The best banks for agencies and consultants: How to find the right fit for your business

Most banks aren’t built with agency founders or independent consultants in mind. Onboarding can be slow and the tools often fall short of what you actually need to run your business. So, how do you find the best business bank account for consultants and agencies? 

It starts with more than just low fees. The ideal banking solutions for independent consultants and agency founders will help you minimize friction, accommodate cash flow that can be unpredictable, and streamline essential tasks — like invoicing, bookkeeping, paying bills, and managing client-based revenue. To get your business growth-ready, choose an option that offers quick access to capital, built-in support, and integrations and automations that scale alongside your operations.

In this guide, we’ll review how business accounts at fintechs, traditional banks, and credit unions meet the needs of agency founders and independent consultants.

Fees and limits

When you’re running an agency or consultancy on thin margins, unnecessary fees and hidden charges can quickly become a headache. So, choose business accounts that offer transparent pricing, zero monthly fees, free wire transfers, and competitive rates for international payments. 

Unified, built-in financial software 

Stitching together a mashup of tools (plus their associated fees) for paying bills, invoicing, and spend controls is an outdated approach. Instead of spending precious time managing separate tools, look for intuitive, integrated business account platforms that consolidate these workflows. That way, you can maximize your productivity and spend more of your time doing what you do best — providing next-level professional services to your clients.

Working capital and financing 

Agencies and consultants often have irregular cash flow cycles in which incoming revenue doesn’t necessarily align with outgoing expenses. To support this type of business model, opt for revenue-based financing options and working capital loans that have flat-fee pricing and don’t require personal guarantees. 

Cash flow visibility

Modern solutions, like real-time dashboards, offer up-to-the-minute details about which client your money is coming from and where it’s going (such as to contractors, marketing campaigns, or travel). 

Integrations and APIs

Whether your business relies on QuickBooks, Notion, Gusto, or other tools, seamless integrations and APIs that connect your financial accounts to your accounting software, bookkeeping tools, and payroll solutions streamline your workflows. With the right business account and automations, you can reduce the risk of manual errors and save time, while monitoring your money movements. 

Mobile app

Choose an online banking service that lets you access, manage, and move your money from anywhere via a user-friendly, mobile app, so you won’t have to slow your pace while traveling or visiting clients.

FDIC insurance 

Agencies or consultant businesses may carry large balances from time to time, given the nature of client-based or project-based revenue. Choose a business account with strong FDIC coverage that goes beyond the standard $250K, so you’ll have an extra safety net for your cash and peace of mind.

Credit cards that scale with your business

Scaling your company can mean wining and dining clients, traveling for business engagements, hiring, and otherwise investing in your business. To grow your agency or consulting business the way you want, avoid credit cards that require personal guarantees or a lengthy credit history. Instead, go with a credit card that offers a low-deposit minimum, unlimited cashback, and customizable, multi-user controls to help you maintain clear visibility into your teams’ access and spending patterns.

Check out more tips for choosing the best corporate credit card for startups.

Modern fintechs, legacy banks, or credit unions: Which one offers the best business bank account for consultants and agency founders? To find a suitable match for your business, see the advantages and drawbacks of each type of provider below.

Based on publicly available information as of December 2025.

The best business bank account for consultants and agency founders depends on what tools you’ll need to achieve your business ambitions. If you’re a solo consultant or founder of a small early-stage agency, a simple, low-fee digital account or an account with a legacy bank or local credit union may be sufficient. But, as you grow your operations, you’ll likely need more advanced digital tools for streamlining and automating your bookkeeping, invoicing, and payment workflows.

If you’re growing your operations, you may need access to business credit or tools to support new hires, like flexible company credit cards with custom user roles and controls. Choosing a fintech, like Mercury, with modern integrations means you can seamlessly connect your go-to accounting software with your banking platform — and move faster without the friction and lag of legacy systems.

Agencies and consultants need banking tools that simplify financial operations and workflows, as well as flexible cash flow options that fuel growth. Whether you’re working on getting your first 100 customers or you’ve already built a steady stream of clients, with Mercury, agency founders and consultants can: 

• Eliminate friction and minimize costs with no monthly fees or minimums, free USD wires, and a digital platform built for the pace of modern business. 
• Consolidate tools for bill pay, sending wires and ACH, managing expenses, invoicing, bookkeeping, and more. 
• Increase cash flow during unpredictable periods with working capital loans, treasury yield, and cashback credit cards. 

That’s why more than 200,000 startups and small businesses choose Mercury. With one powerfully intuitive account, you can simplify your banking, so you can focus on growing your business.

Learn more about Mercury for agencies and consultants.