Compare Business Bank Accounts for Startups

Finding the right bank account for your start up is an important step.
Make the most of the latest free banking deals by shopping around.
Compare accounts from leading high street banks and innovative alternatives.

Promotion

Tide Business Current Account

No monthly fees
Sign up in minutes - get a sort code and account number instantly
FSCS protected bank account provided by ClearBank
Free tools for accounting and invoicing

See Deal

Monthly Turnover:

Monthly Transactions:

Choose your business current account options

Start Ups

Switchers

No Credit Checks

21 products found

Sort by

- Tide
  
  Monthly Fee
  Free
  
  Card Purchases
  Free
  
  Bank Transfers
  20p
  
  Overdraft
  
  Access
  App/Online
  See Deal + More info
  Product Features
  - Contactless MasterCard - with unlimited free purchases in any currency
  - Instant invoicing directly from your Tide app
  - Add up to 35 team card for FREE
  Eligibility Criteria
  - For registered business account: you must be registered with UK Companies House as a director of that company or partnership
  - For sole trader account: you must be a UK based sole trader/freelancer
  - For all accounts: you must be aged 18+, have a valid UK phone number and address, and hold compatible device registered to a UK App or Google Play store
  See Deal
- Tide Plus
  
  Monthly Fee
  £9.99
  
  Card Purchases
  Free
  
  Bank Transfers
  Free
  
  Overdraft
  
  Access
  App/Online
  See Deal + More info
  Product Features
  - Priority business support
  - Free transfers
  - Free legal advice
  Eligibility Criteria
  - For registered business account: you must be registered with UK Companies House as a director of that company or partnership
  - For sole trader account: you must be a UK based sole trader/freelancer
  - For all accounts: you must be aged 18+, have a valid UK phone number and address, and hold compatible device registered to a UK App or Google Play store
  See Deal
- Tide Cashback
  
  Monthly Fee
  £49.99
  
  Card Purchases
  Free
  
  Bank Transfers
  Free
  
  Overdraft
  
  Access
  App/Online
  See Deal + More info
  Product Features
  - 150 transfers a month with no fee
  - Dedicated account manager
  - Phone support and 24/7 legal helpline
  - 0.5% cashback when using Tide card on all eligible card transactions
  Eligibility Criteria
  - To apply for a registered business account, you’ll need to be registered with UK Companies House as a director of that company
  - To apply for a sole trader account, you’ll need to be a UK based sole trader or freelancer
  - For all accounts: you must be aged 18+, have a valid UK phone number and address, and hold compatible device registered to a UK App or Google Play store
  See Deal
- ANNA Money £0 a month
  
  Monthly Fee
  Free
  
  Card Purchases
  Free
  
  Bank Transfers
  Free
  
  Overdraft
  
  Access
  App only
  See Deal + More info
  Product Features
  - Business account and tax app for your small business
  - This plan has monthly limits of £500 income, £5,000 maximum balance, 2 UK transfers (in or out) and £100 ATM withdrawals
  - Instant Invoicing, Receipt Scanner, Automated Bookkeeping, Business expense cards for employees, virtual debit cards
  Eligibility Criteria
  - You can open an account if you are a Sole Trader, Director of a Limited Company (and listed on Companies House), or a Partner in a Limited Liability Partnership
  - Your business should be located within the UK and you also need to have a UK residential address
  - Not available to charities
  See Deal
  Offer
  6 months free 6 months free - no transaction or transfer charges.
- ANNA Money £4.90 a month
  
  Monthly Fee
  £4.90
  
  Card Purchases
  Free
  
  Bank Transfers
  Free
  
  Overdraft
  
  Access
  App only
  See Deal + More info
  Product Features
  - Business account and tax app for your small business
  - This plan has monthly limits of £500-£2,000 income, £25,000 maximum balance, 4 UK transfers (in or out) and £300 ATM withdrawals
  - Instant Invoicing, Receipt Scanner, Automated Bookkeeping, Business expense cards for employees, virtual debit cards
  Eligibility Criteria
  - You can open an account if you are a Sole Trader, Director of a Limited Company (and listed on Companies House), or a Partner in a Limited Liability Partnership
  - Your business should be located within the UK and you also need to have a UK residential address
  - Not available to charities
  See Deal
  Offer
  6 months free 6 months free - no transaction or transfer charges.
- ANNA Money £19.90 a month
  
  Monthly Fee
  £19.90
  
  Card Purchases
  Free
  
  Bank Transfers
  Free
  
  Overdraft
  
  Access
  App only
  See Deal + More info
  Product Features
  - Full invoice/expense features including accountant access and invoices with no ANNA branding
  - This plan has monthly limits of £20,000-£100,0000 income, £700,000 maximum balance, unlimited UK transfers (in or out) and £10,000 ATM withdrawals
  - Multiple access for unlimited users
  - Instant Invoicing, Receipt Scanner, Automated Bookkeeping, Business expense cards for employees, virtual debit cards
  Eligibility Criteria
  - You can open an account if you are a Sole Trader, Director of a Limited Company (and listed on Companies House), or a Partner in a Limited Liability Partnership
  - Your business should be located within the UK and you also need to have a UK residential address
  - Not available to charities
  See Deal
  Offer
  6 months free 6 months free - no transaction or transfer charges.
- ANNA Money £9.90 a month
  
  Monthly Fee
  £9.90
  
  Card Purchases
  Free
  
  Bank Transfers
  Free
  
  Overdraft
  
  Access
  App only
  See Deal + More info
  Product Features
  - Full invoice/expense features including accountant access and invoices with no ANNA branding
  - This plan has monthly limits of £2,000-£20,000 income, £120,000 maximum balance, 35 UK transfers (in or out) and £2,000 ATM
  - Instant Invoicing, Receipt Scanner, Automated Bookkeeping, Business expense cards for employees, virtual debit cards withdrawals
  Eligibility Criteria
  - You can open an account if you are a Sole Trader, Director of a Limited Company (and listed on Companies House), or a Partner in a Limited Liability Partnership
  - Your business should be located within the UK and you also need to have a UK residential address
  - Not available to charities
  See Deal
  Offer
  6 months free 6 months free - no transaction or transfer charges
Cashplus Business Bank Account
- Monthly Fee
  Free
- Card Purchases
  Free
- Bank Transfers
  Free
- Overdraft
- Access
  App/Online
See Deal + More info
Product Features
- Instant Account Number and Sort Code
- No credit checks to open an account
- Business cash advance facility available to eligible customers
Eligibility Criteria
- UK Businesses
- Application to be made by UK Director over age of 18
- Overdraft available subject to eligibility
See Deal
Acorn Business Account
- Monthly Fee
  £12.50
- Card Purchases
  Free
- Bank Transfers
  30p
- Overdraft
- Access
  App/Online
See Deal + More info
Product Features
- No credit checks to open an account
- Pay in cash and cheques
- IBAN and SWIFT codes for international payments
Eligibility Criteria
- Limited companies
- Sole traders
- Partnerships
See Deal
TSB Business Plus Account
- Monthly Fee
  £5*
- Card Purchases
  Free
- Bank Transfers
  Free
- Overdraft
- Access
  Branch, app & online
See Deal + More info
Product Features
- Savings account available with instant access – 0.30% AER variable for balances over £5,000, subject to eligibility and application
- Contactless payments, with free Square Reader on request, no fees on your first £1,000 sales
- Business Debit Card allows you to withdraw money from an ATM and you pay no fees on transactions using your Debit Card
Eligibility Criteria
- Available for Sole Traders, Partnerships and Limited UK Businesses, 18+
- Arranged overdraft available subject to approval
- Business use only
See Deal
Offer
*FREE for first 6 months £5 monthly fee thereafter. Waived if account balance kept above £10,000.
Starling Business Bank Account
- Monthly Fee
  Free
- Card Purchases
  Free
- Bank Transfers
  Free
- Overdraft
- Access
  App/Online
See Deal + More info
Product Features
- No monthly fees or fees overseas
- Automate expenses and link your account with QuickBooks, Xero and FreeAgent
- Deposit cash easily at your local Post Office and deposit cheques of £500 or less via the Starling app.
Eligibility Criteria
- User must be 18 or over
- Must be a UK resident
- Must have been trading for a minimum of 18 months to apply for an overdraft
See Deal
Offer
Add the Business Toolkit into your Starling account and get the first month free (RRP £7pcm)
- CountingUp Starter
  
  Monthly Fee
  Free
  
  Card Purchases
  Free
  
  Bank Transfers
  20p
  
  Overdraft
  
  Access
  App only
  See Deal + More info
  Product Features
  - Open an account in 5 minutes - instant account number, sort code and Mastercard in days
  - Business account and accounting software in one app - instant automated bookkeeping, receipt tracker and invoice management
  - £500 maximum monthly deposit on this plan
  Eligibility Criteria
  - To open an account you must be a UK resident, at least 18 years old and running a small business (Sole Trader/Director of a limited company)
  - If your maximum monthly deposit is exceeded, then your account will automatically upgrade to the appropriate subscription plan. You will not be able to downgrade from this plan.
  See Deal
  Offer
  No monthly charges or bank transfer fees for your first 3 months
- CountingUp Premium
  
  Monthly Fee
  £9.95
  
  Card Purchases
  Free
  
  Bank Transfers
  20p
  
  Overdraft
  
  Access
  App only
  See Deal + More info
  Product Features
  - Open an account in 5 minutes - instant account number, sort code and Mastercard in days
  - Business account and accounting software in one app - instant automated bookkeeping, receipt tracker and invoice management
  - Unlimited deposit on this plan subject to maximum balance and daily transaction limits
  Eligibility Criteria
  - To open an account you must be a UK resident, at least 18 years old and running a small business (Sole Trader/Director of a limited company)
  See Deal
  Offer
  No monthly charges or bank transfer fees for your first 3 months
- CountingUp Standard
  
  Monthly Fee
  £4.95
  
  Card Purchases
  Free
  
  Bank Transfers
  20p
  
  Overdraft
  
  Access
  App only
  See Deal + More info
  Product Features
  - Open an account in 5 minutes - instant account number, sort code and Mastercard in days
  - Business account and accounting software in one app - instant automated bookkeeping, receipt tracker and invoice management
  - £4,000 maximum monthly deposit on this plan
  Eligibility Criteria
  - To open an account you must be a UK resident, at least 18 years old and running a small business (Sole Trader/Director of a limited company)
  - If your maximum monthly deposit is exceeded, then your account will automatically upgrade to the appropriate subscription plan. You will not be able to downgrade from this plan.
  See Deal
  Offer
  No monthly charges or bank transfer fees for your first 3 months
Mettle by NatWest
- Monthly Fee
  Free
- Card Purchases
  Free
- Bank Transfers
  Free
- Overdraft
- Access
  App only
See Deal + More info
Product Features
- Apply in minutes
- Create, track and send invoices from your app
- Sync with Xero and FreeAgent. Seamlessly connect to accounting software. Plus, get FreeAgent for free
Eligibility Criteria
- For sole traders or limited companies with up to two owners
- Maximum balance of £100k for limited companies and £50k for sole traders
- For UK-based companies with owners that are UK residents
See Deal
Offer
FreeAgent for Free - a saving of £150 a year (based on FreeAgent's lowest tariff) To get FreeAgent for free you'll need to make at least one transaction a month from your Mettle account
HSBC Kinetic Business Current Account
- Monthly Fee
  £6.50*
- Card Purchases
  Free
- Bank Transfers
  Free
- Overdraft
- Access
  App/Online
See Deal + More info
Product Features
- No monthly account fees for 18 months
- Same-day overdraft on application
- Savings account with instant access - 0.01% AER, subject to eligibility and application
Eligibility Criteria
- Available to Limited Companies and Sole traders. Applicants must be 18 years or older
- Identity and credit checks apply
- You cannot apply for a HSBC Kinetic Current Account IF the sole purpose of opening the account is to access a Bounce Back Loan (BBL). See website for full eligibility requirements.
See Deal
Offer
*No monthly account fees for the first 18 months
CardOneMoney Business Account
- Monthly Fee
  £12.50*
- Card Purchases
  Free
- Bank Transfers
  30p
- Overdraft
- Access
  App/Online
See Deal + More info
Product Features
- No credit checks to open an account
- Pay in cash and cheques
- IBAN and SWIFT codes for international payments
Eligibility Criteria
- Limited companies
- Sole traders
- Partnerships
See Deal
Offer
*No monthly fee for the first 3 months
- Companies: Revolut Grow
  
  Monthly Fee
  £25
  
  Card Purchases
  Free
  
  Bank Transfers
  Free
  
  Overdraft
  
  Access
  App/Online
  See Deal + More info
  Product Features
  - Business account and multi-currency accounts: hold, exchange, send and receive funds in 28+ currencies – always at the real (interbank) rate
  - Issue physical and virtual debit cards: optimize spend and capture receipts in the app instantly; get one metal card free
  - Ideal for Ecommerce: easily accept payments on your checkout page and with plugins for WooCommerce, Magento 2.0 and PrestaShop
  Eligibility Criteria
  - Available for limited companies, PLCs, LLPs, Partnerships & unlimited companies
  - Currently available for companies registered in and with a physical presence within the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland
  - Revolut accounts do not support cash deposits or cheques
  See Deal
- Companies: Revolut Scale
  
  Monthly Fee
  £100
  
  Card Purchases
  Free
  
  Bank Transfers
  Free
  
  Overdraft
  
  Access
  App/Online
  See Deal + More info
  Product Features
  - Scale your business: £50k free FX, 30 free team members and 2 free metal cards
  - Designed for international ecommerce: save the FX fees charged by your acquirer, accept card payments directly with our payment gateway and plugins
  - Safety and full control: use virtual cards to spend online, set limits and customize your own rules for payments approval
  Eligibility Criteria
  - Available for limited companies, PLCs, LLPs, Partnerships & unlimited companies
  - Currently available for companies registered in and with a physical presence within the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland
  - Revolut accounts do not support cash deposits or cheques
  See Deal
- Companies: Revolut Free
  
  Monthly Fee
  Free
  
  Card Purchases
  Free
  
  Bank Transfers
  Free
  
  Overdraft
  
  Access
  App/Online
  See Deal + More info
  Product Features
  - Business account: hold, send and receive funds in 28+ currencies, exchange at only 0.4% fees
  - Free smart debit cards for you and one team member: track and control spending in real-time
  - Seamless integrations: automate accounting with tools you already use like Xero, QuickBooks and Freeagent
  Eligibility Criteria
  - Available for limited companies, PLCs, LLPs, Partnerships & unlimited companies
  - Currently available for companies registered in and with a physical presence within the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland
  - Revolut accounts do not support cash deposits or cheques
  See Deal
- Companies: Revolut Enterprise
  
  Monthly Fee
  Contact Revolut for details
  
  Card Purchases
  Free
  
  Bank Transfers
  Free
  
  Overdraft
  
  Access
  App/Online
  See Deal + More info
  Product Features
  - Ideal for Ecommerce: easily accept payments on your checkout page and with plugins for WooCommerce, Magento 2.0 and PrestaShop
  - Designed for cross-border business: currency exchange at the real (interbank) rate and unlimited multi-currency accounts
  - Ideal for corporate expenditure: issue physical and virtual cards, segregate spend, track expenses and capture receipts in the app
  Eligibility Criteria
  - Available for limited companies, PLCs, LLPs, Partnerships & unlimited companies
  - Currently available for companies registered in and with a physical presence within the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland
  - Revolut accounts do not support cash deposits or cheques
  See Deal

Our comparison service features a selection of providers from whom we receive commission. This table is initially ordered according to our commercial arrangements. Use the drop down menu at the top of the page to order by other criteria.

Also for Business

Award-winning comparisons you can trust

It's always nice to know you're on the right track. Over the years, as we have striven to improve the services we provide to our clients and users, we have been pleased to receive recognition for our efforts from both industry and consumer bodies.

Other comparisons

Published on 28 September 2018. Last updated on 09 November 2020.

Start-up Business Bank Accounts

Where do I begin when looking for a start-up business bank account?

Financial providers typically agree on the standards required to open new business accounts, with slight variances regarding products they provide or individual requirements. However, they can differ greatly from one another by offering a wide variety of deals through their start-up business bank accounts.

These can come in the form of offers for free business banking periods, for example. Providers can offer you anything from a year to 18 months in some cases. Providers are also increasingly able to offer digital banking services, which can help make managing your new business bank account easier.

What personal information do I need to provide to open a start-up business bank account?

Virtually all providers will ask you to produce a valid proof of identity (e.g. passport, driving licence), a valid document to prove you reside in the UK, as well as a registered company address. Other personal details required include some form of tax identification, such as a national insurance number.

Some providers require you to include valid ID for anyone in your business who owns a 25 per cent share in your business and anyone who is an account operator, director or partner.

What details must I disclose about my business?

You will usually be required to provide an official name for your business, a valid company registration number, the registered address for the business, as given by Company House, as well as the date which the business began trading.

To ensure easy correspondence, your provider would also require contact details for your business, so make sure to include appropriate phone numbers, email addresses and the business address itself.

Do I have to provide financial information?

Yes, providers would typically need to know the financial state of your business. This can include expected turnover, and the likely size of transfers in or out of the account. This gives your provider an idea about what size your business bank account may prove to be. You should also be clear about where your income is derived from, as financial institutions must ensure that they do not facilitate criminal activity.

It is also vital to include information about how many employees you expect to have on your payroll. Concerning investment in your start-up, you would need to provide details about the sources of any new investments. Tax status is also essential for your provider. If you are a limited company, for example, you will have a Unique Tax Reference number that you would be expected to provide.

My start-up plans to trade outside the UK, can I still open a start-up business bank account?

All you have to do is be clear about the people you work with or provide services for, as well as the places you plan to do business in. For example, if you require things from international suppliers or have customers abroad, you would be required to provide a list of their names and where they are based. You may also be asked to give a breakdown of how much of your turnover is derived from these international suppliers or customers.