Which business bank account is right for you?

Ten UK business accounts, and the right one comes down to four things: your business structure, whether you handle cash, your credit file, and what you need the account to do beyond holding money. Answer the four questions below and this tool matches you to the account that fits, with a runner-up if you want a second option. No email, no sign-up, figures checked 7 August 2026.

01 What kind of business is it?

Sole trader or self-employed Just you, no company registered Limited company Registered, or about to be, at Companies House Partnership Two or more of you, not a limited company

02 Do you take cash you need to bank?

Yes, regularly Notes and coins are a real part of takings Now and then The odd cash payment No, never Everything is card or bank transfer

03 Any worry about a credit check?

Yes, my credit file is thin or poor A hard check could count against me No, that is not a concern Happy to be credit-checked

04 Beyond the basics, what should it do best?

Just be free and simple Lowest cost, least fuss Do my bookkeeping for me Accounting built in Help me set money aside for tax A pot for the tax bill Send invoices and chase late payers Get paid faster Handle foreign currencies Pay or get paid abroad Register my company at the same time Form and bank in one go

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The ten accounts at a glance

Every account below is compared on the same verified figures the quiz uses. If you would rather scan than answer questions, this is the shortlist and what each one is best at.

How the quiz picks

The four questions map to the four things that actually rule accounts in or out. Your structure decides eligibility: Revolut's UK account is limited-company first and Starling splits sole traders onto a separate account, while only Tide and Card One take partnerships. Cash is a hard filter, because Mettle, Wise and Revolut take none at all. A credit worry points to the two providers with a published no-credit-check promise, Zempler and Card One. And your priority separates the free-and-simple accounts from the ones that earn their keep with bookkeeping, tax pots, invoice chasing, currency tools or company formation. The match is the account that clears every filter and scores highest on your priority.

The honest caveats

A quiz narrows the field, it does not replace reading the account's own terms. Free plans meter usage: Tide limits transfers and invoices, Monzo's Tax Pots and invoicing need the £9 Pro plan, and Zempler gives three free payments a month then charges 35p. E-money accounts such as Tide, ANNA, Wise, Revolut, Countingup and Card One are safeguarded rather than FSCS-protected, which matters for large balances. And take-home features aside, a licensed bank with FSCS cover is the safer home for your float. Treat the result as a strong starting point, then confirm the current fees on the provider's page before you open.

Questions people actually ask

What is the best business bank account in the UK?

There is no single best business account, because the right one depends on your structure, whether you handle cash, your credit file and what you need beyond banking. For a free account at a licensed bank, Starling leads; for free bookkeeping, Mettle; for registering a company as you open, Tide; for a thin credit file, Zempler. The quiz above matches those factors to one account.

Which business bank account is best for a sole trader?

For most sole traders the shortlist is Starling's sole trader account, Mettle or Tide, all free. Mettle adds free FreeAgent bookkeeping, Tide can register you if you go limited later, and Starling is a full bank with the strongest app. If you take a lot of cash, note Starling's sole trader account caps cash at £20,000 a year.

Can I open a business account with bad credit?

Zempler Bank and Card One Money are the two UK providers with a published no-credit-check promise. Zempler is a licensed bank with FSCS protection and a free plan; Card One is a safeguarded e-money account at £12.50 a month that also takes cash. A thin or bruised credit file does not block either.

Which business accounts take cash deposits?

Starling, Tide, Monzo, ANNA, Zempler, Countingup and Card One Money all accept cash, usually at the Post Office or PayPoint for a small percentage fee. Countingup has the cheapest counter rate at 0.5% (minimum £2), though it has no free plan. Mettle, Wise and Revolut do not take cash at all, so pick one of the others if notes and coins are part of your takings.