We annually research the best business accounts for self-employed people without employees. This year (2023), we considered 15 business accounts. Four of them meet our criteria, and we have tested them extensively. 

Our research, in a nutshell

Knab came out as the best bank for small business accounts in the test because of its ease of use, good service and low costs. According to the Opiness Service Awards and the Consumer Association, the bank has the best-rated customer service.

The business package is complete for freelancers and very easy to use. In addition, Knab Business has been named the most advantageous account by the independent research organization Moneyview. 

For self-employed persons who prefer to opt for a well-known major bank, we recommend ABN AMRO. Their Volop Ondernemen Slim package is perfect for the self-employed. You can easily open the account online within 10 minutes. 

Just like in previous years, Triodos bank has made significant gains in terms of sustainability. The bank scores the best in the  Fair Bank Guide and has been the popular choice for sustainable entrepreneurs for years. 

Best self-employed business account

For a self-employed person, the business account must fit well with the wishes, and the costs must be low. Variable costs must also be low. Find the best bank for the self-employed. By comparing, you look for the most suitable business account for self-employed persons, and you also immediately gain insight into the costs of the self-employed account. Also, starters looking for the best business account should compare carefully. 

Self-employed: do I have to have a business bank account?

A logical question is: ‘Do I have to have a business bank account as a self-employed person?’. It’s not mandatory, but you don’t have to leave it for the money. Especially for a business account for starting entrepreneurs (starters), comparing is even necessary to prevent too high costs.

Best business account ZZP: What is the best business account? For a self-employed person with few monthly transactions, a business account for self-employed persons seems premature. Still, it’s good to take it seriously right away. 

Opening a self-employed business account is quickly arranged, and you automatically distinguish between private and business transactions. The Tax and Customs Administration also requires such a separation from private life. Opening a self-employed account can save you a lot of accounting costs. You will, therefore, not end up as a self-employed person with a business account. Fortunately, there are many options. Below you can see how we compare to arrive at the best business bank.

Best bank for the self-employed: How we compare

You want to do the comparison and open a self-employed account right the first time. That is why you do not choose the first business bank that comes your way. After all, it would be best if you did not discover after a few months that the opened bank account was not the wisest choice. 

When selecting the best business bank, we pay attention to four important pillars:

• Price
• Service
• Conditions
• features/sophistication

Best bank for the self-employed: Which banks did we compare? In our comparison, all Dutch banks have been compared: knab, bunq, ASN, SNS, ABN AMRO, ING, Rabobank, Triodos, Van Lanschot and international newcomer N26. Are you looking for the best business account for starters? Read on to find out how we rate them.

We assess the service and customer satisfaction using the 5 organizations and methods below:

• Money view – an independent research organization that conducts annual research into banks and the best business account for the self-employed.
• Opiness  – annually presents the best service award. The award is based on customer satisfaction surveys and consumer reviews. If you are looking for the best business account, you can also look at this award.
• Consumers’ Association Bank Monitor  – The Consumers’ Association periodically conducts independent research into customer experiences at Dutch bank’s
• customer satisfaction ratings and customer reviews – to find the best business bank. So pay attention to customer satisfaction. Most banks also measure their service and publish these customer satisfaction figures
• NPS  (net promoter score). Many large international companies use the Net promoter score to measure the extent to which customers recommend the company to their environment.

Best business account starters: category award

An important pillar for you as a self-employed person is the price of the business account. The best business bank for you may be different from your neighbor’s. You won’t be using the account intensively, so a business bank account is simply an unwanted expense for your business. And you want to keep those costs as low as possible. However, there is no way around it, you may not have business transactions run through your private account . That is why you are practically obliged to open a business account. 

Starting entrepreneurs can get a high discount, because various banks give away a discount to starting freelancers. For example, you pay no costs for six months. Even banks offer starters the best business account for self-employed persons free of charge for a whole year. But keep an eye on the costs you pay after the free months when choosing a self-employed account. 

The price of the best business account for the self-employed consists of two factors: the  fixed monthly costs  of the account and the  variable costs  you pay for each transfer or receipt.

What will the costs per transaction be?

When finding the best business bank, transaction costs should be remembered. For example, the best business account, for starters is only sometimes the most well-known bank. The transaction costs are the most underestimated costs by first-time buyers who open a business account . In many self-employed business accounts you do not pay these costs. With many transactions per month, you often only pay for them. At SNS and Knab, 1,000 and 500 transactions per year respectively are free. The Regiobank even offers 1,250 free transactions. For example, you pay €0.15 for a credit and €0.11 for a debit at Rabobank. The best business account may well be a somewhat lesser-known bank that perfectly meets your needs. 

The transaction costs are only small amounts, but the costs can rise sharply due to a multitude of transactions. The best business bank is therefore not the same for every entrepreneur. So be sure to consider these costs when choosing the best self-employed business account. 

A self-employed person does an average of 160 transactions per year

You can find the best business bank by carefully comparing on various factors. We have calculated for each bank what a business account costs in total each month. The total costs are calculated by combining the fixed costs for the account, bank card and internet banking with the variable costs (costs per transaction) for 160 transactions per year. Those are all the costs that come with using a business bank account.

Open a self-employed account on which you receive interest.

Due to the very low-interest rates, the interest payment does not play a role when choosing a self-employed business account. The best business account, for starters, can now be compared better on points other than interest. Focusing on the future, you better take it into account. Interest rates will rise again in the long term. Beginners should also take this into account. Good comparisons prevent self-employed persons from opting for a business account that is not suitable. Are you looking for the best bank for the self-employed? Then make a well-considered decision.

You want to avoid choosing now and have to open a new self-employed account in a few months. So go straight for opening a self-employed bank account with an interest payment. This is especially important if you regularly have large amounts in your account. For example, you save for a large future investment. A good bank for entrepreneurs who save a lot may be a different bank than those who make many transactions. 

Best bank business account, Costs per year:

When opening a self-employed account, pay attention to the options that the bank account offers and the additional costs should be reasonable. Comparing the self-employed account before opening is, in any case, recommended, also, for a starter who opens the first business account and has yet to learn exactly what the various banks offer. 

The best business account, for starters, may differ from those for entrepreneurs who have been in the business for years. The table below is based on the average number of transactions of 160 per month for a self-employed person without employees. Based on the second year, so without starter discounts, you only get in the first year. The best business bank is only sometimes the cheapest. When making a decision, also consider what service you expect to need. Below is a list to find the best business bank based on cost.