{"question": "best business banking for freelancers", "category": "business-banking", "category_name": "business banking", "audience": "freelancers", "audience_name": "freelancers", "engine": "Claude (Anthropic) with web search", "model": "claude-opus-5", "asked_at": "2026-10-12T22:45:29Z", "permalink": "https://bikoosh.com/answers/s/business-banking-freelancers-2026-10-12", "question_page": "https://bikoosh.com/answers/q/business-banking/freelancers", "brands_named": [{"position": 1, "brand": "EIN", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 2, "brand": "Relay", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 3, "brand": "Found", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 4, "brand": "Bluevine", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 5, "brand": "Mercury", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 6, "brand": "QuickBooks", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 7, "brand": "Xero", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 8, "brand": "Stripe", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 9, "brand": "ACH", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 10, "brand": "Chase", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 11, "brand": "U.S. Bank", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 12, "brand": "Lili", "label": "recommended"}], "sources_cited": [{"url": "https://relayfi.com/blog/relay-vs-mercury-solo-owner-profit-first/", "domain": "relayfi.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://relayfi.com/hc/en-us/articles/38047983767060-Adding-cash-to-your-Relay-account/", "domain": "relayfi.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://found.com/resources/business-banking/found-vs-lili", "domain": "found.com", "source_type": "vendor"}, {"url": "https://beancount.io/blog/2026/07/22/found-business-banking-freelancer-tax-set-asides-guide", "domain": "beancount.io", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://www.nerdwallet.com/best/small-business/business-bank-accounts-sole-proprietors", "domain": "nerdwallet.com", "source_type": "review"}, {"url": "https://www.fastlancer.org/en/fastlancer-blog/best-business-bank-account-freelancers/", "domain": "fastlancer.org", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://fitsmallbusiness.com/best-banks-for-self-employed/", "domain": "fitsmallbusiness.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://nerdwallet.com/best/small-business/business-bank-accounts-sole-proprietors", "domain": "nerdwallet.com", "source_type": "review"}], "answer_text": "Assuming you're in the US - here's how I'd rank them, and the first question that actually decides it: are you a sole proprietor with just an SSN, or do you have an LLC/EIN? That eliminates half the list.\n\n**1. Relay** - My default recommendation for most freelancers. $0/month, no minimums, and crucially it opens accounts for sole proprietors with just an SSN and a DBA (no LLC needed). The killer feature is up to 20 free checking accounts - so you can actually do the \"one account for taxes, one for operating, one for profit\" split instead of mentally earmarking one balance. It also takes cash: free at Allpoint+ ATMs, or up to $4.95 at Green Dot retailers. ([relayfi.com](https://relayfi.com/blog/relay-vs-mercury-solo-owner-profit-first/), [relayfi.com help](https://relayfi.com/hc/en-us/articles/38047983767060-Adding-cash-to-your-Relay-account/))\n\n**2. Found** - Pick this if the thing you dread is quarterly taxes, not banking. It auto-calculates and sets aside your estimated quarterly tax, and bundles bookkeeping, expense categorization, and invoicing into the free tier. For a 1099 freelancer who doesn't want a separate bookkeeping subscription, that's the best value on the list. Dow", "answer_truncated": true, "measurement": "One answer from one engine on one date. Not a ranking and not a claim about the world; brands the engine did not name are not recorded.", "limitation": "Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included.", "alerts": {"name": "Answer Watch Pro", "price_usd": 79, "period": "month", "gets": "daily change alerts for up to 5 brands in what one AI answer engine says, history, CSV export. Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included", "url": "https://bikoosh.com/answers"}}