What is a business checking account for LLCs?
A business checking account for LLCs provides a separate bank account for your limited liability company. In the event of a lawsuit, it is important to have a legal distinction between business and personal assets to protect yourself from personal liability.
Provided that there is a clear distinction, creditors can look to your LLC for payment for any outstanding debts but will be unable to seek payment against personal assets.
Do you need a business checking account for LLCs?
Anyone who is looking to form an LLC should consider getting a business checking account. The majority of banks offer benefits for business checking accounts plus it will simplify the process of paying your taxes every quarter.
What are the pros and cons of a business checking account for LLCs?
There are many pros and cons of opening a business checking account for LLCs. Here are a few for you to consider before applying:
Pros
- Liability protection: Separation between personal and business assets can help preserve limited liability protections.
- Simplify taxes: Separate bank accounts help business owners to locate income and expenses faster and help your accountant make the relevant deductions.
- Business growth: Having a business checking account can give you more credibility and help you grow as a business. If you need access to business loans or credit cards, financial institutions are more likely to see you as a legitimate business.
- Interest: Some banks pay interest on balances. This can be advantageous if there is a high minimum balance requirement.
Cons
- Fees: Depending on the bank you choose, there can be additional fees when you run your business from a business checking account. For instance, transaction fees are likely to apply, and there may be a higher minimum deposit.
- Minimum requirements: You may be required to hold a minimum balance or spend a minimum amount with your debit card each month.
- Business is a side hustle: If your business is a side hustle or gig that you are trying out, the cost of a business checking account may not be worth it yet.
- Transaction limits: For the most part, business checking accounts impose transaction limits where a fee will be imposed per transaction after the limit is reached. If you have a higher number of transactions in your business, this can increase your overheads.
What are the fees for a business checking account for LLCs?
When researching business checking accounts for LLCs, it’s important to consider the fees imposed and how they might affect you. Here are a few fees for you to consider when looking into an account for your business:
- Monthly maintenance fees: Fees for business checking accounts are likely to be higher than personal checking accounts. Some banks require a minimum balance to waive the monthly maintenance fee.
- Cash deposit limits: If your LLC primarily uses cash, you may reach cash deposit limits and need to pay a cash-handling fee for further deposits.
- Transaction fees: Many banks limit the number of transactions during a billing cycle. Once the limit is reached, a transaction fee will be imposed. Transactions can include ATM deposits, debit card payments, and check payments.
- ATM fees: Fees may apply to ATM withdrawals but some banks can reimburse you for out-of-network ATM fees.
- Overdraft fees: Accounts that provide overdraft protection may charge you a fee for withdrawing below your balance.
While there can be multiple fees to consider, banks may have fee waivers if certain conditions are met or if services such as business credit cards are added. It’s a good idea to look out for these to lower your business checking account costs.
How to choose a business checking account for LLCs
When looking for the best business checking account for LLCs, here are some key factors to consider before you choose a bank:
- Compare multiple providers: Fees and services can vary between banks. If you have a business that primarily handles cash, it’s a good idea to look for a bank that has high cash deposit limits. Or if you have a business that has a high number of credit card transactions each month, you’ll want to consider a bank that has high or unlimited transaction limits.
- Customer support: Banks that offer an account manager can build stronger and longer-lasting relationships with their clients. Convenient access to branches may be important to you as a business if you’re looking to take out additional financial products and loans.
- Interest on balances: If your business keeps high cash balances, look for a business checking account that pays interest as this can help offset some of the fees you have to pay. However, sometimes banks can provide rewards instead of interest.
- Online account management: Online account services can help you manage your business finances daily and keep track of your incomings and outgoings. Banks that solely provide online services can also have lower fees.