So you’ve taken the plunge and decided to flex some entrepreneurial in the land of opportunity. Choosing the best business bank accounts for your start-up or small business will no doubt be one of your first undertakings.
Failing to separate business finances from personal spending is one of the worst financial mistakes you could make – even if you’re a sole proprietor.
Try our online invoicing software for free
Accept online payments with ease
Keep track of who's paid you
Start sending invoices
Every business’ context is varied and different needs will result in different banks being the best fit. There’s no top one-size fit all option. But there is a common enemy, or key consideration, and it’s business banking fees.
Major fees include monthly account, excess transaction and excess cash deposit fees. Review these carefully while weighing your options. And always be on the lookout for fees that you may be charged unless you meet specific criteria to avoid them.
Because we know you’re preoccupied with surviving your first year as a business owner, we’ve scoured the information pages of various American banks to save some time and effort. We’ll start with some of the big names and then move on to some smaller (but still oh so attractive) fish.
Bear in mind, regardless of size, every bank listed offers the same thing: great banking options for US small businesses.
Chase Total Business Checking
Chase Total Business Checking is overwhelmingly lauded as the perfect account for small businesses. The bank’s network of almost 5,000 brick-and-mortar locations and 16,000 ATMs worldwide promises easy access.
Plus, their mobile app lets you deposit checks online, pay bills, make transfers, check your balance and so much more. Their small business loans ranging from $10,000 to $500,000 are also a major draw.
| Account Feature | Cost |
| Monthly fee | $12 (avoid by maintaining a minimum $1,500 daily balance, direct deposits totaling $500+ or an average beginning day balance of $5,000+ in linked accounts) |
| Minimum Opening Deposit | n/a |
| Monthly transactions | No fees up to 100 transactions, $0.40 after |
| Overdraft fees | $34.00 |
| Cash Deposits | Free for first $5,000 each month, $0.25 per $1,000 after |
| Non-Bank ATM | $2.50 in US, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands, $5.00 for withdrawals & 2.50 for transfers or inquiries outside US+ATM operator’s fee |
Bank of America Business Checking Accounts
Bank of America is the second largest bank in the United States with $2.34 trillion in assets and over 4,500 branches and 16,00 ATMs spanning the country. If you’re looking for a small business-friendly checking account with a traditional brick and mortar bank, BoA may just be your best bet.
It’s two business checking account offerings are:
- Business Checking Fundamentals – the better option if your business is brand new and your average monthly balance tends to be relatively low
| Account Feature | Cost |
| Monthly fee | $17 (avoid by maintaining a minimum daily $3,000 balance, average monthly $5,000 balance or combined monthly balance of $15,000 + in linked accounts) |
| Minimum Opening Deposit | N/A |
| Monthly transactions | No fees up to 200 transactions, $0.45 after |
| Overdraft fees | $35.00 for each overdraft |
| Cash Deposits | Free for first $7,500 each month, then $0.30 for each $100 |
| Non-Bank ATM | $2.50 in US, $5.00 outside US + 3% International Transaction Fee for each withdrawal converted into local currency + ATM operator’s fee |
- Business Checking Advantages – the better option if your business is more established and you maintain an average monthly balance of $15,000+ or spend at least $2,500 monthly on your business card
| Account Feature | Cost |
| Monthly fee | $29.95 (avoid by maintaining average monthly $15,000 balance, a combined monthly $35,000+ balance in linked accounts or actively using Bank of America Merchant Services11 and/ or Payroll Services ) |
| Minimum Opening Deposit | $100 |
| Monthly transactions | No fees up to 500 transactions, $0.45 after |
| Overdraft fees | $35.00 for each overdraft |
| Cash Deposits | Free for first $20,000 each month, then $0.30 for each $100 |
| Non-Bank ATM | $2.50 in US, $5.00 outside US + 3% International Transaction Fee for each withdrawal converted into local currency + ATM operator’s fee |
Wells Fargo Business Choice Checking
Wells Fargo has many great options for business checking accounts, ranging from simple to complex cash management . However, we’ve focused on the one that is best for a small business just starting up with constantly evolving needs.
If you value access to local branches to complement online banking capabilities, a Business Choice checking account might be the one for you. With over 13,000 ATMs and 6000 branches, this popular option has a long history of catering to the needs of new and growing businesses with a steady volume of banking activity.
| Account Feature | Cost |
| Monthly fee | $14 (avoid fee with minimum $7,500 average balance, a combined monthly $10,000+ balance in linked accounts) |
| Minimum Opening Deposit | $25 |
| Monthly transactions | No fees up to 200 transactions, $0.50 after |
| Overdraft fees | $35.00 for each overdraft |
| Cash Deposits | Free for first $7,500 each month, then $0.30 for each $100 |
| Non-Bank ATM | $2.50 in US, $5.00 outside US+ATM operator’s fee |
Capital One Spark Business Basic Checking
Capital One has over 700 branches and 39,000+ ATMs (2,000 which accept deposits) country-wide. Their business basic checking account allows for unlimited transactions, as well as a free business debit card and access to a comprehensive online banking program conveniently goes wherever you go.
You can easily setting up text and email alerts for things like daily balances and check deposits. Speaking of deposits, the high number of free cash deposits makes this core account a stellar choice if you run a business that has or expects a high volume of deposits and monthly transactions.
| Account Feature | Cost |
| Monthly fee | $15 (waive by maintaining a $2,000 minimum balance) |
| Minimum Opening Deposit | $250 |
| Monthly transactions | Unlimited |
| Overdraft fees | $35.00 for each overdraft |
| Cash Deposits | $5,000 monthly at no charge; $1 for every $1,000 deposited after that |
| Non-Bank ATM | $2.00 +ATM operator’s fee |
PNC Bank Business Checking
The first of the smaller banks featured is PNC Bank with approximately 2,400 locations and 15,000 ATMs across the country. This bank offers great options at competitive prices for small business and start-ups that just require the checking account basics.
| Account Feature | Cost |
| Monthly fee | $10 (avoid by maintaining $500 average monthly balance, using a linked PNC business credit card for min. of $500 in eligible purchases or maintaining a linked PNC Merchant Services account with min. $500 in qualifying deposits) |
| Minimum Opening Deposit | $100 |
| Monthly transactions | No fees up to 150 transactions, $0.50 after |
| Overdraft fees | $36.00 for each overdraft |
| Cash Deposits | Free for first $5,000 each month, $0.25 after |
| Non-Bank ATM | $3.00 in US, $5.00 outside US+ATM operator’s fee |
US Bank Silver Business Package
US Banks, with its free access to over 50,000 no-fee domestic ATMs, is one of the few American banks that offer no monthly maintenance fee and no monthly opening deposit for US small businesses.
It’s Silver Business Checking account offers features that are very attractive to frugal business owners with limited transaction activity.
| Account Feature | Cost |
| Monthly fee | $0 |
| Minimum Opening Deposit | $0 |
| Monthly transactions | No fees up to 125 transactions, $0.50 after |
| Overdraft fees | $36.00 for each item of 5.01 or more; $0 for items $5.00 or less |
| Cash Deposits | 25 free cash deposits per month, $0.25 after |
| Non-Bank ATM | $2.50 outside US +ATM operator’s fee |
Navy Federal Credit Union Business Checking
Since its founding in 1933, Navy Federal Credit Union has steadfastly remains one of the more beneficial and interesting bank accounts for US small businesses. At Navy Federal, all business accounts earn dividends and come with digital banking access, a standard business debit card and free starter checks.
Their two optimal SMB account options include:
- Business Checking which will likely be your best bet if you’re a new business with limited cash flow
| Account Feature | Cost |
| Monthly fee | $0 |
| Minimum Opening Deposit | $0 |
| Monthly transactions | No fees up to 30 non-electronic transactions, $0.25 after |
| Overdraft fees | $36.00 for each overdraft |
| Cash Deposits | Free at all CO-OP ATMs |
| Non-Bank ATM | $1.00 in US, 0.8%-1% outside of US |
- Business Plus Checking which works best for growing enterprises with steady banking activities
| Account Feature | Cost |
| Monthly fee | $8 |
| Minimum Opening Deposit | $0 |
| Monthly transactions | No fees up to 50 non-electronic transactions, $0.25 after |
| Overdraft fees | $36.00 for each overdraft |
| Cash Deposits | Free at all CO-OP ATMs |
| Non-Bank ATM | $0.50 per domestic transaction or $1.00 outside of US |
Axos Bank Business Interest Checking
Lastly, Axos Bank offers an advantageous Business Interest Checking account for enterprises with higher average balances. It’s one of the highest-yielding small-business checking accounts available and pays 0.80% annual percentage yield on all balances up to $5 million.
There’s a $50 account opening bonus for newly incorporated businesses.
Bonus: if you fall into the class of newly incorporated businesses, check out these invaluable lessons learned shared by industry experts.
| Account Feature | Cost |
| Monthly fee | $10 (avoid fee with minimum $5000 daily balance) |
| Minimum Opening Deposit | $100 |
| Monthly transactions | No fees up to 50 transactions, $0.50 after |
| Overdraft fees | $0 as transactions are declined unless you enroll in an overdraft program |
| Cash Deposits | 60 items per month for Remote Deposit |
| Non-Bank ATM | $0 (unlimited domestic ATM fee reimbursements) |
Best business bank accounts for US small businesses
Again, there honestly is no single best business checking account for all US small businesses. The country and context is simply too large.
However, it is good to begin to research and find out what are the conditions that you fall in: how much your average monthly balance can be, how many transactions you’ll make per month, amount of cash deposits, etc.
After working out those basics, it’ll be much easier for you to choose the best business bank accounts that suit your small business in America.
Or maybe you’re working internationally or remotely and looking to bypass fees and traditional banking complications altogether? In that case we’ve also got you covered with this overview of digital banking for businesses!