Business Banking

Business Banking for small businesses from Starling Bank. With no monthly fees or UK payment charges.

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starling bank business banking through Bira

Changing banking for good

What is Starling Bank?

 starling bank business banking

Starling is a fully-licensed digital bank offering award-winning business current accounts with powerful money management tools and 24/7 support, all with no monthly fees. It was founded in 2014 by Anne Boden. With small businesses with big ambitions in mind, Starling’s business bank account is designed to make entrepreneurial life a little easier.

Get started

 

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How you'll benefit

Approved service provider Starling Bank has partnered with Bira to get better business banking into the hands of more business owners across the UK.

  • No monthly fees
  • Simple application all from your mobile
  • Integrations with Xero, Quickbooks and FreeAgent
  • 24/7 UK customer support, if you are working they are too!
  • Stay in the know with real-time payments alerts and categorised transactions for spending insights
  • Plus a suite of subscription products including Business Toolkit and Euro and USD accounts.

Keep your eyes peeled for future offers exclusive to Bira members.

The Starling Business Toolkit Offer

The Starling Business Toolkit supercharges the original free account with extra bells and whistles for bookkeeping and VAT

Just some of the features:

  • Send and manage invoices
  • Keep track of all your bills
  • Record and submit your VAT
  • Plus a whole lot more

Add the Business Toolkit for just £7 per month, and get the first month free as standard.

Starling Bank Buisness Toolkit

Who are Starling's business bank accounts for?

 To open any Starling account, you must be a UK resident – but with a business account, you must also be one of the following:

  • You're the owner of a limited company, and you're the only person with significant control (PSC)
  • You're the PSC of a limited company or LLP with multiple owners. With a multi-PSC account, you and your fellow PSCs will each get a Mastercard debit card and access to a beautifully simple mobile bank account. Please note that all PSCs registered at Companies House need to be UK resident individuals (i.e. no corporate shareholders). Starling Bank can only provide access to the account if you're a director registered at Companies House and a UK resident. Read more on multi-owner mobile business accounts for limited companies.
  • You're self-employed. A sole trader account is available.

Entities engaged in, or linked in any way to, certain activities may not be able to open or have a business bank account with Starling. Check our Business Current Account Terms for more information.

Starling-Bank-happy-shop-owner

Getting Started

What do I need to open a Business Current Account or Sole Trader Account?
  • A smartphone (and signal) - Starling does everything through their app!
  • Valid photo ID such as a passport or UK driving licence.
  • If you're opening a business account you'll need to be a limited liability partnership (LLP) or owner of a limited company.
  • About 10 minutes of your time (if you have documents which confirm the nature of your business at hand this will be easier - some examples are available here).
  • If you already have a personal account and want to open a business account or sole trader account, simply click on the button in the top right hand corner of the Starling app, select your personal account and then click “Open a new account”. You'll then be prompted to answer some questions about the business you're opening an account for. 
How do I sign up for the Starling Bank app?

Please download the app and follow the instructions there or provide your phone number and you will get a text with a link.

Am I eligible for a Business Current Account?
  • Limited Companies can open a business current account.
  • Limited Companies must be registered in the UK at Companies House. All Persons of Significant Control must be UK residents and people (not other companies, trusts etc.).
  • Entities engaged in or linked in any way to certain activities may not be able to open or have a Business Current Account - please check the terms for full details here.
Am I eligible for a Sole Trader Account?
  • Sole trader account applications are subject to understanding the nature of your business. Limited Companies are not eligible for this type of account.
  • You don’t need to have a Starling personal account to open a Sole Trader account!
  • Download the Starling Bank app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
  • Enter your phone number and the verification code they’ll send you. You’ll then be prompted to fill in some details such as name, address and what your business does.
  • Once they’ve verified your identity and confirmed your eligibility, your account will be up and running!

 

If you already hold a personal account with Starling then the process is even quicker! You can apply for a sole trader account by clicking on the button in the top right hand corner of the Starling app, selecting your personal account and then clicking ‘Open a new account’. After answering a few about your business your account will be open in minutes.

Starling Business Guides

Access the latest business guides and news from Starling Bank.

 Business Guides

Depositing Cash FAQ's

Click on the questions below for more information

Can I deposit cash into my Starling account and are there any charges?
You can deposit cash into your Starling account at any Post Office branch. Business and sole trader account holders will be charged 0.7% (minimum charge £3) for each deposit. If you’re a personal or joint customer please refer to this FAQ to find out limits and fees for cash deposit. To deposit cash, simply insert your debit card at the counter, confirm the amount and the cash will instantly appear in your account.
Is there a limit to how much cash I can deposit at the Post Office?

Transaction limits can vary between businesses. If you need to find out more about your specific annual limit, please contact Starling via in-app chat.

Please also note that the amount you can deposit can vary across Post Office branches, and some smaller branches may have a lower limit. If you’re depositing more than £2,000, it's best to check first with the branch.

 

Find your nearest Post Office branch here.

Can I deposit coins at the Post Office?

Yes you can deposit coins. Per transaction, you can deposit up to the limit on your account, with no more than £250 in coins. If you are depositing coins, any denominations below £1 coins must be in full bags please.

How do I check how much I have deposited?

If you want to check how much you’ve deposited through the Post Office so far, open your mobile app to the Home screen and Swipe up for transactions then search for “Post Office Banking Services”.

Does Starling offer a change giving service at the Post Office?

Starling does not offer change giving services at the Post Office.

Starling-Business-banking-switch-banking

Ready to switch to Starling?

With the Current Account Switch Service (CASS), you* can make Starling your main business bank account in just seven working days. It’s worth noting that the CASS service is currently only available to Starling business customers with companies that have at least one person of significant control.

Current Account Switch Service

 *To find out whether your bank is part of CASS, click here.

 

You can integrate your bank account with Xero, QuickBooks or FreeAgent in a matter of minutes. When your banking and accounting talk to one another in real time, it’s easier to see the full financial picture.

Here’s what to do:

  • From the ‘Account’ menu, go to the Starling Business Marketplace.
  • Tap ‘Accounting’ and then find Xero, QuickBooks or FreeAgent.
  • Tap ‘Add’, authorise access, set up the account on Xero, QuickBooks or FreeAgent – and that’s it!

Business Overdrafts and Loans

Starling offers business overdrafts for limited companies and limited liability partnerships. You can apply for a business overdraft from £1,000 up to £50,000.

All applications are subject to a full credit assessment by their expert Lending team.

Start your application

Key Overdraft features:

  • Limits from £1,000 to £50,000
  • Personal guarantee will be required as security
  • Pay interest only on the amount borrowed
  • 75% arrangement fee at acceptance & annually
  • Available to limited liability companies & limited liability partnerships
  • Subject to an annual review

Eligibility:

  • Your business must have been trading for at least 24 months
  • UK-based: The borrower must be based in the UK and carrying out trading activity in the UK
  • If you are not a Starling business customer then you will need to open an account and transfer your primary business banking
  • Viability test: Your business must be viable, which is reviewed as part of Starling's creditworthiness assessment
  • Credit and fraud checks for all applicants: Starling will undertake credit and fraud checks for all applicants. This will include a check on your business and its Directors/PSCs

What they’ll need to know:

  • Your personal and business details. The person completing the application must be a director or partner of the business applying for the facility and be currently authorised to act on its behalf. When Starling refers to “your business or your company” they are referring to a limited liability partnership or a private limited company as applicable
  • Your registered company number with Companies House
  • What do you need the money for, such as purchase of equipment, business expansion and working cash flow
  • The latest filed accounts for the business including your Profit and Loss statement and balance sheet
  • Where you hold a non-Starling Bank account, the last 6 months of statements

What you need to know:

  • All applications are subject to credit checks on both the company and directors
  • A full credit assessment is completed on all applications
  • Your company is responsible for repayment of the loan, including all interest and your arrangement fee

Business Loans

What are the key features of the Starling Business Loan?

  • Business Loans from £25,001 to £250,000
  • Personal Guarantee required as security
  • Fixed monthly payments
  • One-off loan arrangement fee of 4% payable at point of drawdown
  • Available to Limited Liability Companies & Limited Liability Partnerships
  • No fees for early repayments
  • Repayment terms between 12 months to 72 months
  • Non Starling customers can apply, but you will need to open an account.

Start your application

What they’ll need to know

  • Your personal and business details. The person completing the application must be a director or partner of the business applying for the facility and be currently authorised to act on its behalf. When Starling refer to “your business or your company” they are referring to a limited liability partnership or a private limited company as applicable
  • Your registered company number with Companies House
  • What do you need the money for, such as purchase of equipment, business expansion and working cash flow
  • The latest filed accounts for the business including your Profit and Loss statement and balance sheet
  • Where you hold a non-Starling Bank account, the last 6 months of statements

What you need to know

  • All applications are subject to credit checks on both the company and directors
  • A full credit assessment is completed on all applications
  • Your company is responsible for repayment of the loan, including all interest and your arrangement fee

Eligibility Criteria

  • UK-based: The borrower must be based in the UK and carrying out trading activity in the UK
  • If you are not a Starling business customer then you will need to open an account and transfer your primary business banking
  • Your business must have been trading for at least 24 months
  • Viability test: Your business must be viable, which is reviewed as part of Starling's creditworthiness assessment

Credit and fraud checks for all applicants: Starling will undertake credit and fraud checks for all applicants. This will include a check on your business and its Directors/PSCs

In a word, favourably! Click here to see how its business account measures up against the other banks and e-money issuers when it comes to things like customer support, fees, features, payments, borrowing and more.

 How does Starling Bank compare to HSBC?

Click here to see how Starling Bank compares to HSBC Kinetic and Business account.

 

Start saving on the Starling Business Toolkit today

Bira members can login to register their interest for the Starling Business Banking Toolkit offer below.

If you’re already a Bira member and want to take advantage of this service, simply login to view contact details for this service as well as exclusive member-only information.

If you’re not currently a Bira member, but you are interested in preferential member benefits, find out more by joining us .

Join 0800 028 0245

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Contact Details

jessica.blakey@starlingbank.com 

ap.enquiries@starlingbank.com