High FX fees for payouts in multiple currencies, difficulties accessing financing, poor customer support. If you’ve tried to operate your ecommerce business with a traditional bank account, you may have experienced some of these challenges.
But ecommerce business bank accounts are designed to help companies who operate in digital commerce run their business smoothly, all while protecting their bottom line and avoiding costly fees.
We’ve rounded up six options for ecommerce business accounts that can help you protect your profits and simplify your financial operations. This article covers:
The information about all the tools discussed in this article was collected between 14 March 2024 and 18 March 2024. This article was written and approved by Juni and is intended as marketing material.
Ever walk into a traditional bank to request financing for your upcoming Instagram ad campaign? Probably not. But if you have, how did that go?
Traditional business bank accounts have their benefits, but they often lack features and offerings custom-fit for ecommerce companies. We’re talking:
Ultimately, you want to work with a financial services provider that understands ecommerce—they should understand your most pressing needs and common pains, offering solutions and remedies to them.
For example, ecommerce business accounts often integrate seamlessly with major online sales platforms and payment processors, streamlining transaction management and financial oversight.
Plus, these accounts cater to the international nature of ecommerce, supporting multiple currencies and providing competitive exchange rates. This is vital for businesses selling across borders, ensuring they can manage foreign transactions efficiently without high fees.
Lastly, ecommerce bank accounts may offer advanced fraud protection features, recognizing the higher risk of online financial transactions. Enhanced security measures, such as real-time transaction monitoring and customised alert systems, help you protect your business.
Juni isn’t a bank, but rather a financial services provider custom-built for ecommerce businesses. In fact, co-founders Samir El-Sabini and Anders Orsedal both used to work in digital commerce. After becoming frustrated by the lack of financial services tailored to the needs of ecommerce businesses, they went on to create Juni.
Because of this, every single one of Juni’s offerings and features is designed specifically for companies that operate in digital commerce. Take the financial platform’s multi-currency accounts, for example. You can create up to ten IBAN accounts in your preferred currencies (SEK, GBP, EUR, USD or NOK), which you can manage on a centralised dashboard—perfect for if you sell your products across the globe.
You can also create virtual Juni Mastercard® Corporate cards in USD, SEK, EUR and GBP and designate which employees can use them or which suppliers they’re authorised for, giving you greater control over your company’s spend.
With Juni, you can create multiple virtual cards in a few clicks, meaning you can replace cards that might get blocked by an ad platform. What’s more, you get cashback on eligible debit spend—up to 1%—helping you boost your bottom line.
Additionally, you can set up your payouts from sales platforms like Shopify and Amazon so you’re paid directly into your Juni account. From there, you can make payments in different currencies with transparent and capped FX fees.
When you have a Juni account, you can also get access to capital on cards and invoices upon eligibility.* This means flexible credit lines for running ad campaigns, paying invoices and more, helping you optimise cash flow and grow your business.
Plus, you can use the platform to run your accounts payable processes, manage expenses and automate accounting for less manual work and fewer human errors.
And let’s not forget about protecting your profits—Juni’s advanced security measures protect your accounts, cards and business with features like encryption and strong authentication, as well as penetration tests and vulnerability scans.
Tide is an online banking solution that partners with ClearBank to offer accounts for small and growing businesses. With the Tide Cashback Account, you get unlimited free transfers, three free expense cards for employees and features like automated payments.
What’s more, you earn 0.5% cashback on card purchases, which can help to offset the card’s monthly fee of £49.99 + VAT per month. You also get access to a dedicated team of account managers, a 24/7 legal helpline and priority in-app support.
Airwallex offers a multi-currency business account that comes with high speed international transfers and borderless cards. With Airwallex, you can open local currency accounts in over 60 countries, accept payments from 180 countries and make transfers to over 150 countries.
The account also comes with time-saving accounts payable automations, as well as the ability to create custom approval workflows. Plus, Airwallex offers end-to-end expense management features that give you greater visibility and control over spend.
SumUp offers a free Business Account (no monthly fee and free Mastercard) for UK businesses with features like payment scheduling, cash flow management and a mobile app.
SumUp also comes with online store capabilities—it’s free to create an ecommerce website with the platform, which comes with transaction fees of 2.5%. You also get access to support seven days a week, in case you need expert guidance.
The HSBC Business Banking Account is a good option for companies that operate in digital commerce. This account is fit for both small and medium-sized businesses and comes with a designated Relationship Manager to provide personalised support.
With this account, you get access to a Visa Business Debit Card, as well as commercial and corporate business credit cards. And for visibility over your spending, you can always access account and transaction details, plus make payments, via a mobile banking app.
The SEB Business Account is available to European businesses and is in particular targeted towards small businesses and startups. There’s no monthly fee for the first six months with this account, after which you’re looking at a monthly fee of 130 SEK.
SEB offers customers personal 24/7 phone support, startup insurance options and a convenient mobile app. You also get access to a regular debit card, plus the option to apply for a free credit card with 45 days of a 0% interest rate. Plus, the account integrates with popular accounting software like Fortnox and Visma.
When selecting banking services for your ecommerce business, consider the following factors to ensure they align with your operational needs and growth ambitions.
Choose a bank that offers seamless integrations with ecommerce platforms and accounting software for simplified transaction tracking and financial reporting.
Understand the fee structure of the account, and look for transparent pricing without hidden charges. Along those lines, consider accounts with low transaction fees.
If your ecommerce business operates internationally, select an account that supports multiple currencies and offers competitive rates for currency exchange and international transactions.
Given the online nature of ecommerce, prioritise banks that offer robust security features. This includes fraud detection and secure online banking.
As your business grows, your needs will evolve. Choose an account that can scale with you, offering additional services and support as your operations get larger and more complicated.
Reliable customer support is a must. Find a provider that guarantees quick, dedicated support, ensuring you can get timely assistance and advice when needed.
As a digital commerce company, a generic bank account may not give you all the functionalities a business account designed for ecommerce brands would. By selecting a business account designed specifically for digital commerce brands, you get access to features that help you run your business better while scaling, lending to better ecommerce financial management.
So prioritise accounts that help you simplify your financial management and reduce costs in your business while offering options to free up your cash flow with flexible financing.
Juni business accounts, for example, simplify the way you spend and move money. With low FX fees, corporate cards and financing for ad spend and invoices, Juni provides ecommerce businesses with the resources they need to manage their finances wisely, ease cash flow and invest in growth. Get started with Juni today.
The best business bank account for an ecommerce brand is one that considers the unique needs of ecommerce companies. Ideally, these accounts should include features tailored to online businesses, such as integrated ecommerce platform functionalities, foreign currency handling and advanced cash flow analytics.
Having a business bank account for your ecommerce operations is definitely a good idea. It helps you keep personal and business finances separate and simplifies tax reporting. Plus, a business account often comes with specialised services and tools designed to support ecommerce activities, such as online payment processing and financial management integrations.