A basic business bank account costs between $0 and about $30 a month in 2026. Entry-level business checking at large national banks typically charges around $15 a month, and you can usually avoid that fee by keeping about $2,000 in the account. Many online-only accounts charge no monthly fee at all.
The monthly fee is rarely the whole story, though. Wires, cash deposits, extra transactions and overdrafts often cost more than the base fee. This guide breaks down each charge, using published fee schedules reviewed in October 2026, and shows how to estimate your own monthly cost.
Monthly maintenance fees by account tier
In practice, banks sell business checking in tiers. The more activity an account includes, the higher the fee and the higher the balance needed to waive it.
| Tier | Typical monthly fee | Typical way to waive it | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online-only or basic | $0 | No fee, but tighter limits on cash and branch services | Freelancers, digital businesses |
| Entry-level at a national bank | About $15 | Around $2,000 minimum daily balance, or linked accounts | Sole proprietors, new LLCs |
| Mid-tier | About $25 | Around $10,000 minimum balance or $15,000 combined balances | Growing firms with more transactions |
| Analyzed account | $75 and up | Offset by an earnings credit on balances | Larger businesses, heavy cash or wire users |
The ranges come from the published terms of several large U.S. banks as of October 2026. Smaller banks and credit unions often charge less, but they may offer fewer digital tools. Since terms change often, always read the current schedule before you open an account.
Analyzed accounts work differently. Instead of a flat fee, the bank prices each service, then subtracts an earnings credit based on your balance. You pay the difference. So a business with large balances can end up paying little or nothing.
Wire transfer fees
After the monthly fee, wires are the most visible extra cost for many businesses. Based on 2026 fee schedules from several banks, typical charges look like this:
| Wire type | Typical fee per wire |
|---|---|
| Incoming domestic or international | $0-$25 (often about $15) |
| Outgoing domestic, sent online | About $20-$35 |
| Outgoing domestic, sent at a branch | Up to about $55 |
| Outgoing international | About $35-$75 |
International wires can carry a second cost. When the bank converts dollars into another currency, it adds a margin to the exchange rate. Some banks waive the wire fee on foreign-currency wires but still earn that margin. In addition, intermediary banks may deduct their own fees along the way.
ACH transfers are far cheaper for routine domestic payments. They take a day or two longer, yet many banks include a set number free each month. Where a supplier accepts ACH, you can avoid most wire fees.
Cash deposits and transaction limits
Most business accounts cap the free activity included each month. Two limits matter most.
- Cash deposit allowance. Banks include a set amount of cash deposits per statement cycle, then charge per $100 or per $1,000 above it. One entry-level account reviewed includes $5,000 of in-branch cash per cycle, for example.
- Transaction allowance. Accounts often include a fixed number of checks, deposits and teller withdrawals, such as 20 a month. After that, each item has a fee.
Cash-heavy businesses such as restaurants, salons and retail shops feel these limits first. If you deposit a lot of cash, compare the per-deposit charges before you compare monthly fees.
Other fees to check in the schedule
Every bank publishes a full business fee schedule. Even so, these items are easy to miss:
- Overdraft and returned-item fees. These can be the most expensive charges, and they add up fast.
- Stop payments, paper statements and cashier’s checks. Each usually carries a small fee.
- Fraud tools. Services such as positive pay, which checks each presented check against your issued list, often cost extra.
- Payroll and ACH origination. Sending direct deposits may require a separate service with its own monthly fee.
- Early closure. Some banks charge a fee if you close the account within the first months.
Card acceptance is a separate cost again. To take card payments, you need a merchant account or a payment processor, which charges its own fees per transaction. Our guide to what a merchant account is explains how those costs work.
What you earn back: interest and insurance
Business checking rarely pays much interest. As of October 19, 2026, the FDIC’s national rates stood at 0.07% for interest checking, 0.38% for savings and 0.63% for money market accounts. Those averages cover all deposits, but they give a fair sense of what standard accounts pay. Some banks pay more, especially on business savings.
Deposit insurance, by contrast, costs you nothing. The FDIC covers $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, per ownership category. Accounts owned by a corporation, partnership or LLC are insured separately from the owners’ personal accounts. A sole proprietorship’s account is different, however. According to the FDIC, it is added to the owner’s personal single accounts at the same bank, and the total is insured up to $250,000.
One more difference matters. The federal rule that limits losses from unauthorized transfers, Regulation E, covers only accounts set up for personal, family or household use. A business account depends instead on the bank’s account agreement. That is one reason fraud tools and fast reporting matter more for businesses.
What it costs to open the account
Once you pick an account, opening it is usually cheap. Getting an Employer Identification Number from the IRS is free, and sole proprietors can often use a Social Security number instead. The SBA’s guide lists the documents banks commonly request, such as formation papers, ownership agreements and a business license.
The minimum opening deposit varies by bank and account. Some ask for nothing, while others want a small first deposit. Your real startup costs come from forming the business itself, such as state filing fees for an LLC. For the full process, see our guide on how to open a business bank account.
How to estimate and cut your monthly cost
First, take a month of real or expected activity. Here is a sample estimate for a small consulting firm, using mid-range figures from the tables above:
| Item | Monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Entry-level account, balance below the waiver level | $15 |
| 2 outgoing domestic wires sent online at $25 | $50 |
| 1 outgoing international wire at $45 | $45 |
| Deposits within the free allowance | $0 |
| Total | $110 |
In this example, the monthly fee is the smallest line. Switching two domestic wires to ACH and keeping $2,000 in the account could cut the bill to about $45.
A few habits keep costs down:
- Match the tier to your activity, not to the bank’s top recommendation.
- Keep enough balance to waive the monthly fee if you can spare it.
- Use ACH instead of wires for routine domestic payments.
- Ask for the full fee schedule before opening, and reread it when the bank sends changes.
- Review your statement each month for charges you did not expect.
For more guides on running a small business, see our money and business guides.
This article is general information, not financial advice.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a business bank account cost per month?
Usually $0 to about $30 for small businesses. Entry-level accounts at large banks charge around $15, often waived with a minimum balance near $2,000.
Are there free business checking accounts?
Yes. Many online-only accounts and some credit unions charge no monthly fee. However, they may limit cash deposits or branch services.
Why do business accounts have more fees than personal ones?
Businesses move more money, deposit more cash and use services such as wires and payroll. Banks price those services separately.
Is money in a business bank account insured?
Yes, at FDIC-insured banks, up to $250,000 per depositor, per bank, per ownership category. A sole proprietorship’s account is combined with the owner’s personal single accounts.
Have a question about this topic? Ask in the comments below. Our editors read every comment and answer questions here, and we add useful answers to the guide.
Sources
- fdic.gov/national-rates-and-rate-caps
- fdic.gov/resources/deposit-insurance/brochures/insured-deposits
- fdic.gov/financial-institution-employees-guide-deposit-insurance/…
- fdic.gov/financial-institution-employees-guide-deposit-insurance/…
- sba.gov/business-guide/launch-your-business/open-business-bank-a…
- consumerfinance.gov/rules-policy/regulations/1005/2