Starling Business Account Review 2026: Fees, Features & Alternatives
Quick Answer
Starling Business is one of the strongest £0/month business bank accounts for UK sole traders and small companies that mainly bank digitally and make regular UK transfers.
Its standard business account currently has:
£0 monthly account fee £0 fees on UK bank transfers in or out 24/7 customer support
free invoicing
accounting integrations
Spaces for tax and other business costs
cash deposits through the Post Office
fee-free card spending abroad from Starling
The main costs to watch are:
cash deposits: 0.7% or £3 minimumbusiness euro account: £2/monthGBP/EUR conversion between Starling accounts: 0.4%
Our view: Starling is particularly compelling for businesses that receive and make lots of UK bank transfers because the standard account does not charge per-transfer fees. It is less compelling for businesses regularly depositing large amounts of cash or those that need a traditional branch-based banking relationship.
Your business Is Starling worth comparing?
Sole trader
Strong fit
Freelancer/consultant
Strong fit
Small limited company
Strong fit
Business making lots of UK transfers
Particularly strong fit
Business using Xero/QuickBooks / FreeAgent
Strong fit
Business trading with euro customers/suppliers
Compare euro account
Cash-heavy business
Compare alternatives carefully
Business needing branches
Compare high-street banks
Business needing new overdraft facilities
Compare alternatives
Is Starling the Right Business Account for You?
Compare Starling with Monzo, Tide and high-street banks based on monthly fees, transfers, cash deposits, international banking and borrowing.
Compare Business Bank Accounts
Compare current UK business banking options • No obligation
How Do We Work?
Our comparisons are researched and reviewed by the Compare Your Business Costs editorial team using provider information, official UK guidance and business buying criteria. See how Compare Your Business Costs works .
Business banking prices, features and eligibility criteria can change. We check current provider information when updating our comparisons, but always confirm the latest tariff and terms before applying.
Authored by: Ally Cox – Business Technology & B2B Services Specialist, 10+ years’ experience.
Last Updated: September 2026
Key Takeaways
Starling’s standard business account currently has no monthly fee.
Starling does not charge for UK bank transfers in or out on its standard business account.
Starling currently offers 24/7 support.
Cash deposits at the Post Office cost 0.7% or £3 minimum.
Business cash deposits can currently be made up to £5,000 per day, subject to account limits.
Starling provides free invoicing.
It integrates with Xero, QuickBooks and FreeAgent.
Starling Accounting is built into eligible business accounts.
Starling does not charge its own fee for business debit-card spending abroad.
A business euro account currently costs £2/month.
Currency conversion between relevant Starling GBP and euro accounts currently costs 0.4%.
Starling is not currently accepting new applications for business overdrafts or direct Starling business loans.
Eligible business customers may be offered finance through Starling’s partnership with iwoca.
How Much Does Starling Business Cost?
Feature / transaction Current cost
Standard business account
£0/month
UK bank transfers
£0
UK ATM withdrawals
£0 from Starling
Cash deposits
0.7% or £3 minimum
Business euro account
£2/month
GBP/EUR conversion between Starling accounts
0.40%
Business debit-card spending abroad
No Starling fee
Accounting integrations
No Starling integration fee
Invoicing
Included
Other third-party, ATM, software or correspondent-bank charges can still apply.
Our View: Starling’s Biggest Advantage Is Free UK Transfers A lot of business banking comparisons focus on £0 monthly fee.
But that alone does not make an account cheap.
Starling’s more important pricing advantage for many SMEs is £0 UK transfer fees.
That matters for businesses making lots of:
supplier payments
contractor payments
bank transfers
customer refunds
internal business payments
Example: 200 UK Transfers Per Month With Starling’s standard business account Starling transfer charges = £0.
Compare that with an account charging 20p per transfer.
200 × £0.20 = £40/month or: £480/year.
Our View
This is why Starling should be compared particularly carefully against “free” business accounts that charge based on transfer volume.
Make Lots of Business Bank Transfers?
Compare the real cost of transfer-heavy banking. A £0 monthly account can still be expensive if each payment is charged separately.
Starling for Sole Traders Starling offers a dedicated sole-trader business account and eligible applicants must generally:
be aged 18 or over
be resident in the UK
operate as a sole trader
meet Starling’s identity, business and eligibility checks
Starling may ask for:
business information
evidence of trading activity
identity documents
proof of address
UTR details where applicable
Our View
Starling is particularly well suited to sole traders who want:
no monthly account fee
free UK transfers
tax pots/Spaces
invoicing
accounting integration
Starling for Limited Companies Starling’s business current account is available to eligible:
limited companies
limited liability partnerships
Community Interest Companies
Businesses must meet Starling’s eligibility criteria.
For limited companies and LLPs, relevant people with control generally need to:
be UK residents
be individuals rather than corporate shareholders
pass Starling’s AML, KYC, fraud and account checks
Our View
The eligibility requirements are stricter than simply “being a UK limited company”.
Businesses with:
complex ownership
corporate shareholders
unsupported sectors
should check eligibility before relying on Starling as their preferred option.
Starling Cash Deposits Starling business customers can currently deposit cash through the Post Office.
Current fee 0.7% of the deposit or £3 minimum, whichever is higher.
Current Limits:
Starling currently states a daily cash-deposit limit of £5,000 for business and sole-trader customers, subject to account-specific annual limits and business customers currently have an annual cash-deposit limit of up to £100,000.
Sole-trader limits can differ.
Cash Deposit Cost Example If a business deposits £10,000 per month at 0.7%, the cost is £70/month.
Annual cost £840.
Our View
For a cash-heavy retailer, restaurant or hospitality business, the cash deposit fee can matter far more than Starling’s £0 monthly fee.
Does Your Business Handle a Lot of Cash?
Compare cash-deposit costs as well as monthly fees. Starling can be excellent for transfers while another bank may suit high cash volumes better.
Compare Business Bank Accounts
Starling Cheque Deposits Starling also supports cheque deposits.
Cheques of £1,000 or less can currently be deposited through the Starling app.
Larger cheques can be sent using Starling’s freepost service.
Our View
This is useful for businesses that still occasionally receive cheques without making cheque handling central to the banking proposition.
Starling Invoicing Starling currently includes free invoicing tools for business customers.
Businesses can use the account to help:
create invoices
send invoices
track payments
keep banking and finance admin together
Our View
Free invoicing strengthens Starling’s £0 proposition.
The comparison is not simply £0 bank account vs £0 bank account.
It is which separate paid tools can the account potentially replace?
Starling Accounting Starling has moved beyond its older Business Toolkit proposition and now offers Starling Accounting directly within eligible business accounts.
The aim is to bring:
banking
bookkeeping
invoicing
tax administration
into the same Starling environment.
Our View
This makes Starling more directly competitive with newer app-first business accounts that position accounting administration as part of the banking product.
Starling Accounting Integrations Businesses that prefer external accounting software can currently integrate Starling with:
Xero
QuickBooks
FreeAgent
Transaction data can be shared automatically with supported accounting software.
Our View
For many SMEs, accounting integration should be considered a core banking feature rather than an optional extra.
Starling Spaces Spaces allow businesses to separate money inside their account for different purposes.
For example:
VAT
Corporation Tax
Income Tax
payroll
supplier bills
future expenses
Our View
Spaces are particularly useful for businesses where money in the account is not all available to spend.
Separating tax and major bills can make cash flow easier to understand.
Starling Expense Cards Starling currently allows eligible businesses to order up to five free expense cards.
These can be given to employees or trusted people to spend on the business’s behalf.
Our View
This is a useful differentiator for small teams because some competing business accounts charge monthly fees per expense-card user.
Starling Team & Director Access Starling supports:
multiple director access
team access
controlled account visibility
Additional directors can be added without a standard monthly access fee, subject to eligibility and proof of their role.
Our View
This helps Starling remain relevant beyond one-person businesses.
Using a Starling Business Card Abroad Starling currently does not charge its own additional fee for business debit-card spending abroad.
Foreign card purchases are converted using the Mastercard exchange rate.
Starling also currently does not charge its own ATM withdrawal fee abroad.
However:
ATM operators can charge their own fee
merchants may offer poor dynamic currency conversion
Our View
This is a significant advantage for businesses whose employees travel internationally.
Always choose to pay in the local currency where appropriate rather than accepting a merchant’s GBP conversion.
Starling Business Euro Account Businesses dealing regularly with Europe can add a Starling euro business account.
Current fee £2/month.
The account can:
hold euros
send euros
receive euros
make SEPA payments
Starling currently does not charge a transfer fee for sending or receiving euros through the euro account, although receiving/intermediary banks can sometimes levy their own charges.
Converting Between GBP & EUR Moving money between relevant Starling accounts in different currencies currently costs 0.4%.
Example: Converting £10,000
£10,000 × 0.4% = £40.
Our View
A £2 monthly euro account is cheap to hold.
But businesses converting significant amounts regularly should focus on the 0.4% conversion cost rather than the £2 subscription.
Starling Business Loans & Overdrafts This area needs careful consideration.
Starling’s published help information currently says it is not accepting new applications for Starling business overdrafts or direct business loans.
Starling has partnered with iwoca
The loan is provided by iwoca rather than Starling.
Our View
If access to a new bank overdraft is a major requirement, Starling currently deserves comparison against high-street banks before you open the account.
Relevant alternatives include:
Is Starling Business FSCS Protected? Yes. Starling is a UK-regulated bank.
Eligible deposits are currently protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme up to £120,000 per eligible depositor.
The limit increased to £120,000 on 1 December 2025.
For Limited Companies An eligible limited company is a separate legal entity and can generally have its own protection entitlement.
For Sole Traders A sole trader is not legally separate from the individual.
Eligible personal and sole-trader balances held with Starling can therefore count towards the same overall FSCS limit.
Starling Business Support Starling currently advertises:
24/7 customer support.
Our View
This is particularly useful for:
hospitality
ecommerce
businesses operating weekends
businesses with irregular trading hours
Support availability can matter as much as monthly fees if the bank account is operationally critical.
Starling Pros & Cons
Pros Cons
£0 monthly account fee
Cash deposits cost 0.7% or £3 minimum
£0 UK transfer fees
No branch network
Free invoicing
Not currently accepting new direct Starling business overdraft applications
Accounting integrations
Some business structures are not eligible
Built-in accounting tools
Euro conversion costs 0.4%
24/7 support
Cash limits may not suit very cash-heavy businesses
No Starling fee for overseas card spending
Complex international businesses may prefer specialist providers
Up to five free expense cards
No traditional relationship-manager branch model
FSCS protection for eligible deposits
Business eligibility restrictions apply
Starling Looks Strong – But Does It Fit How You Bank?
Compare Starling against Monzo, Tide and high-street banks based on transfer volume, cash handling, international payments and borrowing.
Compare Business Bank Accounts
Starling vs Monzo Business Both offer:
£0 entry business banking
mobile-first account management
accounting features
business admin tools
Starling
Its clearest pricing strengths are:
free UK transfers
free standard business account
free invoicing
free expense cards
Monzo
Monzo has a more explicit paid-plan ladder:
with more advanced tax, invoicing and team features concentrated in paid tiers.
Our View
Starling is particularly attractive if you want to keep recurring banking costs at £0 while still making lots of UK transfers.
Monzo becomes more compelling when its paid workflow and team features are valuable to you.
See our Monzo Business review .
Starling vs Tide Both offer a £0 entry proposition.
But there is an important difference.
Starling
UK transfers currently cost £0.
Tide Free
Includes a limited number of transfers before per-transfer charges apply.
Our View
Transfer-heavy businesses should calculate this difference carefully.
Tide can still win where its:
plan ladder
expense management
business admin functionality
better fits the company.
See our Tide Business Banking review .
Starling vs HSBC Both currently offer business banking without a standard monthly account fee on relevant entry accounts.
The main comparison is therefore not free vs paid.
Compare:
cash handling
international banking
borrowing
branches
app experience
business admin tools
Our View
Starling is stronger for businesses prioritising:
digital banking
free transfers
built-in business tools
HSBC deserves comparison where broader traditional commercial banking matters.
See our HSBC Business Banking review .
Starling vs Lloyds Starling has £0 monthly fee as its standard proposition.
Lloyds currently provides eligible startups an introductory fee-free period before a monthly charge applies.
Our View
Starling is likely to appeal more where:
low recurring banking cost
free transfers
digital admin
matter.
Lloyds should be compared where:
borrowing
branches
broader commercial banking
are more important.
See our Lloyds Business Banking review .
Who Is Starling Business Account Best For?
Excellent Fit
sole traders
freelancers
consultants
contractors
small limited companies
businesses making lots of UK transfers
businesses using cloud accounting
businesses wanting £0 monthly banking
Strong Fit
small teams
businesses with European suppliers
business travellers
businesses wanting integrated invoicing
Who Should Compare Alternatives? Starling will be less suitable if:
you deposit large amounts of cash frequently
you need branches
you need a new traditional business overdraft
your business has complex ownership
you operate in an unsupported industry
you need advanced treasury services
you move large volumes of foreign currency and can access cheaper specialist FX
Example: £0 Monthly Fee Does Not Mean £0 Total Cost Consider a retailer depositing £8,000 cash per month.
At 0.7% £56/month.
Annual cash-deposit cost £672.
The account itself still costs £0/month.
Our View
Starling can be extremely cheap for bank-transfer-heavy businesses and materially more expensive for cash-heavy businesses.
That is why account usage matters more than the headline monthly fee.
Common Starling Business Buying Mistakes
choosing it purely because it is £0/month
ignoring cash-deposit fees
assuming free overseas card use means all international banking is free
ignoring the 0.4% currency-conversion fee on the euro account
assuming new Starling overdrafts are currently available
not checking business eligibility
not comparing alternative banks if branch services are important
focusing on monthly fees instead of transaction behaviour
What to Check Before Choosing Starling
How many UK transfers do you make?
How much cash do you deposit?
Do you receive cheques?
Do you need expense cards?
Do multiple directors need access?
Do you use Xero, QuickBooks or FreeAgent?
Would free invoicing save you money?
Do you regularly spend abroad?
Do you need a euro account?
How much currency will you convert?
Do you need a new overdraft?
Do you need branch banking?
Does your company structure meet Starling’s eligibility requirements?
Our Verdict: Is Starling Business Worth It? Yes. Starling is one of the strongest £0/month business banking options for UK sole traders and SMEs that primarily bank digitally.
Its biggest strengths are:
£0 monthly account fee
£0 UK transfer fees
24/7 support
free invoicing
accounting integrations
built-in accounting functionality
free overseas card spending from Starling
up to five free expense cards
FSCS protection for eligible deposits
Its main weaknesses are:
0.7% cash-deposit charge
no branch network
new direct Starling overdraft applications are not currently available
business eligibility restrictions
currency conversion still carries a cost
Our view by business type:
Sole trader: excellent shortlistFreelancer / consultant: excellent shortlistTransfer-heavy small business: particularly strongSmall Ltd company: strong shortlistSmall team: strong shortlistCash-heavy retailer: compare alternatives carefullyEuropean trading business: compare euro account and FXBusiness needing an overdraft now: compare alternative banks
The real Starling advantage is not simply that the account costs £0/month. It is that businesses can also make normal UK bank transfers without per-payment charges, while still getting invoicing, accounting integrations and other business tools.
Compare Starling With Other UK Business Accounts
Compare business banking based on:
monthly fees
bank transfers
cash deposits
international payments
accounting tools
expense cards
borrowing
Compare Business Bank Accounts
Compare current UK options • No obligation
Frequently Asked Questions How much does a Starling Business account cost?
Starling’s standard business and sole-trader accounts currently have no monthly account fee.
Does Starling charge for business bank transfers?
Starling currently charges £0 for normal UK payments to and from UK bank accounts on its standard business account.
Is Starling Business really free?
There is no standard monthly account fee and UK bank transfers are free, but charges apply to some services such as cash deposits and currency conversion.
How much does Starling charge for cash deposits?
Starling currently charges 0.7% of the deposited amount or £3 minimum, whichever is higher, for Post Office cash deposits.
Can I deposit cash into Starling Business?
Yes. Business and sole-trader customers can currently deposit cash through participating Post Office branches, subject to limits.
Can I deposit cheques with Starling?
Yes. Cheques of £1,000 or less can currently be deposited through the app, while larger cheques can be sent by freepost.
Does Starling Business integrate with Xero?
Yes. Starling currently integrates with Xero, QuickBooks and FreeAgent.
Does Starling Business have invoicing?
Yes. Starling currently includes invoicing functionality with its business account.
Does Starling offer business expense cards?
Starling currently allows eligible business customers to order up to five free expense cards.
Does Starling charge for using a business card abroad?
Starling does not currently add its own fee for business debit-card spending abroad. Transactions are converted using the Mastercard exchange rate. ATM operators can still charge their own fees.
How much does the Starling euro business account cost?
The Starling business euro account currently costs £2/month.
How much does Starling charge to convert pounds to euros?
Currency conversion between relevant Starling GBP and euro accounts currently costs 0.4%.
Does Starling offer business overdrafts?
Starling currently says it is not accepting new applications for its own business overdrafts or direct business loans. Existing arrangements may differ.
Does Starling offer business loans?
Starling has partnered with iwoca to offer loans to some eligible business customers. The finance is provided by iwoca rather than Starling.
Is Starling Business FSCS protected?
Yes. Eligible deposits are currently protected under the FSCS up to £120,000 per eligible depositor, subject to scheme rules.
Can sole traders use Starling Business?
Yes. Eligible UK sole traders can apply for a dedicated Starling sole-trader account.
Can limited companies use Starling Business?
Yes. Eligible UK limited companies, LLPs and certain CICs can apply, subject to Starling’s ownership, residency and business criteria.
Is Starling better than Tide for business?
Starling can be more attractive for businesses making lots of UK transfers because those transfers currently have no Starling fee. Tide may be more suitable where its paid-plan and expense-management features are valuable.
Is Starling better than Monzo Business?
Both offer £0 entry accounts. Starling’s strengths include free UK transfers, invoicing and free expense cards, while Monzo’s Pro and Team plans provide a different mix of paid tax, accounting and team functionality.
What are the main Starling Business alternatives?
Alternatives include Monzo Business, Tide, HSBC, Lloyds, Barclays, RBS, Santander and other UK business banking providers.
Related Business Banking Guides
Hi, I’m Ally Cox , a senior copywriter and blogger at CompareYourBusinessCosts.co.uk, the UK’s trusted platform for comparing business services.over a decade of experience in the B2B sector, I specialise in simplifying complex topics like leased lines, VoIP, business energy, HR and payroll solutions, accounting software, and EPOS systems .HR, copywriting, and business operations- from clocking-in systems to card machines and office technology .informed, confident decisions when choosing products and services that improve efficiency and save money.
