Business bank accounts for online sellers: currencies, payouts and fees
Important: This guide provides general information, not personalised financial advice. Financial products, rates and eligibility rules can change, so check the provider’s current terms before applying. You can check a firm’s details on the FCA Register.
Quick answer
If you sell online, money tends to arrive from marketplaces and payment processors, sometimes in other currencies, and go out to suppliers abroad. The costs to watch are currency conversion, international transfers and card spending abroad — not just the monthly fee.
Our pick for selling and paying in several currencies: Revolut Business, which includes currency exchange at the interbank rate up to an allowance (£1,000 a month on Basic). Our pick for UK-focused sellers who want no monthly fee: Starling, which also offers euro and US dollar business accounts.
Currency and payment costs compared
| Provider | Monthly fee | Foreign currency costs | Protection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revolut Business | Basic £10, Grow from £30, Scale from £90 a month | Basic: £1,000 a month at the interbank rate, then 0.6% | Check which Revolut entity holds your account — Revolut Bank UK Ltd is a bank; Revolut Ltd is e-money and not FSCS covered |
| Tide | Free plan: no plan fee. Smart £12.49, Pro £27.49, Max £69.99 a month | Free plan: 2.75% on card spending abroad; 0% on paid plans | Tide isn’t a bank. Most accounts are held with ClearBank (FSCS); some older e-money accounts aren’t FSCS covered |
| Countingup | 3-month free trial, then £5, £12 or £20 a month depending on monthly deposits | 3% foreign transaction fee | New accounts held with Griffin — FSCS protected; older e-money accounts are on old pricing |
| Starling | No monthly fee | Check provider | Bank — FSCS protected |
Figures as of 3 October 2026, taken from each provider’s own website. Fees, plans and eligibility change, so check the provider before applying.
Who it’s for
- Marketplace sellers receiving regular payouts
- Shopify, Etsy and eBay sellers buying stock from overseas suppliers
- Sellers taking card payments in person at fairs or pop-ups
- E-commerce businesses wanting multi-currency balances
Who should skip it
These are general points to weigh up, not advice. You may want to look elsewhere if:
- All your sales and suppliers are in the UK — a standard UK account may be enough
- You need specialist merchant services or high-volume payment processing
- You want an account that pays you in currencies the provider doesn’t support
- You’re looking for tax advice on overseas sales — check GOV.UK or an accountant
Full explanation
Follow the money
Map where your money comes from and goes to. If a marketplace pays you in pounds, currency fees may matter less than how quickly payouts land. If you buy stock in dollars or euros, the exchange rate and transfer fees can outweigh any monthly fee.
Multi-currency balances
Holding a currency balance lets you receive and pay in that currency without converting each time. Starling offers euro and US dollar business accounts; Revolut Business supports multiple currencies. Check which currencies are supported and how each is protected.
Records and VAT
Online sellers often deal with marketplace fees, refunds and VAT. A bank feed into your accounting software makes reconciling payouts much easier — see Business accounts with accounting integrations and our VAT calculator.
More reading: business expenses and cashflow and Business account fees explained.
The catch
Currency fees vary a lot. Tide’s Free plan charges 2.75% on card spending abroad (0% on paid plans); Countingup charges 3%. Revolut Business charges 0.6% once you pass your plan’s exchange allowance.
International transfers cost extra. Revolut Business charges £5 for an international transfer beyond your allowance.
Card acceptance has its own fees. Revolut’s card acceptance starts from 0.8% + £0.02 per transaction; terminals cost extra.
Check a provider’s current multi-currency terms:
These go straight to each provider’s own website. They aren’t referral links and we don’t earn from them.
FAQs
Which business accounts are good for selling abroad?
Look for low currency conversion fees and multi-currency balances. Revolut Business and Starling’s euro and dollar accounts are examples to compare.
Do I pay fees on marketplace payouts?
Usually not on UK transfers into a business account, but check your provider. Fees often sit with the marketplace or payment processor instead.
What does it cost to spend on my card abroad?
It varies — Tide’s Free plan charges 2.75%, while its paid plans charge 0%. Countingup charges 3%.
Can I take card payments with my business account?
Some providers offer card acceptance. Revolut’s starts from 0.8% + £0.02 per transaction.
Are multi-currency balances protected?
It depends on the provider and entity. Check whether the account is held with a bank or an e-money institution.
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