💻 Online Business Account: 2026 Comparison and guide to choosing the most profitable solution

Heropay explains how to decipher the 2026 offers to avoid pricing traps and find the best performing online business account:

• In 2026, online business accounts avoid hidden fees and reduce your banking costs.

• You open an account and get a Local IBAN in minutes, without waiting for a branch appointment.

• The best solutions offer integrated invoicing, auto-VAT, and accounting exports.

• Absolutely choose a Local IBAN / Account Number, otherwise your administrative direct debits risk being rejected.

• Your cash flow must generate interest: some pro accounts pay you (up to 5% for Heropay).

• Check if the bank offers financing (cash flow, suppliers, stock), a point often overlooked.

The 3 real advantages of an online account in 2026

Why do entrepreneurs massively choose these solutions?

It's not just a question of modernity, it's a question of profitability.

1. The end of hidden fees and turnover charges

This is argument number 1.

With an online business account, the pricing grid is crystal clear:

• Free tariff or fixed subscription.

• Zero surprise account maintenance fees.

• Zero turnover commission (the % taken on your debits).

For a small business, this is a direct saving of several hundred pounds/euros per year.

2. Immediate opening (Fast Incorporation)

Waiting 15 days for a branch appointment is over.

Digital players have streamlined the journey:

• Get an IBAN / Account Number in 10 minutes.

• Issuance of the deposit certificate within 24h (for company creators).

• Order cards in one click.

This is the standard for starting your activity without administrative delays.

3. Integrated management tools

Your account is no longer just for paying.

The best interfaces now include:

• Invoicing (quotes/invoices).

• Automatic VAT detection.

• Export to your accounting software.

The 4 vital criteria for selecting your financial partner

Attention, not all offers are equal.

Here are the technical features essential to avoid being blocked.

The Local IBAN: an absolute necessity

Beware of foreign IBANs (starting with "LT" or "DE").

Even if they are legal, they are often rejected by:

• The tax authorities (HMRC, etc.).

• Certain energy suppliers.

To sleep soundly, demand a Local IBAN.

It is the guarantee that your automatic direct debits will go through without a hitch.

Cards and transfers: watch out for "Free" limits

The word "free" sometimes hides severe restrictions.

Always check these 3 points:

1. The number of SEPA/Local transfers included (sometimes limited to 10/month).

2. The type of card (virtual or physical? Immediate debit?).

3. Payment limits (sufficient to buy your equipment?).

Cash remuneration: your money must work

This is the big novelty of 2026.

Letting money sleep in a 0% account is a management error.

The best solutions now propose to remunerate your deposits. For example, Heropay pays interest on your cash flow up to 5%.

Your money remains available, but it generates daily interest.

It is the simplest lever to boost your profitability.

Financing: does your partner lend you money?

The majority of online accounts offer no credit.

No overdraft, no loan.

At the slightest cash flow gap, you are blocked.

Choose a solution capable of offering short-term financing:

• Cash advance.

• Fractional payment of suppliers.

• Stock financing.

Comparison: What is the best business account offer?

There is no absolute "best account".

It all depends on your entrepreneur profile.

Summary Table: Price, Services and Profitability

Freelancers: why paying a subscription is obsolete?

Paying €10/month for a simple physical card? It's over. Let's compare the forces at play:

• Heropay: The Obvious Choice (Profitability & Free). It is the only offer that pays you instead of costing you. The account is free (Hero X), but above all, it remunerates your cash flow and offers financing. Why go elsewhere to pay fees when Heropay finances your activity?

• Qonto: The "Classic" Solution (but paying). It is an interesting offer for managing complex expense reports. But the subscription starts at €9 excl. tax/month, which is expensive for a freelancer. Moreover, financing is not integrated, it goes through third parties.

• Revolut Business: The "Traveler" Option (risky for daily use). Very useful only for foreign currencies. As a main account, it is risky: foreign IBAN (often refused), distant support. No direct financing is possible.

• N26 Business: The "Bare Minimum". The offer is free, but very limited. No advanced management tools, no financing, no remuneration. It is a backup solution, not a growth lever.

According to Heropay, a pro account should not be a cost center. It must participate actively in the growth of the company.

SMEs and Startups: when to switch to a paying offer?

The subscription becomes relevant if you have employees.

You will need team management features:

• Employee cards with custom limits.

• Management of expense reports (receipt scan + VAT).

• Read-only access for the accountant.

Here, the Hero Pro offer (€39/month) or higher Qonto plans bring real administrative value.

Heropay: much more than an account, a growth lever

Heropay is not a simple payment app.

It is a complete financial platform supervised by the regulator.

A free offer that remunerates your deposits (up to 5%)

Unlike others who charge account maintenance, Heropay pays you.

With the Hero X offer (free), your available funds are remunerated:

• 5% gross annual the first two months (up to €100,000).

• Then an attractive rate of 0.5% (or 1.85% with the Pro offer).

According to Heropay, letting your cash sleep in a current account is a mistake, which is why their model includes an automatic yield.

Integrated instant financing

The lack of cash kills small businesses.

Heropay integrates financing directly into the account:

1. Fractional payment: Pay your suppliers in 3 or 4 times.

2. Cash advance: Buy stock immediately.

3. Creation financing: €1 deposited = €1 financed extra.

FAQ: Your frequent questions about online business accounts

Is it mandatory to open a professional account?

• For companies (Ltd, LLP...): YES. Account in the name of the legal entity is mandatory.

• For Sole Traders: YES only if turnover exceeds a certain threshold (often €10k/£10k).

• Advice: Separate your personal finances from day 1.

Are funds deposited online safe?

Yes.

French/European establishments (Heropay, Qonto...) are supervised by the Financial Regulator (ACPR/FCA).

They must ring-fence funds with a top-tier bank.

Your money is protected.

Can I deposit cheques and cash?

This is the limit of digital.

• Cash: Almost impossible. If you handle a lot of cash, keep a traditional bank.

• Cheques: Possible by post with some, but often limited or fee-based.