Business checking accounts with no monthly fees: what you give up
Many online business accounts charge no monthly fee. They earn on card interchange, interest and transaction fees instead. The fees that matter are the ones on the payments you make most.
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"Business checking account with no fees" and "with no monthly fees" are among the top completions for business checking searches. The monthly fee is the easy part to compare. Figures below were read on each provider's page on 4 November 2026.
Free plans and the fees behind them
| Monthly | Domestic wire | Cash | International | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercury | $0 | $0 | Not offered | $0 USD; 1% FX |
| Relay Starter | $0 | Not listed | See Relay | Through a partner |
| Bluevine Standard | $0 | Up to $15 | See schedule | Up to $25 + up to 1.5% |
| Found | $0 | $15 | $2 per deposit | Not listed |
| Chase Business Complete | $15 or waived | See schedule | Up to $5,000 per cycle included | See schedule |
Count your payments
For one month, write down:
- Outgoing wires.
- Cash deposits.
- Payments abroad and their total.
- Card spend in other currencies.
A company sending 10 wires a month pays $0 on Mercury and up to $150 on Bluevine. A company depositing cash weekly needs Found or a branch bank. A company paying $20,000 abroad pays the FX margin, which dwarfs any monthly fee.
The international line
On most free US accounts, international payments are where fees concentrate. A 1% to 1.5% margin on $20,000 is $200 to $300 a month.
Paying into the United States: the local rail
| What | Detail |
|---|---|
| Local rail | ACH for batch payments; RTP and FedNow for instant transfers |
| Run by | Nacha for ACH; The Clearing House for RTP; the Federal Reserve for FedNow |
| Settlement | Same-day ACH within the business day, standard ACH the next; RTP and FedNow in seconds, 24/7, where both banks take part |
Source: Nacha: Same Day ACH. Checked when this guide was last updated; the scheme's own page has the current figures.
Where Rivet fits
Rivet's Starter plan is free with USD details, unlimited digital cards and payouts at $2 each. Growth ($200 a month) adds EUR and GBP details, payouts to 120+ countries at $1 and FX from 0.50%, shown before you confirm. Rivet is not a bank; regulated partner institutions hold the funds. See Pricing.
Questions people ask
Which business checking accounts have no monthly fee?
Among the ones we checked in November 2026: Mercury's base plan, Relay Starter, Bluevine Standard and Found's free plan. Chase Business Complete can be waived.
How do free accounts make money?
From card interchange, interest on deposits, paid plans and transaction fees such as wires and instant transfers.
Are free accounts safe?
Most are fintech companies working with FDIC-insured partner banks. Check the partner bank and how deposit insurance applies.
What fees should I watch?
Wires, cash deposits, instant transfers, card spend in other currencies and international payments.
Sources
Alexia compares the accounts, cards and payment tools companies weigh before they switch, and writes Rivet's market guides for founders in a specific country. Prices in Alexia's comparisons come from each provider's own pricing page on the date given in the article, rules come from the regulator or tax authority that sets them, and every source is listed at the end.
More from Alexia M. →This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules and fees change; check the sources above and the provider’s current terms before you act on them.
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