Starling Business is a free current account for UK sole traders and a paid account for registered limited companies. For sole traders in particular, it is consistently rated one of the best business current accounts in the UK — free, with real-time notifications, accounting software integration, and strong app tools.
The account shares Starling’s sort code (60-83-71) and the same infrastructure as its personal account, with added business-specific features.
Part of the Starling Bank hub — for the personal account review see Starling Bank Review 2026.
Starling Business Account — Key Facts
| Feature | Sole trader | Limited company |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | £0 | From ~£7/month |
| UK bank transfers | Free | Free |
| UK ATM withdrawals | Free | Free |
| Foreign spending | Free | Free |
| Accounting integrations | Xero, FreeAgent, QuickBooks | Same |
| Invoicing | Via Starling app | Same |
| Business Spaces | Yes | Yes |
| FSCS protection | Up to £85,000 | Up to £85,000 |
| VAT payments to HMRC | Yes — direct from app | Same |
| Sort code | 60-83-71 | 60-83-71 |
Who Is Starling Business For?
Starling Business is particularly well suited to:
- Sole traders — freelancers, contractors, self-employed tradespeople, consultants
- Small limited companies with straightforward banking needs
- Businesses already using Xero, FreeAgent, or QuickBooks — the integrations are seamless
- Owners who want to manage business and personal banking in the same app — Starling allows multiple accounts under one login
It is less suited to:
- Businesses that regularly handle large volumes of cash (deposit limits apply)
- Companies that need a credit facility or business loan as a primary requirement
- Very large businesses that need dedicated business banking relationship managers
Business Spaces
Business Spaces work the same as personal Spaces — ring-fenced pots within the account for specific purposes. See the Starling Spaces guide for full detail on how Spaces work.
Common business uses include:
- Tax reserve: Move a set percentage of each payment received straight into a Tax Space. When your Self Assessment bill arrives, the money is ready.
- VAT pot: Ring-fence VAT collected from customers so it doesn’t get spent.
- Payroll: Set aside payroll funds ahead of pay day.
Starling also has a VAT payment feature — you can pay your VAT directly to HMRC from within the app without needing to log in to HMRC’s portal separately.
Accounting Software Integration
Starling Business connects directly to:
| Software | What syncs |
|---|---|
| Xero | All transactions, real-time |
| FreeAgent | All transactions, real-time |
| QuickBooks | All transactions, real-time |
This removes the need to manually import bank statements. Transactions appear in your accounting software as they happen. For sole traders doing their own bookkeeping, this alone justifies using Starling Business over a traditional bank.
Applying for Starling Business
Sole traders:
- Download the Starling app
- Go to Account → Add a new account → Business account
- Complete ID verification (passport or driving licence)
- Answer questions about your business
- Approval typically within minutes to 24 hours
Limited companies:
- Additional documents required: Certificate of Incorporation, company details, director information
- Review process is more thorough — expect 1–5 working days
- Monthly fee applies from account opening
Starling Business vs Alternatives
For a broader comparison across all business accounts, see Best Business Bank Accounts UK.
| Account | Monthly fee | Free transfers | Accounting | Cash deposit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starling (sole trader) | £0 | ✅ Yes | Xero, FreeAgent, QB | Post Office free |
| Monzo Business | From £5/month | ✅ Yes | Xero, FreeAgent | £1/deposit, £1k/6mo |
| Tide | Free or from £9.99/month | 20p per transfer (free tier) | Xero, QuickBooks | Via Post Office |
| Revolut Business | From £0 | Limited on free plan | Xero, QuickBooks | Not supported |
| HSBC Kinetic | £6.50/month | ✅ Yes | Xero, FreeAgent | Branch access |
For sole traders, Starling Business is hard to beat on value: genuinely free, full accounting integrations, and the same strong ATM and travel features as the personal account.
Worked Example — Freelance Designer Using Starling Business
A freelance graphic designer invoices clients, pays for subscriptions and equipment, and submits a Self Assessment return each year.
With Starling Business:
- Invoices sent → payment arrives in the business account in seconds
- 20% moved to Tax Space automatically via standing order
- Xero syncs automatically — no manual imports, no spreadsheets
- VAT paid directly to HMRC from the app at the quarter end
- At year end, FreeAgent has a full record; the Self Assessment is straightforward
Monthly cost: £0
Related Guides
Starling Hub
- Starling Bank Hub — Complete Guide — All Starling guides in one place
- Starling Bank Review 2026 — Full personal account review and verdict
- Starling Fees — What Starling charges (and what’s free)
Starling Features
- Starling Spaces Explained — How to use Spaces for tax reserves and pots
- Starling Cash Deposit — How to pay cash in via the Post Office
- Starling ATM Withdrawal Limit — Cash withdrawal allowances
- Starling Transfer Limit — How much you can send per day
- Starling Sort Code — Sort code, account number, and IBAN
- Starling Customer Service — How to get help
- Starling Gambling Block — How to block gambling transactions
Business Banking
- Best Business Bank Accounts UK — Full comparison of all business accounts
- Business Bank Account Guide — How to open and choose a business account
Compare
- Monzo vs Starling vs Revolut — Full digital bank comparison