Free business checking accounts don't charge monthly fees. The best no-fee options limit other costs, too, with features like free ATM access or no overdraft fees. Most of these business checking accounts
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Best Free Business Checking Accounts
APY
1.50%
With $0 min. balance for APY
Monthly fee
$0
Bonus
$300
Requirements to qualify
Learn moreat 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.
Bluevine Business Checking
Best for Online business banking
APY
1.50%
With $0 min. balance for APY
Monthly fee
$0
Bonus
$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.
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
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.
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
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.
APY
N/A
Monthly fee
$0
Bonus
$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.
Relay Business Checking
Best for Midsize businesses
APY
N/A
Monthly fee
$0
Bonus
$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.
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 Brick-and-mortar banking
APY
N/A
Monthly fee
$0
Bonus
$500
Requirements to qualify
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
1.80%
With $25,000 min. balance for APY
Monthly fee
$0
Bonus
$300
Requirements to qualify
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.
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
$300
Requirements to qualify
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.
APY
N/A
Monthly fee
$0
Bonus
$300
Requirements to qualify
at Mercury, Deposits are FDIC Insured
Pros
- No monthly fees or minimum opening deposit.
- Unlimited fee-free U.S. dollar transactions; no overdraft fees.
- Free domestic and international U.S. dollar wire transfers.
- Advanced digital tools including API access to automate and customize your banking.
- Unlimited refunds on all domestic ATM fees.
Cons
- Can’t deposit cash.
- Mercury is not part of a fee-free ATM network.
Mercury Business Bank Account
Best for Venture-backed startups
APY
N/A
Monthly fee
$0
Bonus
$300
Requirements to qualify
at Mercury, Deposits are FDIC Insured
Pros
- No monthly fees or minimum opening deposit.
- Unlimited fee-free U.S. dollar transactions; no overdraft fees.
- Free domestic and international U.S. dollar wire transfers.
- Advanced digital tools including API access to automate and customize your banking.
- Unlimited refunds on all domestic ATM fees.
Cons
- Can’t deposit cash.
- Mercury is not part of a fee-free ATM network.
APY
N/A
Monthly fee
$0
Bonus
$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.
Found Small Business Banking
Best for Self-employed workers
APY
N/A
Monthly fee
$0
Bonus
$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.
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.
nbkc Business Account
Best for Simple online banking
APY
N/A
Monthly fee
$0
Bonus
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.
Pros
- No monthly fees or minimum opening deposit.
- Unlimited fee-free transactions and free incoming wires.
- Automatic refunds of all ATM fees (domestic).
- Cash deposits via Allpoint ATMs.
- Welcome bonus for new customers (terms apply).
Cons
- $25 fee for insufficient funds/uncollected funds returned.
- No third-party app integrations.
Axos Bank® Basic Business Checking
Best for ATM fee refunds, cash deposits
APY
N/A
Monthly fee
$0
Bonus
$400
Requirements to qualify
at Axos Bank®, Member FDIC
Pros
- No monthly fees or minimum opening deposit.
- Unlimited fee-free transactions and free incoming wires.
- Automatic refunds of all ATM fees (domestic).
- Cash deposits via Allpoint ATMs.
- Welcome bonus for new customers (terms apply).
Cons
- $25 fee for insufficient funds/uncollected funds returned.
- No third-party app integrations.
APY
2.50%
With $0 min. balance for APY
Monthly fee
$0
Bonus
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.
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
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.
APY
N/A
Monthly fee
$0
Bonus
$300
Requirements to qualify
at Novo, Deposits are FDIC Insured
Pros
- No monthly fees or minimum opening deposit.
- Unlimited fee-free transactions and free incoming wires.
- Refunds on all ATM fees worldwide.
- Direct integrations with Etsy, eBay, Amazon and WooCommerce.
- Built-in invoicing.
Cons
- Can’t deposit cash.
- Can’t send domestic or international wires.
- No customer support by phone.
- No bill pay feature.
- Does not offer jointly owned accounts.
- No spend controls on employee debit cards.
Novo Business Checking
Best for Digital freelancers
APY
N/A
Monthly fee
$0
Bonus
$300
Requirements to qualify
at Novo, Deposits are FDIC Insured
Pros
- No monthly fees or minimum opening deposit.
- Unlimited fee-free transactions and free incoming wires.
- Refunds on all ATM fees worldwide.
- Direct integrations with Etsy, eBay, Amazon and WooCommerce.
- Built-in invoicing.
Cons
- Can’t deposit cash.
- Can’t send domestic or international wires.
- No customer support by phone.
- No bill pay feature.
- Does not offer jointly owned accounts.
- No spend controls on employee debit cards.
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
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.
Pros
- No monthly fees.
- Unlimited fee-free electronic transactions and free incoming wires.
- No dollar limit on cash deposits (other limits may apply).
- 24/7 customer service.
- No fees to deposit cash at Navy Federal or Co-Op Network ATMs.
Cons
- High opening deposit (up to $255).
- $29 fee for overdrafts, insufficient funds.
- Eligibility limited to veterans, military members, Department of Defense employees and their families.
- Does not offer jointly owned accounts.
- No spend controls on employee debit cards.
Navy Federal Credit Union Business Checking
Best for Military-affiliated entrepreneurs
APY
0.01%
With $0 min. balance for APY
Monthly fee
$0
Bonus
N/A
Pros
- No monthly fees.
- Unlimited fee-free electronic transactions and free incoming wires.
- No dollar limit on cash deposits (other limits may apply).
- 24/7 customer service.
- No fees to deposit cash at Navy Federal or Co-Op Network ATMs.
Cons
- High opening deposit (up to $255).
- $29 fee for overdrafts, insufficient funds.
- Eligibility limited to veterans, military members, Department of Defense employees and their families.
- Does not offer jointly owned accounts.
- No spend controls on employee debit cards.
💬 From our Nerds: Why so many of these accounts are from online banks
"Because online banks and neobanks don't have to operate branches, they have lower overhead than traditional brick-and-mortar banks do. That's part of why many online business checking accounts
"Brick-and-mortar banks tend to charge monthly fees, even for their entry-level accounts. In exchange, of course, you get access to branches. And banks do generally offer to waive those monthly fees if you maintain a certain average balance or transact often enough. But if you want no monthly fee at all, most of your best options are online accounts."
— Rosalie Murphy
How much do banks charge for a business account?
The cost of a business account varies by bank and account type. The most common fee is for monthly maintenance, which usually starts around $10. Most banks will waive this charge if you maintain a specific average monthly balance or meet other qualifications.
🏦 Compare NerdWallet's best banks for small businesses
Here’s how this works for some well-known business checking accounts:
Account | Monthly fee | How the fee can be waived |
|---|---|---|
$ . (No fee for the first 12 months.) | Maintain a $5,000 combined average monthly balance, spend $500 in net-new purchases on a BofA business debit card or become a member of the bank’s Preferred Rewards for Business program. | |
$ . | Maintain an average balance of at least $100. | |
$ . | Maintain a minimum daily balance of $2,000, accept $2,000 per month via Chase QuickAccept transactions, make $2,000 in eligible purchases from a Chase Ink business credit card or meet Chase Military Banking requirements. | |
$ . | Maintain an average collected balance of at least $5,000. | |
$ . | Maintain an average monthly balance of $500, accept at least $500 monthly via linked merchant services or spend at least $500 monthly with a linked PNC credit card. | |
$ . | Be an eligible nonprofit. | |
$ . | Maintain a daily balance of at least $500 or average ledger balance of at least $1,000. |
Common business checking account fees
While free business checking accounts skip the monthly maintenance fee, you'll still probably run into other charges. Review your depositor agreement to understand all the potential costs, but here are some common fees to be aware of when choosing a business account:
Overdraft fees
Transaction fees
ATM fees
Cash deposit fees
Wire transfer fees
Free business checking accounts by state
If you want to keep your business local and prefer a smaller bank, choose your state to find free business checking accounts in your area:
How to compare free business checking accounts
Finding a small-business checking account with no monthly fees is a great start. But other factors could cost your business money based on its specific needs. Look at the following to find the best fit.
- See if there's a minimum opening deposit. You can open many free business checking accounts without adding money right away, but some require a minimum opening deposit of up to $100.
- Check on cash deposits. Online-only banks often have limits on how much cash you can deposit at once, or charge fees for making those deposits. A few don't support cash deposits at all. If your business deals with cash, make sure to choose a
business bank account - Be aware of incidental fees and transaction limits. Pay close attention to the fine print. Free business checking accounts probably still charge fees for some things, like out-of-network ATM use, cash deposits, wire transfers and overdrafts. Some also limit the number of transactions you can make each month before excess transaction fees kick in.
- Factor in additional perks and features. Some business checking accounts earn interest or offer cash back when you use your business debit card. A few offer both. And many offer additional features, like bookkeeping software, tax-planning tools and free invoicing. Weigh these perks and benefits when choosing an account.
Lili is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Sunrise Banks N.A., Member FDIC.
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.