Selecting the Best Bank Account for Freelancers – Why Should You Have One

Freelancing is sheer magic – you are your boss and have the freedom to choose your projects, set your hours, and work from any corner of the globe. It also makes you a sole proprietor of your business that is, the freelancing business you are engaged in. After you have decided to freelance, you should also simultaneously think of how to manage your business finances. The best way to do so is to open a bank account so that you can keep your finances organized optimally to enable you to track your growth curve.

In the USA alone, there are about 56.7 million freelancers accounting for about a third of the total workforce. Of this, about 51% opined in a research study that no amount of money would make them give up freelancing and opt for a traditional job. If you have the same mindset, it’s probably because you need the flexibility to work on your terms.

Since you are now running a business, do not make the mistake of maintaining your personal and professional finances in the same account. You have to keep them separate by having a business bank account that is distinct from your personal account. There are several benefits of this decision, the most important being that it is easy to track your overall finances. Your business will also look more legit and there will be lesser restrictions on the financial choices that you make.

Here is how you can make the most of your freelancing activities with a business bank account.

• Distinguishing your Business from Personal Finances: You have to be highly organized to successfully run a freelancing business. And without the right systems in place, it is quite a challenge to keep your finances in order. A separate business account means that your personal account transactions are insulated from the variables of a business account and helps to keep a seamless check on your freelancing revenue, expenses, and profit. It also keeps a track of your earnings and expenses on the same dashboard and lets you estimate the cash flow for any month.
• Easy filing of taxes: Filing taxes can be complex when you are a freelancer. You have to verify all your paychecks to know your earnings and the numbers can be dozens from various sources like direct deposit, PayPal, and more. A standalone business account will help make the tax filing process easier because you will be given bank statements from which you can calculate your income per month. Similarly, from the statement, you can know your business expenses and deduct them from the taxes payable. Accurate filing of taxes by a freelancer is critical if you do not want to be hit with a penalty by the IRS.
• More flexibility in business accounts: Business accounts have more flexibility than personal accounts. You will be sending and receiving a lot of money and hence need more options for conducting transactions once your small business starts growing slowly. A business account allows you to write checks, accept credit card payments, and collect receipts, all of which are integral to your freelancing business. Further, a business account has fewer restrictions than a personal account where there are limitations on the number of transactions that can be made and the size of the transfers. These can cramp the financial freedom you should have for your business.
• Proving your professionalism: The perception of what your clients have about you is as important as the work you do. They should see you as a professional who is serious about the freelancing business, a trait that a business account will help you to achieve. A check from a personal account is not seen with the same level of importance and legitimacy as that from a business account. As your business progresses and you build stable relationships with clients, they will know that you are in this business for the long haul and, therefore, increase the chances of repeat business.
• Linking with other Business Banking Software: The best bank account for freelancers is more than a mere checking account and serves as a financial fulcrum that balances out all your money-related matters. Most critically, these accounts link up with other business banking software to give you wider coverage in the scope of your transactions.

The takeaway from a business account is that it helps to optimize the initiative, passion, and freedom that you have as a freelancer.

As a freelancer, your primary focus should be on new leads and making sure that you are generating income. Apart from the necessity of maintaining a personal and business account separately, the reasons for which have been detailed before, there are two key takeaways of a business account apart from keeping an eye on your financial health.

• Opening up new financial options: Many freelancers seek a credit line from banks that serve as a safety net in case things get tough. And you might even want to raise venture capital if you want to expand your business and take it to the next level.
  When you have these options in mind, the only way to realize them is to have a separate bank account for your business. Many banks will sanction a line of credit or offer loans only if you have a dedicated business account and hence, you can research the market for the right providers, packages, and rates. On the other hand, if you meet investors to raise capital, they will want to know about your financial health and the state of your finances. A business account statement will not only provide all these details but will also make them take you seriously. Even if it is a fresh idea that you are presenting before investors, they will want to know your precedents so that they are assured that their money will be responsibly safe.
  It is always wise to think of your future, no matter how lofty your ambitions are, and open a separate business account as soon as possible.
• Building a business asset: As your business rolls along and you fast-track your freelance activities to the next level, you have to move to an agency model that requires hiring contractors and staff or innovating new products. However, you have to evaluate your end game. Is it growing to a pre-determined level, generating target revenue, or selling your business someday? Regardless of the goal that you decide, you must build your business into an asset that will witness exponential growth over time.
  To make this happen, it is necessary to have in place a strong financial foundation that translates into building an efficient accounting framework and having a business bank account to support it. For example, if you want to sell your freelancing business someday, potential buyers will want to know how it has performed in the past. Having a paper trail through dedicated business account bank statements will help your cause and attract more lucrative offers. Even if you want to continue running your freelance business, treat it as an asset as this mindset will help you build a more profitable business in the future.

Before opening a business account, study what different banks have on offer. Some business banking providers offer reduced or zero monthly fees for a limited period and revert to the old rates later where you have to pay a monthly fee apart from the transaction fees. Check the terms and conditions with different banks when in doubt. Whichever bank you might choose to put your money in, ensure that it has a quick and seamless signup.

Most accounts today, thanks to technology can be opened from a smartphone.

Normally, there are no restrictions on keeping your personal and business accounts in the same bank. Rather there are some benefits to it and it only gets complicated when your freelancer business grows steeply upwards.

Here are some of the benefits.

• Easy transfer of money and funds management: It is easier and faster to transfer money between personal and business accounts when both are in the same bank. While this takes minutes, transferring funds between different institutions might take days.
• Relationship discounts: With personal and business accounts under the same roof you become eligible for loyalty rewards like lower fees, higher interest rates, and relationship discounts.
• Perceived to be creditworthy: With both accounts in the same bank and both managed well, it improves your chances to take out a loan or get a credit line sanctioned.

However, for some types of business structures like corporations, it is preferable to keep the accounts in different banks. If your freelancing effort has reached this point, you should be congratulated.

With freelancing on the rise, how your clients perceive you will play a critical role in the relationship you develop with them. Sending a check from your business account makes you look more credible than one from your personal account.

Here are some of the best banks for freelancers. You will notice that all of them are online banks. It is a boon for you as otherwise just think of the time lost commuting to and from a regular brick and mortar bank. And with an Internet-enabled smartphone in your hands, you do not have to go through reams of paperwork conducting simple transactions.

Revolut is a British-based company offering a range of financial services. You get a prepaid debit card that enables withdrawals from ATM s in 150 currencies and money transfersin 30 currencies. The app is available both on Android and IOS and has unique features like vaults for budgeting. Interestingly, Revolut provides a cryptocurrency exchange through which you can convert any currency to Bitcoin, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, and more.

Pros 

• With a business account, you can receive and exchange money in 30 different currencies.
• You have the Revolut business account where you can order several prepaid Mastercard debit cards to withdraw money at ATMs and pay at merchants in the UK or anywhere else.
• You can manage all aspects of your account through the Revolut Business app for phones and tablets.

Cons

• Not possible to make bulk payments with the free plan
• Clients pay a 2% fee for ATM withdrawals after the monthly limit is passed.
• Customer support is not available 24×7.

Revolut is available in European Economic Area, Australia, Canada, Singapore, Switzerland, and the United States.

Considered to be a leader in this field, PayPal has over 230 million users from all corners of the globe and is one of the most popular and used channels of payment for freelancers. You get instant access to your funds in your PayPal account through a Business Debit Mastercard. You do not have to pay any fees when you are shopping with a PayPal card but a small conversion fee is charged for different currencies. PayPal has a highly optimized mobile app where all data can be stored and awesome reporting through the reporting browser.

Pros 

• Easy setup
• Freelancers can be paid by clients without having a PayPal account
• Receive payments from international clients
• Available in 200 countries with support to 25 currencies
• Multiple payment options including checks
• PayPal is a comprehensive payment system and allows freelancers to make customized invoices
• You can send email payment requests through PayPal

Cons 

• Your PayPal account can be frozen without prior information
• For large sales volumes, PayPal charges high transaction fees.
• Poor customer support
• Clients may have to wait up to four days to withdraw funds
• Fees for chargebacks are astronomical

PayPal can be accessed in the Euro Zone, Africa, and the Asia Pacific

BlueVine is one of the best checking accounts for freelancers. Most fees like monthly maintenance fees, transaction fees, and overdrafts are waived. Depositing cash in your BlueVine business account is easy and can be done from any GreenDot location. The icing on the cake is the free checkbooks provided when you open an account.

What makes BlueVine stand out among competitors is that interest is offered in checking accounts. From the time a BlueVine account is opened, you start earning 1% interest, at least till balances up to $100,000. It is a rate that is even higher than most savings accounts today. A BlueVine business account adds to your income through interest received – no invoicing or extra hours.

Pros 

• Easy cash deposit
• Interest-bearing checking account
• Competitive interest rate

Cons

• No interest payable on amounts over $100,000

Financial services Monese was established in the UK in 2015 and is a mobile app-based banking service that has all the activities of traditional banking services. Freelancers can open an account in the UK or the Eurozone without showing a UK address, credit history, or fixed income. All that you have to show is a national identity card and submit a passport photograph.

Pros 

• Monese is available in 14 different languages
• Transfer and payment processing takes only 2 to 3 hours
• Monese integrates with Google Pay and Apple Pay and clients can pay from funds available on these platforms
• Monese is a portable banking service offering facilities in 20 countries in the Eurozone.
• Credit cards can be blocked and unblocked through the app and contactless debit cards up to purchases below £3030are issued.
• You get a free Monese MasterCard with your account.
• Clients can set up standing instructions for debit from their account for utility payments.

Cons 

• The free plan has limited features
• Overdraft or loans are not sanctioned
• No FSCS protection
• Accounts can be accessed through a single smartphone only

ATM withdrawals are limited to 6 even on a Plus plan Monese is available in the Eurozone countries and the UK.

NorthOne, launched in 20119 is a digital banking service specially created for small businesses, freelancers, and start-ups. As a busy freelancer, you will appreciate the features of NorthOne that include invoice-sending, sub-accounts, and free cash deposits and withdrawals at over 300,000 ATMs.

The site can be accessed both from an app and a website. You can deposit checks, view transactions, send money, and transfer invoices. Most importantly, NorthOne integrates with advanced digital business tools like PayPal, QuickBooks, Shopify, Square, and others.

Pros 

• Checking deposits is possible from the app
• Separate accounts for funds like taxes, rent, and other uses.
• Unlimited number of transactions
• 24X7 customer support through email, live chat, and phone.
• Low and flat fees for the U.S and international wire transfers.
• Account history is available in real-time by setting smart filters.

Cons 

• Deposit accounts of NorthOne are available only in the US.
• Minimum starting deposit of $50 or more
• Deposit accounts lack the multi-user business feature

NorthOne is available in the USA.

These are some of the best banks for freelancers but all have different features and functionalities. As a freelancer choose one that precisely matches your needs.