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How do I accept payments in multiple currencies as a UK-based small business?

Last update: March 3, 2026

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You can accept payments in multiple currencies as a UK-based small business by using a multi-currency account. The best option is a multi-currency business account, such as the World Account by WorldFirst or the Wise Business Account.

That said, there are alternative options. You can use a payment gateway that supports multiple currencies, invoice in different currencies or leverage marketplaces’ own multi-currency features.

1. Use a multi-currency business account

A multi-currency business account lets you hold, receive and spend foreign currencies without forced conversion. Instead of getting hit by poor FX rates each time you’re paid, you control when and how you convert your funds.

Leading options include WorldFirst’s World Account, Wise Business, Revolut and HSBC.Why use a multi-currency account?

Receive like a local: Get local bank details (e.g., US ACH, EU IBAN) to collect payments without cross-border fees
Avoid unnecessary conversion: Hold balances in 20+ currencies and convert only when rates are favourable
Pay international suppliers easily: Make global payments in the same currency you hold
Lower FX and transfer costs: Modern fintechs offer significantly better rates than traditional banks

2. Use a payment gateway that supports multi-currency

If you sell online, a multi-currency payment gateway is one of the easiest ways to accept global payments. Examples include Stripe, PayPal, Shopify Payments and Adyen.

They typically work like this:

Your customer pays in their own currency (USD, EUR, AUD etc.)
The gateway converts the funds into GBP, or another settlement currency you choose
The payout arrives in your UK business bank account

Why use a payment gateway?

Frictionless checkout for international customers
Automatic FX conversion with no extra admin
Fast payouts to your UK account
Easy integrations with e-commerce platforms and invoicing tools

3. Accept multi-currency payments via online invoicing tools

If you invoice clients directly, choose software that supports multi-currency billing. It’s especially useful for agencies, freelancers, consultants and service businesses.

Popular options include QuickBooks, Xero, Zoho Books and FreshBooks.

Why use a multi-currency invoicing tool?

Set invoice currency per client or per project
Automatically calculate exchange-rate gains/losses
Integrate with Stripe, PayPal or Wise to collect payments
Store everything in one unified accounting workflow

4. Use marketplace-specific multi-currency features

If you sell through global platforms, you may not need to configure anything yourself. Instead, many marketplaces handle multi-currency payouts for you. For instance, Etsy automatically converts customer payments, while Amazon Global Selling lets you receive in multiple local currencies.

Why use the marketplace’s features?

No extra software needed
Customers shop in their preferred currency
You focus on selling while the platform handles the heavy lifting

Why most businesses use a combination of tools

There’s rarely a single “best” option. Many UK businesses mix tools, so they can benefit from each. For example, companies often:

Use a World Account to hold and convert currencies with low FX costs
Use Stripe or PayPal as a multi-currency payment gateway
Use Xero or QuickBooks to invoice and reconcile payments

This combination gives you maximum control, flexibility and savings.

The top multi-currency accounts for UK small businesses

Provider / account	Currencies supported / local accounts	Fees and FX / costs	Core features	Best for / Use cases
WorldFirst – World Account	20+ currencies (e.g. USD, EUR, AUD, JPY, SGD, CNH, GBP)	• Receive in supported currencies: Free • Currency conversion: up to 0.5%markup on major currencies • Local transfers: ~£0.30 • Cross-currency payments over £5,000: Free	Local receiving accounts (IBANs/ACH), integration with 130+ marketplaces & gateways, real-time balances, forwarding contracts, bulk payments, multi-currency virtual card (0% FX fee, cashback)	SMEs, e-commerce sellers, import/export businesses, global suppliers & marketplaces — especially those who want minimal FX costs and flexibility holding different currencies
Revolut Business	34 currencies supported	Exchange currencies at near-interbank rates (within plan limits), fees depend on plan tier; may be cheaper than traditional banks	Hold 34 currencies, receive GBP/EUR/USD/CHF locally, issue virtual/physical cards, integrate with accounting tools, manage budgets & spend per team/member	Startups and small businesses needing flexible spending, expense management, and easy currency conversion with exposure to many currencies
Wise Business Account	Multiple currencies (USD, EUR, AUD, GBP, etc.), local account details (US routing, EU IBAN, etc.)	Transparent FX at mid-market rates; fees vary by currency and transaction type	Receive in multiple currencies, convert at mid-market rate, send global payments, create invoices/payment links, batch payments, integrate with Stripe/Shopify/Xero	Service businesses, freelancers, or SMEs dealing with international clients, frequent global payments or needing professional invoicing + low-cost conversion
HSBC Currency Account	14 major currencies (USD, EUR, JPY, CAD, AUD, HKD, etc.)	No monthly account fee; live exchange rates at time of transaction; international payments may incur standard international transfer fees	Traditional banking stability, ability to hold multiple currency accounts, schedule or make payments online, access via HSBC banking	Businesses already using HSBC who prefer banking with a major global bank and want straightforward currency holding without fintech-style interface

1. World Account from WorldFirst: Best for SMEs, e-commerce sellers and import/export

WorldFirst specialises in helping small and medium-sized businesses expand globally, without the cost or complexity of traditional banks. Instead of opening multiple foreign accounts, you manage everything from one unified dashboard.

Key features

Local receiving accounts in 20+ currencies, including USD, EUR, AUD, CNH, JPY and SGD
Marketplace and payment integrations with 130+ platforms (Amazon, AliExpress, Stripe, PayPal)
FX markups capped at 0.5% on major currencies
Forward contracts to lock in exchange rates up to 24 months
Bulk payments to 200 recipients
Multi-currency virtual card with zero FX fees and cashback

Pricing

Account: Free
Receiving payments: Free in supported currencies
Currency conversion: Up to 0.5% markup
Transfers: £0.30 for local payments; free for cross-currency transfers over £5,000

Why it stands out

WorldFirst removes barriers to global growth by giving UK SMEs instant access to local account details without needing foreign entities or tax IDs. Setup is fully online, typically approved within 1–2 business days.

Open a World Account for free today.

2. Revolut Business

Revolut offers a versatile multi-currency wallet for businesses that need flexibility.

Key features:

Hold 34 currencies
Local account details for GBP, EUR, USD
Exchange 25+ currencies at interbank rates (within plan limits)
Issue physical and virtual cards
Integrate with Xero, Sage, QuickBooks and more

3. Wise Business Account

Designed as an all-in-one global account, Wise makes receiving, converting and sending international payments easy.

Key features:

Local account details in USD, EUR, AUD and more
Create invoices or payment links
Batch payments to up to 1,000 recipients
FX at the mid-market rate with transparent fees
Integrates with Stripe, Shopify and Xero

4. HSBC Currency Account

For those who prefer a traditional bank, HSBC offers currency accounts in 14 major currencies.

Key features:

No monthly account fee
Live exchange rates updated by the second
Schedule international payments in advance
Hold major currencies like USD, EUR, JPY and CAD

Choose WorldFirst to handle all of your multi-currency payments in one place

Accepting payments in multiple currencies doesn’t need to be complicated. Whether you sell through marketplaces, invoice international clients, or run a global e-commerce operation, the right combination of tools can simplify your finances, reduce FX costs and help you expand with confidence.

While there are several strong multi-currency account options available, WorldFirst’s World Account stands out as the most complete solution for UK small businesses, offering local receiving accounts in 20+ currencies, low FX pricing, seamless marketplace integrations and fast online onboarding.

If you’re ready to streamline global payments and get paid like a local worldwide, opening a free World Account is one of the smartest steps you can take.

Open a World Account for free today.

Sources

https://www.revolut.com/business/
https://www.revolut.com/business/multi-currency-accounts/
https://wise.com/gb/business/
https://wise.com/gb/business/receive-money
https://www.hsbc.co.uk/international/currency-account/

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How do I accept payments in multiple currencies as a UK-based small business?

1. Use a multi-currency business account

2. Use a payment gateway that supports multi-currency

3. Accept multi-currency payments via online invoicing tools

4. Use marketplace-specific multi-currency features

Why most businesses use a combination of tools

The top multi-currency accounts for UK small businesses