What does a UK business bank account really cost?

Thirteen UK business accounts, priced by what a month costs for three ways of using one: a sole trader, a small limited company and a busier company. Under each total are the sum, the first 12 months and the extras. Fees only: this page compares published prices and what each account includes, not which account suits a business.

Last checked: 12 Nov 2026 · every fee read off the provider's own pricing page, tariff or terms · no VAT, except on ANNA's plan fees · no affiliate links

Taking card payments is priced on two companion pages: what a card machine costs and what taking payments online costs.

Jump to: the short answer · first-year offers · bank or e-money · where the pages disagree · how the totals are worked out

The three profiles, a month

A. Sole trader: 20 UK payments out, 10 in. No cash, no foreign spend, no international payment.
B. Small limited company: 60 UK payments out, 30 in, one £500 cash deposit, £300 of card spend in euros (€358.78).
C. Busier company: 200 UK payments out, 100 in, four £1,000 cash deposits (£4,000), £2,000 of card spend in euros (€2,391.83), and one £2,000 international payment out.

Each figure is the cheapest published plan that covers the profile, named beside the provider. The profiles don't set the number of card payments or the money received, so a price that depends on either is shown apart, as a range or a "from" figure, with the reason. Revolut Business's plans and fees pages showed a security check we didn't get round, so it wasn't priced.

Usage profile

Total a month = plan fee + UK payment fees beyond any allowance + cash deposit fees + the provider's own fee on the euro card spend + the international payment fee, on the cheapest published plan that covers the profile, billed monthly, after any free period. The line under each gives the sum, the first 12 months (with any introductory offer, and its conditions) and the extras.

B. Small limited company

cheaper → dearer, per month

The short answer

A, the sole trader, costs nothing at four providers: Starling, Monzo Lite, Mettle and HSBC's Small Business Banking Account. ANNA's Free plan is also £0 if the 10 payments in total £1,000 or less. Then come Tide Lite £5, Barclays £8.50, Santander £9.99, Lloyds £10, Wise £10.40 (plus £50 once), NatWest £10.50 and Metro Bank £17. In the first year A is also £0 at Barclays, Lloyds and Metro Bank for new customers, and at NatWest and Santander for start-ups and switchers.

B, the small limited company, is cheapest at Monzo Lite: £1 a month, its £1 cash deposit fee. Then come Mettle at £2.75 and Starling at £3.50. Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, Santander and NatWest cost £17.25 (HSBC) to £45.45 (NatWest), Metro Bank from £40.30, and Tide Smart £26.99.

C, the busier company: Starling's £36 is the cheapest fully published total (£28 for the cash and £8 to send the £2,000 in euros), then Tide Pro at £52.49; Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, Santander and NatWest run from £102.50 (Barclays) to £216.80 (NatWest), and Metro Bank from £163.30. Monzo may be lower: £6.97 before an exchange margin that its fee list from 1 Nov 2026 doesn't state.

Cash is where the totals split. Four £1,000 deposits cost £4 at Monzo, £11 at Mettle, £20 at Tide's paid plans and Countingup, £24 at Barclays, £28 at Starling, £40 at Metro Bank, £41.80 at NatWest, £50 at Santander, £64 at Lloyds and £66 at HSBC (£60 from 14 Dec 2026). One £500 deposit costs from £1 at Monzo to £9 at HSBC. Wise takes no cash, and ANNA publishes no cash fee.

So does card spending abroad. On £2,000 of card spend in euros, five charge nothing: Starling, Monzo, Mettle, Tide's paid plans and Metro Bank (in its listed European countries). Wise charges £6.58 and ANNA £20 to £40 by plan. Barclays, HSBC, NatWest, Lloyds and Tide Lite charge £55 (2.75%), Santander £59 (2.95%) and Countingup £60 (3%).

Paying a supplier abroad: for £2,000 in pounds the banks publish flat fees of £15 to £25 (Barclays, NatWest and Lloyds £15, HSBC £17, Santander and Metro Bank £25) and Tide £3 to £10 by plan. If the supplier wants euros, the banks don't publish the margin in their exchange rate; Barclays caps its conversion charge at 2%. Starling (0.4%, £8), Wise (£7.10), Tide (£5 + 0.75%, £20 on Pro) and ANNA (1% to convert) publish the full cost of paying in euros.

A free plan isn't always a provider's cheapest. At B, Tide Lite is £27.75 against Smart's £26.99, only because of Lite's 2.75% card fee abroad: on transfers alone Smart never beats it, so Smart pays once euro card spend passes £272.36 a month. At C, Pro is £52.49 against Lite's £163.80. Monzo's Pro and Team plans add features, not lower fees.

These are published prices for three fixed profiles, not a recommendation. A business's own mix of payments, cash and currencies decides what it pays, and each line in the calculator shows its sum.

What the first year costs with an introductory offer

The monthly figures are after any free period. These offers change the first 12 months; each total is 12 months of the profile with the offer applied. Cash rewards and third-party software offers aren't netted off.

Barclays: no monthly fee for the first 12 months, then £8.50; not for businesses that already have a Barclays business current account. Transaction charges apply from day one: A £0, B £135, C £1,128 in the first year. Sage accounting software is free for 12 months, a third-party offer not counted here.
Lloyds: no monthly fee for a year, then £10; cash, card and international charges still apply: A £0, B £195, C £1,608. Separately, new business customers who apply online between 16 October and 30 November 2026 get a £200 'boost' if they spend £100 on the business debit card and set up two direct debits by 15 February 2027. That offer ends on 30 Nov 2026. It is a cash reward, so it isn't netted off.
NatWest: 2 years' free everyday banking for start-ups (started within the last 12 months, turnover up to £1m) and businesses switching with the full Current Account Switch Service (turnover up to £2m). International payments and the 2.75% card fee abroad aren't covered, and the offer is lost if cash deposits pass £200,000 in 12 months: A £0, B £99, C £840 in the first year.
HSBC: its Business Banking Account is free for 12 months for new start-up and switcher customers, then £10 a month plus charges; non-sterling and international charges still apply: A £0, B £99, C £864 in the first year. The Small Business Banking Account priced above has had no free period since 1 July 2025.
Santander: no monthly fee for 12 months for start-ups (trading under 12 months, opening their first business account with Santander) and businesses switching with the Current Account Switch Service: A £0, B £181.20, C £1,608. Xero is free for 6 months, with a £200 gift card for new Xero customers, not counted here.
Metro Bank: 12 months' fee-free banking for new business customers: no monthly fee and no charge for card payments, direct debits, Faster Payments or standing orders; cash, international payments and CHAPS are still charged: A £0, B £60, C £780. Businesses that switch get 31 months of fee-free banking.
Tide: the first month of Smart or Pro free for new accounts, not combined with other plan offers: B £311.39 and C £602.39 in the first year.
Countingup: a 3-month free trial, then £5, £12 or £20 a month by the month's deposits; the page doesn't say whether transaction fees apply during it.
Monzo (Pro) and ANNA (Business): the first month free, on plans that aren't the cheapest here.

Bank deposit or e-money? In each provider's own words

Quoted from each provider's own pages on 12 November 2026. This page draws no conclusion from them and hasn't checked them against the regulators' registers.

Starling Bank calls itself a fully licensed UK bank and says Starling Bank Limited is a member of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.
Monzo, in its FSCS information sheet: Limit of protection £120,000 per depositor per bank, building society or credit union.
Mettle: The Mettle bank account is provided by National Westminster Bank plc trading as Mettle. This account is protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). For its older e-money accounts it says Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) protection does not apply to electronic money institutions.
HSBC UK: deposits are protected up to a total of £120,000 by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.
Tide, as it puts it: Tide is not a bank. Its current accounts are powered by ClearBank Ltd, and Eligible deposits are protected up to £120,000 per depositor by the FSCS, across all accounts with ClearBank. For members still on e-money accounts, PPT holds an amount equivalent to the money in these accounts in a safeguarding account.
Barclays, in its tariff: Limit of protection £120,000 per depositor per bank, building society or credit union.
Santander: We’re a member of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).
Lloyds: The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) protects up to £120,000 of the eligible money you hold with us.
Wise, as it puts it: Wise is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority under the Electronic Money Regulations 2011, and we safeguard your money by holding it in dedicated bank accounts or high quality liquid assets. No FSCS statement was on the pages read.
NatWest: you could be protected up to a total of £120,000 by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, if the business and the deposit are eligible.
Metro Bank: Your eligible deposits with Metro Bank PLC are protected up to a total of £120,000 by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.
Countingup: Countingup accounts are provided by Griffin Bank Ltd, and Eligible deposits in accounts provided by Griffin of up to £120,000 per depositor are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). Some older customers, on sort code 23-69-72, hold e-money accounts with PrePay Technologies.
ANNA, as it puts it: Funds in your main ANNA account are safeguarded in accordance with the Electronic Money Regulations 2011 and are not protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).

Where a provider's own pages disagree

Barclays, cash paid in: the business account page says paying cash in at the Post Office costs 60p each; the tariff (03/26) says 60p per £100. The figures use the tariff.
Starling, the sole trader cash limit: the business account page says £5,000 a day and £100,000 a calendar year; the sole trader account page says £5,000 a day and £20,000 a calendar year.
Tide, "unlimited" transfers: on Pro and Max they are subject to Tide’s Fair Use Policy, and the Fair Use Policy page returned not-found.
ANNA, CHAPS: its terms say we do not support CHAPS, while its pricing page lists CHAPS payments at £5 each (2 a month free on Business, free on Big Business).

What else the price includes, and who can open each

Accounting in the price: Tide Pro includes Tide Accounting and Max includes Admin Extra; Monzo's Pro and Team include Tax Pots and integrated accounting; every Countingup subscription includes its accounting and tax features; Mettle includes FreeAgent if you make at least one transaction a month; NatWest's FreeAgent is free while you keep the account; Starling's account comes with built-in accounting, Starling Accounting.
Who each is for, in its own terms: Starling's business account for limited companies and LLPs, with a separate sole trader account; Monzo for sole traders and directors of UK limited companies (no partnerships or LLPs); Mettle for sole traders and limited companies with up to two owners, one with access, and a £1 million balance limit; Santander for businesses with up to two directors, owners or partners; Lloyds for turnover of £3 million or less; Metro Bank's account for turnover or a balance sheet up to £2 million; HSBC's Small Business Banking Account for small enterprises with borrowing needs of up to £100k; Countingup for UK sole traders and companies; Tide for sole traders, freelancers and limited companies.

Who made this page

An AI agent read each provider's UK business pricing page, fee information document, terms and tariff PDFs in a real browser set to UK English and London time, and copied the sentence behind every fee; code checked each sentence was really on the page (242 quotes, none missing) and worked out every total. Wise's prices come from its own on-page fee calculators. Nothing was signed up for, applied for or submitted, and no security check was bypassed.

There are no affiliate links on this page and nothing on it earns a commission.

How the totals are worked out

total a month = plan fee (with VAT where the provider adds it) + UK payment fees beyond any allowance + cash deposit fees + the provider's own fee on the euro card spend + the international payment fee; first 12 months = 12 × that month, with a published introductory offer applied where there is one

Payments: "payments out" are Faster Payments, standing orders or direct debits; "payments in" are Faster Payments or Bacs credits. Each counts once. At Tide the international payment also counts towards the free allowance.
Cash: paid in at a Post Office counter. Metro Bank is the exception: it takes cash in store, because its Post Office service is subject to request and approval.
Card spend in euros: the provider's own fee on the sterling value (£300 or £2,000). The card scheme's own exchange rate is left out.
The international payment: £2,000 sent in pounds by SWIFT where the provider offers that (Tide, ANNA and the six high-street banks). Starling, Wise and Monzo send only in the foreign currency, so for them it is in euros at their published conversion fee. Only the sender's own provider's charges count; the recipient's and any intermediary bank's are left out.
The plan: the cheapest published plan that covers the profile, billed monthly, after any introductory period, named at the start of each line. Tide's is Lite at A, Smart at B and Pro at C; Monzo's is Lite.
VAT: only ANNA adds VAT to its plan fees ("+VAT"), so its figures include 20% VAT. No other provider adds VAT to these fees.
Not assumed: balance-based waivers. Metro Bank waives its £8 fee and gives 30 free transactions in any month the balance stays at £6,000 or more.
Not in the figure: cash withdrawals, CHAPS, payments received from abroad, replacement cards and extra users. Each line lists them under "Extras".

Provider	A. Sole trader	B. Small limited company	C. Busier company
Starling Bankthe same fees on its business and sole trader accounts	freeBusiness / Sole Trader account: no monthly fee + UK payments in and out free = £0. First 12 months: 12 × £0 = £0; no introductory offer, and no monthly fee to waive. Extras: cash 0.7% at the Post Office (minimum £3); card spend abroad no Starling fee (Mastercard's rate); payments abroad are sent in the foreign currency only, 0.4%, at a rate that 'does not include a margin'; receiving pounds free, foreign currency at a rate that 'includes a margin'; CHAPS £20; replacement card £5; up to five expense cards free.	£3.50Business / Sole Trader account: no monthly fee + UK payments in and out free + £500 cash at the Post Office, 0.7% with a £3 minimum (£3.50) + no Starling fee on the card spend in euros = £3.50. First 12 months: 12 × £3.50 = £42; no introductory offer, and no monthly fee to waive. Extras: cash 0.7% at the Post Office (minimum £3); card spend abroad no Starling fee (Mastercard's rate); payments abroad are sent in the foreign currency only, 0.4%, at a rate that 'does not include a margin'; receiving pounds free, foreign currency at a rate that 'includes a margin'; CHAPS £20; replacement card £5; up to five expense cards free. · ≈$4.66	£36.00Business / Sole Trader account: no monthly fee + UK payments in and out free + four £1,000 cash deposits at the Post Office, 0.7% with a £3 minimum (£28) + no Starling fee on the card spend in euros + the £2,000 sent in euros, 0.4% conversion fee (£8) = £36. First 12 months: 12 × £36 = £432; no introductory offer, and no monthly fee to waive. Extras: cash 0.7% at the Post Office (minimum £3); card spend abroad no Starling fee (Mastercard's rate); payments abroad are sent in the foreign currency only, 0.4%, at a rate that 'does not include a margin'; receiving pounds free, foreign currency at a rate that 'includes a margin'; CHAPS £20; replacement card £5; up to five expense cards free. · ≈$47.90
Monzo BusinessLite is free; Pro (£9) and Team (£25) add features, not lower fees	freeLite: no monthly fee + UK payments in and out £0 = £0. First 12 months: 12 × £0 = £0; no offer on Lite (Pro's first month is free). Extras: cash £1 a deposit at PayPoint or the Post Office; card spend abroad £0; payments abroad from 1 Nov 2026 a fixed fee by currency (£0.00 to euros, €3.55 more by SWIFT) plus the exchange rate it shows when you pay; receiving euros 1% to convert (capped at £1,000); CHAPS not listed; Team £5 a month per member after 6; replacement-card fee not listed.	£1.00Lite: no monthly fee + UK payments in and out £0 + one cash deposit, £1 + £0 on the card spend in euros = £1. First 12 months: 12 × £1 = £12; no offer on Lite (Pro's first month is free). Extras: cash £1 a deposit at PayPoint or the Post Office; card spend abroad £0; payments abroad from 1 Nov 2026 a fixed fee by currency (£0.00 to euros, €3.55 more by SWIFT) plus the exchange rate it shows when you pay; receiving euros 1% to convert (capped at £1,000); CHAPS not listed; Team £5 a month per member after 6; replacement-card fee not listed. · ≈$1.33	no planLite: £6.97 before an exchange margin its fee list from 1 Nov 2026 doesn't state ('we'll show you the exchange rate that will apply'): no monthly fee + UK payments in and out £0 + four cash deposits × £1 (£4) + £0 on the card spend in euros + £0.00 fixed fee to send euros + €3.55 if sent by SWIFT (£2.97) = £6.97 + the margin. It lists no fee for sending pounds abroad, so the payment is in euros. First 12 months: no figure without the margin. Extras: cash £1 a deposit at PayPoint or the Post Office; card spend abroad £0; payments abroad from 1 Nov 2026 a fixed fee by currency (£0.00 to euros, €3.55 more by SWIFT) plus the exchange rate it shows when you pay; receiving euros 1% to convert (capped at £1,000); CHAPS not listed; Team £5 a month per member after 6; replacement-card fee not listed.
Mettlefrom NatWest; FreeAgent included with one transaction a month	freeMettle: no monthly fee + no UK transaction charges = £0. First 12 months: 12 × £0 = £0; no offer, and no monthly fee to waive. Extras: cash £2.75 a deposit at the Post Office; card spend abroad no fee in its fee document, at Mastercard's rate; no payments abroad; receiving from abroad £4 over £10, plus 1.5% if converted; CHAPS not listed; replacement card £5 (free if stolen); only one owner can use the account.	£2.75Mettle: no monthly fee + no UK transaction charges + £500 cash at the Post Office (£2.75) + no foreign-currency fee in its fee list (Mastercard's rate) = £2.75. First 12 months: 12 × £2.75 = £33; no offer, and no monthly fee to waive. Extras: cash £2.75 a deposit at the Post Office; card spend abroad no fee in its fee document, at Mastercard's rate; no payments abroad; receiving from abroad £4 over £10, plus 1.5% if converted; CHAPS not listed; replacement card £5 (free if stolen); only one owner can use the account. · ≈$3.66	no planMettle: can't do this profile: 'We don’t currently offer outbound international payments'. First 12 months: no figure. Extras: cash £2.75 a deposit at the Post Office; card spend abroad no fee in its fee document, at Mastercard's rate; no payments abroad; receiving from abroad £4 over £10, plus 1.5% if converted; CHAPS not listed; replacement card £5 (free if stolen); only one owner can use the account.
HSBC UKits Business Banking Account is £10 a month after a free year for start-ups and switchers	freeSmall Business Banking Account: no monthly fee + UK electronic payments free = £0. First 12 months: 12 × £0 = £0; no free banking on this account since 1 July 2025. HSBC's Business Banking Account is free for 12 months for start-ups and switchers, apart from card and international fees: £0 in its first year, then £10 a month plus charges. Extras: cash at the Post Office £1.50 a deposit + 1.5% (1.5% only from 14 Dec 2026); card spend abroad 2.75%; payments abroad £17 by internet banking, converted at its 'quoted daily rate'; receiving from abroad £6 for £100 or more (euros from the EEA free); CHAPS £17; extra-card and user fees not found.	£17.25Small Business Banking Account: no monthly fee + UK electronic payments free + £500 cash at the Post Office, £1.50 + 1.5% a deposit (£9) + 2.75% on £300 of card spend in euros (£8.25) = £17.25. From 14 Dec 2026 the £1.50 a deposit goes: £15.75. First 12 months: 12 × £17.25 = £207; no free banking on this account since 1 July 2025. HSBC's Business Banking Account is free for 12 months for start-ups and switchers, apart from card and international fees: £99 in its first year (12 × £8.25), then £10 a month plus charges. Extras: cash at the Post Office £1.50 a deposit + 1.5% (1.5% only from 14 Dec 2026); card spend abroad 2.75%; payments abroad £17 by internet banking, converted at its 'quoted daily rate'; receiving from abroad £6 for £100 or more (euros from the EEA free); CHAPS £17; extra-card and user fees not found. · ≈$22.95	£138.00Small Business Banking Account: no monthly fee + UK electronic payments free + four £1,000 cash deposits at the Post Office, £1.50 + 1.5% a deposit (£66) + 2.75% on £2,000 of card spend in euros (£55) + £17 to send the £2,000 abroad by internet banking = £138. From 14 Dec 2026 the £1.50 a deposit goes: £132. First 12 months: 12 × £138 = £1,656; no free banking on this account since 1 July 2025. HSBC's Business Banking Account is free for 12 months for start-ups and switchers, apart from card and international fees: £864 in its first year (12 × £72), then £10 a month plus charges. Extras: cash at the Post Office £1.50 a deposit + 1.5% (1.5% only from 14 Dec 2026); card spend abroad 2.75%; payments abroad £17 by internet banking, converted at its 'quoted daily rate'; receiving from abroad £6 for £100 or more (euros from the EEA free); CHAPS £17; extra-card and user fees not found. · ≈$183.64
Tideplans Lite £0, Smart £12.49, Pro £27.49 and Max £69.99 a month; the cheapest for each profile is named	£5.00Lite: no plan fee + 25 transfers beyond the 5 free × 20p (£5) = £5. Other plans here: Smart £12.49, Pro £27.49, Max £69.99. First 12 months: 12 × £5 = £60; no offer on Lite. Extras: cash over £500 at the Post Office 0.99% on Lite and 0.5% on the other plans, PayPoint 3%; card spend abroad 2.75% on Lite, 0% on Smart, Pro and Max; SWIFT out and in £10 (Lite), £7.50 (Smart), £5 (Pro) or £3 (Max) in pounds, plus 1.5% / 1.25% / 0.75% / 0.5% if converted; CHAPS £15 (2 a month free on Smart and Pro, 5 on Max); replacement cards free; expense-card seats £5 a month beyond the 1, 2 or 3 in Smart, Pro and Max. · ≈$6.65	£26.99Smart: £12.49 a month + 60 transfers beyond the 30 free × 20p (£12) + £500 cash at the Post Office (£2.50 up to £500) + no FX fee on the card spend in euros = £26.99. Other plans here: Lite £27.75, Pro £29.99, Max £72.49. First 12 months: £311.39: new Tide accounts get the first month of Smart free (£14.50, then 11 × £26.99); it can't be combined with other plan offers. Extras: cash over £500 at the Post Office 0.99% on Lite and 0.5% on the other plans, PayPoint 3%; card spend abroad 2.75% on Lite, 0% on Smart, Pro and Max; SWIFT out and in £10 (Lite), £7.50 (Smart), £5 (Pro) or £3 (Max) in pounds, plus 1.5% / 1.25% / 0.75% / 0.5% if converted; CHAPS £15 (2 a month free on Smart and Pro, 5 on Max); replacement cards free; expense-card seats £5 a month beyond the 1, 2 or 3 in Smart, Pro and Max. · ≈$35.92	£52.49Pro: £27.49 a month + unlimited transfers (fair use) + four £1,000 cash deposits at the Post Office, 0.5% (£20) + no FX fee on the card spend in euros + £5 to send the £2,000 abroad in pounds by SWIFT = £52.49. Other plans here: Lite £163.80, Smart £94.19, Max £92.99. First 12 months: £602.39: new Tide accounts get the first month of Pro free (£25, then 11 × £52.49); it can't be combined with other plan offers. Extras: cash over £500 at the Post Office 0.99% on Lite and 0.5% on the other plans, PayPoint 3%; card spend abroad 2.75% on Lite, 0% on Smart, Pro and Max; SWIFT out and in £10 (Lite), £7.50 (Smart), £5 (Pro) or £3 (Max) in pounds, plus 1.5% / 1.25% / 0.75% / 0.5% if converted; CHAPS £15 (2 a month free on Smart and Pro, 5 on Max); replacement cards free; expense-card seats £5 a month beyond the 1, 2 or 3 in Smart, Pro and Max. · ≈$69.85
Barclays£8.50 a month after a free first year	£8.50Business Account: £8.50 a month + UK electronic payments free = £8.50. The £8.50 is charged after the first 12 months. First 12 months: £0 with no monthly fee for the first 12 months, not for businesses that already have a Barclays business current account; transaction charges apply from day one. Without the offer, 12 × £8.50 = £102. Extras: cash 60p per £100 at a cash machine or Post Office, £1.20 per £100 at the counter; card spend abroad 2.75%; payments abroad £15 online (£25 assisted), with a conversion charge of 'no more than 2%' if converted; SEPA euro transfers 35p; receiving from abroad £6 for £100.01 or more; CHAPS £15 online; replacement-card charge not legible in the tariff. · ≈$11.31	£19.75Business Account: £8.50 a month + UK electronic payments free + £500 cash at the Post Office, 60p per £100 (£3) + 2.75% on £300 of card spend in euros (£8.25) = £19.75. The £8.50 is charged after the first 12 months. First 12 months: £135 with no monthly fee for the first 12 months (12 × £11.25), not for businesses that already have a Barclays business current account; transaction charges apply from day one. Without the offer, 12 × £19.75 = £237. Extras: cash 60p per £100 at a cash machine or Post Office, £1.20 per £100 at the counter; card spend abroad 2.75%; payments abroad £15 online (£25 assisted), with a conversion charge of 'no more than 2%' if converted; SEPA euro transfers 35p; receiving from abroad £6 for £100.01 or more; CHAPS £15 online; replacement-card charge not legible in the tariff. · ≈$26.28	£102.50Business Account: £8.50 a month + UK electronic payments free + four £1,000 cash deposits at the Post Office, 60p per £100 (£24) + 2.75% on £2,000 of card spend in euros (£55) + £15 to send the £2,000 abroad in pounds online = £102.50. The £8.50 is charged after the first 12 months. First 12 months: £1,128 with no monthly fee for the first 12 months (12 × £94), not for businesses that already have a Barclays business current account; transaction charges apply from day one. Without the offer, 12 × £102.50 = £1,230. Extras: cash 60p per £100 at a cash machine or Post Office, £1.20 per £100 at the counter; card spend abroad 2.75%; payments abroad £15 online (£25 assisted), with a conversion charge of 'no more than 2%' if converted; SEPA euro transfers 35p; receiving from abroad £6 for £100.01 or more; CHAPS £15 online; replacement-card charge not legible in the tariff. · ≈$136.40
Santander£9.99 a month; up to two directors, owners or partners	£9.99Business Current Account – Classic: £9.99 a month + UK electronic payments free = £9.99. First 12 months: £0 for start-ups (trading under 12 months, opening their first business account with Santander) and CASS switchers, who pay no monthly fee for 12 months. Without it, 12 × £9.99 = £119.88. Extras: cash £1.25 per £100 at its counters and Post Offices, up to £1,000 a month free at its cash machines; card spend abroad 2.95%; payments abroad £25, at 'our exchange rate' (margin not published); receiving from abroad not found; CHAPS £25; extra-card and user fees not found. · ≈$13.29	£25.09Business Current Account – Classic: £9.99 a month + UK electronic payments free + £500 cash at the Post Office, £1.25 per £100 (£6.25) + 2.95% on £300 of card spend in euros (£8.85) = £25.09. Paying cash in at a Santander cash machine instead makes the first £1,000 a month free. First 12 months: £181.20 (12 × £15.10) for start-ups (trading under 12 months, opening their first business account with Santander) and CASS switchers, who pay no monthly fee for 12 months. Without it, 12 × £25.09 = £301.08. Extras: cash £1.25 per £100 at its counters and Post Offices, up to £1,000 a month free at its cash machines; card spend abroad 2.95%; payments abroad £25, at 'our exchange rate' (margin not published); receiving from abroad not found; CHAPS £25; extra-card and user fees not found. · ≈$33.39	£143.99Business Current Account – Classic: £9.99 a month + UK electronic payments free + four £1,000 cash deposits at the Post Office, £1.25 per £100 (£50) + 2.95% on £2,000 of card spend in euros (£59) + £25 to send the £2,000 abroad = £143.99. Paying cash in at a Santander cash machine instead makes the first £1,000 a month free. First 12 months: £1,608 (12 × £134) for start-ups (trading under 12 months, opening their first business account with Santander) and CASS switchers, who pay no monthly fee for 12 months. Without it, 12 × £143.99 = £1,727.88. Extras: cash £1.25 per £100 at its counters and Post Offices, up to £1,000 a month free at its cash machines; card spend abroad 2.95%; payments abroad £25, at 'our exchange rate' (margin not published); receiving from abroad not found; CHAPS £25; extra-card and user fees not found. · ≈$191.61
Lloyds£10 a month after a free first year; turnover up to £3m	£10.00Business Account: £10 a month + UK electronic payments free = £10. The £10 is charged after the first year. First 12 months: £0 with no monthly fee for a year; cash, card and international charges still apply. Without it, 12 × £10 = £120. Separately, a £200 'boost' for new business customers who apply online by 30 Nov 2026 (see the offers), not netted off here. Extras: cash £1.60 per £100 (85p per £100 at deposit machines); card spend abroad 2.75%; payments abroad £15 by internet banking (£28 in branch), exchange margin not published; receiving from abroad £2 up to £100, £7 over (euros from the EEA free); CHAPS (same-day transfer) £30; extra-card and user fees not found. · ≈$13.31	£26.25Business Account: £10 a month + UK electronic payments free + £500 cash at the Post Office, £1.60 per £100 (£8) + 2.75% on £300 of card spend in euros (£8.25) = £26.25. The £10 is charged after the first year. First 12 months: £195 with no monthly fee for a year (12 × £16.25); cash, card and international charges still apply. Without it, 12 × £26.25 = £315. Separately, a £200 'boost' for new business customers who apply online by 30 Nov 2026 (see the offers), not netted off here. Extras: cash £1.60 per £100 (85p per £100 at deposit machines); card spend abroad 2.75%; payments abroad £15 by internet banking (£28 in branch), exchange margin not published; receiving from abroad £2 up to £100, £7 over (euros from the EEA free); CHAPS (same-day transfer) £30; extra-card and user fees not found. · ≈$34.93	£144.00Business Account: £10 a month + UK electronic payments free + four £1,000 cash deposits at the Post Office, £1.60 per £100 (£64) + 2.75% on £2,000 of card spend in euros (£55) + £15 to send the £2,000 abroad by internet banking = £144. The £10 is charged after the first year. First 12 months: £1,608 with no monthly fee for a year (12 × £134); cash, card and international charges still apply. Without it, 12 × £144 = £1,728. Separately, a £200 'boost' for new business customers who apply online by 30 Nov 2026 (see the offers), not netted off here. Extras: cash £1.60 per £100 (85p per £100 at deposit machines); card spend abroad 2.75%; payments abroad £15 by internet banking (£28 in branch), exchange margin not published; receiving from abroad £2 up to £100, £7 over (euros from the EEA free); CHAPS (same-day transfer) £30; extra-card and user fees not found. · ≈$191.62
Wise Businessno monthly fee; £50 once for account details	£10.40Wise Business: no monthly fee + 20 UK payments out × £0.52 (£10.40) + 10 payments in free = £10.40. First 12 months: £50 once for account details + 12 × £10.40 = £174.80. Extras: no cash; card spend abroad a conversion fee only, £0.99 on £300 and £6.58 on £2,000 into euros (its calculator on 12 Nov 2026); £2,000 sent to euros £7.10; receiving by SWIFT £2.16 (pounds) or €2.39 (euros); CHAPS not listed; team cards £3 each once; replacement card £3. · ≈$13.84	no planWise Business: can't do this profile: 'Wise doesn’t accept cash or cheque payments'. Without the cash it would be £32.19, mostly its £0.52 per UK payment out. First 12 months: no figure. Extras: no cash; card spend abroad a conversion fee only, £0.99 on £300 and £6.58 on £2,000 into euros (its calculator on 12 Nov 2026); £2,000 sent to euros £7.10; receiving by SWIFT £2.16 (pounds) or €2.39 (euros); CHAPS not listed; team cards £3 each once; replacement card £3.	no planWise Business: can't do this profile: 'Wise doesn’t accept cash or cheque payments'. Without the cash it would be £117.68, mostly its £0.52 per UK payment out. First 12 months: no figure. Extras: no cash; card spend abroad a conversion fee only, £0.99 on £300 and £6.58 on £2,000 into euros (its calculator on 12 Nov 2026); £2,000 sent to euros £7.10; receiving by SWIFT £2.16 (pounds) or €2.39 (euros); CHAPS not listed; team cards £3 each once; replacement card £3.
NatWest35p for every automated payment in or out; FreeAgent free with the account	£10.50Business Current Account: no monthly fee + 30 automated payments in or out × 35p (£10.50) = £10.50. First 12 months: £0 with 2 years' free everyday banking for start-ups (started within 12 months, turnover up to £1m) and full switchers (turnover up to £2m), lost if cash deposits pass £200,000 in 12 months; card and international fees still apply. Without it, 12 × £10.50 = £126. Extras: cash 95p per £100 + 95p a deposit at a branch or Post Office counter; card spend abroad 2.75%; payments abroad £15 online, exchange margin not published; receiving from abroad £7; CHAPS £25 by Bankline; extra-card and user fees not found. · ≈$13.97	£45.45Business Current Account: no monthly fee + 90 automated payments in or out × 35p (£31.50) + £500 cash at the Post Office, 95p per £100 + 95p a deposit (£5.70) + 2.75% on £300 of card spend in euros (£8.25) = £45.45. First 12 months: £99 (12 × £8.25, the card fee) with 2 years' free everyday banking for start-ups (started within 12 months, turnover up to £1m) and full switchers (turnover up to £2m), lost if cash deposits pass £200,000 in 12 months; card and international fees still apply. Without it, 12 × £45.45 = £545.40. Extras: cash 95p per £100 + 95p a deposit at a branch or Post Office counter; card spend abroad 2.75%; payments abroad £15 online, exchange margin not published; receiving from abroad £7; CHAPS £25 by Bankline; extra-card and user fees not found. · ≈$60.48	£216.80Business Current Account: no monthly fee + 300 automated payments in or out × 35p (£105) + four £1,000 cash deposits at the Post Office, 95p per £100 + 95p a deposit (£41.80) + 2.75% on £2,000 of card spend in euros (£55) + £15 to send the £2,000 abroad online = £216.80. First 12 months: £840 (12 × £70, the card and international fees) with 2 years' free everyday banking for start-ups (started within 12 months, turnover up to £1m) and full switchers (turnover up to £2m), lost if cash deposits pass £200,000 in 12 months; card and international fees still apply. Without it, 12 × £216.80 = £2,601.60. Extras: cash 95p per £100 + 95p a deposit at a branch or Post Office counter; card spend abroad 2.75%; payments abroad £15 online, exchange margin not published; receiving from abroad £7; CHAPS £25 by Bankline; extra-card and user fees not found. · ≈$288.49
Metro Bank£8 a month and 30p a transaction, both waived in months the balance stays at £6,000 or more	£17.00Business Bank Account: £8 a month + 30 transactions × 30p (£9) = £17. First 12 months: £0 with 12 months' fee-free banking for new business customers: no monthly fee and no charge for card payments, direct debits, Faster Payments or standing orders; cash and international payments are still charged. Without it, 12 × £17 = £204. Extras: cash 1% in store (its Post Office service is 'subject to request and approval'); card payments 30p each, no FX fee in its listed European countries, 2.99% elsewhere; SWIFT out £25, SEPA 20p; payments received count as 30p transactions; CHAPS £25; extra-card and user fees not found. · ≈$22.62	no planBusiness Bank Account: from £40.30, a floor: £8 a month + 90 transactions × 30p (£27) + £500 cash in store, 1% (£5) + no FX fee in its listed European countries + 30p for each card payment, at least one (£0.30) = £40.30. The profile gives the card spend in pounds, not as a number of payments; each further card payment adds 30p. First 12 months: £60 (12 × £5: only the cash is charged) with 12 months' fee-free banking for new business customers: no monthly fee and no charge for card payments, direct debits, Faster Payments or standing orders; cash and international payments are still charged. Extras: cash 1% in store (its Post Office service is 'subject to request and approval'); card payments 30p each, no FX fee in its listed European countries, 2.99% elsewhere; SWIFT out £25, SEPA 20p; payments received count as 30p transactions; CHAPS £25; extra-card and user fees not found.	no planBusiness Bank Account: from £163.30, a floor: £8 a month + 300 transactions × 30p (£90) + four £1,000 cash deposits in store, 1% (£40) + no FX fee in its listed European countries + £25 to send the £2,000 abroad by SWIFT + 30p for each card payment, at least one (£0.30) = £163.30. The profile gives the card spend in pounds, not as a number of payments; each further card payment adds 30p. First 12 months: £780 (12 × £65: only the cash and the SWIFT payment are charged) with 12 months' fee-free banking for new business customers: no monthly fee and no charge for card payments, direct debits, Faster Payments or standing orders; cash and international payments are still charged. Extras: cash 1% in store (its Post Office service is 'subject to request and approval'); card payments 30p each, no FX fee in its listed European countries, 2.99% elsewhere; SWIFT out £25, SEPA 20p; payments received count as 30p transactions; CHAPS £25; extra-card and user fees not found.
Countingupsubscription £5, £12 or £20 by the month's deposits; bookkeeping and tax included	no planSubscription: £12.29 to £27.29, set by the month's deposits, which the profile doesn't fix: £5 (deposits up to £750), £12 (up to £7,500) or £20 (above) + 27 transfers beyond the 3 free × 27p (£7.29). First 12 months: £132.48 to £267.48 with the 3-month free trial (12 × £7.29 + 9 × £5 to £20), if the trial waives only the subscription; the page doesn't say whether transaction fees apply during it. Extras: cash 0.5% at the Post Office (£2 minimum); card spend abroad 3%; no payments abroad; receiving from abroad and CHAPS out not listed; replacement card £5.	no planSubscription: £39.99 to £54.99, set by the month's deposits: £5, £12 or £20 + 87 transfers beyond the 3 free × 27p (£23.49) + £500 cash at the Post Office, 0.5% (£2.50) + 3% on £300 of card spend in euros (£9). The £500 of cash counts as a deposit, so the £5 tier applies only if the 30 payments in total £250 or less. First 12 months: £464.88 to £599.88 with the 3-month free trial (12 × £34.99 + 9 × £5 to £20), on the same assumption. Extras: cash 0.5% at the Post Office (£2 minimum); card spend abroad 3%; no payments abroad; receiving from abroad and CHAPS out not listed; replacement card £5.	no planSubscription: can't do this profile: its pricing page and July 2026 terms list no international payments out. First 12 months: no figure. Extras: cash 0.5% at the Post Office (£2 minimum); card spend abroad 3%; no payments abroad; receiving from abroad and CHAPS out not listed; replacement card £5.
ANNAplan fees are '+VAT', included here at 20%	no planFree or Grow: £0 to £19.53, set by the money received, which the profile doesn't fix. The Free plan charges nothing if the 10 payments in total £1,000 or less, then 0.95% of the rest; it stays cheaper than Grow (£12.90 + VAT = £15.48, + 15 transfers beyond its 15 free × 27p = £19.53) up to £3,055.79 received a month. First 12 months: no figure; the Business plan's first month is free. Extras: cash fee not published; card spend abroad 2% (Free), 1.5% (Grow, Business) or 1% (Big Business); SWIFT out £5 (2 a month free on Business, 4 on Big Business) + 1% to convert (0.5% on Big Business); SWIFT in not priced on the pages read; CHAPS £5 (2 free on Business, free on Big Business), though its terms say 'we do not support CHAPS'; extra expense cards £5 a month each beyond 2 on Grow, £3 beyond 5 on Business.	no planBusiness: no single figure. ANNA publishes no cash deposit fee: its terms define a PayPoint barcode 'in order that you may add cash value to your Account as outlined in paragraph 7.31', and there is no paragraph 7.31 or fee. Before the cash it would be £37.98 (£22.90 + VAT = £27.48, + 30 transfers beyond the 60 free × 20p (£6) + 1.5% on £300 of card spend in euros (£4.50)). First 12 months: no figure; the Business plan's first month is free. Extras: cash fee not published; card spend abroad 2% (Free), 1.5% (Grow, Business) or 1% (Big Business); SWIFT out £5 (2 a month free on Business, 4 on Big Business) + 1% to convert (0.5% on Big Business); SWIFT in not priced on the pages read; CHAPS £5 (2 free on Business, free on Big Business), though its terms say 'we do not support CHAPS'; extra expense cards £5 a month each beyond 2 on Grow, £3 beyond 5 on Business.	no planBig Business: no single figure. ANNA publishes no cash deposit fee: its terms define a PayPoint barcode 'in order that you may add cash value to your Account as outlined in paragraph 7.31', and there is no paragraph 7.31 or fee. Before the cash it would be £91.88 (£59.90 + VAT = £71.88, unlimited transfers, + 1% on £2,000 of card spend in euros (£20) + the SWIFT payment, one of 4 free a month). First 12 months: no figure; the Business plan's first month is free. Extras: cash fee not published; card spend abroad 2% (Free), 1.5% (Grow, Business) or 1% (Big Business); SWIFT out £5 (2 a month free on Business, 4 on Big Business) + 1% to convert (0.5% on Big Business); SWIFT in not priced on the pages read; CHAPS £5 (2 free on Business, free on Big Business), though its terms say 'we do not support CHAPS'; extra expense cards £5 a month each beyond 2 on Grow, £3 beyond 5 on Business.

Each figure is the plan named at the start of the line under it, with its sum. "No plan" means there is no single published figure, or the account can't do the profile; the line under it says which. ANNA's and Countingup's ranges and Metro Bank's "from" figures are in those lines.

Dated changes, already announced:

HSBC, from 14 December 2026: the £1.50 charge on each Post Office cash deposit goes, leaving 1.5%. B becomes £15.75 and C £132.
Tide, from 15 December 2026: ATM withdrawals become £200 a month free, then 1%, instead of £1 a withdrawal (plus 0.25% above £500). The fee schedule Tide links today takes effect on 1 December 2026; the fees used here are the same in the one in force until then.
Monzo, from 1 November 2026: international payments carry a fixed fee by currency, and the exchange margin isn't stated.
Lloyds' £200 offer is for applications by 30 November 2026.

Exchange rates (used for the euro amounts, Monzo's €3.55 SWIFT fee and the dollar view). ECB euro reference rates of 2026-11-11, the latest published when checked on 12 Nov: 1 EUR = 0.83618 GBP and 1 EUR = 1.1127 USD, so 1 USD = 0.7514874 GBP.

Left out: Larger-business accounts — priced by agreement or for bigger businesses: HSBC's Corporate Bank Account (turnover generally above £15m), Lloyds' accounts for £3m to £25m turnover and Metro Bank's Commercial Current Account; HSBC Kinetic — its page now redirects to HSBC's account comparison, which lists only the two accounts here; Older Countingup and Mettle accounts — customers who joined Countingup before 3 Aug 2026 (sort code 23-69-72) and holders of Mettle's older e-money accounts are on earlier terms; new accounts are priced here.

Published UK business tariffs for each provider, read off its own pricing page, fee information document, tariff or terms on 12 November 2026. Wise's figures come from its own fee calculators on that day and move with the exchange rate. The pages were read from a server in Europe with a browser set to UK English, not from a UK connection. Verify before you open an account: Starling Bank · Monzo Business · Mettle · HSBC UK · Tide · Barclays · Santander · Lloyds · Wise Business · NatWest · Metro Bank · Countingup · ANNA.

There are no affiliate links on this page. Three of these providers publish programmes that pay publishers or introducers: Tide £50 for each referred member who is onboarded, through impact.com; Wise from £10 per conversion, with 'a higher commission rate for business user referrals'; and ANNA £175 per new customer an introducer brings in, once the customer meets its requirements. This site hasn't joined any of them. The research is done by AI agents reading each provider's own pages. This page compares published fees; it is not financial advice. Product names and logos are trademarks of their owners, used only to identify the products compared. No analytics cookies, no tracking scripts, no third-party requests. A personal project, separate from the author's day job.

Questions people ask

How much does a business bank account cost in the UK?

On the cheapest published plan for each of three profiles a month: £0 for a sole trader (20 UK payments out, 10 in) at Starling, Monzo Lite, Mettle and HSBC's Small Business Banking Account; from £1 at Monzo Lite to £45.45 at NatWest for a small company with one £500 cash deposit and £300 of card spend in euros; and from £36 at Starling to £216.80 at NatWest for a busier company with £4,000 of cash, £2,000 of card spend in euros and one £2,000 payment abroad, among the accounts with a single published figure.

Which UK business bank accounts have no monthly fee?

Of the thirteen on this page: Starling, Monzo Lite, Mettle, HSBC's Small Business Banking Account, Tide Lite, ANNA's Free plan, NatWest (which charges 35p per payment instead) and Wise (£50 once for account details). Barclays (£8.50), Lloyds (£10) and Metro Bank (£8) charge no monthly fee for the first 12 months for new customers, and Santander (£9.99) for start-ups and switchers.

How much does it cost to pay cash into a business bank account?

Four £1,000 deposits a month at the Post Office cost £4 at Monzo (£1 each), £11 at Mettle, £20 at Tide's paid plans and Countingup, £24 at Barclays, £28 at Starling, £41.80 at NatWest, £50 at Santander, £64 at Lloyds and £66 at HSBC, falling to £60 from 14 Dec 2026. Metro Bank charges 1% in store, £40. Wise doesn't accept cash, and ANNA publishes no cash fee.

Which business accounts charge no fee on card payments abroad?

On £2,000 of card spend in euros, Starling, Monzo, Mettle, Tide's Smart, Pro and Max plans and Metro Bank (in its listed European countries) add no fee of their own. Wise charges a conversion fee (£6.58), ANNA 1% to 2% by plan, Barclays, HSBC, NatWest, Lloyds and Tide Lite 2.75% (£55), Santander 2.95% (£59) and Countingup 3% (£60).

Answers use the figures on this page, last checked 12 Nov 2026.