Documents Needed To Open Business Bank Account – Small business owners need to know what each one does, their key features, and how opening a business will affect their business.
In short, if you want to collect credit card, debit card and other online payments from customers, you will need to open both types of accounts.
Documents Needed To Open Business Bank Account
By reading this article, you will get a basic understanding of the basics of both accounts. You will also know how they are different and how they can benefit your small business.
Do I Need A Business Bank Account? (you Probably Do, Here’s Why)
A merchant account is a type of business bank account that allows businesses to accept credit and debit card payments and online payments.
Online companies collect data for these cashless payment methods through payment gateways like the one below:
When customers insert their card or enter their card details into a payment gateway on the company’s website or app, the details are sent to the merchant bank – the bank that provides your merchant account.
This bank then facilitates communication between the various parties involved in processing the cashless payment and ensures proper transfer of funds from the customer’s account to your account.
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First, the receiving bank sends the transaction information to the customer’s card issuer, also known as the card provider, who checks whether it has enough funds to make the payment.
The card issuer approves or declines the transaction and sends its response in data back to the electronic terminal where the customer paid.
If the issuer approves the transaction, the payment is processed and transferred to your merchant account, where it will be held for an average of 24-48 hours before moving to your business bank account and becoming available for use.
All of this happens in seconds and results in different costs for the merchant account holder that vary depending on their provider.
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These fees typically range from 1.75% to 3% of the dollar value of each payment and 20 to 30 cents per transaction.
For example, popular merchant account provider Square has a 2.6% + 10 cent fee for contactless payments, chip cards (swipe or insert), and swipe cards.
Another reason is that the bank can’t make money off of you if they rent you a card storage facility.
A business bank account powers a business and is a legal requirement for all companies, not just sole proprietors.
What Do I Need To Open A Business Bank Account?
This is where your merchant account funds end up, along with your customers’ cash and checks.
Funds in a business bank account are typically used for regular business expenses, such as monthly bills, software subscriptions, or payment processing costs.
However, there are some unique features of a business bank account that you should know before opening one.
First, many banks charge a monthly or annual maintenance fee to keep your account open. The amount of this money depends on the bank.
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Bank of America rewards its customers for maintaining a high balance, but many banks may decide otherwise and charge you fees if you fall below their minimum balance.
Some banks will limit the number of free transactions you can process within a certain period of time – usually around 200 per month.
Generally, the more money you have in your account, the more transactions you can make. Banks tend to reward customers for their trust with more money.
Finally, business bank accounts often include useful reporting tools to help you with taxes, income management, and expense tracking.
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Businesses use a merchant account and a business account together to process and accept credit card, debit card and online payments from customers.
When it comes to accepting card payments, the main difference between a merchant account and a business account is that credit card payments to a merchant account will be processed much faster than those made to a business bank account.
If the business’s bank account accepts a card payment, the acquiring and issuing bank will hold the payment until both approve the transaction.
On the other hand, the merchant’s account bypasses this delay and transfers the money to the merchant, although online transactions may continue.
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Merchants are verified through the application process, while a business bank account only requires them to fill out a few forms.
Another key difference is that business bank accounts allow direct withdrawals and deposits. This is not possible with a merchant account.
Business bank accounts are therefore primarily used to track and pay day-to-day business expenses such as office rent, payroll or advertising:
Once the customer’s credit card purchase is approved, the money will go into your merchant account.
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From there, you can transfer the money to your business bank account, where you can use it to make purchases, pay bills, and run your business.
Merchant accounts are necessary for businesses that want to accept credit, debit and other online payments from their customers without waiting days for each transaction to be approved individually by the receiving bank and the issuing bank.
Allowing customers to pay cashless and online is becoming increasingly important in this economy, so more and more businesses are opening merchant accounts.
If you are an online business, a merchant account is very important because raising money is not a viable option.
Open A Business Bank Account
Instead, with a merchant account, businesses can set up online payment gateways where customers can shop online without cash without having to contact employees, directly from their laptop or phone.
Physical businesses also need merchant accounts. It is not uncommon for a business to only accept cash. Customers are often confused when they encounter a negative credit or debit card.
Even mobile businesses like taco trucks accept credit and debit cards these days. They simply use the physical card terminals provided by their merchant account provider.
Note that you must also create a business bank account before applying for a merchant account.
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Acquiring banks (merchant account providers) require companies to deposit their money from a merchant account into a business bank account and not into a personal checking account or something else.
You can accept payments in different currencies, simplify your money and prove the legitimacy of your business, gain authority in your niche.
As each generation tends towards cashless payments, it is important to set up your business with a merchant account to easily process credit cards, debit cards and other forms of online payments.
To open a merchant account to collect cashless payments, you must have a business bank account.
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Even if you don’t want to offer cards as a form of payment, your business is probably required by law to have a business bank account, unless you’re a sole trader.
If you run a corporation, limited liability partnership (LLP), or limited liability company (LLC), a business bank account is the way to go.
Self-employed people should also consider opening business bank accounts, as these offer additional legal protection from lawsuits.
Only funds in the bank account are at risk of confiscation. This is one of the many reasons to keep your business finances separate:
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Another benefit of a business bank account is that your business appears professional and trustworthy to customers.
If you can accept credit and debit cards, customers trust that you are on top of the latest trends.
Using a business bank account also makes tax preparation easier to manage. Most businesses pay corporate tax quarterly.
Having all your expenses and income on one site makes it easy to balance those quarterly tax payments.
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On the other hand, if a sole proprietor uses a personal bank account as a backup for client payments, it can be difficult to determine which income comes from business sales and which comes from Venmo from a friend or other non-business source.
It is also important to note that if your business is selected for an audit and you do not have a business bank account, the auditor may be able to review your personal account.
Another benefit that may not get enough attention is how opening a business bank account lays the foundation for a good relationship with the bank, which can help you secure business loans and other types of financing.
It is the best experience to navigate these sometimes difficult financial situations with a bank you trust and enjoy working with.
How To Open A Business Bank Account ? The Steps For A Small Business
The part that should take you the most time, because the most important thing to do is to choose the best bank for the specific needs of your business.
Therefore, it is important to set up your business to accept these cashless methods for your customers. They will surely appreciate it.
Both are required to accept these payments, as well as other online methods, contactless, without long delays. One of the first steps after forming a limited liability company is to open a checking account in the name of the company. A company can open one or more current accounts in any bank and it is mandatory for doing business. In this article, we look at the process of opening a limited liability company bank or checking account and the required documents.
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