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6 Best Online Small Business Bank Accounts in Australia in 2024

Jarrod Suda

Guide

May 23, 2023
Advertiser disclosure

Running a successful business requires diverse skills from marketing, recruiting, to financial expertise. One crucial decision is choosing a business bank account that fuels growth and manages cash flow effectively.

In this business banking guide, we've done the work for you of evaluating 6 top providers on fees, features, and benefits tailored to your specific needs. We compare challenger business accounts like Revolut Business, Wise Business, and Payoneer along with some of Australia's most major banks.

As a small business owner, streamline your search for the best bank account for your small business finances in Australia and focus on driving your business forward.

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Best Online Business Bank Accounts in Australia

Key Facts About Business Banking in Australia

👨‍⚖️ Regulatory body

APRA

🏆 Best business account
💸 Monthly fee

$0.00

🔎 No. of business accounts compared

6

What Is a Business Bank Account?

A business bank account serves as a checking account designed for receiving customer payments, making partner payments, and conducting various business transactions, including tax payments. By having a business bank account, your small business can enjoy expedited access to business credit cards and loans that may be essential for your operations. Moreover, business accounts utilize ring-fenced accounts to ensure the separation of your funds from the bank's portfolio, providing added security for your money.

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Business Bank Accounts Versus Personal Bank Accounts

Business bank accounts offer features that are tailored to businesses owners. In fact, it is required that business owners do not use personal checking or savings accounts to conduct business-related finances.

Business banking services are more comprehensive than personal banking. They include business loans, higher overdraft facilities, higher interest on term deposits, invoicing tools, enhanced reporting and accounting capabilities, and even connected foreign currency accounts for international banking.

In contrast to personal bank accounts, business bank accounts typically have higher daily spend limits too. This is because business transactions involve paying vendors and clients, which can be high in volume.

Business Bank Account Fees in Australia

Business bank accounts offered by the major banks in Australia often come with charges for the following services:

  • A fixed monthly account maintenance fee;
  • Transaction fees for payments;
  • Foreign currency transactions;
  • ATM withdrawals.

However, some challenger banks offer the mentioned services, and more, free of charge or provide introductory offers without fees.

One aspect to consider is that business bank accounts from challenger banks may not include loans or business-related insurance products. But for everyday banking tasks like making payments, managing receipts, and handling tax matters, Monito recommends online banks due to their use of financial technology to automate these tedious processes.

laptop business man

How To Choose the Best Small Business Bank Account in Australia

When selecting a business bank account, various factors come into play, depending on the nature of your business. Whether you operate on tight monthly margins or require additional tax assistance, there is no universal solution. However, when considering an online business bank account in Australia, some key criteria to evaluate include:

  • Account Fees: Online banks often offer different tiers of paid services that may waive certain fees. Assess whether the monthly membership cost justifies the waived fees.
  • Digital-Only Access: If cash or cheque deposits are essential for your business, digital banking may prove inconvenient.
  • Business Support: Many online banks integrate with finance and accounting apps, streamlining your transactions and simplifying your life.
  • Overdraft Facility: If occasional small debt is necessary, an overdraft may be beneficial. Not all banks provide this service, and those that do may charge overdraft fees.
  • Credit Interest: Some banks allow you to earn interest on excess cash held in your business account.

Compare the Best Business Bank Accounts in Australia

In this comparison guide, Monito takes you through the seven best online business bank accounts that can help you automate your finances, scale your business, and free up your time to do what you love — develop your products and serve your customers.

Revolut Business — Best for Team Management

Revolut is one of the leaders of the online financial services sector and around the world thanks to its low-cost multi-currency accounts, budget analytics software, and other innovative features. With over 12 million personal users, the London-based fintech is not only available in Australia but around the world.

Revolut Business now provides an array of benefits for freelancers, sole traders, and small businesses. Discover how you can receive global payments, efficiently handle team expenses, and seamlessly exchange currencies without incurring hidden fees.

Revolut Business

Account name: Standard

Account type: Current (BSB and Account Number).

Total cost: A$25 per month.

Noteworthy features: Forex futures rates, multi-currency balances.

Availability: Australia, EU/EEA, UK, Switzerland, the US.

More info: See our full Revolut Business review.

Wise Business — Best Business Account for International Payments

Wise Business is considered one of the best money transfer service globally. They offer the low-cost Wise Business account and card in Australia, along with some of the cheapest international transfers available. This account allows you to manage money in over 50 currencies and provides local bank details in 9 currencies.

With Wise Business, you can seamlessly collect money, withdraw funds from e-commerce stores in up to 9 currencies, and generate invoices using the provided bank details. When you're ready, you can convert your foreign currency revenue into your local currency at industry-best rates, saving you significant amounts compared to traditional banks.

Account name: Wise Business

Account type: Electronic Money Account (held by Barclays in the UK, Wells Fargo in the US, DBS in Singapore, etc.).

Total cost: $0 per month, $22 opening fee.

Noteworthy features: International money transfers, multiple account details, multi-currency balances.

Availability: Australia, UK, EU/EEA, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland.

More info: See our full Wise Business account review.

Payoneer — Best for E-Commerce Businesses

Payoneer, an American financial services company, offers customers a range of digital payment services, access to working capital, money transfers, and the ability to access local bank details. With account numbers supporting AUD, GBP, USD, EUR, and five other currencies, Payoneer enables you to receive payments as if you were a local in those respective currencies. Due to its seamless integration with leading marketplaces across different currencies, Payoneer is an excellent choice for small businesses, freelancers, and companies operating in the borderless e-commerce market.

Account name: Payoneer

Account type: Current (Bank details for GBP, USD, EUR, AUD, CAD, SGD, JPY, and HKD).

Total cost: $0 to sign up.

Noteworthy features: Connects to thousands of marketplaces.

Availability: Global.

More info: See our full Payoneer Review.

Commonwealth Bank — Best for EFTPOS Terminal Devices

Commonwealth Bank is one of the big four bank in Australia. It is regulated by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), ensuring compliance with strict banking regulations and providing added security for customers.

Account name: Business Transaction Account

Account type: Current (Bank details for AUD).

Total cost: $0 to $10 monthly fee

Availability: Australia.

National Australia Bank — Most Free Assisted Transfers With Paid Plan

National Australia Bank (NAB) is one of the big four banks in Australia with a rich history spanning over 180 years. NAB has established itself as a trusted and reputable bank, serving millions of customers nationwide. In addition to its strong presence in Australia, NAB also operates globally, providing access to international banking services and expertise.

Account name: Business Everyday Account

Account type: Current

Total cost: $0 to $10 monthly fee

Availability: Australia

Westpac Bank — Get One Year of MYOB Accounting Membership

Westpac Bank, established in 1817, holds the distinction of being the first and oldest bank in Australia. With its headquarters located in Sydney, Westpac has a rich history and extensive presence in the country's financial landscape. Serving over 14 million customers worldwide, it is a major player in the banking industry with a workforce of approximately 40,000 employees.

Account name: Business One

Account type: Current

Total cost: $0 to $10 monthly fee

Availability: Australia

The Best Online Small Business Accounts in Australia Compared

To wrap things up, let's take a look at how the product, service, and fees of a few of the free online business accounts we explored compare to one another in Australia:

Revolut Business

Wise Business

Payoneer

Account Name

Revolut Business Grow

Wise Business IMT

Payoneer Account

AU Bank Details Included

✔

Pay $22 one-time fee first

✔

Free Debit Card

✔

✔

✘

3D Secure

✔

✔

✔

Overdraft

✘

✘

✘

Free Multi-Director Access

✔

✔

✘

Accepts Cheque

✘

✘

✘

Invoicing Included

✔

✘

✔

Integrated Accounting

✔

✘

✔

Multi-Currency Accounts

2

9

8

Account Opening Fee

$25 per month

$22 one-time fee

$0, no monthly fee

AU Bank Transfer Fee

100 free

Free

2% + $1.50

Currency Transfer Fee

0.004

From 0.43%

0.005

Int'l Card Transaction Fee

✘

✘

0.01

Deposit Protection

✔

✔

✔

No. of Customers

16 million

10 million

5 million

Trustpilot

4.4/5 (92K Reviews)

4.6/5 (140K Reviews)

4.4/5 (2.8K Reviews)

Customer Service

Email

Email

Email, resource center

Go to Revolut BusinessGo to Wise BusinessGo to Payoneer

Best Business Bank Accounts for Australian Small Businesses in 2024

We've compiled a list of the best accounts for small businesses and divided them into the following categories, the best for managing teams, international payments, managing invoices, freelancers, and e-Commerce businesses, and the best overall business bank account.

Best for Team Management — Revolut Business

Revolut Business — Track team spending with cards, budget analytics and great FX | Read our full review or go to their website.

Best for International Payments in Australia — Wise Business

Wise Business — Make international payments at the real exchange rate | Read our full review or go to their website.

Best for E-commerce — Payoneer

Payoneer — Tap into global markets and withdraw in 8 different currencies | Read our full review or go to their website.

Best for EFTPOS Payment Terminals — Commonwealth Bank

Commonwealth Bank— An all-around current account with options for EFTPOS terminals for your business.

Most Free Assisted Transfers — National Australian Bank

National Australian Bank — Get 30 free assisted transfers if you sign up for the paid plan.

Access to 1-Year of MYOB — Westpac Bank

Westpac Bank — Integrate your business accounting with MYOB to your Westpac account for free for one year.

FAQ About the Best Small Business Bank Accounts in Australia

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Read More About the Top Online Business Bank Accounts and Fintechs in Australia

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