Best Business Bank Accounts for Small Business (2026): Relay vs Found vs Novo vs Bluevine

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Updated October 31, 2026. Fees and APYs below were checked on Relay, Found, Novo and Bluevine‘s websites on this date.

Note: Relay, Found, Novo and Bluevine are financial technology companies, not banks. Banking services are provided by FDIC-member partner banks, listed below. APYs are variable and can change at any time. This page isn’t financial advice.

Once your LLC is formed, the next step is a separate business bank account. Online business accounts from fintech companies have become the default for many small businesses: free checking, no minimum balance and built-in tools that traditional banks charge for. Here are the four we’d shortlist, and who each one is best for.

Quick picks

• Relay: best for growing teams that need multiple accounts and bill pay. Free Starter plan with up to 20 checking accounts.
• Found: best for freelancers and the self-employed. Built-in tax estimates, invoicing and 1099 filing on the free plan.
• Novo: best simple no-fee checking. No monthly fee, no minimum balance and ATM fee refunds up to $7 a month.
• Bluevine: best for earning interest on checking. 1.3% APY on the free Standard plan, up to $250K.

Business bank accounts compared

	Relay	Found	Novo	Bluevine
Free plan	Starter: $0/mo	Found: $0/mo	$0/mo	Standard: $0/mo
Paid plans	Grow $30/mo; Scale $120/mo	Plus $35/mo; Pro $80/mo	None listed	Plus $30/mo; Premier $95/mo (both waivable)
Interest (APY)	Savings: 1.19% (Starter), 1.87% (Grow), 3.21% (Scale)	1.50% up to $20K (Plus); 2.50% (Pro)	None listed	1.3% up to $250K (Standard); up to 3.0% (Premier)
Outgoing domestic wire	$8 (Starter); $5 on paid plans	$15; $10 on Pro	Fee shown before sending	Fees may apply
Minimum balance	None	None	None	None on Standard
Partner bank	Thread Bank, Member FDIC	Lead Bank, Member FDIC	Middlesex Federal Savings, Member FDIC	Coastal Community Bank, Member FDIC
FDIC coverage	Up to $3M via sweep program	Up to $250K	Up to $5M via sweep network	Up to $3M via sweep network

Relay: best for growing teams

Relay is built for businesses that want to organize money across many accounts. The free Starter plan includes up to 20 checking accounts and 2 savings accounts, plus 1% cash back on card spend. Grow ($30/month) adds batch vendor payments, recurring invoices and a higher savings rate; Scale (listed at $120/month) adds up to 50 accounts, advanced bill pay controls and priority support.

• Best for: businesses with employees, multiple revenue streams, or a profit-first budgeting system.
• Watch out for: the best savings rates require a paid plan.

Found: best for freelancers and the self-employed

Found combines a business account with bookkeeping and tax tools. The free plan includes real-time tax estimates, expense categorization, receipt scanning, P&L reports, unlimited invoicing and contractor payments with 1099 e-filing. Found Plus ($35/month, or $315/year) adds imports from other accounts, quarterly federal tax payments in the app for Schedule C filers, and 1.50% APY on up to $20,000.

• Best for: sole proprietors and single-member LLCs who want banking and taxes in one app.
• Watch out for: FDIC coverage is the standard $250K, and wires cost $15 outside the Pro plan.

Novo: best simple no-fee checking

Novo keeps it simple: no monthly fee, no minimum balance and no Novo ATM fees, with third-party ATM fees refunded up to $7 a month. Standard ACH transfers are free, and eligible deposits can be insured up to $5 million through Middlesex Federal Savings and its sweep network.

• Best for: new businesses that want a free, no-frills account.
• Watch out for: no interest on balances is listed, so idle cash earns nothing.

Bluevine: best for earning interest

Bluevine pays interest on checking, even on its free plan: 1.3% APY on balances up to $250,000 with Standard. Plus ($30/month) raises that to 1.75%, and Premier ($95/month) to 3.0%. Both paid plans’ fees are waived if you meet balance and debit-card spending requirements ($20,000 balance and $2,000 spend for Plus; $100,000 and $5,000 for Premier).

• Best for: businesses that keep a healthy cash balance in checking.
• Watch out for: the higher-APY tiers cost money unless you meet the waiver requirements.

How to choose

• Need multiple accounts or a team? Start with Relay.
• Self-employed and want taxes handled? Found.
• Want the simplest free account? Novo.
• Keep a large balance? Bluevine.

Frequently asked questions

Is my money safe with an online business account?

These companies aren’t banks, but deposits are held at FDIC-member partner banks. FDIC insurance covers the failure of the partner bank, not the fintech company itself, so check each provider’s terms.

Do I need a business bank account for an LLC?

Keeping business and personal money separate is widely recommended for LLCs and makes bookkeeping and taxes simpler. You’ll usually need your EIN and formation documents to open one.

Compare head-to-head: Novo vs Bluevine and Relay vs Found. Still forming your business? See the best LLC formation services.