Top Bank Accounts for Startups & Freelancers – France

Top Bank Accounts for Startups & Freelancers

France
France – April 2024
  • Benefit from no paperwork, fast approval and accounting integration
  • Save money with low or no fees on transactions, transfers & payments
  • Perfect for small businesses & freelancers
Last Updated April 2024
  • No paperwork, fast approval
  • Save time & money
  • Accounting integrations

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Business Banks Pricing Card Regulation Main Advantages Score Open an Account
Plans 9+€/mo More Info Mastercard Business ACPR
  • 30-days free trial. commitment free
  • Local French IBAN + Mastercard Business
  • 24/7 support in French via phone, email & chat
  • No hidden fees, no charges on money transfers
9.8

Payments

Account types
  • IBAN, EUR
SEPA transfers
  • 30 SEPA-transfers & direct debits included
Bookeeping pack
  • Digital receipts
  • VAT auto-detection

Accounting Tools

  • green-check-mark Digital receipts
  • green-check-mark VAT auto-detection
  • green-check-mark Accounting integration

Security Features

  • Regulated by “Bank of France”
  • FGDR protection up to 100,000 €

Account Access

Based on 4,257 reviews
Plans €14.50+/mo More Info Anytime Corporate Mastercard ACPR, FCA
  • Fee free intl. transactions & withdrawals
  • Money transfers in +30 currencies outside SEPA
  • Sync your Qonto account with your accounting software
9.5

Payments

Account Types
  • FR & BL IBAN, UK EUR IBAN
Payment terminal
  • Accept payments from CB, Visa, Mastercard, Amex
International Transfers
  • Free

Accounting Tools

  • green-check-mark Expense Management
  • green-check-mark Bookkeeping
  • green-check-mark Accounting integrations

Security Features

  • Autorized by the National Bank of Belgium
  • Registered by the ACPR

Account Access

Based on 1,573 reviews
Plans 5.99+€/mo More Info bunq Corporate Mastercard DNB
  • 24/7 online support via app and email
  • 0.27% interest rate on savings
9.1

Payments

Account Types
  • ES, FR & DE IBAN, EUR
Free ATM withdrawals
  • 4 per month
in Easy money and Easy green accounts only
International transfers
  • Via Wise (transferwise)

Accounting Tools

  • green-check-mark Bookkeeping integration
  • green-check-mark Multiple tradenames
  • green-check-mark Automatic VAT
  • green-check-mark Invoicing

Security Features

  • Deposit Protection up to €100,000 by DNB
  • Purchase protection & extended warranty

Account Access

Based on 11,700 ratings
Free Plan.
Upgrade: € 14.99/mo More Info
Finom virtual debit card BaFin
  • 3 in 1 – Bank account, Invoicing and Accounting integration
  • Contact customer support in less than 5 minutes
8.8

Payments

Account types
  • Euro
Domestic Transfers
  • SEPA transfers

Accounting Tools

  • green-check-mark Invoicing
  • green-check-mark Bookkeeping
  • green-check-mark Savings tools
  • green-check-mark Expense Management
  • green-check-mark Accounting integration

Security Features

  • Licenced under REGAFI in France as an agent of Treezor SAS
  • protected by applicable deposit guarantees up to € 100,000

Account Access

Based on 230 reviews
7.90+€ per month More Info Shine MasterCard Business ACPR
  • Account openning in minutes with no appointment
  • Unlimited & accessible account history
8.5

Payments

Account type
  • EUR, IBAN
Card type
  • 1 prepaid basic mastercard
Transfers & direct debits
  • 20+ free per month
depending on the plan type

Accounting Tools

  • green-check-mark Receipt management
  • green-check-mark Quotes & invoices creation
  • green-check-mark accounting integration

Security Features

  • Approved by the ACPR

Account Access

Based on 1,105 reviews
Free plan More Info Soldo Corporate Mastercard FCA
  • Choose a virtual or plastic Mastercard® debit
  • Capture receipts on-the-spot via mobile app
8.2

Payments

Card type
  • Mastercard® debit
Withdrawals
  • Free from your domestic account
Money transfers
  • Free to other Soldo users

Accounting Tools

  • green-check-mark Expense Management
  • green-check-mark Accounting integration
  • green-check-mark Bookkeeping
  • green-check-mark Invoicing

Security Features

  • Fully regulated by the FCA
  • Authorised by the Central Bank of Ireland

Account Access

Based on 1,081 reviews
1
  • 30-days free trial. commitment free
  • Local French IBAN + Mastercard Business
More Info +
2
  • Fee free intl. transactions & withdrawals
  • Money transfers in +30 currencies outside SEPA
More Info +
3
  • 24/7 online support via app and email
  • Withdraw & deposit at +10K stores across Europe
More Info +
4
  • 3 in 1 – Bank account, Invoicing & Accounting
  • Integrations with Lexoffice | DATEV Online | sevDesk
More Info +
5
  • Account openning in minutes with no appointment
  • Unlimited & accessible account history
More Info +
6
  • Choose a virtual or plastic Mastercard® debit
  • Capture receipts on-the-spot via mobile app
More Info +

Why is it Important to Open a Business Bank Account?

A personal bank account is not intended to confer the same benefits as a business bank account. As a freelancer, sole trader, partnership, or corporation, it’s important to establish a separate identity for your business. Personal accounts are not geared towards business activity. For privacy reasons, your personal account should not be mixed with your business activity.

Debtors, creditors and their banking institutions are much more comfortable dealing with business to business accounts for transactions processing purposes, taxes and invoices. A business bank account establishes credibility, professionalism, and trust. When payroll is needed, a business bank account is a must-have. Separation of personal and business finances is always recommended, especially when business debit cards and/or credit cards are issued to company personnel.

Tax reporting is significantly easier to manage with a business bank account. When a personal account is used for business activity, co-mingling of income and expenses takes place. This complicates matters. Besides, business bank accounts make it much easier for you to effectively control incomes and expenses with your business.

Why is it Important to Open a Business Bank Account?

A personal bank account is not intended to confer the same benefits as a business bank account. As a freelancer, sole trader, partnership, or corporation, it’s important to establish a separate identity for your business. Personal accounts are not geared towards business activity. For privacy reasons, your personal account should not be mixed with your business activity.

Debtors, creditors and their banking institutions are much more comfortable dealing with business to business accounts for transactions processing purposes, taxes and invoices. A business bank account establishes credibility, professionalism, and trust. When payroll is needed, a business bank account is a must-have. Separation of personal and business finances is always recommended, especially when business debit cards and/or credit cards are issued to company personnel.

Tax reporting is significantly easier to manage with a business bank account. When a personal account is used for business activity, co-mingling of income and expenses takes place. This complicates matters. Besides, business bank accounts make it much easier for you to effectively control incomes and expenses with your business.

How Do I Compare & Choose the Best Bank account for My Business?

Features Icon
Banking Features
At the core, check for payment options, local and international money transfer services, corporate cards, account types and currencies available as well as invoicing and bookkeeping tools.
Fees Icon
Fees
Look for accounts offering simple & clear-cut plans, minimal or no fees on transfers & payments and free withdrawal options. Note that fees may vary depending on the plan you choose (free plans will often incur higher fees than premium plans).
Corporate card
All business accounts include corporate cards for you & your employees – either through MasterCard or Visa. Check how many cards are included for free in your chosen plan & how much each additional card will cost if required.
Security Icon
Security
The banks we compare & review on Top10BusinessBanks.com are regulated by local authorities. Check for regulations such as FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) or the FCS (Financial Compensation Scheme) in the UK & FIN-FSA, BaFin, DNB, ECB & ACPR in Europe.
Accounting Icon
Accounting tools
Look for built in expense reporting, scheduled/recurring payments & direct debits. Most banks also offer seamless integration with bookkeeping & accounting tools. For example, Qonto integrates with Sage and QuickBooks.
Access Icon
Account Access
Today, some banks offer account access 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. While the majority of providers offer access via both mobile and desktop/web apps, some business banks only offer one or the other so check you have the access you need when selecting your preferred bank.

How Do I Compare & Choose the Best Bank account for My Business?

Features Icon
Banking Features
Accordeon button
At the core, check for payment options, local and international money transfer services, corporate cards, account types and currencies available as well as invoicing and bookkeeping tools.
Fees Icon
Fees
Accordeon button
Look for accounts offering simple & clear-cut plans, minimal or no fees on transfers & payments and free withdrawal options. Note that fees may vary depending on the plan you choose (free plans will often incur higher fees than premium plans).
Corporate card
Accordeon button
All business accounts include corporate cards for you & your employees – either through MasterCard or Visa. Check how many cards are included for free in your chosen plan & how much each additional card will cost if required.
Security Icon
Security
Accordeon button
The banks we compare & review on Top10BusinessBanks.com are regulated by local authorities. Check for regulations such as FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) or the FCS (Financial Compensation Scheme) in the UK & FIN-FSA, BaFin, DNB, ECB & ACPR in Europe.
Accounting Icon
Accounting tools
Accordeon button
Look for built in expense reporting, scheduled/recurring payments & direct debits. Most banks also offer seamless integration with bookkeeping & accounting tools. For example, Qonto integrates with Sage and QuickBooks.
Access Icon
Account Access
Accordeon button
Today, some banks offer account access 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. While the majority of providers offer access via both mobile and desktop/web apps, some business banks only offer one or the other so check you have the access you need when selecting your preferred bank.