Best Bank Accounts for Freelancers, Self-Employed of June 2025

The best bank accounts for freelancers and self-employed workers are free and easy to access online. Opening one is an important part of separating your business and personal finances.
Advertiser icon
Close
Advertiser icon
Close
Best overall online business checking account
Bluevine Business Checking
Best overall online business checking account

Bluevine Business Checking

Bluevine Business Checking

at Bluevine, Deposits are FDIC Insured

The best bank accounts for freelancers and the self-employed are easy to open, easy to access online and charge minimal fees. A dedicated business checking account also helps formally separate your business finances from your personal affairs — a smart move whether you run your own brick-and-mortar business or pick up tasks and gigs as a side hustle. The following accounts are great choices for self-employed workers with a variety of needs.
250+ small-business products reviewed and rated by our team of experts.
80+ years of combined experience covering small-business and personal finance.
60+ business bank accounts rated with our objective, comprehensive business bank account rubrics (Methodology).
NerdWallet's business banking content — including our ratings, reviews and recommendations — is produced by a team of writers and editors who specialize in small-business finances. Their journalism has appeared in The Associated Press, Washington Post, MarketWatch, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur, ABC News, MSN and other national and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage.

Best Bank Accounts for Freelancers, Self-Employed

Bank/institution Best for NerdWallet rating Monthly fee APY Bonus Learn more
Bluevine Business Checking

Bluevine Business Checking

at Bluevine, Deposits are FDIC Insured

Online banking

$0

1.50%

With $0 min. balance for APY

$300

Requirements to qualify

at Bluevine, Deposits are FDIC Insured

Pros

  • No monthly fees or minimum opening deposit.
  • Unlimited fee-free transactions; no overdraft fees.
  • Earn 1.50% interest on account balances up to and including $250,000. Terms apply.
  • Access up to $3 million in FDIC insurance with Insured Cash Sweep.
  • No fees at MoneyPass ATMs.
  • Account holders are assigned to a dedicated banker or customer support representative.

Cons

  • No fee-free cash deposits.
  • Fee for using out-of-network ATMs.
  • Does not offer jointly-owned accounts.
American Express® Business Checking

American Express® Business Checking

at American Express National Bank, Member FDIC

24/7 customer support

$0

1.30%

With $0 min. balance for APY

$30,000

Requirements to qualify

at American Express National Bank, Member FDIC

Pros

  • No monthly fees or minimum opening deposit.
  • No excess transaction fees and no charge for domestic incoming wires.
  • Earn 1.30% APY on balances up to $500,000.
  • 24/7 customer support.
  • No fees on withdrawals at more than 70,000 MoneyPass and Allpoint ATMs in the U.S.

Cons

  • Can’t deposit cash.
  • No outgoing international wire transfers.
  • Does not offer jointly owned accounts.
Grasshopper Innovator Business Checking Account

Grasshopper Innovator Business Checking Account

at Grasshopper Bank, Member FDIC

1% cash back on debit card purchases

$0

1.80%

With $25,000 min. balance for APY

N/A

at Grasshopper Bank, Member FDIC

Pros

  • Unlimited 1% cash back on qualified debit card purchases.
  • Earn up to 1.80% APY.
  • No monthly fees, transaction fees or overdraft charges.
  • Free, built-in bookkeeping and invoicing software.
  • Free incoming domestic wires; low fees on other wire transfers.

Cons

  • Can’t deposit cash.
  • $100 minimum opening deposit.
  • No weekend support.
Found Small Business Banking

Found Small Business Banking

at Found, Deposits are FDIC Insured

Tax planning, bookkeeping and invoicing tools

$0

N/A

$125

Requirements to qualify

at Found, Deposits are FDIC Insured

Pros

  • No required monthly fee or minimum opening deposit.
  • No excess transaction fees or overdraft fees; free incoming domestic wires.
  • Free, built-in invoicing, bookkeeping and tax-planning features.
  • Integrates with popular business and gig work apps, including Stripe, DoorDash, Uber, Etsy and PayPal.
  • Account holders are assigned to a dedicated banker or customer support representative.
  • Built-in payroll features for contractors.

Cons

  • No weekend or after-hours phone support.
  • Not available to partnerships or nonprofit organizations.
  • No fee-free cash deposits.
Chase Business Complete Banking®

Chase Business Complete Banking®

at Chase, Member FDIC

Accepting in-person payments

$15.00

Waived with $2,000 minimum balance

N/A

$500

Requirements to qualify

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.
Relay Business Checking

Relay Business Checking

at Relay, Deposits are FDIC Insured

Low fees on wire transfers

$0

N/A

$300

Requirements to qualify

at Relay, Deposits are FDIC Insured

Pros

  • No monthly fees or minimum opening deposit.
  • Unlimited fee-free transactions; no overdraft fees.
  • Cash deposits via compatible Allpoint ATMs.
  • No foreign transaction fees when you use your Relay Visa® Debit abroad.
  • Free incoming wires and low outgoing wire transfer fees.
  • Up to 50 debit cards.
  • Account holders are assigned to a dedicated banker or customer support representative.
  • Direct integration with Shopify.

Cons

  • Deposited checks are held for up to 6-7 business days.
  • No bill pay feature in the free plan.
nbkc Business Account

nbkc Business Account

at nbkc bank, Member FDIC

Cash deposits and withdrawals

$0

N/A

N/A

at nbkc bank, Member FDIC

Pros

  • No monthly fees or minimum opening deposit.
  • Unlimited fee-free transactions, no overdraft fees and free incoming domestic wires.
  • Up to $12 in monthly refunds for ATM fees charged by other banks worldwide.
  • Unlimited cash deposits via MoneyPass and Allpoint ATMs.
  • Accept contactless payments via the NBKC app (iOS only). Fees apply.
  • Unlimited debit cards.

Cons

  • High fee ($45) for international wire transfers.
  • Phone support only available during business hours.
  • No third-party app integrations.
Lili Basic Business Checking

Lili Basic Business Checking

at Lili, Deposits are FDIC Insured

Gig workers

$0

N/A

N/A

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.
First Internet Bank Do More Business™ Checking

First Internet Bank Do More Business™ Checking

at First Internet Bank, Member FDIC

Automatic transfers to savings

$0

0.50%

With $10,000 min. balance for APY

N/A

at First Internet Bank, Member FDIC

Pros

  • No monthly fees or minimum opening deposit.
  • Unlimited fee-free transactions; no overdraft fees.
  • Up to $10 in monthly refunds for ATM fees charged by other banks.
  • APY of 0.50% with an average daily balance of $10,000 or more.

Cons

  • No cash deposits.
  • $15 fee for incoming wires.
North One Standard Business Checking

North One Standard Business Checking

at North One, Deposits are FDIC Insured

High APY

$0

2.50%

With $0 min. balance for APY

N/A

at North One, Deposits are FDIC Insured

Pros

  • No monthly fees or excess transaction fees.
  • Same-day deposits from Amazon, Cash App, Square, Stripe and Venmo. Direct payments supported from a variety of other business platforms, including Etsy, Lyft, Shopify and Airbnb.
  • Sub-accounts that you can use to save for specific goals.
  • Direct integration with Shopify, Etsy and Amazon.
  • Account holders are assigned to a dedicated banker or customer support representative.

Cons

  • Low cash deposit limits ($1,500 per day, $5,000 per month). Service fee of up to $4.95 per deposit.
  • No free ATM network, though North One will reimburse up to two ATM fees per month by request. ATM withdrawals limited to $2,000 per day.
  • Can’t send or receive international wires.
  • No weekend customer support.
  • Not available to nonprofit organizations.
  • No spend controls on employee debit cards.
Bank/institution Best for NerdWallet rating Monthly fee APY Bonus Learn more
Bluevine Business Checking

Bluevine Business Checking

at Bluevine, Deposits are FDIC Insured

Online banking

$0

1.50%

With $0 min. balance for APY

$300

Requirements to qualify

at Bluevine, Deposits are FDIC Insured

American Express® Business Checking

American Express® Business Checking

at American Express National Bank, Member FDIC

24/7 customer support

$0

1.30%

With $0 min. balance for APY

$30,000

Requirements to qualify

at American Express National Bank, Member FDIC

Grasshopper Innovator Business Checking Account

Grasshopper Innovator Business Checking Account

at Grasshopper Bank, Member FDIC

1% cash back on debit card purchases

$0

1.80%

With $25,000 min. balance for APY

N/A

at Grasshopper Bank, Member FDIC

Found Small Business Banking

Found Small Business Banking

at Found, Deposits are FDIC Insured

Tax planning, bookkeeping and invoicing tools

$0

N/A

$125

Requirements to qualify

at Found, Deposits are FDIC Insured

Chase Business Complete Banking®

Chase Business Complete Banking®

at Chase, Member FDIC

Accepting in-person payments

$15.00

Waived with $2,000 minimum balance

N/A

$500

Requirements to qualify

at Chase, Member FDIC

Relay Business Checking

Relay Business Checking

at Relay, Deposits are FDIC Insured

Low fees on wire transfers

$0

N/A

$300

Requirements to qualify

at Relay, Deposits are FDIC Insured

nbkc Business Account

nbkc Business Account

at nbkc bank, Member FDIC

Cash deposits and withdrawals

$0

N/A

N/A

at nbkc bank, Member FDIC

Lili Basic Business Checking

Lili Basic Business Checking

at Lili, Deposits are FDIC Insured

Gig workers

$0

N/A

N/A

at Lili, Deposits are FDIC Insured

First Internet Bank Do More Business™ Checking

First Internet Bank Do More Business™ Checking

at First Internet Bank, Member FDIC

Automatic transfers to savings

$0

0.50%

With $10,000 min. balance for APY

N/A

at First Internet Bank, Member FDIC

North One Standard Business Checking

North One Standard Business Checking

at North One, Deposits are FDIC Insured

High APY

$0

2.50%

With $0 min. balance for APY

N/A

at North One, Deposits are FDIC Insured

Best Bank Accounts for Freelancers, Self-Employed

Best overall online business checking account

Bluevine Business Checking

Best for Online banking

APY
1.50%

With $0 min. balance for APY

Monthly fee
$0

Bonus
$300

Requirements to qualify

at Bluevine, Deposits are FDIC Insured

Best overall online business checking account

Bluevine Business Checking

Best for Online banking

APY
1.50%

With $0 min. balance for APY

Monthly fee
$0

Bonus
$300

Requirements to qualify

at Bluevine, Deposits are FDIC Insured

American Express® Business Checking

Best for 24/7 customer support

APY
1.30%

With $0 min. balance for APY

Monthly fee
$0

Bonus
30,000 points

Requirements to qualify

at American Express National Bank, Member FDIC

American Express® Business Checking

Best for 24/7 customer support

APY
1.30%

With $0 min. balance for APY

Monthly fee
$0

Bonus
30,000 points

Requirements to qualify

at American Express National Bank, Member FDIC

Grasshopper Innovator Business Checking Account

Best for 1% cash back on debit card purchases

APY
1.80%

With $25,000 min. balance for APY

Monthly fee
$0

Bonus
N/A

at Grasshopper Bank, Member FDIC

Grasshopper Innovator Business Checking Account

Best for 1% cash back on debit card purchases

APY
1.80%

With $25,000 min. balance for APY

Monthly fee
$0

Bonus
N/A

at Grasshopper Bank, Member FDIC

Found Small Business Banking

Best for Tax planning, bookkeeping and invoicing tools

APY
N/A

Monthly fee
$0

Bonus
$125

Requirements to qualify

at Found, Deposits are FDIC Insured

Found Small Business Banking

Best for Tax planning, bookkeeping and invoicing tools

APY
N/A

Monthly fee
$0

Bonus
$125

Requirements to qualify

at Found, Deposits are FDIC Insured

Chase Business Complete Banking®

Best for Accepting in-person payments

APY
N/A

Monthly fee
$15.00

Waived with $2,000 minimum balance

Bonus
$500

Requirements to qualify

at Chase, Member FDIC

Chase Business Complete Banking®

Best for Accepting in-person payments

APY
N/A

Monthly fee
$15.00

Waived with $2,000 minimum balance

Bonus
$500

Requirements to qualify

at Chase, Member FDIC

Relay Business Checking

Best for Low fees on wire transfers

APY
N/A

Monthly fee
$0

Bonus
$300

Requirements to qualify

at Relay, Deposits are FDIC Insured

Relay Business Checking

Best for Low fees on wire transfers

APY
N/A

Monthly fee
$0

Bonus
$300

Requirements to qualify

at Relay, Deposits are FDIC Insured

nbkc Business Account

Best for Cash deposits and withdrawals

APY
N/A

Monthly fee
$0

Bonus
N/A

at nbkc bank, Member FDIC

nbkc Business Account

Best for Cash deposits and withdrawals

APY
N/A

Monthly fee
$0

Bonus
N/A

at nbkc bank, Member FDIC

Lili Basic Business Checking

Best for Gig workers

APY
N/A

Monthly fee
$0

Bonus
N/A

at Lili, Deposits are FDIC Insured

Lili Basic Business Checking

Best for Gig workers

APY
N/A

Monthly fee
$0

Bonus
N/A

at Lili, Deposits are FDIC Insured

First Internet Bank Do More Business™ Checking

Best for Automatic transfers to savings

APY
0.50%

With $10,000 min. balance for APY

Monthly fee
$0

Bonus
N/A

at First Internet Bank, Member FDIC

First Internet Bank Do More Business™ Checking

Best for Automatic transfers to savings

APY
0.50%

With $10,000 min. balance for APY

Monthly fee
$0

Bonus
N/A

at First Internet Bank, Member FDIC

North One Standard Business Checking

Best for High APY

APY
2.50%

With $0 min. balance for APY

Monthly fee
$0

Bonus
N/A

at North One, Deposits are FDIC Insured

North One Standard Business Checking

Best for High APY

APY
2.50%

With $0 min. balance for APY

Monthly fee
$0

Bonus
N/A

at North One, Deposits are FDIC Insured

Do self-employed workers need a business bank account?

Technically, no. A business bank account isn’t required if you're self-employed.
But opening one is a good idea for the following reasons:
  1. Not all personal accounts can be used for businesses activity. Some financial institutions specify in their depositor agreement that personal accounts can't be used for business purposes. Business accounts, on the other hand, are designed specifically for business use.  
  2. Managing self-employment taxes can be easier. If you make more than $400 in a year from freelancing, you’ll owe self-employment taxes. The tax rate for those earnings is 15.3%. Keeping your business earnings in a separate account can make it easier to set aside funds for those taxes in advance so that you’re not surprised by a bill at tax time. Some accounts, including Found, will automatically set aside tax payments for you. 
  3. Business bank accounts offer helpful tools. Freelancer business accounts may come with features like invoicing, payment processing and expense tracking, which can make it easier to run your business. Others may integrate directly with payment, e-commerce and gig work apps, helping you access the money you’ve earned sooner.
  4. Separating your business finances sets you up for the future. If you decide to expand your business in the future, your business bank account will have a record of your revenue and expense history — which can be helpful when applying for a small-business loan.

Takeaways from my time freelancing

I had some freelance clients before I joined NerdWallet, but I didn't have a business checking account.
My system was way more complicated. I used a payment processor to send invoices and take payments. I deposited money into my personal savings account. Then, I kept a spreadsheet to track how much I'd earned and how much I owed in quarterly tax payments. After paying taxes, I transferred the remainder — my income — into my personal checking account.
If I were in the same position today, I'd simplify this dramatically by using a business bank account with built-in invoicing and tax planning tools.
Rosalie Murphy, lead writer covering small business

What documents do freelancers need to open a business bank account?

The exact documents required will vary by bank and your business type. If you're a sole proprietor, you'll likely need to provide at least the following documents:
  • A government-issued photo ID.
  • Business license.
  • Business tax ID (also called an EIN) or Social Security number.
Other business entities, like single-member LLCs, will require additional information. If you wanted to open a business bank account for an LLC, for instance, you’ll likely need to supply your operating agreement.
Learn more with our complete guide to what you need to open a business bank account.
Notes from NerdWallet partners
Note on American Express® Business Checking : 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.
Last updated on June 5, 2025