Choosing the right current account for your business is one of the most important decisions you will make. It will determine how much money your business can access, how quickly you can make payments, and how quickly you can receive payments. It will also affect the fees you pay and the range of services available to you. Selecting the right business current account can be a daunting task, but with this comprehensive guide, you can make an informed decision that best suits the needs of your business. We’ll look at the different types of accounts available, the features to consider, and the cost of different accounts so that you can make the best decision for your business.
Overview of current accounts
A current account is a type of bank account that allows you to store money and access it on a daily basis. It’s designed for businesses to store money from ongoing sources, such as customer invoices, and pay for regular business expenses. The current account is designed to be flexible, allowing you to make almost limitless withdrawals and deposits. Current accounts are often known as ‘business bank accounts’ and are a type of banking product designed specifically for businesses. Even though they’re designed for businesses, many individuals can also open a current account. A current account is a type of banking account that grants a business access to funds through a single account, payment card, and a customer reference number.
Types of current accounts
There are a number of different current account providers and types of current accounts available. This means that you are likely to find several accounts that meet the needs of your business and fit within your budget. While you might be tempted to select the account with the highest interest rate and lowest fees, you need to find the right balance between cost and features. There are four main types of current account: -
Basic Current Account – a core bank account with low or no fees and a low interest rate, designed for businesses with low to moderate transactions.
Business Current Account – a core bank account with low or no fees and a moderate interest rate, designed for businesses with moderate to high transactions.
Business Interest Current Account – a core bank account with moderate fees and a moderate interest rate, designed for businesses with moderate to high transaction volumes and a regular flow of deposits.
Business Premier Current Account – a premier bank account with high fees and a high interest rate, designed for businesses with high transaction volumes and regular flow of deposits.
Features to consider when selecting a current account
When selecting the best current account, you need to consider the following features to ensure that the account meets the needs of your business and minimizes the impact on your cash flow. Current accounts are designed to be flexible, with providers offering a wide range of services and features. These include: – - – - – -
Fees and charges – You need to understand how much each account will cost you in terms of fees and charges. These will vary from account to account, depending on the services and features that the account provides. This is especially important if you are just starting out and don’t have a consistent flow of business. In this case, you will want to select an account with the lowest fees and charges. However, as your business grows and your transaction volume increases, you will be able to upgrade to a more premium account with a higher interest rate.
Services – While the features discussed above are important, you should also be aware of the services offered by each account. Depending on the type of account you choose, you may be able to receive free business banking advice, free business cheques, free business cards, and free cash machine withdrawals.
Comparing current accounts
Choosing the right current account for your business is a challenging task. There are a number of factors to consider and you may not be sure which account best suits your needs. Even if you have found an account that seems to be a good fit, you may be unsure which account is best for your specific needs and circumstances.
Before you make the final decision, you need to compare the different accounts available to make sure that you are getting the best value for your money. To compare the different accounts, you will need to create a table that includes the following information for each account. Current accounts vary widely in terms of the fees and charges and the features they offer. Most providers will let you apply online, and you should receive an answer within a few days.
Evaluating the cost of current accounts
When you have selected the best current account for your business, you will need to consider how this will impact your cash flow. However, it is important to note that the fees you pay on a current account are not all cash flow. A large portion of the fees you pay on a current account will go towards interest. Therefore, you need to be aware that the fees you pay on a current account do not represent the total cost of the account. The cost of each account is determined by the following:-
With the above information in mind, you can now evaluate the cost of each account and make an informed decision based on your budget.
Choosing the right current account for your business
Once you have selected the best current account for your business, you need to make sure that you are managing the account correctly. This will help you to avoid incurring additional fees and allow you to take full advantage of the account. To do this, you need to –
Understand the terms and conditions – The first thing that you need to do is read and understand the terms and conditions of the account. Most providers will provide you with an account summary, which outlines the key information about the account.
Set up an appropriate management system – Next, you need to set up an appropriate management system. This will help you to keep track of the account and manage your cash flow. You can use a spreadsheet or financial management software to keep track of your account. Alternatively, you can use an online account management tool to manage your account.
Make regular deposits – You need to make regular deposits into your account, particularly if you are using it to store customer payments. If you only deposit money into the account when you receive it, it can quickly become depleted. Therefore, you need to make regular deposits to keep the account topped up.
Tips for managing your current account
Once you have selected the best current account for your business and are managing it correctly, you can manage the fees you pay and make the most of the account. To do this, you need to: – - – - – -
Avoid incurring fees – The best way to reduce the cost of your current account is to avoid incurring fees. This means that you need to be careful not to exceed the terms of your account. This includes keeping a close eye on your balance and making sure that you make regular deposits to keep the account topped up.
Seek alternatives – While you should make every effort to avoid incurring fees on your account, there may come a time when you are unable to do so. This may be because you have exceeded the terms of your account or because you have not deposited enough money to keep the account topped up. If this happens, you should consider seeking an alternative account. There are a number of providers that offer ‘friendly’ overdrafts. These providers will only charge you a small amount for going into overdraft, or may not charge you at all.
Conclusion
Choosing the right current account for your business is an important decision that will have a significant impact on your cash flow. There are a number of factors to consider when selecting an account and you need to make sure that you select an account that best suits your needs. You can manage the cost of your account by avoiding incurring fees, seeking alternatives if you go into overdraft, and making regular deposits into your account.