How to Choose the Best Business Checking Account as a Freelancer

As a self-employed freelancer, most of my financial business is done online or with mobile apps. But choosing the best business checking account can be daunting. Plus, you want to make sure you don’t spend extra money on fees.

I’ve seen the benefits of technology and how going digital makes me more productive and streamlines my life. Oddly enough though, many consumers and small business owners (about half) still bank at traditional banks! It’s time you embrace technology and the benefits it offers, by finding the best business checking account.

Some solopreneurs I’ve spoken to don’t even have separate accounts for their business and personal transactions. Eek! Separating out your business and personal income, expenses, and other financial records is very important. Here’s what I mean.

Why You Need a Separate Business Bank Account

If you do nothing else for your business opening a separate business checking account is a must! The main reason is because it will be a whole lot less of a headache for you. By separating your business transactions you create a line between professional and personal.

This is especially handy come tax time when you create year-end reports for your bookkeeper or CPA. And if you’re ever audited, you can prove your business is legit much more effectively. Besides, you wouldn’t want the IRS (or your CPA) poking through your personal income and expenses in order to locate your business transactions. Would you?

You can also customize the name on your account, and your checks, so you appear more credible to other contractors and freelancers you pay. Even if your business isn’t a LLC yet, you can still apply for a DBA (Doing Business As certificate) and different Tax ID number.

Lastly, another advantage is that you can link your bookkeeping software to your dedicated business account, which makes it super easy to print out monthly and yearly reports. You won’t have the hassle of excluding personal transactions from the business ones while categorizing them.

For personal accounts and transactions I use Mint.com track all of the incoming and outgoing expenses, but for my Chase business checking account I use GoDaddy Bookkeeping to track the different types of income sources (PayPal, direct deposits, checks) and to calculate quarterly taxes.

For the simplicity of all these factors and that it casts a more professional light on your business, it’s vital you open a business checking account.

Best Checking Accounts for Freelancers

So what are the best accounts for freelancers and solopreneurs? I’ve done the research and tested the top business checking account picks for freelancers and solopreneurs.

Please note; Capital One, Discover and Ally Bank don’t necessarily offer “business” checking accounts, but I have accounts with them since I’m a sole-proprietor. In the eyes of the IRS, a sole-proprietor isn’t a legal business entity like an LLC or INC business is, so you can save money by using a personal account for business purposes.

The main reason for this is because my business is still small enough so it doesn’t make a huge amount of income every month. This also allows me to avoid the costly monthly fee that’s usually associated with a business account.

For more information on how this works, and how to manage money on your terms, check out my new course Solopreneur Finance.

These accounts may not be the best solution for you if you have an LLC or INC type of business, which I’ll cover more in the section below.

CAPITAL ONE 360

While this bank used to be called ING Direct, I’ve had no issues with the Capital One takeover and still enjoy this bank as my account. Capital One 360 accounts come with no minimums, no fees, and free checks, so it’s a no brainer for me and my business.

A Capital One 360 account provides customers with a free MasterCard debit card, access to 38,000 fee-free Allpoint ATMs and 2,000 fee-free Capital One ATMs, as well as free mobile check deposits.

These features are super useful since a lot of my business is done virtually and on-the-go and since Capital One Banks are pretty popular (at least in the South) I can find an ATM whenever I travel.

Interest rates for checking accounts are generally low, but at least a Capital One 360 account will help you grow your cash a little bit since they offer some of the better rates compared to a brick-and-mortar bank.

My accounts with Capital One 360

One of the things that I like most about Capital One 360 is the fact that you can have multiple checking and savings accounts. This is very convenient for setting aside funds for income taxes throughout the year, money for conferences and business events, as well as a business emergency fund.

Additionally you can set up goals for your various accounts and track your progress throughout the year. This is something I love doing so I know where I’m with my revenue for the year!

DISCOVER BANK

You may not realize that Discover Bank isn’t just for using credit cards to earn cash back, or balance transfers to get out of debt faster. They actually offer some pretty great checking accounts and banking options for individuals and small businesses.

They have both regular checking accounts and money market accounts which is great to earn a bit of interest on your money. They also offer cash back with all their products — without using credit cards and going into debt. Yep, you can use your Discover Bank debit card to earn $0.10 on every purchase you make.

My accounts with Discover Bank

That can really add up when you’re making purchases for your business, like flights, meals, books and office supplies. As small business owners we need all the extra cash back we can earn to re-invest into our businesses.

Their customer service is also outstanding and I’ve never had any issues with security. Their mobile app allows you to check your balance, make transfers and even deposit checks with one click.

They also have some of the best interest rates available with a money market account and you can get unlimited free checks while you have an account.

ALLY BANK

Another great option is the often-talked about Ally Bank! It has no minimum deposit to open, zero maintenance fees, and free mobile banking and smartphone applications.

An Ally Bank account comes with free Ally ATM access at any ATM nationwide, unlimited check writing, and convenient Ally echeck deposit capabilities. You also get access to free online bill pay.

Although they specifically have bank accounts that are for a business entity, this work perfectly if you’re a sole-proprietor.

Ally Bank offers customers interest-bearing checking accounts, compared to Capital One 360 which doesn’t have this feature. They also offer CDs, IRAs, and savings accounts. Plus, their customer service is fabulous! I’ve even met some of the team at the Financial Blogger’s Conference a few years back.

Business Checking Accounts for an LLC

So what are the best accounts for freelancers and solopreneurs? I’ve done the research and tested the top business checking account picks for freelancers and solopreneurs.

TD BANK BUSINESSDIRECT

For another solid business account option, TD Bank BusinessDirect is a great choice! They offer free bill pay, full compatibility with Quicken and QuickBooks and a free business Visa card with special discounts for cardholders. Since it’s owned by the same company that does TD Ameritrade, you can access your business finances along with your investments.

TD Bank BusinessDirect provides you with peace of mind with enhanced account security and real time transaction information. It also has the benefit of brick-and-mortar banks if you aren’t quite ready for the virtual-only business yet.

Currently, TD Bank does not offer interest on its checking accounts, with the exception of its Business Interest Checking Plus Account, for which it offers 0.05{6fac3e6a3582a964f494389deded51e5db8d7156c3a7415ff659d1ae7a1be33e}. You should know that they only offer checking accounts in certain states with the U.S. so this might not be the best option for your business.

Debit cards I use for my business checking accounts

CHASE BUSINESS

Chase offers 3 different tiers of business checking accounts depending on your needs.

Chase Total Business Checking. This is the business account I currently use since I filed for a DBA and Tax ID number here in Texas. It comes with a $10 monthly account fee, which is waived if you keep a regular balance of $1,500 or more each month. It allows for international wire transfers, up to 200 transactions and $7,500 worth of deposits, for no additional fees.
Chase Performance Business Checking. This is the next level up in checking accounts and offers the same features as the Total Business Checking except it allows you to have 350 transactions and up to $20,000 in deposits for no additional fee. The $20 monthly fee is waived if you keep a minimum balance of $50,000 or more.
Chase Platinum Business Checking. This is the most robust option of all three, and is likely for large businesses and corporations. It has a $95 monthly account fee that’s waived if you keep a qualifying balance of $100,000 or more. It provides up to 500 transactions and $25,000 in deposits each month, with no additional fees.

Generally you have to find a local branch to open your business checking account, but that isn’t too difficult as they have quite a few branches all over the U.S. and the world. It’s how Starbucks is for coffee, there’s usually one on every corner.

The online site and mobile app make it extremely easy to keep track of your balance, income, and expenses. Like I said, there are ATMs everywhere, and pretty much all online software, invoicing programs, and bookkeeping software will link to Chase because it’s so popular.

What bank account do you use as a freelancer or small business owner?