9 business bank accounts for startups in the UK

Choosing a business bank account is one of the first financial decisions you make when starting a business. There are plenty of options, from free app based accounts to high street banks offering introductory periods of free banking.

This guide compares nine business bank accounts available to UK startups, looking at monthly fees, eligibility, cash deposits, accounting tools and other features. It also explains whether you need a business bank account, how your money is protected and what to consider when choosing an account.

Do you need a business bank account as a startup?

If you set up a limited company, you need to open a separate bank account for the company. A limited company is a separate legal entity from its directors, so its finances need to be kept separate from your personal finances. Sole traders and ordinary partnerships are not legally required to have a separate business bank account. However, keeping business and personal money separate can make it easier to track income and expenses and complete your tax return. Our guide on how to open a business bank account explains what documents you may need and what to expect during the application process.

Compare business bank accounts for startups at a glance

Fees and features are based on provider information available in October 2026. Account terms, eligibility criteria and pricing can change, so check the provider's current terms before applying.

Starling Bank: no monthly fee

Starling offers business accounts with no monthly fees. It is a fully licensed UK bank, and its business account can be managed through the app and online banking.

• There is no monthly fee.

• UK payments are free.

• Sole traders, limited companies and LLPs can apply, subject to Starling's eligibility criteria. Certain other business structures and industries are excluded.

• Starling Accounting Essentials is free for eligible businesses.

• Accounting Plus costs £7 a month until April 2027, then £14 a month, and adds VAT calculations and direct VAT return submission to HMRC.

• Cash deposits are charged at £3 or 0.7% of the total deposit, whichever is higher. Business cash deposits are limited to £5,000 a day and £100,000 a calendar year.

Starling Accounting can also support Making Tax Digital for eligible sole traders, although not every business is eligible to use all of its accounting features.

Mettle: no monthly fee and FreeAgent included

Mettle is a business account provided by National Westminster Bank plc. There is no monthly fee for maintaining the account, and eligible customers get access to FreeAgent accounting software at no extra cost.

• There is no monthly account fee.

• FreeAgent is included as long as you make at least one transaction from your Mettle account each month.

• Mettle is available to eligible sole traders and limited companies, subject to its business and ownership criteria.

• Your business must be UK based, and its owners must be UK tax residents.

• The main account balance can be up to £1 million.

• Mettle+ is an optional add-on costing £4 a month.

• Cash deposits at the Post Office cost £2.75 per deposit.

Mettle can work well for a small startup that wants a free account alongside accounting software, particularly if it meets Mettle's ownership and eligibility requirements.

Monzo Business: a free account with MTD software

Monzo Business has three plans: Lite, Pro and Team. Lite is free, while Pro costs £9 a month and Team starts at £25 a month.

• Lite is free and includes Making Tax Digital software that can file directly to HMRC.

• Pro costs £9 a month, with the first month free. It adds features including invoicing, tax pots and accounting integrations such as Xero.

• Team starts at £25 a month and adds features such as employee expense cards and payment controls.

• UK bank transfers are free.

• Cash deposits cost £1 each.

• Sole traders can deposit up to £3,000 a month, while limited companies can deposit up to £10,000 a month.

• At the Post Office, deposits are limited to £3,000 per transaction for sole traders and £4,000 for limited companies. At PayPoint, the limit is £300 per deposit.

Monzo Business is currently available to sole traders and limited company directors in the UK.

Tide: a free plan with paid options

Tide offers a free plan alongside paid plans for businesses that need more transfers and additional features. Its Smart plan currently costs £12.49 a month, while Pro costs £27.49 and Max costs £69.99.

• The Free plan has no monthly fee.

• Free members get five free monthly transfers. Other transfers cost 20p each.

• Smart costs £12.49 a month and includes 30 free inbound and outbound UK transfers each month.

• Pro costs £27.49 a month and Max costs £69.99.

• Cash deposits at the Post Office cost £2.50 for deposits up to £500, with a percentage fee charged on larger deposits.

• PayPoint cash deposits cost 3% of the amount deposited.

• Tide also offers services to help businesses register a limited company.

Tide is not itself a bank. Its banking services can be provided through ClearBank, while Tide also offers accounts through electronic money arrangements, so check the specific account and applicable protection before applying.

NatWest: two years of free everyday banking

NatWest's Start-up account is designed for businesses that are still in their first year of trading. It provides two years of free banking on everyday transactions and includes FreeAgent accounting software.

• The Start-up account is available to businesses that have been trading for less than one year and have turnover below £1m.

• Everyday banking is free for the first two years.

• FreeAgent is included for as long as you retain the NatWest business current account.

• After the two year free banking period, the account moves to NatWest's Standard Tariff, which has no minimum monthly charge.

• Charges for services such as international payments, Bankline and unarranged overdrafts are not included in the free banking offer.

• NatWest says the application can be started online and provides a Current Account Switch Service for eligible businesses.

NatWest is also a high street bank, with branch and Post Office banking available to eligible customers.

HSBC UK: no monthly fee

HSBC UK's Small Business Banking Account has no monthly account fee and includes free standard domestic digital transactions and debit card payments.

• There is no monthly account fee.

• Standard domestic digital transactions through Business Internet Banking are free.

• Debit card payments are free.

• HSBC supports eligible small businesses and provides branch, online, mobile and Post Office banking.

• HSBC's Current Account Switch Service is available to businesses with annual turnover of no more than £6.5m and fewer than 50 employees.

• Branch cash deposits and withdrawals currently cost 1.5% of the cash value. This rises to 2% from 14 December 2026.

• Post Office cash deposits and withdrawals currently cost 1.5%.

• Mobile cheque deposits cost 50p per cheque, while branch and Post Office cheque credits cost £1.50 per credit plus 50p per cheque.

• You can pay in cash and cheques at over 11,500 Post Offices.

HSBC can be useful for a startup that wants a traditional bank with branch access as well as digital banking.

Barclays: 12 months without a monthly account fee

Barclays offers new business customers 12 months without a monthly account fee, after which the standard monthly fee is £8.50. The introductory offer is not available if the business already has a Barclays Business Account.

• There is no monthly account fee for the first 12 months for eligible new customers.

• After 12 months, the monthly fee is £8.50.

• The introductory offer is not available if you already have a Barclays Business Account.

• Free digital banking covers the simple electronic payments included within Barclays' tariff.

• Barclays also offers business support and access to its Eagle Labs programmes and resources.

• Cash and cheque transactions can carry separate charges under the Barclays tariff.

The introductory free period makes Barclays an option for a startup that wants a traditional bank and expects to use digital payments rather than frequently paying in cash or cheques.

Countingup: banking and accounting in one app

Countingup combines a business account with accounting and tax tools. Its pricing is based on the amount deposited into the account each month.

• The £5 plan covers monthly deposits of up to £750.

• The £12 plan covers deposits from £750.01 to £7,500.

• The £20 plan has no monthly deposit limit.

• New customers get a three month free trial.

• Every plan includes banking, accounting and tax features.

• You get three free account transfers and Direct Debits each month, then pay 27p for each additional one.

• ATM withdrawals cost £1 each.

• Foreign transactions are charged at 3%.

• Accounts are powered by Griffin, with eligible deposits of up to £120,000 protected by the FSCS.

Countingup can be particularly useful if you want your banking and accounting software in the same app rather than paying for separate services.

Revolut Business: multi currency banking for startups

Revolut Business offers business accounts with multi currency capabilities, local and international account details and a monthly allowance for foreign exchange. Its current UK pricing page lists Basic from £10 a month, Grow from £30 and Scale from £90.

• Basic costs from £10 a month.

• Grow costs from £30 a month.

• Scale costs from £90 a month.

• Basic includes £1,000 of foreign exchange each month at the interbank rate, Grow includes £15,000 and Scale includes £60,000.

• Basic includes 10 free local transfers a month, Grow includes 100 and Scale includes 1,000. Additional local transfers cost 20p each.

• Grow includes five no-fee international transfers a month and Scale includes 25. Basic does not include a monthly allowance of free international transfers.

• Revolut Business is designed for registered companies rather than sole traders. Sole traders and freelancers can instead look at Revolut's other products where eligible.

• Revolut Bank UK Ltd launched as a fully authorised UK bank in March 2026.

Revolut Business is particularly focused on businesses that make or receive payments in multiple currencies, although the monthly subscription means it is not a free business account.

How do you choose a business bank account for your startup?

The best account for your business will depend on how you operate, how you're paid and what you'll need as the business grows. These are the main things to compare.

Business structure

Check that the provider accepts your business structure before applying. Starling, Mettle, Monzo and Revolut all have different eligibility criteria, while some accounts are specifically aimed at newer businesses.

Monthly fees

Look beyond the introductory offer. Barclays has no monthly account fee for its first 12 months for eligible new customers, while NatWest's Start-up account provides two years of free everyday banking before moving to its Standard Tariff. If keeping costs as low as possible is your priority, our guide to business bank accounts with no fees compares more fee free options.

Cash deposits

If your startup handles cash, compare deposit fees as well as monthly account fees. Starling charges £3 or 0.7% of the deposit, whichever is higher, while Mettle charges £2.75 per Post Office deposit. Monzo charges £1 per cash deposit, and Tide charges £2.50 for Post Office deposits up to £500 on its Free plan.

Branch access

A digital account may be convenient if you manage everything online, but a startup that regularly handles cash or wants face to face support may prefer a high street bank with branches and Post Office services.

Fund your startup as your business grows

Opening a business bank account is one of the first steps when starting a business. As you begin trading and your plans develop, you may also need funding to cover working capital, equipment, stock or other growth costs. Capitalise can help you explore business funding from a panel of more than 130 UK lenders. Complete one application and we'll match your business with suitable finance options based on your circumstances and requirements.