scoring them on fees, perks and accessibility, among other factors. Business accounts that earned at least four stars were eligible to be included in this list. All of our picks for the best business checking accounts are chosen by our editorial team, who follow strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage.
Best Business Checking Accounts From Our Partners
Best Business Checking Accounts From Our Partners
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APY
N/A
Monthly fee
$15.00
Waived with $2,000 minimum balance
Bonus
$500
Requirements to qualify
Learn more
at Chase, Member FDIC
Pros
- No minimum opening deposit.
- Unlimited fee-free electronic and debit card transactions.
- Integrated credit card processing.
- No overdraft fee unless account is overdrawn by more than $50; 24-hour grace period applies to overdrafts beyond that amount.
- 24/7 customer support.
- No fees at 16,000 Chase ATMs and access to around 4,700 branches.
- Supports Zelle for Business.
Cons
- $15 monthly fee.
- Monthly limit on fee-free cash deposits ($5,000) and physical transactions (20).
- Fee for using out-of-network ATMs.
Chase Business Complete Banking®
Best for Branch access
APY
N/A
Monthly fee
$15.00
Waived with $2,000 minimum balance
Bonus
$500
Requirements to qualify
Learn more
at Chase, Member FDIC
Pros
- No minimum opening deposit.
- Unlimited fee-free electronic and debit card transactions.
- Integrated credit card processing.
- No overdraft fee unless account is overdrawn by more than $50; 24-hour grace period applies to overdrafts beyond that amount.
- 24/7 customer support.
- No fees at 16,000 Chase ATMs and access to around 4,700 branches.
- Supports Zelle for Business.
Cons
- $15 monthly fee.
- Monthly limit on fee-free cash deposits ($5,000) and physical transactions (20).
- Fee for using out-of-network ATMs.
APY
N/A
Monthly fee
$0
Bonus
$500
Requirements to qualify
Learn more
at U.S. Bank, Member FDIC
Pros
- No monthly service fee.
- Welcome bonus for new customers (terms apply).
- Unlimited fee-free electronic and debit card transactions.
- Supports Zelle for Business.
- Account holders are assigned to a dedicated banker or customer support representative.
- Accept payments with free mobile card reader, no monthly software fee. Processing fees apply.
Cons
- $100 minimum opening deposit.
- Low limit on fee-free cash deposits.
- Fee for using out-of-network ATMs.
- High overdraft, wire transfer fees.
- $1 fee for outgoing domestic ACH transfers.
U.S. Bank Business Essentials
Best for Sign-up bonus
APY
N/A
Monthly fee
$0
Bonus
$500
Requirements to qualify
Learn more
at U.S. Bank, Member FDIC
Pros
- No monthly service fee.
- Welcome bonus for new customers (terms apply).
- Unlimited fee-free electronic and debit card transactions.
- Supports Zelle for Business.
- Account holders are assigned to a dedicated banker or customer support representative.
- Accept payments with free mobile card reader, no monthly software fee. Processing fees apply.
Cons
- $100 minimum opening deposit.
- Low limit on fee-free cash deposits.
- Fee for using out-of-network ATMs.
- High overdraft, wire transfer fees.
- $1 fee for outgoing domestic ACH transfers.
APY
N/A
Monthly fee
$0
Bonus
N/A
Learn more
at Lili, Deposits are FDIC Insured
Pros
- No monthly fees, transaction fees or incoming wire fees.
- No fees at MoneyPass ATMs.
- Cash deposits via Green Dot network (fees and limits apply).
- Early payment feature allows you to receive funds up to two days sooner than with a traditional bank account.
- Direct integrations with Square, Shopify, Etsy and eBay.
Cons
- Fee for using out-of-network ATMs.
- No fee-free cash deposits.
- Low monthly limits for cash deposits, incoming ACH transfers.
- Bill pay not included; must upgrade to Lili Smart or higher.
- Not available to nonprofit organizations.
- No spend controls on employee debit cards.
Lili Basic Business Checking
Best for Early access to payments
APY
N/A
Monthly fee
$0
Bonus
N/A
Learn more
at Lili, Deposits are FDIC Insured
Pros
- No monthly fees, transaction fees or incoming wire fees.
- No fees at MoneyPass ATMs.
- Cash deposits via Green Dot network (fees and limits apply).
- Early payment feature allows you to receive funds up to two days sooner than with a traditional bank account.
- Direct integrations with Square, Shopify, Etsy and eBay.
Cons
- Fee for using out-of-network ATMs.
- No fee-free cash deposits.
- Low monthly limits for cash deposits, incoming ACH transfers.
- Bill pay not included; must upgrade to Lili Smart or higher.
- Not available to nonprofit organizations.
- No spend controls on employee debit cards.
Bank of America® Business Advantage Fundamentals™ Banking
Best for Generous account limits, easy application
APY
N/A
Monthly fee
$16.00
$0 for the first 12 statement cycles.
Bonus
N/A
Learn more
at Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC
Pros
- No monthly fee for the first 12 statement cycles.
- Welcome offer for new accountholders.
- Loyalty perks via Preferred Rewards for Business program.
- Relatively low overdraft fees ($10 per item, limited to two per day)
Cons
- $100 minimum opening deposit.
- Fee for using out-of-network ATMs.
- $16 monthly fee after introductory period ends.
Bank of America® Business Advantage Fundamentals™ Banking
Best for Generous account limits, easy application
APY
N/A
Monthly fee
$16.00
$0 for the first 12 statement cycles.
Bonus
N/A
Learn more
at Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC
Pros
- No monthly fee for the first 12 statement cycles.
- Welcome offer for new accountholders.
- Loyalty perks via Preferred Rewards for Business program.
- Relatively low overdraft fees ($10 per item, limited to two per day)
Cons
- $100 minimum opening deposit.
- Fee for using out-of-network ATMs.
- $16 monthly fee after introductory period ends.
How to compare small-business checking accounts
When comparing small-business checking accounts, first determine what’s most important to your business — whether it’s cash deposits, branch access, low fees or something else — to narrow your options. Then dig into the details of each potential account, and ask yourself the following questions:
1. How much will you spend?
Free business checking accounts don’t charge monthly fees, but can still have incidental and excess deposit fees (more on those below). Read the fine print for any account you’re considering to get a clear picture of how much it might actually cost you.
Costs to weigh include:
- Minimum opening deposit: Some business accounts require a minimum opening deposit, which can range from $0 to $100 (or more) depending on the account.
- ATM fees: Some small-business banks charge $2 to $3 if you use an ATM outside of the bank’s own ATM network. Those fees are on top of any charged by the third-party ATM owner. Other business banks partner with MoneyPass, Allpoint and other massive ATM networks, giving fee-free access to more than 40,000 ATMs nationwide. A handful of business banking accounts will automatically refund some or all of your ATM fees, including those charged by third-party ATM operators. That can be a big bonus for business owners who rely on ATM access.
- Overdraft fees: Dipping into the red on your business checking account can cost anywhere from $10 to $39 in overdraft or non-sufficient funds fees. And some accounts will assess up to six overdraft charges per day if you have multiple items come through. A handful of business checking accounts, including Chase, Axos and Huntington, offer a grace period on overdrafts (up to a certain amount) to give businesses some wiggle room.
Most banks publish their fees online, but it’s not always easy to find. When in doubt, ask a bank representative to see the full schedule of fees before opening an account.
2. What limits does the account impose?
Transaction limits and cash deposits limits are common with business checking accounts, especially those from traditional business banks. Review your banking history to ensure you won’t bump up against these limits and run into extra fees.
A cash deposit limit of $2,500 to $5,000 is typical for entry-level business accounts at brick-and-mortar banks (beyond that you'll likely pay a fee). And transaction limits can range from 100 to 500 per month.
Online business checking accounts usually include unlimited fee-free transactions, but may impose other limits. Some online accounts have tight caps on how much you can deposit or transfer per day and per month. And cash deposits may not be available at all with an online business account, though several offer cash deposits for a fee via third parties like Green Dot.
3. How do you want to access your money?
There are a lot of ways to access the money in your business checking account: checks, ACH transfers, online bill pay, wire transfers, cash withdrawal (in person or via ATM).
Traditional brick-and-mortar banks typically offer all of these options, but most charge extra for wire transfers and have limits on monthly transactions. And some neobanks don’t offer typical banking features, like checks or wire transfers.
If in-person banking or ATM access is at the top of your priority list, scan the bank’s branch and ATM network to ensure there are close and convenient options.
4. Does the account add value to your business?
A business checking account should do more than just hold your money. Look for an account that earns a high APY (several of our top picks earn 1% or more) or offers tools and features that make it easier to run your business.
A business checking account for freelancers or new businesses, for example, might have built-in accounting and tax planning tools. While a more established business may want an account that easily integrates with its existing business software and offers free, customized invoicing.
Compare more business banking options
Want to explore more banks for small businesses? Use NerdWallet's tool to search for and compare business checking accounts based on the features that are important to you, whether that's unlimited transactions, free ATM access, no monthly fee or a low minimum opening deposit.
Last updated on April 4, 2025
Methodology
NerdWallet evaluates more than 30 business bank accounts from national, regional and online banks. Collectively, these accounts represent the largest banks by assets, internet search traffic and other factors, along with notable or emerging players in the industry.
We consider more than 20 data points for each account, scoring them on fees, perks and accessibility, among other factors. This information is gathered from each financial institution's website and company representatives. In addition, data is collected regularly and reviewed by our editorial team for consistency and accuracy.
Final star ratings are presented on a scale of one to five stars, where a one-star score represents "poor" and a five-star score represents "excellent." Learn more about how we rate business checking accounts.
