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Countingup offers an e-money service that is easy to set up and use. Notably, it comes bundled with smart accounting tools to help streamline your business finances.

There are clear time-saving benefits to using the one app for all your business banking and accounting activity, and shared access with your accountant is likely to be a bonus. The financial insights and instant notifications may prove useful for sole traders and businesses at the smaller end of the scale, which the account is designed for. You will, however, need to be comfortable with doing everything through the mobile app.

Promotion

Countingup Starter Business Account

Monthly Fee

£3
Card Purchase Fees

Free
Bank Transfer Fees

30p

Free for first 3 months, 30p per transaction thereafter
Offer

Get your first 3 months free

Pay no subscription fees during your trial. Other transaction charges may apply.

Learn More

This product may be one of a range offered by this provider. Always check terms & conditions for suitability before applying.

Learn more about how we bring you our review.

Key features

Built-in accounting software
Your Countingup business account comes with built-in accounting software that can automate your bookkeeping.
Mobile banking app
With Countingup, all of your business banking is conducted through the provider’s mobile app.
E-money account
Countingup is an e-money provider, not a licensed bank.
Contactless Mastercard
Your Countingup business account comes with a free contactless Mastercard debit card.

Countingup business account pros & cons

Pros

You can get a free three-month trial when you apply for a Countingup business account.
You can open your Countingup business account on the same day that you apply.
The Countingup business banking app is available on Android and iOS.
You may be able to access business loans through Countingup’s partnership with Funder Finder.

Cons

Since Countingup is an e-money account, not a full business bank account, deposits are not protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).
You can only access your Countingup business account through the app.
Countingup does not offer 24/7 customer support, you can only contact the support team via email.
You cannot deposit cheques through Countingup.

The pros and cons featured here are chosen by us based on a combination of our expert, research-based opinions and an exclusive survey of UK business owners and decision makers. The survey was conducted on behalf of NerdWallet UK in December 2022 to identify the business bank account features that people feel are most important. They are unlikely to be the only product features and restrictions that you should consider. Pros and cons are subjective and you should align them to your own personal and business circumstances. Information was correct at the time of publication but may have changed since.

Countingup business account full review

Countingup offers business current account banking services with built-in accounting tools.

Through the app, you can carry out day-to-day banking transactions and manage your financial admin. This includes issuing and tracking customised invoices, expense management, instant payment notifications and tax estimates.

You can also share bookkeeping information with your accountant, which might make the tax year-end easier for you both.

It’s for sole traders, freelancers and small limited companies, and the monthly fee depends on your total monthly deposits and account activity:

£3 a month: total monthly deposits of £0 to £750
£9 a month: total monthly deposits of £750 to £7,500
£18 a month: unlimited monthly deposits

These prices aren’t fixed – your subscription fee may rise and fall depending on your total monthly deposits.

Countingup business account features: at a glance

Monthly fee	£3 a month (monthly deposits of up to £750) £9 a month (monthly deposits of £750 to £7,500)£18 a month (unlimited monthly deposits)
Transaction fees	Yes (ATM withdrawals, cash deposits, account transfers, foreign currency transactions)
Account management	Mobile app
FSCS protection	No
Set-up time	Same day
Cash deposits	Yes (0.5%, with £2 min fee at Post Office, 3% at PayPoint)
Cheque deposits	No
Access to other banking services	No
International payments	Yes (through CurrencyFair)
Customer service	Email: [email protected]
Multiple user access	No
Create and send invoices	Yes
Integration with accounting software tools	No (built-in accounting software)

Where Countingup business account stands out

Flexible monthly pricing: Although Countingup doesn’t offer a free account, the flexibility of its pricing structure means your monthly subscription fee will rise and fall in line with your business performance, i.e. your total monthly deposits.

Built-in accounting software: Every Countingup business account comes with built-in accounting software. This means you can automate your bookkeeping, receive tax estimates, and easily share your data with your accountant.

Business data analysis: With your business banking and accounting in the same place, you can more easily keep track of your real-time profit and loss.

Customer reviews: Countingup has positive reviews on Trustpilot, App Store and Google Play, indicating that its limited customer service options may not be a problem.

Access to business loans: It may be possible to access business loans, starting at £500, through Countingup’s partnership with Funder Finder.

Quick set-up: Countingup claims it opens most business accounts in less than two hours, meaning you can get started with your business banking almost immediately.

» MORE: What is a same day business account?

Where Countingup business account falls short

Account access and customer support: There is no access online, in a branch or over the phone with Countingup, only the mobile app. Similarly, the only customer support available is via email.

Account limits: There are a range of account limits depending on your business structure. For example, if you are self-employed, there is a maximum account balance limit of £60,000, a daily maximum Mastercard purchase of £10,000, and limits on your daily cash deposits. The same is true if you are a limited company, though your limits will be higher. For example, a limited company can only have a maximum account balance of £400,000.

Transactions: You will have to pay for every transaction you make through your Countingup business account.

FSCS protection: Due to Countingup being an e-money provider, your deposits are not protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). However, the provider is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and ‘safeguards’ your funds by keeping them in a different account to the funds of its parent company, Prepay Solutions (PPS).

Cheques: While you can make cash deposits at the Post Office and PayPoint locations, you cannot deposit cheques.

Partnerships and charities: Countingup business accounts are not available to partnerships, charities, or trusts.

Countingup business account customer reviews

Countingup business customers have left reviews on a number of different platforms. These reviews are very positive.

App Store: 4.7 out of 5, based on over 2,500 reviews
Google Play: 4.4 out of 5, based on over 1,100 reviews
Trustpilot: 4.4 out of 5, based on over 2,200 reviews

This information is correct as of 24 May 2023.

Countingup business account eligibility

In order to be eligible to open a Countingup business account, you must:

have a smartphone
be a sole trader or the director of a limited company
be at least 18 years old
be a UK resident, with a valid UK mobile number, a valid email address, and either a UK passport, driving licence or European ID card

If you are a limited company, there are further requirements. You must:

be registered as active with Companies House
be limited by shares
have a maximum of two directors
have all Persons of Significant Control be UK residents
have all shares held by individuals

How to apply for a Countingup business account

To apply for a Countingup business account, you will need to take the following steps:

Download the Countingup mobile app on your smartphone.
Fill in some basic personal details and business information, including whether you’re a sole trader or your business is a limited company.
Submit a selfie to confirm who you are.
Wait for confirmation of your account details.

» MORE: How to open a business bank account in the UK

Review methodology

At NerdWallet Ltd UK we base our reviews on the results of surveys we conduct to understand what key product features are important to those who use them, and align them to the product we review.

Product details reflect the information that was available at that time but may have changed since. We strive to give you a review on as many products as possible but it is likely there are others available that we have not reviewed. The review is our opinion, but it does not constitute advice, recommendation or suitability of your financial circumstances.

You can view our review methodology here.

About the Authors

Holly Bennett

Holly champions clear, jargon-free writing. She’s been creating finance content for leading organisations for over 10 years.

Kristina Fox

Kristina was a writer at NerdWallet who focused on writing finance content for small businesses, as well as young people and students. A recent graduate trading French for finance, she…

Connor Campbell

Connor is a writer and spokesperson for NerdWallet. Previously at Spreadex, his market commentary has been quoted in the likes of the BBC, The Guardian, Evening Standard, Reuters and The…

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Countingup Business Account Review

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