Relay is recommended for budget business banking for US solo LLCs, with a wide lead. Novo is also recommended for simple, digital-first single-member LLCs.
I just started a single-member LLC in the US and need a business bank account. Which online options are the cheapest and have the simplest sign-up process?
American Express Business Checking : Best for earning rewards on business spending. It carries a $0 monthly fee , no overdraft fees, and awards Membership Rewards points on eligible debit card purchases. The application process is very fast if you already hold personal or other accounts with Amex, though keep in mind it does not natively support physical cash deposits. See the overview on the American Express Business Checking review.
For a newly formed U.S. single-member LLC, the best online options in 2026 are overwhelmingly the fintech-style business accounts rather than traditional banks. The four I’d put at the top are Mercury, Relay, Novo, and Bluevine, with Found and Amex Business Checking also worth considering.
Why I like it for a brand-new LLC: Mercury is explicitly designed around startups and online businesses. Its basic checking/savings accounts have no monthly fee, no minimum balance, and no account-opening fee. ACH and domestic USD wires are also free under the standard offering.
For an LLC, Mercury says the application requires formation documents, the IRS EIN document, government ID, ownership information, and information about the company's operations. It accepts a residential principal-business address, but not a registered-agent address, P.O. box, or UPS Store address.
Best if: you're building an agency, consulting business, SaaS company, ecommerce business, etc., and want a banking platform that can grow with you.
Relay's Starter plan is $0/month, specifically aimed at solopreneurs and startups. You can create up to 20 checking accounts, which is unusually useful for a single-member LLC—for example:
Operating
Taxes
Owner pay
Payroll
Profit
Specific projects
Relay says its Starter plan is designed for solo business owners and new businesses, with online signup and identity/business verification.
Best if: you want a "Profit First"-style setup without paying for multiple bank accounts.
My rating:9/10
3. Novo — probably the simplest pure checking option
Bluevine's Standard plan has $0 monthly fees, no minimum balance, free standard ACH, and unlimited transactions.
The interesting part is that eligible Standard customers can currently earn 1.3% APY on balances up to $250,000 by either spending $500/month with the debit card or receiving/depositing $2,500/month in customer payments. Higher-yield Plus and Premier plans cost $30 and $95/month respectively, although those fees can be waived under their terms.
Bluevine's application supports LLCs and asks for things such as your EIN, business information, revenue, industry, personal information, and potentially formation documents.
Best if: you're going to maintain a meaningful cash balance in checking and want it to earn interest.
My rating:9/10
5. Found — particularly compelling for a single-member LLC
Found is somewhat different: it combines banking with bookkeeping and tax-oriented tools. The basic account is $0/month, with no minimum balance or maintenance fee.
For a single-member LLC, this can be unusually useful because Found offers automated expense categorization, tax estimates, invoicing, and tax-related functionality. Found specifically says its system supports single-member LLCs taxed as sole proprietorships and can generate Schedule C-related information.
It also advertises signup in as little as five minutes.
Best if: you're a one-person consulting/freelance/service business and want banking + bookkeeping/tax organization in one place.
My rating:8.5/10
6. American Express Business Checking — good alternative
Amex Business Checking has no monthly maintenance fee and no minimum balance, and Amex currently advertises online application in as little as 10 minutes.
It's also an actual bank account offered by American Express National Bank, rather than a fintech account whose banking services are supplied by a partner bank.
The tradeoff is that certain payment methods cost more—for example, Amex currently lists $10 for same-day ACH and $25 for wires, while standard ACH is free.
My rating:8.5/10
My ranking for a newly formed single-member LLC
If I were opening the account today, I'd narrow it down this way:
🥇 Mercury — best overall
Best combination of $0 recurring cost, startup-friendly features, payments, integrations, and scalability.
🥈 Relay — best financial organization
Especially attractive if you want separate buckets for taxes, operating expenses, profit, etc.
🥉 Novo — easiest minimalist option
Excellent if you just want straightforward business checking and don't need elaborate features.
4. Bluevine — best for earning interest
Particularly compelling if you'll keep several thousand dollars or more in the account.
5. Found — best for a one-person service business
Potentially the best choice if bookkeeping/tax organization is more important than sophisticated banking.
6. Amex — best traditional-bank alternative
Good if you value Amex's support and ecosystem and don't mind somewhat higher transaction fees.
One important point about "easiest"
There isn't a reliable universal ranking for approval difficulty: all of these providers perform identity/business verification and can request additional documentation. A freshly formed LLC can therefore be approved immediately by one provider and sent for manual review by another.
For the smoothest application, have these ready before you start:
LLC Articles of Organization / Certificate of Formation
IRS EIN confirmation letter
Your government-issued ID
SSN
Physical U.S. business address
Your LLC's exact legal name and formation state
Short description of what the business does
Expected revenue/transaction volume
DBA certificate, if applicable
Bottom line: For most newly formed single-member LLCs, I'd start with Mercury or Relay. If your priority is absolute simplicity, choose Novo; if you're going to keep cash sitting in checking, look closely at Bluevine; and if you're a solo professional who wants banking + tax/bookkeeping tools, Found is unusually attractive.
For a one-person LLC, you want a business checking account with no monthly maintenance fees, no high minimum balance requirements , and a smooth digital application that only requires your EIN and basic LLC formation documents (Articles of Organization).
The best options fall into two categories: specialized fintech platforms (great for software integrations and modern dashboards) and traditional or direct online banks (great for FDIC-insured stability and direct banking features).
Top Online Business Checking Options
Relay Financial:
The Vibe: Built specifically for small businesses and modern workflows.
Fees: $0 monthly maintenance fees, no minimum balances, and no overdraft fees.
Highlights: Allows you to easily issue multiple virtual or physical debit cards, organize funds into different "envelopes" or sub-accounts for budgeting/taxes, and integrates seamlessly with bookkeeping software like QuickBooks or Xero. Learn more via Relay Financial.
Bluevine:
The Vibe: High-yield online business checking.
Fees: $0 monthly maintenance fee on their Standard checking plan.
The Vibe: Tailored for freelancers, solo entrepreneurs, and digital businesses.
Fees: $0 monthly fees and no minimum balance required to maintain the account.
Highlights: Fast, purely digital application, robust integrations (Stripe, Shopify, PayPal, QuickBooks), and built-in "Novo Reserves" to set aside money for taxes or profit. Explore features on Novo.
American Express Business Checking:
The Vibe: A solid choice if you want to earn a decent return and rewards on spending.
Fees: $0 monthly fees, no minimum opening deposit.
Highlights: Fully digital account that earns competitive interest on balances and lets you earn Membership Rewards points on debit card spending. (Note: To apply for this specific checking account, Amex usually requires you to already have an existing personal or business Amex card open for at least 3 months, and it does not accept cash deposits). Review details at American Express Business Checking.
Mercury:
The Vibe: Built with a tech-forward approach, though heavily friendly to all types of lean LLCs and startups.
Fees: $0 account fees, $0 minimums.
Highlights: Excellent software interface, free domestic and USD international wires, and automated savings features. Banking services are provided via their partner FDIC-insured banks. See more on Mercury.
What You Need to Apply Online
No matter which platform you choose, have these ready before you start the digital application:
Your EIN (Employer Identification Number) from the IRS.
LLC Formation Documents (Articles of Organization / Certificate of Formation stamped by your state).
Your Operating Agreement (some fintechs ask for this to prove ownership, though a single-member LLC agreement is simple).
Your SSN and a government-issued photo ID.
If you can tell me whether you handle physical cash from clients or if you plan to take international payments , I can help you narrow down which of these options will best fit your workflow.
If you’ve just started a one-person LLC, I’d focus on a business checking account with no monthly fee, no minimum balance, an online application, and easy transfers. You generally don’t need a traditional bank with a branch unless you expect to deposit cash or need in-person services.
As of October 2026, these are the options I’d shortlist first. You can open an account without paying for a premium banking plan at several of them.
My top 4 business bank accounts for a solo LLC
1. Bluevine — best overall value
($0/month) (Interest-earning checking)
Bluevine’s free Standard plan offers unlimited transactions, free standard ACH transfers, invoicing tools, and up to five subaccounts. Eligible customers can earn 1.3% APY on balances up to $250,000 when they meet the interest eligibility requirements.
Simple, straightforward checking
Less sophisticated banking infrastructure
Bluevine Standard
$0
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Checking + interest
APY requires qualifying activity
Found
$0
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Single-member LLC + bookkeeping/taxes
Wires/instant services can cost extra
Amex Business Checking
$0
⭐⭐⭐⭐½
Interest + Amex ecosystem
Some transaction fees; eligibility review
Best for: A new LLC that wants a practical everyday account and the potential to earn interest.
Mercury offers online business banking with free ACH transfers, free domestic and USD international wires, virtual cards, and integrations with accounting tools. You’ll need your LLC documents, EIN documentation, and identification, and your application must pass its eligibility review.
Best for: Consultants, freelancers, agencies, and online businesses that rarely handle cash.
Novo offers free business checking with no monthly maintenance fee, no minimum balance, invoicing features, and integrations with tools such as Stripe, Square, and QuickBooks. Its Reserves feature lets you earmark money for taxes and other expenses.
Best for: A solo owner who wants straightforward banking and an easy way to organize tax money.
Relay is worth considering if you want to divide money into separate accounts for taxes, operating expenses, payroll, and profit. Its free Starter plan is designed around multiple accounts and organized cash management.
Best for: A solo LLC owner who wants to keep their finances organized from day one.
Sources: official pricing and feature pages for Bluevine, Mercury, Novo, and Relay.
What you need to open your account
Have these ready before starting the application:
EIN confirmation letter from the IRS, if you have an EIN.
LLC formation documents, such as your Articles of Organization.
Government-issued photo ID.
Business address and basic details about what your business does.
Operating agreement, if requested by the provider.
Requirements vary by provider. Mercury, for example, explicitly asks for formation documents, EIN documentation, identification, and business details.
One important point: these online providers often work with partner banks rather than being banks themselves. Check which bank holds your deposits and how FDIC insurance applies. Standard FDIC coverage is generally up to $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, per ownership category, subject to applicable requirements.
My recommendation
For a brand-new, one-person LLC, I would start by comparing Bluevine and Novo. Bluevine is attractive if you want interest and everyday payment tools; Novo is attractive if you prioritize simple banking and invoicing. Choose Relay instead if separating tax money from operating cash is especially important.
