Getting started
Do I need a business bank account?
Yes — separating personal and business finances is the #1 thing that protects your LLC's liability shield. It's also required to open Stripe, accept ACH, etc.
2 minUpdated Apr 27, 2026
Mixing personal and business money is the fastest way to lose your LLC's liability protection. Courts call this 'piercing the corporate veil' — and it makes you personally liable for business debts.
What you need to open one
- Articles of Organization (the state-stamped one we deliver to your vault)
- EIN confirmation letter (CP 575)
- Operating agreement (most banks ask, even for single-member LLCs)
- Government ID for every authorized signer
- Initial deposit (varies — most banks $0–$100)
Recommended banks (no endorsement, just commonly used)
- Mercury — online-only, no monthly fees, made for startups
- Bluevine — high-yield checking, online
- Chase Business Complete — physical branches, broad ATM network
- Wells Fargo Initiate — physical branches, low minimums
- Local credit unions — often great rates, lower fees
Open the business account before you take your first dollar of revenue. Once you've commingled funds, separating them retroactively is messy and weakens the audit trail.
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