One of the questions that most business owners will ask themselves is how to choose a business bank account. Choosing a bank account should always be thought through, especially for business purposes. 

There are plenty of business bank account options available these days. And like scarcity, abundance can also make things complicated. 

This is particularly the case with the emergence of digital “challenger” banks such as Starling & Monzo.

As a business owner for almost a decade, I have learnt a thing or two about business bank accounts, and I want to share them with you today.

Your business structure

This is mainly a case of being self-employed or running a company/partnership. 

If you’re self-employed, a simple personal account may suffice, so long as your expenses/income is clear, so perhaps a separate personal account would be most suitable.

However, when it comes to companies /partnerships (regardless of the type), you must get a business bank account. 

Business transactions

Your business transactions are important when choosing a bank account. Specifically, consider the following concerning your (anticipated) transactions:

-Average value 

-Frequency

-Location(s) involved in your transactions 

-Charges by the bank 

Depending on your answers to the first two aforementioned points, certain banks may appeal to different customers. Therefore, it’s important to get an overview of your forecasted transactions and compare them against the offers available. 

Your rights upon possible account restrictions 

Every bank will have its own policies regarding account restrictions. 

This is a common occurrence and can happen for a variety of reasons, including compliance and investigations. For example, this has been a common issue among digital nomads because many do not have a fixed address. 

Hence, it’s important to understand the account’s terms and conditions regarding such scenarios. 

Business support 

Check to see if the business bank account offers additional support. You may not necessarily need it, but it can be helpful for some. 

Tide is an example of such an account, offering services such as company incorporation, support in accessing funding and so on. 

These are 4 things to consider when choosing a business bank account. Make sure you research your options carefully to avoid any regrets down the line. 

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About | My name is Sohrab Vazir. I’m a UK-based entrepreneur and business consultant. At the age of 22, and while I was an international student (graduate), I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) business, StudyFlats which I scaled to over 30 UK cities. I currently help other entrepreneurs and businesses of all size across several domains. For my credentials, please see here.