Pro bank account: 2024 comparison

Why open a pro account?

A pro account is a bank account reserved specifically for a company's professional activities, and in practice functions like a conventional current account.

However, a pro current account differs from a private account in the following ways its specific functionalities It's all about additional services tailored just for businesses. For example, they can benefit from larger overdrafts or divide their accounts into sub-accounts.

However, not all companies are required to open a pro account (see below).

Nevertheless, opening a pro account is still recommended, given the many advantages it offers:

• Simplify bookkeeping . You can more easily distinguish professional transactions ;

• Have access to ready-to-use receipts transactions carried out during the year ;

• Facilitate monitoring and control of company management;

• Benefit from features specifically designed for professionals.

Opening a business account also allows you to separate your business transactions from your personal ones.

Ranking of the 8 best pro banks

Here is our ranking of the 8 best pro banks :

Hero

Payment and financing solution specially designed for B2B companies, Hero propose un compte pro gratuit.

Advantages :

• Totally free pro account;

• Payment facilities: deferred payment and payment in instalments.

Recipe :

• Hero's pro account is 100% free.

Qonto

Created in 2016, the Qonto pro account is aimed at freelancers and businesses of all sizes.

Here are its main features:

• Mastercard ;

• French IBAN ;

• Various payment and collection methods (with the option of cashing by cheque) ;

• Up to 30 commission-free transfers or direct debits per month with the Solo offer. You pay 0.25 cts for each additional transfer.

• A high-performance, intuitive mobile application;

• Expense and invoice management .

Qonto offers separate price plans for freelancers on the one hand, and small businesses on the other. Dedicated to freelancers, the Solo offer starts at 9 euros for an annual subscription.

The offer for small businesses starts at 29 euros per month.

Bunq

Arrival in France in 2018 Bunq is a Dutch neo-bank founded by Canadian businessman Ali Niknam, with a presence in the Netherlands, France and Germany. Italy, Germany, Great Britain, Austria, Spain and France.

Here's an overview of its main features:

• A mobile application ;

• A payment solution "bunq.me" and "bunq.to" by web link;

• A mobile payment solution via Apple Pay;

• 25 free bank accounts;

• Free card payments ;

• Free mobile payment ;

• 10 free cash withdrawals/month then a commission of 0.99 euros/withdrawal.

Here are the main advantages of Bunq Business:

• 3 free Mastercard bank cards with high limits (50,000 euros/day for payments and 500 euros per day for cash withdrawals);

• Possibility of opening several accounts;

• Accessible to anyone with a SIREN ;

• Quality support "bunq together" community forum "where users can ask their questions;

• Quick account opening.

Wise

Wise Business est a free online multi-currency account specifically for professionals.

Here are its main features:

• A multi-currency account . The Wise business account operates in 6 different currencies (euro, pound sterling, US dollar, Australian dollar, New Zealand dollar and Polish zloty).

• Suitable for microentrepreneurs and companies of all sizes;

• API to integrate the application with e-commerce platforms and accounting software.

Recipe :

Wise Business est a free account . There are no account opening or monthly fees.

• Collection fees are zero in the main currencies supported by the platform,

• 0.5% of transaction amount commission for payments

Highlights :

• Mass payment option ;

• Free Mastercard credit card.

N26 Business

Based in Germany, N26 was founded in 2013 by Valentin Stalf and Maximilian Tayenthal. It is aimed to individuals and micro-entrepreneurs.

Here are the features of N26 Business:

• Dedicated to micro-entrepreneurs and freelancers;

• Standard package free of charge but without physical card ;

• French IBAN ;

• Mastercard ;

• 24/7 customer service

Disadvantages :

• Free only if you don't need a physical card;

• Limited to the euro zone.

Rates :

• Free standard package without physical card;

• Free international payments ;

• Cashback of 0.1% to 0.5% on business expenses.

Shine

Launched in 2017 Shine is a neo-bank. To use all its functions, you need to use their mobile application. It is aimed primarily at the self-employed and small businesses.

The Shine pro account offers a number of advantages:

• The an account adapted to all types of professionals and entities : SMEs, VSEs, start-ups or independent professionals;

• Carte professionnelle internationale Mastercard ;

• French IBAN ;

• 24/7 customer service.

Monabanq

Founded in 2006 Monabanq is the online subsidiary of the Crédit Mutuel CIC group.

Here are the features of a Monabanq pro account:

• Dedicated to micro-professionals ;

• Legal protection included ;

• Visa payment card ;

• No income requirements and no obligation.

Price : from 9 euros/month.

How do I open a pro account?

To open a pro account, you can choose between a traditional bank or an online bank Whatever the case, the documents to be supplied are essentially the same:

• Proof of identity A copy of your national identity card, passport or French residency permit. If applicable, proof of the persons authorized to carry out transactions on the account and of the associates.

• Proof of registered office address;

• Proof of professional activity ;

• A copy of the statutes .

What's the best bank for a business account?

Here are the criteria for choosing a professional bank:

• Our services . All banks offer broadly the same services, although some offer their own specific services. So it's important to examine and compare each offer to identify the one best suited to your company's needs.

• Service quality . It's the key to customer satisfaction.

• IBAN . A bank offering a French IBAN is always an advantage, as it simplifies the management of your company's financial flows.

• La tarification . This is the key criterion for choosing a pro bank. Here again, you'll need to make a comparison to find the most attractive offer. In particular, you'll need to focus on account maintenance fees, online service charges, card costs and commission rates.

You also need to choose between a traditional bank and an online bank. Both types of bank generally offer similar services. It's the price that gives digital banks the edge.

It is for this reason that Hero is positioned as one of the best pro account solutions . Our online solution offers similar services to traditional banks, but free of charge.

Why open an online business account?

There are still two categories of online banks: first-generation online banks and neo-banks.

Online banking offers a number of advantages:

• Free or reduced fees . Bank cards are generally free of charge. However, some services and products are not free of charge.

• Quick and easy account opening;

• No deposit is usually required to open an account;

• An application available for remote transactions 24/7;

• Available customer service.

Is a pro account mandatory?

Only companies with their own assets are obliged to open this type of bank account. In other words capital companies .

Sole proprietors are also subject to this requirement if their sales exceeds 10,000 euros two years in a row .

How much does a pro account cost?

Pro account fees vary depending on the bank: traditional or digital:

• 30 to 50 euros per month in a traditional bank;

• 20 euros per month for online banking.

Do I need a bank card?

A bank card offers many advantages:

• Save time in managing, controlling and tracking expenses;

• Avoid advance payments by employees. Employees no longer need to advance expenses out of their own pockets.

• Additional benefits . A card allows you to benefit from service advantages (deferred debit, payment in instalments, etc.).