Compare 7 UK Business Accounts in 2026: Fees, Features & More

Comparing business bank accounts can take time, especially when providers differ in their fees, features and payment options. The right choice will depend on how you use your account, whether you mainly make UK payments, manage team expenses or regularly deal with money in other currencies.

It’s also worth looking beyond monthly account fees. Transaction charges, foreign exchange costs, cash handling, accounting integrations and payment features can all affect the overall value of an account.

In this guide, we compare seven popular business accounts in the UK, looking at the features, costs and differences that could matter to your business. We’ll also cover why WorldFirst could be a suitable option for businesses that regularly make or receive international payments.

Key takeaways

• Compare business bank accounts based on more than monthly fees. Look at transaction costs, FX charges, payment features and other costs that could affect your overall spend.
• Match the account to your business needs, whether you’re a sole trader, limited company, ecommerce seller, international business or managing a team.
• If you operate internationally, multi-currency support, local receiving details, FX costs and international transfer fees should be key considerations.
• Features such as virtual cards, cashback, accounting integrations, marketplace integrations and overdrafts can add value depending on how you run your business.
• Consider how the account can support your business as it grows, including transaction limits, pricing, additional users, and access to financial services.
• WorldFirst’s World Account is a strong option for cross-border businesses that need to hold multiple currencies, receive international payments, and manage global spending from one account.

How to Compare Business Bank Accounts

Comparing business bank accounts is about more than finding the lowest monthly fee. Look at the costs, features, and flexibility that matter to your business before making a decision.

• Account fees and transaction costs: Look beyond the monthly fee. Check transfer charges, cash deposit fees, and other transaction costs based on how you expect to use the account.
• International payments and FX: If you send or receive money internationally, compare transfer fees and FX costs. Even small differences can add up when you’re making regular payments.
• Currencies you can hold: If you deal in multiple currencies, check which currencies you can hold and whether the account provides local receiving details. This can help you avoid unnecessary conversions.
• Cards and expense management: If your team spends on behalf of the business, compare virtual and physical cards, spending controls, cashback, and expense-management features.
• Accounting and marketplace integrations: Check whether the account connects with the accounting software and ecommerce platforms you already use. Integrations can reduce manual work and make reconciliation easier.
• Customer support and accessibility: Consider how you’ll access your account and support. Depending on your needs, this could mean 24/7 support, mobile banking, online services, or branch access.
• Eligibility and fund protection: Before applying, check the provider’s eligibility requirements and understand how your funds are protected. Protection can differ depending on whether you’re using a bank or another type of financial provider.

7 UK Business Accounts Compared: Fees, Features & More

Now that you know what to compare, here’s how 7 popular UK business accounts stack up across fees, currencies, payment options and other key features.

*Disclaimer: All information presented in this blog has been sourced from provider websites and is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of writing (October 2026). However, providers may update their offerings, and details are subject to change over time.

Comparing Business Account Costs for International Payments

Businesses that make international payments need to consider more than monthly account fees. Transfer charges and currency conversion fees can affect how much they pay when sending money overseas or managing funds in different currencies.

WorldFirst offers a multi-currency business account with its own pricing structure. Here are WorldFirst’s key fees, so you can set them against the bank costs in the table above.

Fees and eligibility conditions apply. See the WorldFirst UK pricing page for current rates and terms.

1. Monzo Business

Monzo Business is a UK business bank account designed for sole traders and limited companies that want to manage their day-to-day banking online. It offers a free Lite plan, while paid plans add features such as additional users, accounting tools and expense management.

The Lite plan has no monthly fee and includes everyday features such as UK payments, direct debits and spending notifications. Pro starts at £9 a month, while Team starts at £25 a month and adds features such as employee expense cards and additional business tools.

While Monzo is a popular choice for its online infrastructure and modern interface, it’s primarily suited for domestic use. There’s no branch access, though you can deposit cash and cheques.

Eligible sole traders and limited companies can apply for an overdraft, with limits of up to £3,000 for sole traders and £500–£5,000 for limited companies.

2. Revolut Business

Revolut Business is a digital business account for startups, SMEs and growing companies that want to manage team spending and international payments from one platform. Revolut Business accounts transitioned to Revolut Bank UK Ltd may qualify for FSCS protection on eligible deposits up to £120,000, subject to the applicable eligibility rules and exclusions.

Expense management is one of its key features. Businesses can issue up to 50 active virtual cards per team member, with controls that can help manage spending across teams. Revolut Business also supports accounting integrations with platforms such as Xero and QuickBooks, alongside a range of other business software.

For businesses operating internationally, Revolut Business supports multiple currencies and provides local account details for GBP and EUR. However, the exact currencies, payment allowances and FX costs depend on the plan you choose, so these are worth comparing alongside the monthly fee.

Eligible UK Business accounts that have transitioned to Revolut Bank UK Ltd may benefit from FSCS protection, subject to eligibility and exclusions. Revolut Business also doesn’t offer branch-based banking or cash and cheque handling.

If team expense management and digital spending controls are priorities, Revolut Business is worth considering alongside accounts that offer similar features.

3. Starling Business Account

Starling Bank’s Business Account is designed for startups, freelancers and SMEs that want low-cost online banking in the UK and abroad. When comparing it with other business accounts, its lack of a monthly fee and low-cost overseas card spending are two of its main considerations.

Card payments abroad come with no transaction charges, and you can make free cash withdrawals up to six times a day with a daily limit of £300, regardless of currency. International payments are supported in 34 countries, and Starling uses the real exchange rate with a small 0.4% conversion fee on top.

The Starling business account gives users instant notifications and automatic spending categorisation, helping them keep track of business spending. Businesses can also use Spaces to set money aside for different expenses, making it easier to organise funds within the account.

However, cash deposits incur a charge of £3 or 0.7% of the total deposit value, whichever is higher. Businesses can pay a £2 monthly fee to hold EUR, or a £5 monthly fee to hold USD, but multi-currency functionality is otherwise not included.

4. HSBC Business Banking Account

The HSBC Business Banking Account is best suited to established companies that either deal in large sums of cash, value face-to-face service, or have high borrowing needs. While HSBC operates in 66 countries and territories, it has 327 branches (and post-office locations) across the UK alone.

New customers can get 12 months of free banking, after which the monthly fee is £10. HSBC also offers a switching service that can help move your balance and payment arrangements from your existing account, while notifying payers of your new account details.

Businesses can also access virtual card solutions, including single-use and multi-use virtual cards. However, availability may depend on the specific HSBC service or account.

Cash handling comes with additional costs. HSBC charges £1.50 plus 1.50% of the deposit value when paying cash into the account. ATM withdrawals are charged at 25p plus 0.60% of the withdrawal value.

Read more: What’s the best bank account for a small business? 5 options

5. NatWest Business Bank Account

The NatWest Business Bank Account is available to businesses with annual turnover above £1 million, or businesses with lower turnover that have been trading for more than a year.

Eligible businesses with turnover up to £2 million can get two years of free banking when they switch using the Current Account Switch Service. The switch transfers your balance, Direct Debits and Standing Orders within seven working days.

NatWest also offers access to FreeAgent, business lending and overdraft facilities, with a Relationship Manager available to eligible businesses.

For businesses comparing international payment costs, NatWest charges £15 for most international payments. FX margins can reach 2.65% for core currencies and 3.5% for some non-core currencies.

This makes NatWest worth considering if traditional banking support, switching incentives and access to business finance matter more than multi-currency features.

6. Barclays Business Bank Account

The Barclays business bank account is an option for UK businesses looking for traditional banking services, access to business borrowing and support through online, telephone and branch channels.

Businesses can also open separate foreign-currency accounts to manage payments in other currencies. Barclays offers business overdrafts subject to eligibility and approval.

For businesses looking for cashback, the separate Barclaycard Select Cashback credit card offers 1% uncapped cashback on eligible business spending of £2,000 or more per statement month, subject to terms and eligibility.

Barclays may suit businesses that value traditional banking support and access to finance. Before applying, compare its account fees, international payment charges and foreign exchange rates to understand the overall cost.

7. Lloyds Business Bank Account

The Lloyds business bank account suits UK businesses looking for everyday banking, online account management and access to finance. Eligible new customers get 12 months of free banking, followed by a £10 monthly fee.

UK electronic payments are free, while international transfers cost £15 online. The standard FX margin is 2.60% on international payments of £25,000 or less.

Businesses can also open separate EUR and USD accounts and apply for overdrafts, subject to eligibility and approval. Corporate virtual cards and Cardnet payment solutions are available separately.

Lloyds may suit small businesses seeking traditional banking and borrowing options, but businesses making frequent international payments should compare its transfer fees and FX costs.

A Bank Alternative Built for International Payments

WorldFirst is a digital payments platform built for businesses that operate across borders. Its World Account lets eligible businesses hold and manage 20+ currencies and make payments in 100+ currencies.

The World Account is free to open and maintain, with features designed to help businesses manage international payments, marketplace revenue, and global spending from one account.

If your business regularly pays overseas suppliers, receives money from international marketplaces, or needs to manage multiple currencies, the World Account could be worth considering alongside the other accounts in this comparison. Here’s how the World Account can support cross-border business payments.

Hold 20+ currencies with local account details

The World Account lets eligible businesses hold and manage 20+ currencies in one account, with local account details such as IBANs, account numbers and routing information for supported currencies.

This can make it easier to receive overseas revenue and pay international suppliers without converting funds back to GBP first. For example, you can receive USD from US sales, keep the funds in USD and use that balance to pay a supplier in the same currency.

WorldFirst also offers fast international transfers. 95% of payments arrive on the same day, while 90% of funds clear within one business day.

Lock in exchange rates for more predictable costs

Exchange rate movements can affect your margins when you pay overseas suppliers or agree to future contracts. Comparing the FX tools available with each business account can help you understand how much control you have over these costs.

With WorldFirst, eligible businesses can use forward contracts to lock in an exchange rate for up to 24 months. This can make future international payments more predictable and help you plan your costs with greater certainty. If the market moves in your favour, you won’t benefit.

WorldFirst also shows the exchange rate before you make a transaction, so you can see the rate you’re getting upfront. You can also set FX rate alerts to track when a target rate is reached.

Want to understand how forward contracts work? Read our guide to What is a forward contract

Integrate with 130+ marketplaces and payment platforms

If you sell through multiple marketplaces, managing payouts in different currencies can become more complicated. Some platforms may also require local account details before you can receive your funds.

With WorldFirst, eligible businesses can integrate their World Account with 130+ marketplaces and payment platforms, including Amazon, Etsy, TikTok Shop and PayPal. This lets you receive funds from supported platforms using the relevant local account details.

You can then hold those funds in the supported currency and use them for other international payments. This can make it easier to manage marketplace revenue, supplier payments and other ecommerce payments from one account.

Manage business spending with World Cards

WorldFirst’s World Card lets eligible businesses manage day-to-day spending across multiple currencies. Eligible businesses can use World Cards at merchants that accept Mastercard and monitor their spending directly through their World Account.

You can create virtual cards with individual spending controls, making it easier to separate expenses such as advertising, software subscriptions, business travel, or team budgets. Cards can also be frozen or deleted through your World Account if needed.

You can also earn up to 1.2% uncapped cashback on eligible business spending, including marketing and advertising, software subscriptions, seller store fees, shipping and logistics, and travel.

Open your World Account online, for free

It’s free to sign up for a World Account, and the process is entirely online. Here’s how to sign up:

1. Go to our sign-up page and create an account
2. Provide your personal and business details
3. Submit your ID and business ownership verification documents (e.g., a utility bill for proof of address, or a driving licence as an ID)

After submitting your details and verification documents, your application will be reviewed, subject to eligibility and verification requirements. For account opening help, click here.

How WorldFirst Protects Customer Funds

WorldFirst is not a bank. The World Account is an electronic money account, and customer funds are safeguarded in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements. It is not a bank deposit covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).

Which Business Account Fits Your Business?

The right business account depends on how your business receives, spends, and moves money. The features that matter to a UK-only business may be very different from those needed by a company paying overseas suppliers or managing expenses across a team.

• Sole traders and freelancers: If you mainly operate in the UK, compare monthly fees, everyday payment costs, invoicing and accounting integrations. If you work with overseas clients, also check whether you can receive and hold foreign currencies without unnecessary conversions.
• Businesses paying international suppliers: If you regularly pay overseas suppliers or manufacturers, FX costs and transfer fees should be high on your comparison list. Also look at the currencies you can hold, payment coverage, and how easily you can manage recurring international payments.
• Limited companies: Compare account fees, payment limits, accounting integrations, and overdraft options. If your transaction volume is high, check how much you’ll pay as your business grows rather than focusing only on the headline monthly fee.
• Businesses managing a team: If several people spend on behalf of your business, compare virtual or physical cards, spending limits, employee access, and expense-management features. Accounting integrations can also make it easier to reconcile spending.
• Ecommerce and marketplace businesses: If you sell through platforms such as Amazon, Etsy, or TikTok Shop, compare multi-currency capabilities, local receiving details, and marketplace integrations. Being able to receive marketplace revenue in the relevant currency and manage supplier payments without unnecessary conversions can make a significant difference.

How to choose the right business account for your business

Choosing a business account comes down to how well its fees and features match the way your business operates. Here’s what to check before making your choice:

• Start with your business structure: Your business type can affect which accounts you’re eligible for and which features you need. Check whether the provider supports your structure, whether you’re a sole trader, limited company, or another type of business.
• Match the account to your transaction patterns: Think about how money moves through your business. If you make frequent transfers, handle cash, or pay overseas suppliers, compare the fees attached to those activities rather than focusing only on the monthly account fee.
• Prioritise the features that matter: Consider the features you’ll actually use, such as multi-currency balances, virtual cards, accounting integrations, overdrafts, marketplace integrations, or expense-management tools.
• Think beyond your current needs: Your account should be able to keep up as your business grows. Check transaction limits, pricing tiers, and whether you can add users or access additional services later.
• Check how you’ll access support: Decide whether you need branch access, fully online banking, 24/7 support, or a dedicated relationship manager. The right option depends on how hands-on you want your banking to be.
• Understand how your funds are protected: Check whether you’re opening an account with a bank or another type of financial institution, and understand how your money is protected. The arrangements can differ between providers.
• Check eligibility before applying: Finally, check the provider’s requirements for your business type, turnover, trading history, and location. This can save you time if an account isn’t available to you.

Take Your Business Further with WorldFirst

Compare business accounts based on what your business needs today and where you want to take it next. For businesses operating across borders, that means looking at tools that make international payments, currency management, and global spending easier.

The World Account brings these capabilities together in one place. You can hold and manage 20+ currencies, receive funds using local account details, and make payments to 200+ destinations. You can also connect with 130+ marketplaces and payment platforms, manage business spending with World Cards, and use FX tools such as forward contracts.

With free account setup and fully online onboarding, WorldFirst gives cross-border businesses a straightforward way to manage international payments, marketplace revenue, and global spending from one account.

Open your World Account and put global payments to work for your business.

FAQs

1. What should I compare when choosing a business bank account?

When you compare business bank accounts, look at more than the monthly fee. Compare transaction charges, FX fees, currencies you can hold, transfer costs, cards, accounting integrations, overdrafts, and customer support to see which account fits your business.

2. Which business account is best for international payments?

The best business account for international payments depends on your needs, but WorldFirst’s World Account is a strong choice for businesses that regularly trade across borders. Eligible businesses can hold 20+ currencies, send payments in 100+ currencies, and receive funds using local account details for supported currencies.

3. What should I check before switching business bank accounts?

Check the new provider’s fees, eligibility requirements, payment features, and account protection before switching. If both providers participate in the Current Account Switch Service (CASS), you may be able to transfer your payments and Direct Debits automatically.

4. How do I compare business bank accounts for a small business?

Start by looking at your typical transaction volume and the features you actually need. Compare monthly fees, everyday transaction costs, accounting integrations, overdraft options, and payment features. If you expect to expand internationally, factor in multi-currency capabilities and international payment costs too.

Sources:

1. https://www.worldfirst.com/uk/
2. https://www.worldfirst.com/uk/product/pay/world-card/
3. https://www.worldfirst.com/uk/pricing/
4. https://monzo.com/business-banking/plans-pricing
5. https://monzo.com/business-banking/features/sole-trader-overdrafts
6. https://www.revolut.com/business/
7. https://www.revolut.com/business/cards/
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