Data as of Aug 25, 2026 · Based on 299 AI responses from ChatGPT Search and Google AI Mode · See how Parse measures this
For a new single-member LLC, Bluevine,
Relay, and
Novo are top recommendations for their effortless, fee-free online account setup. If you need specific features beyond standard banking, is excellent for tax and bookkeeping, while Business Checking is a strong option for earning rewards on your balance. For cash deposits, is the primary choice among the major digital-focused offerings.
Brands AI recommends here
Named in 75% of answers
Best for high-interest checking and convenience. It provides 2.00% APY and is one of the few online platforms offering cash deposit support. It has no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements for new LLCs.
Named in 67% of answers
Best for a straightforward, no-frills digital experience. Designed for freelancers and small businesses, it offers a quick sign-up process, no monthly fees, and integrates easily with accounting software.
Named in 44% of answers
Named in 42% of answers
Best for organizing business finances. It offers a very fast digital application and is highly recommended for LLCs that need to manage cash flow through multiple checking accounts and virtual cards without monthly fees.
For a **newly formed single-member LLC**, the easiest low-cost options are generally **Mercury, Novo, Relay, and Bluevine**. As of August 2026, all four have $0/month entry-level business checking. [Bluevine](https://www.bluevine.com/blog/perspectives/novo-vs-relay?utm_source=chatgpt.com)…
For a newly formed single-member LLC, the easiest low-cost options are generally Mercury, Novo, Relay, and Bluevine. As of August 2026, all four have $0/month entry-level business checking.
| Platform | Monthly fee | Best for | Ease of opening | Key advantage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluevine | $0 | Most small LLCs | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Interest on checking + simple setup |
| Mercury | $0 | Online businesses/startups | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Excellent digital banking & integrations |
| Novo | $0 | Solo owners/service businesses | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Very simple, invoicing-focused |
| Relay | $0 | Budgeting/bookkeeping | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Multiple checking accounts for separating funds |
| Found | $0 | Freelancers/one-person businesses | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Built-in bookkeeping/tax tools |
1. Bluevine — best overall
Bluevine's Standard Business Checking has no monthly fee, no minimum opening deposit, and no minimum balance requirement. It currently offers 1.30% APY on balances up to $250,000 when you meet its qualification requirement.
I'd pick this if you expect to keep meaningful cash in the operating account. It's essentially a free checking account that can also earn interest.
2. Mercury — best for an online/digital business
Mercury's basic account is $0/month with no minimum balance, and it's particularly strong if your LLC is an online business, consulting company, SaaS company, agency, or startup. It has good accounting integrations, payment tools, multiple accounts, and startup-oriented features.
One caveat: Mercury isn't particularly useful if you need to deposit cash.
3. Novo — probably the simplest for a one-person LLC
Novo is particularly geared toward solo operators and small service businesses. Its business checking is $0/month with no minimum opening deposit or ongoing minimum balance. It also emphasizes invoicing, payment links, and integrations with services such as QuickBooks.
If you're, say, a consultant, contractor, designer, photographer, or online service provider, Novo is worth a serious look.
4. Relay — best if you want to organize money into buckets
Relay's free Starter plan is $0/month and lets you maintain multiple checking accounts, which can be useful for a single-member LLC—for example:
Relay's free plan supports up to 20 checking accounts, making it unusually good for a "Profit First"-style setup.
For a typical newly formed single-member LLC, I'd narrow it to:
Bluevine → Mercury → Novo → Relay
One important distinction: these are generally fintech platforms rather than traditional banks; deposits are held through FDIC-insured partner banks.
If your priority is specifically "what is most likely to approve a brand-new LLC with little/no revenue and only an EIN", I can compare Mercury vs. Bluevine vs. Novo vs. Relay specifically on approval requirements, documents, EIN/SSN requirements, and rejection risk.
2. Mercury — best for an online/digital business
Mercury's basic account is $0/month with no minimum balance, and it's particularly strong if your LLC is an online business, consulting company, SaaS company, agency, or startup. It has good accounting integrations, payment tools, multiple accounts, and startup-oriented features.
One caveat: Mercury isn't particularly useful if you need to deposit cash.
3. Novo — probably the simplest for a one-person LLC
Novo is particularly geared toward solo operators and small service businesses. Its business checking is $0/month with no minimum opening deposit or ongoing minimum balance. It also emphasizes invoicing, payment links, and integrations with services such as QuickBooks.
If you're, say, a consultant, contractor, designer, photographer, or online service provider, Novo is worth a serious look.
For a newly formed single-member LLC, online-first platforms and fintech-backed business checking accounts offer the fastest, paperless applications (often taking 10 to 15 minutes) alongside zero-to-low monthly maintenance fees. The top online platforms tailored for ease of setup and minimal cost feature distinct…
For a newly formed single-member LLC, online-first platforms and fintech-backed business checking accounts offer the fastest, paperless applications (often taking 10 to 15 minutes) alongside zero-to-low monthly maintenance fees.
The top online platforms tailored for ease of setup and minimal cost feature distinct advantages:
Note on requirements: To open any of these online accounts smoothly for a single-member LLC, you will typically need your finalized Articles of Organization , your EIN (Employer Identification Number) from the IRS, a government-issued photo ID, and your business address/phone number.
To help narrow down the ideal choice, let me know:
For a newly formed **single-member LLC**, I’d focus on platforms with **$0 monthly maintenance fees, no minimum opening deposit, straightforward online verification, and good support for LLC formation documents/EINs**. ### Best options Platform | Monthly fee | Best for | Account-opening ease | Key advantage
For a newly formed single-member LLC, I’d focus on platforms with $0 monthly maintenance fees, no minimum opening deposit, straightforward online verification, and good support for LLC formation documents/EINs.
| Platform | Monthly fee | Best for | Account-opening ease | Key advantage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercury | $0 | Most new LLCs/startups | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Very streamlined application; free ACH and USD wires |
| Relay | $0 | Separating taxes/profit/expenses | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Up to 20 checking accounts on free Starter plan |
| Bluevine | $0 | LLC wanting interest on cash | ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ | Interest-bearing checking |
| Novo | $0 | Solo operators wanting simplicity | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Simple interface and invoicing/payment tools |
| Found | $0 | Solo LLC + bookkeeping/tax tools | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Built-in bookkeeping and tax-oriented features |
1. Mercury — best overall for a new LLC
Mercury currently has no required monthly fee, no minimum balance, and no account-opening fee. Its standard checking/savings accounts include free ACH and USD domestic/international wires. Mercury says the application can take 10 minutes or less, and it specifically accepts U.S.-formed LLCs.
The catch: Mercury is a fintech rather than a bank itself; banking services are provided through partner banks.
2. Relay — best if you want "envelope" accounting
Relay's Starter plan is $0/month, has no minimum opening deposit, and is explicitly designed for solo owners and new businesses. You can create multiple checking accounts—for example, Operating, Taxes, Profit, and Payroll—without paying a monthly fee.
That's particularly useful for a single-member LLC trying to keep tax money separate from operating cash.
3. Bluevine — best if you want your checking balance to earn interest
Bluevine's Standard business checking is also $0/month. Its current offering can earn interest on qualifying balances, making it attractive if you expect to keep substantial cash sitting in the business account.
4. Novo — best for a very simple solo-business setup
Novo is another $0/month option aimed heavily at freelancers and solo businesses. Its strengths are simplicity, invoicing, payment links, and integrations rather than sophisticated cash-management controls.
5. Found — best if you want banking + bookkeeping in one place
Found's free tier is $0/month and includes bookkeeping-oriented features such as automated categorization and P&L reporting. Paid tiers add more tax/bookkeeping functionality.
For a brand-new single-member LLC with little or no revenue yet, my ranking would be:
Importantly, all five can be $0/month, so the decision is less about the headline monthly fee and more about transaction fees, cash deposits, interest, bookkeeping, and payment features.
For Mercury, for example, you'll generally need your LLC formation documents, IRS EIN document, government ID, and business/owner information during onboarding.
If you tell me (1) your state, (2) whether you'll deposit cash, (3) expected monthly revenue, and (4) whether you need Zelle/wires/checks, I can narrow this to the best 2–3 accounts for your particular LLC.
The catch: Mercury is a fintech rather than a bank itself; banking services are provided through partner banks.
2. Relay — best if you want "envelope" accounting
Relay's Starter plan is $0/month, has no minimum opening deposit, and is explicitly designed for solo owners and new businesses. You can create multiple checking accounts—for example, Operating, Taxes, Profit, and Payroll—without paying a monthly fee.
That's particularly useful for a single-member LLC trying to keep tax money separate from operating cash.
3. Bluevine — best if you want your checking balance to earn interest
Bluevine's Standard business checking is also $0/month. Its current offering can earn interest on qualifying balances, making it attractive if you expect to keep substantial cash sitting in the business account.
4. Novo — best for a very simple solo-business setup
Novo is another $0/month option aimed heavily at freelancers and solo businesses. Its strengths are simplicity, invoicing, payment links, and integrations rather than sophisticated cash-management controls.
5. Found — best if you want banking + bookkeeping in one place
Found's free tier is $0/month and includes bookkeeping-oriented features such as automated categorization and P&L reporting. Paid tiers add more tax/bookkeeping functionality.
For a newly formed single-member LLC, modern online business banking platforms (often built as fintechs partnered with FDIC-insured traditional banks) offer the fastest digital onboarding and complete elimination of monthly maintenance…
For a newly formed single-member LLC, modern online business banking platforms (often built as fintechs partnered with FDIC-insured traditional banks) offer the fastest digital onboarding and complete elimination of monthly maintenance fees.
The top online platforms tailored for easy account opening and $0 monthly fees include:
Note on limitations: Most pure online platforms do not accept cash deposits. If your single-member LLC regularly handles physical cash, you may want to cross-shop a traditional hybrid option like Capital One Business Checking , which features low/waivable fees and physical branch access if needed.
To help narrow down the best fit, tell me:
For a newly formed single-member LLC, digital-first online banking platforms (fintechs partnering with FDIC-insured banks) offer the fastest, paperless application processes and transparent fee structures.[[1]](https://awisee.com/blog/us-business-bank-accounts-for-non-residents/) The top online business banking…
For a newly formed single-member LLC, digital-first online banking platforms (fintechs partnering with FDIC-insured banks) offer the fastest, paperless application processes and transparent fee structures.
The top online business banking platforms feature $0 monthly maintenance fees and streamlined digital application workflows for single-member LLCs:
Note: Most purely online platforms do not support fee-free cash deposits. If your single-member LLC needs to handle physical cash regularly, you may want to look at hybrid or traditional options with free tiers like Capital One or U.S. Bank Silver Business Checking , which also feature online applications.
If you can share whether your LLC will handle physical cash deposits or operate 100% digitally , I can help you pick the exact platform that fits your workflow.
For a **newly formed single-member LLC**, I’d focus on platforms with **$0 monthly fees, no/low opening deposit, straightforward online applications, and acceptance of newly formed LLCs**. ### Best options in 2026 | Platform | Monthly fee | Best for | Ease of opening | Key advantage |
For a newly formed single-member LLC, I’d focus on platforms with $0 monthly fees, no/low opening deposit, straightforward online applications, and acceptance of newly formed LLCs.
| Platform | Monthly fee | Best for | Ease of opening | Key advantage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluevine Standard | $0 | Best overall | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Interest on checking + unlimited transactions |
| Mercury | $0 | Startups / online businesses | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Excellent online experience and banking tools |
| Relay Starter | $0 | Simple LLC banking | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Multiple accounts/envelopes for taxes & expenses |
| Novo | $0 | Solo service businesses | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Very simple, low-fee banking |
| Found | $0 | One-person businesses | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Strong bookkeeping/tax features |
| Lili Core | $0 | Very small/solo businesses | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Tax-oriented features |
Current comparisons show Bluevine, Mercury, Relay, Novo and several others offering free entry-level business checking with no required monthly maintenance fee.
Bluevine Standard is particularly attractive for a new LLC: $0 monthly fee, no minimum balance, no required opening deposit, and unlimited transactions. It currently offers 1.30% APY on balances up to $250,000 when eligibility requirements are met.
For a newly established LLC that simply needs a checking account for invoices, ACH payments, debit-card spending and separating business finances, this is probably the best all-around choice.
Mercury has no required monthly fee, no minimum opening deposit, and unlimited transactions. It's particularly well suited to businesses that don't handle cash and want integrations with accounting and other software.
I'd lean toward Mercury if your LLC is an online business, consulting company, SaaS business, agency, or startup.
Relay's free Starter plan has $0 monthly fees and unlimited transactions. Its big advantage is organizational: you can create multiple accounts and use them for things like operating expenses, taxes, payroll and profit.
That's especially useful for a single-member LLC where you want a clean separation between money earmarked for taxes and money available to spend.
Found's free plan is particularly interesting for a single-member LLC because it combines banking with automated expense categorization, P&L reporting and tax-oriented tools.
"Easy account opening" doesn't necessarily mean instant approval. For a brand-new LLC, expect to provide things such as your EIN, LLC formation information, business address, ownership information and personal identification. A newly formed LLC can also receive additional verification if the business has little operating history.
If you tell me (1) what the LLC does, (2) whether you'll receive ACH/wires, (3) whether you need to deposit cash, and (4) approximate monthly transaction volume, I can narrow this to the best 2–3 accounts and compare their actual fees for your situation.
For a newly formed single-member LLC, digital-first financial platforms and online business banks provide the fastest onboarding (often taking less than 10–15 minutes entirely online) alongside zero monthly maintenance fees.[](https://found.com/resources/business-banking/best-business-bank-accounts-llcs)…
For a newly formed single-member LLC, digital-first financial platforms and online business banks provide the fastest onboarding (often taking less than 10–15 minutes entirely online) alongside zero monthly maintenance fees.
The top online platforms offering the easiest account opening and lowest monthly fees include:
To help narrow down the ideal platform for your single-member LLC, let me know:
For a **newly formed single-member LLC**, I’d focus on platforms that let you apply entirely online, have **$0 monthly maintenance fees**, and don’t require a large opening balance. ### Best options right now | Platform | Monthly fee | Ease of opening | Best reason to choose it |
For a newly formed single-member LLC, I’d focus on platforms that let you apply entirely online, have $0 monthly maintenance fees, and don’t require a large opening balance.
| Platform | Monthly fee | Ease of opening | Best reason to choose it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluevine Standard | $0 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Best overall combination of easy setup + useful banking |
| Novo | $0 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Probably the simplest choice for a solo LLC |
| Mercury | $0 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ | Excellent for startups, online businesses and frequent transfers |
| Relay Starter | $0 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ | Best if you want to separate money into multiple buckets |
| Chase Business Complete | $15, potentially waivable | ⭐⭐⭐ | Better if you need branches/cash deposits |
Bluevine is my overall pick for most new single-member LLCs. Its Standard plan has no monthly fee, no minimum opening deposit, and unlimited transactions. It also currently offers 1.3% APY on up to $250,000 when you meet its qualifying activity requirements. Bluevine says its online application can generally be completed in under five minutes with the required information ready.
Novo is arguably the easiest fit if you're literally a one-person LLC doing consulting, freelancing, professional services, e-commerce, etc. It has $0 monthly fees, $0 minimum balance, unlimited transactions, and Novo says single-member LLC applications can take about 10 minutes when your documents are ready. It also has useful Stripe, Shopify, Square, QuickBooks and Xero integrations.
Mercury is particularly attractive if the LLC is a startup, software company, agency, e-commerce operation, or otherwise completely digital. Its basic business banking has no required monthly maintenance fee, unlimited transactions, and strong tools for transfers, cards and financial management.
Relay Starter is also $0/month and is unusually good for organizing cash—for example, separate checking accounts for operating expenses, taxes, payroll and profit. Its Starter plan currently allows up to 20 checking accounts.
If I were opening a brand-new single-member LLC today:
One important caveat: none of the four online-first choices is ideal for a cash-heavy business. Novo doesn't accept cash deposits, while Bluevine charges fees for cash deposits; if you routinely deposit cash, a traditional bank such as Chase becomes much more attractive.
For a newly formed single-member LLC, have these ready:
A brand-new LLC with no revenue yet can generally apply; you don't necessarily need an established operating history.
Bottom line: If your priority is “get my new LLC a legitimate business checking account quickly, with no monthly fee and minimal hassle,” I'd start with Bluevine or Novo. If you tell me what the LLC actually does (consulting, rental property, e-commerce, holding company, etc.) and whether you'll receive ACH, Stripe/PayPal, checks, wires, or cash, I can narrow it to the best one.
For a **newly formed U.S. single-member LLC**, I’d focus on fintech/online business-checking platforms that have **$0 monthly fees, no minimum balance, and a straightforward LLC onboarding process**. ### Best options | Platform | Monthly fee | Best for | Account-opening experience |
For a newly formed U.S. single-member LLC, I’d focus on fintech/online business-checking platforms that have $0 monthly fees, no minimum balance, and a straightforward LLC onboarding process.
| Platform | Monthly fee | Best for | Account-opening experience |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercury | $0 | Best overall for online businesses | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Bluevine | $0 | Best if you want interest on checking | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Novo | $0 | Simple solo business banking | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Relay | $0 Starter | Multiple accounts / Profit First | ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ |
| Found | $0 | Built-in bookkeeping & taxes | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Chase Business Complete | $15, waivable | If you want a traditional bank/branches | ⭐⭐⭐½ |
Mercury has $0 monthly fees, no minimum balance and no account-opening fee. It specifically supports LLCs, including solo entrepreneurs, and says applications can be completed in about 10 minutes.
You'll generally need your formation documents, EIN documentation, government ID, and a U.S. business address. One important catch: a registered-agent address, P.O. box or UPS box can't be used as the principal business address.
Why I'd choose it: Excellent for consultants, agencies, SaaS, e-commerce and other businesses that operate almost entirely electronically. ACH and USD wires are particularly attractive.
Downside: No cash deposits.
Bluevine's Standard plan has no monthly fee, no minimum balance, unlimited transactions and free standard ACH. It currently offers 1.3% APY if you meet its monthly activity requirement.
The activity requirement for the 1.3% APY is either $500/month in debit-card spending or $2,500/month in customer payments/deposits.
Why I'd choose it: Particularly attractive if you're going to keep a meaningful operating balance in the account.
Downside: Some wire/international transactions have fees, so it's not necessarily the cheapest choice for a heavily international business.
Novo has no monthly fee, no minimum balance and no transaction limits, and says accounts can be opened in minutes.
It also integrates with services such as Stripe, Shopify, QuickBooks and Square, which is useful for a small online business.
Why I'd choose it: A very clean option if you're a one-person consulting, freelance, agency or online business and don't need sophisticated treasury features.
Downside: Novo doesn't accept cash deposits.
Relay's Starter plan is $0/month and is explicitly designed for "solopreneurs & startups." It includes up to 20 checking accounts, which is unusually useful for a single-member LLC.
For example, you could have:
without actually opening accounts at different banks.
Why I'd choose it: If you follow a Profit First-style cash-management system, Relay may be the best fit.
Downside: Its outgoing domestic wire fee on Starter is currently $8, so Mercury can be better if you're frequently wiring money.
Found is worth a serious look because it's unusually tailored to one-person businesses. Its free plan includes business checking, expense categorization, invoicing, tax estimates and tax-related tools; it also supports Schedule C generation for single-member LLCs taxed as sole proprietorships.
Why I'd choose it: If you're more concerned with "banking + bookkeeping + taxes in one place" than sophisticated banking features.
Chase Business Complete Banking is currently $15/month, or $0 when you satisfy its waiver requirements, including $2,000 in qualifying activity.
I'd choose Chase instead if you expect to need cash deposits, branches, cashier's checks, Zelle, or a long-term traditional banking relationship. Otherwise, for a brand-new one-person LLC, you're paying for capabilities you may not need.
If you're a typical online/service business:
If your priority is literally "easiest + cheapest": I'd start with Mercury, Bluevine or Novo. All three currently have $0 monthly-fee entry-level banking, so the decision should be based more on features than price.
One important distinction: these are generally fintech platforms rather than banks themselves; the underlying banking services/deposit insurance come through partner FDIC-insured banks.
If you tell me (1) your LLC's state, (2) whether you're a U.S. citizen/resident, (3) expected monthly revenue, and (4) whether you'll receive/send international payments, I can narrow this to the 2 best choices and compare their onboarding requirements, ACH/wire fees, cash deposits, APY, and transaction limits.
For a newly formed single-member LLC, online business banking platforms (often fintechs partnering with FDIC-insured institutions) offer the fastest digital applications and $0 monthly maintenance…
For a newly formed single-member LLC, online business banking platforms (often fintechs partnering with FDIC-insured institutions) offer the fastest digital applications and $0 monthly maintenance fees.
The top online business banking platforms optimized for easy account opening and lowest (or zero) monthly fees include:
Note on traditional hybrid options: If you decide you ever need occasional physical branch access or cash deposits, Capital One Business Basic Checking and U.S. Bank Silver/Essentials Business Checking offer online applications with $0 monthly fees (or easily waivable ones), bridging the gap between digital convenience and traditional banking.
To help narrow down the ideal choice, let me know: