Finance

9 Best Free Business Checking Accounts in 2026

Free Business Checking Account

Business bank accounts can help keep your personal expenses distinct from business expenses. This helps you stay safe from a legal compliance perspective. Alongside this basic necessity, the top free business checking accounts come with no monthly fees for maintenance, no minimum deposit for opening or overdraft charges, and come with built-in tools to assist you in managing the cash flow.

9 Free Business Checking Accounts: Choose the Best Options

1. NBKC Business Checking account

NBKC is awarded the title of the best free business checking accounts. It is free of fees, doesn’t require an opening deposit, and has no minimum balance requirements. The account is free for nearly all transactions, such as overdrafts, e-statements, stop payments, and wires from the United States. If you use an outside-of-network ATM and pay fees for it, the account can provide up to 12 dollars in monthly reimbursements.

Pros

  • No monthly maintenance or overdraft fees
  • No minimum balance required
  • Up to $12 per month in ATM fee reimbursements

Cons

  • $45 fee for international wire transfers
  • $5 fee for outgoing domestic wire transfers

Additional Details

  • Annual Percentage Yield (APY): N/A
  • Monthly Fee: $0
  • Overdraft Fee: $0
  • Foreign Transaction Fee: 1%

Also read: How to Get a Free Business Phone Number for Your Startup

2. Novo Business

Novo is the top choice for bookkeepers and accountants due to its wide range of software integrations. You can link Novo via Slack, Stripe, Zapier, Venmo, and more. It also doesn’t have fees for the month and does not have a minimum deposit to open. Additionally, there are no ATM fees, foreign transaction fees, incoming wire fees, or debit card replacement fees. All of this makes Novo the best free business checking account for accountants and other small firms, like restaurants and hair stylists, who want to keep their finances and data in one location.

Pros

  • Free invoicing options
  • Multiple payment options, including ACH and card payments
  • Unlimited ATM fee reimbursements
  • 15+ integrations with business tools like QuickBooks
  • Up to 10 Reserve savings accounts

Cons

  • No built-in support for outgoing wire transfers
  • No recurring bill payment feature
  • Customer support available via email only

Additional Details

  • Annual Percentage Yield (APY): N/A
  • Monthly Fee: $0
  • Nonsufficient Funds (NSF) Fee: $0
  • ATM Transaction Fee: $0
  • Foreign Transaction Fee: 0%
  • Paper Statement Fee: $0

3. Relay

Relay takes is the top account with access for teams, as it allows businesses to open up to 50 checking accounts and then customize accounts as required, either to organize finances or assign accounts to teams based on their individual requirements. Relay also offers a flexible business checking account. In addition to this advantage, this free business checking account comes with the standard of having zero minimum deposit requirements and no monthly foreign transaction or ATM charges.

The business account allows you to assign up to 50 debit cards to employees while maintaining control over spending and daily and ATM withdrawals. It is also possible to open two savings accounts and earn 0.97 percent to 2.86 percent APY, based on the plan you choose. You can get up to $3 million in FDIC insurance coverage via its network of program banks.

Pros

  • Create up to 50 checking accounts and issue up to 50 debit cards
  • No monthly fee on the basic plan
  • No overdraft, bounced check, or ATM fees
  • Set custom spending limits on team debit cards
  • Up to $3 million in FDIC insurance coverage

Cons

  • Paper checks are not supported

Additional Details

  • Annual Percentage Yield (APY): 2.86% on qualifying balances
  • Monthly Fee: $0
  • Nonsufficient Funds (NSF) Fee: $0
  • ATM Transaction Fee: $0
  • Overdraft Fee: $0
  • Foreign Transaction Fee: 0%

4. Bluevine Business Checking

With rates as high as 1.3 percent APR, Bluevine wins our pick as the best business account due to its high rate of return on its Free plan, Bluevine Standard. It is the highest interest rate available for a free business checking account on balances of up to $250,000. To earn this, businesses must complete $500 in credit or debit card transactions every month, or receive an additional $2,500 in customer payments every month.

Additionally, you’ll receive high FDIC insurance that can reach $3 million with Coastal Community Bank and a network of banks that are part of the program. There’s no monthly fee and unlimited transactions. You’ll also have the ability to open subaccounts, benefit from tools for team management, and have access to Green Dot, Allpoint, and MoneyPass ATMs to withdraw cash and deposits. If you can afford it, you could opt for the paid plan, which is Plus at $30 per month, or Premier at $95 per month. Both provide higher APYs and no activity requirements, and also waive the monthly fee.

Pros

  • No monthly fees with the Standard plan
  • Earn 1.3% APY on balances up to $250,000 with the Standard plan
  • Higher yields of 1.75% or 3.00% APY are available with paid plans
  • No minimum opening deposit required
  • Integrates with 9 accounting and business software tools

Cons

  • 2.9% transaction fee when paying bills with a credit card
  • Highest APY requires a paid plan

Additional Details

Annual Percentage Yield (APY): 3.00% on balances from $0 to $3,000,000/1.75% on balances from $0 to $250,000/ 1.30% on balances from $0 to $250,000

  • Intro or Bonus Offer: Earn up to $500
  • Monthly Fee: From $0
  • Nonsufficient Funds (NSF) Fee: $0
  • ATM Transaction Fee: $0
  • Overdraft Fee: $0
  • Foreign Transaction Fee: 0%

5. Mercury

Mercury is the best option for free wire transfers because it provides free domestic wire transfers and free international wire transfers outgoing in USD. This is a great deal for a business account, as most accounts require international wire transfers. The cost to open and manage the account, and pay no overdraft charges.

The only fees you pay are for optional features, including the ability to exchange money in foreign currencies or send money internationally using high-end processing. Mercury also provides a variety of integrations for businesses, including QuickBooks and Stripe, and offers that opening up a cash management account earns an impressive return with a high enough amount of money. Although the account comes with savings and checking, you will not earn interest from the account.

Pros

  • No monthly maintenance or overdraft fees
  • No minimum opening deposit required
  • No fees for domestic or international wire transfers
  • Strong integrations with popular business software

Cons

  • Cash deposits are not supported
  • No APY offered on savings

Additional Details

  • Annual Percentage Yield (APY): N/A
  • Monthly Fee: $0
  • ATM Transaction Fee: $0
  • Overdraft Fee: $0
  • Foreign Transaction Fee: 3%

6. Lili

Although other accounts on our list provide early access to payment, Lili wins due to its simplicity. Many other accounts require third-party integration with an app or configuration to allow earlier payment options. The Lili Basic free business checking account plan has no monthly cost, no minimum deposit, and no overdraft fees.

The plan is free and allows you to set up automated savings to cover emergencies, get wires from both international and domestic sources, and access a huge free ATM network. When you sign up for the premium plans, which start at just $9 a month, you can automate the setting aside of some of your earnings to pay taxes, too. Although many digital banks don’t accept cash deposits, Lili accepts them at Green Dot locations.

Pros

  • Early access to incoming payments
  • No monthly fees with the Lili Basic plan
  • Automatic savings tools for emergency funds

Cons

  • Best features require a paid plan
  • Customer support options are limited

Additional Details

  • Annual Percentage Yield (APY): 4.00% on balances from $0.01 to $1,000,000
  • Intro or Bonus Offer: Get 30 days free plus 40% off for 3 months
  • Monthly Fee: From $0
  • ATM Transaction Fee: $0
  • Overdraft Fee: $0
  • Foreign Transaction Fee: 0%

7. Baselane

Baselane is a free property management account designed for real estate and landlord investors. It is a great option for individuals, partnerships, LLCs, and companies. It has tools for automating Late fee setting, transaction importing, cash flow analytics, and integrations with Airbnb, QuickBooks, Venmo, and many more. Renters can pay rent with no cost via ACH transfer, and also opt in to rent reporting. Users can create unlimited subaccounts or virtual cards, export or import CSV files.

You can earn an attractive 2.63% APY for balances of more than $50,000 or 1.3 percent APY on balances less than $10,000. Plus, receive unlimited cashback of 1% on purchases and 5% cashback on home improvement expenses. With up to $3 million in deposit insurance offered through Thread Bank, Baselane is an excellent choice for managing your property.  But there’s no mobile application.

Pros

  • No monthly fees
  • Earn interest and debit card cash back
  • Robust account management tools
  • Multiple integrations with business software
  • High FDIC insurance coverage

Cons

  • No dedicated mobile app
  • Highest APY requires a $50,000 minimum balance

Additional Details

  • Annual Percentage Yield (APY): 2.63% on balances of $50,000+/ 2.39% on balances of $25,000–$49,999/ 2.03% on balances of $10,000–$24,999
  • Intro or Bonus Offer: Up to 5% cash back on debit card spending
  • Monthly Fee: $0
  • Nonsufficient Funds (NSF) Fee: $0
  • ATM Transaction Fee: $0
  • Overdraft Fee: $0
  • Foreign Transaction Fee: 1%

Also read: Top 5 Prepaid Business Cards for Small Businesses in 2025

8. Axos Bank’s Basic Business Checking

Axos Basic Business Checking account is the top place on our free business checking account list due to its generous reimbursement policy. It gives unlimited local ATM fee reimbursements and two outgoing wire transfer fees each month. Axos will also give all 50 first checks free, and wire transfers to the US are also free. In addition to the generous offer, Axos doesn’t charge a monthly fee or require a minimum deposit for opening, and the result is a friendly and lenient business banker.

Pros

  • No monthly fees or minimum opening requirements
  • Unlimited domestic ATM fee reimbursements
  • Cash deposits are supported
  • Integrates with QuickBooks

Cons

  • Customer support is limited to phone or email

Additional Details

  • Annual Percentage Yield (APY): N/A
  • Monthly Fee: $0
  • Nonsufficient Funds (NSF) Fee: $25
  • ATM Transaction Fee: $0

9. Found

Found are only businesses operated by a single person, such as freelancers and gig workers. The basic account has no monthly fees and no minimum balance requirement, and it’s made for single-person businesses. It comes with some fantastic specific features. You can create invoices, track income and expenses, create basic reports, calculate and save tax in the Found’s savings account. Plus, business owners can upgrade to Found Plus for $19.99 a month or $149.99 per year, to get extra benefits, like the 1.5% APY for balances up to $20,000 or customized expense categories

Pros

  • No required monthly maintenance or overdraft fees
  • No minimum opening deposit required
  • Automated savings features
  • Built-in expense tracking and invoicing tools

Cons

  • Not suitable for larger businesses
  • Outgoing wire transfers are not supported

Additional Details

  • Annual Percentage Yield (APY): N/A
  • Monthly Fee: From $0
  • ATM Transaction Fee: $0
  • Overdraft Fee: $0

How to Find a Free Business Checking Account?

Find the best free business checking account for your needs by considering these factors:

  • Monthly charges. Some business bank accounts have a monthly charge. The cost is about $7 per month, according to Finder’s internal data.
  • Minimum opening deposit. Look for a free business checking account that does not require a deposit to ensure that you don’t need to transfer funds during the application process.
  • Integrations. Many business accounts include some type of software integration, like the ability to connect with QuickBooks. These integrations can help you track and manage your business’s tax or finances much more simply.
  • Transaction limits. Unlike personal checking accounts, business accounts have limits on the number of transfers and deposits you can make in a month before you have to pay a fee. They typically have a 200 to 500 transaction limit, but some accounts permit unlimited transactions.
  • Interest. While it’s rare for a business check account to provide interest.
  • Overdraft costs. The average overdraft cost is around $30, as per the FDIC. If you’re susceptible to overdrawing your bank account, the fees can add up and hurt your financial situation. The accounts listed on our top list do not have this charge or offer protection against overdrafts.
  • Cash deposits. Most online business checking accounts cannot deposit cash. Ensure to check the bank’s ATM network and offer reimbursements for ATM charges.

Also read: 15 Finance Companies For Small Business Loans with Bad Credit score

Requirements to Open a Free Business Checking Account Online

The process of applying online for a free business checking account usually takes only a few minutes if you have the correct documents.

  • Social Security number
  • Government-issued ID
  • Employee Identification Number (EIN)
  • Business certifications
  • Ownership agreements

Can I Open a Free Business Checking Account With No Deposit?

Yes, many free business checking accounts online do not require a minimum initial deposit or a minimum balance. A few examples are NBKC Business Checking, Lili, Found, Novo, and Bluevine Business Checking.

Because digital business accounts come with less overhead as compared to traditional ones, these accounts are in a position to offer more perks, for instance, no minimum deposits for opening to their clients.

Wrap up

If you’ve just started your business in the last few days or have been earning profits for a long time, there’s a free business checking account to fulfill your banking needs. Make sure you find one that can handle the size of your business and doesn’t charge you small fees when you have an improved month than the average.

FAQs: Free Business Checking Accounts

Are free business checking accounts really free?

Yes, many free business checking accounts have no monthly fees, no minimum balance, and no opening deposit. Some services like international wires or credit card bill pay may still have fees.

What is the best free business checking account?

The best free business checking account depends on your needs. NBKC is best overall, Novo for integrations, Bluevine for earning interest, and Found for freelancers.

Do free business checking accounts have monthly fees?

No. Most free business checking accounts charge $0 monthly maintenance fees, especially online business banks.

Do free business checking accounts support cash deposits?

Many online business banks do not support cash deposits, but some options like Axos and Lili allow cash deposits through third-party networks.

Are free business checking accounts good for freelancers?

Yes. Accounts like Found, Lili, and Novo are designed for freelancers and gig workers, offering features like invoicing and expense tracking.

Written by
Aiden Nathan

Aiden Nathan is vice growth manager of The Tech Trend. He is passionate about the applying cutting edge technology to operate the built environment more sustainably.

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