A business checking account keeps your finances organized, protects your liability protection, and simplifies tax filing. Here’s how the top accounts compare for small businesses in 2026.
Table of Contents
Best Business Checking Accounts Compared
Top Picks
Bank/Provider
Monthly Fee
Free Transactions
Cash Deposit Limit
APY
Best For
Bluevine
$0
Unlimited
N/A (online only)
2.0% on balances up to $250K
Freelancers and online businesses
Mercury
$0
Unlimited
N/A (online only)
0%
Startups and tech companies
Novo
$0
Unlimited
N/A (online only)
0%
E-commerce and small businesses
Chase Business Complete
$15/mo (waivable)
100/month
$5,000 free/month
0%
Businesses needing branches
Bank of America Business Advantage
$16/mo (waivable)
200/month
$7,500 free/month
0%
Businesses with higher volume
Wells Fargo Initiate Business Checking
$10/mo (waivable)
100/month
$5,000 free/month
0%
Small businesses near Wells Fargo
US Bank Silver Business Checking
$0 (first year)
125/month
$2,500 free/month
0%
Businesses finding their footing
Relay
$0
Unlimited
N/A (online only)
0%
Profit First budgeting method
NBKC Business Checking
$0
Unlimited
N/A (online only)
0%
Simple, no-fuss banking
Lili
$0
Unlimited
N/A (online only)
0%
Freelancers and gig workers
Fee Comparison
Monthly Fee Details and Waiver Requirements
Bank
Monthly Fee
How to Waive Fee
Bluevine
$0
No fee ever
Mercury
$0
No fee ever
Novo
$0
No fee ever
Relay
$0
No fee ever
Chase Business Complete
$15
Maintain $2,000 daily balance
Bank of America Business Advantage
$16
Maintain $5,000 daily balance
Wells Fargo Initiate Business Checking
$10
Maintain $500 daily balance
US Bank Silver
$0 first year, then $19
Maintain $3,000 daily balance
Transaction and Cash Fees
Bank
Free Transactions/Month
Excess Transaction Fee
Cash Deposit Limit
Cash Deposit Fee
Bluevine
Unlimited
N/A
No cash deposits
N/A
Mercury
Unlimited
N/A
No cash deposits
N/A
Novo
Unlimited
N/A
No cash deposits
N/A
Chase
100
$0.40 each
$5,000/month
$2.50 per $1,000
Bank of America
200
$0.45 each
$7,500/month
$0.30 per $100
Wells Fargo
100
$0.50 each
$5,000/month
$0.30 per $100
US Bank
125
$0.50 each
$2,500/month
$0.30 per $100
Online vs. Traditional Business Checking
Feature
Online (Bluevine, Mercury, Novo)
Traditional (Chase, BofA, Wells Fargo)
Monthly fees
$0
$10-$16 (waivable)
Transaction limits
Unlimited
100-200/month
Cash deposits
Not available
Available at branches
Interest on balances
Some (Bluevine: 2.0%)
Typically 0%
ATM access
Allpoint/MoneyPass networks
Bank’s own ATM network
Branch access
None
Yes
Account opening
Online in minutes
Online or in-branch
Mobile check deposit
Yes
Yes
ACH transfers
Free
Free
Wire transfers
Free or low-cost
$15-$30 per wire
Integrations
QuickBooks, Xero, Stripe, etc.
Varies
Best for
Online businesses, freelancers
Cash-heavy businesses, large companies
What to Look for in a Business Checking Account
Feature
Why It Matters
No monthly fee (or easy waiver)
Reduces overhead, especially when starting out
Free transactions
Avoids per-transaction fees that add up quickly
Integration with accounting software
Saves hours on bookkeeping each month
Mobile check deposit
Deposit checks without visiting a branch
Free ACH and wire transfers
Reduces cost of sending/receiving payments
Sub-accounts or categories
Helps with Profit First or tax savings buckets
FDIC insurance
Protects deposits up to $250,000
Cash deposit access (if needed)
Essential for retail, restaurants, and cash-heavy businesses
How to Open a Business Checking Account
Documents Needed
Document
Sole Proprietor
LLC
Corporation
Government-issued ID
Yes
Yes
Yes
Social Security Number
Yes
Yes
Yes
EIN (Employer Identification Number)
Optional
Yes
Yes
Articles of Organization/Incorporation
N/A
Yes
Yes
Operating Agreement
N/A
Recommended
N/A
Corporate Bylaws
N/A
N/A
Yes
Business license
If required locally
If required locally
If required locally
DBA/fictitious name certificate
If using a DBA
If using a DBA
If using a DBA
Business Checking Account Costs: First Year
Cost Comparison for a Typical Small Business
Scenario: 150 transactions/month, $2,000 average balance, $1,000/month cash deposits
Bank
Monthly Fee
Transaction Fees
Cash Deposit Fees
Annual Cost
Bluevine
$0
$0
N/A (no cash)
$0
Mercury
$0
$0
N/A (no cash)
$0
Novo
$0
$0
N/A (no cash)
$0
Chase Business Complete
$0 (fee waived with $2K balance)
$20/month (50 excess × $0.40)
$0 (under $5K limit)
$240
Bank of America
$16/month (need $5K to waive)
$0 (under 200 limit)
$0 (under $7.5K limit)
$192
Wells Fargo
$0 (fee waived with $500 balance)
$25/month (50 excess × $0.50)
$3/month
$336
Business Savings Accounts to Pair With Checking
Bank/Provider
Account Type
APY
Minimum Balance
Notes
Bluevine
Business Checking (earns interest)
2.0%
$0
Interest on up to $250K
Live Oak Bank
Business Savings
4.0%
$0
Online-only, FDIC insured
NBKC
Business Money Market
3.5%
$0
Low minimums
Chase Business
Business Savings
0.02%
$0 (fee with low balance)
Convenient with Chase Checking
American Express Business
HYSA
3.8%
$0
Amex Business customers
Tips for Managing Business Finances
Tip
Why
Keep business and personal accounts 100% separate
Required for liability protection and clean tax filing
Set aside 25-30% of revenue for taxes
Avoid surprise tax bills at quarterly estimated payment time
Automate bookkeeping with QuickBooks or Wave
Saves hours and reduces errors
Reconcile accounts monthly
Catch errors, fraud, or missed deductions early
Use a separate savings account for tax reserves
Don’t accidentally spend your tax money
Review statements and fees quarterly
Banks change terms; make sure your account still fits
