When setting up a business, a professional bank account must be opened. For companies, EURL, SA, SAS or SARL, this opening must be carried out in order to allow its registration and to deposit the funds that will constitute its capital.
Negotiating with your banker
The first reflex is to negotiate a maximum of fees with your banker. In a strong competitive environment, they are ready to roll out the red carpet to VSEs and SMEs, subject to a long-term relationship.
This will obviously depend on the size of your company and also on the personal assets you have in the same establishment. 84% of executives opt for a single bank for their business and personal accounts, as well as their savings, which represents significant income for the bank, and encourages it to take action on professional bank fees.
Fees where there is room for manoeuvre are entry fees, account maintenance fees, turnover fees and overdraft fees. All these savings combined have an impact on cash flow and profits.
Take a package
Unlike the retail market, subscribing to a package may be more attractive than pricing outside the package. These bundled offers make it possible to pay less while benefiting from a wide range of services; for example, in addition to the standard professional bank account, some institutions offer attractive insurance contracts and savings products.
Compare bank offers
To find the professional offer best suited to your needs and benefit from the most attractive rates, the use of a specialized comparator is the best solution. A questionnaire makes it possible to indicate your needs for the most detailed possible research among all the offers on the market, both from traditional players and online banks. Visit
bank4pro.co.uk for more information about opening a business account.
A table then details the fixed price for remote services, the cost of the credit card, transfer fees in the branch, movement or intervention fees, etc. From the results page that appears, all that remains is to sort by the criteria that are important to each subscriber.
The advantages of a professional bank account
The professional bank account is mandatory for all companies (SARL, SA, SAS, etc.), but self-employed entrepreneurs and persons exercising a liberal profession only need a separate current account dedicated to their activity.
But beyond the legal requirement, its ownership makes it possible to distinguish private transactions from the company's financial operations: management of supplier payments, collection of customer payments. This separation facilitates the keeping of accounts and avoids tax and accounting confusion.
More broadly, regardless of the legal form of the company, a professional account opened in a bank gives access to a suitable service offer. For example, if a loan is needed to finance the activity, an expert provides valuable advice to the manager, helping him/her to prepare the credit application file until the requested funds are obtained.
Others go even further by providing entrepreneurs with a free advice and support service on administrative formalities for the creation/takeover/transfer of a company, tax regimes, etc.
How to choose a professional bank?
Choosing a bank for a professional account is not easy. Indeed, there is no shortage of comparisons for individuals, but it is rarer to find complete and reliable information on formulas reserved for companies. However, bank charges can vary by a factor of three from one brand to another, or even from one branch to another. A serious comparison is therefore required before any commitment is made.
Its commercial strategy
Family banking, which is practical for personal needs, is not necessarily the most advantageous option when it comes to setting up a bank account for your business. Some institutions specifically target self-entrepreneurs, SCIs or the liberal professions, and offer them special offers. They may also be more inclined to grant a loan on attractive terms.
Some brands, with a view to proximity, conclude agreements with professional sectors or chambers of commerce, allowing member companies to benefit from preferential rates on services or credit rates.
Its rates
For a VSE, professional banking fees amount to 1500 to 2000 euros, when an individual with a standard profile pays "only" 150 euros. This amount can vary significantly from one institution to another, making prior comparison essential.
Its network of agencies
Beyond the pricing issue, the choice of agency is crucial. Geographical proximity can be important, for example if you often have to pay cheques or cash, the product of your sales. The network selected must therefore have a representation close to you.
But the choice of branch may also sometimes be necessary, especially if the launch of the project requires credit, and the bank requires the direct debit of the company's accounts.
The relationship with the advisor
This parameter is also crucial, which is why some institutions entrust the same interlocutor with the management of the manager's professional and personal accounts. In the event of a specific request or temporary difficulties, the advisor knows your situation, and is able to propose relevant solutions.