Starling Business Account Review (2025): Features and fees

A business account should do more than hold your money – it should make running your business easy. Whether you’re a sole-trader, scrappy startup, or enterprise company, chances are you’re looking for a banking partner that handles instant domestic payments, helps you manage your cash flow, can handle multiple currencies, promises low fees, and integrates with your existing business software. 

In the digital banking space, Starling Bank has built a solid reputation among UK freelancers and small business owners as an innovative, simple, cost-effective platform that has good customer support.

But in 2025, does it suit businesses with buyers, sellers, or suppliers overseas?

In this review, we break down Starling’s key features, fees, and benefits to help you decide if it’s a good fit for your business.

What is Starling?

Founded in 2014 in London, Starling Bank was the UK’s first fully licensed digital bank¹ and has no physical branches. Now serving over 500,000 UK business customers, it has established itself primarily as a domestic banking solution for British sole traders and limited companies, offering FSCS protection up to £85,000². 

Positioned as an easy-to-use, low-cost business account, Starling provides modern features like real-time notifications and spending categorisation, but its international capabilities remain limited. For businesses trading globally, Starling offers basic EUR and USD accounts as additional add-ons.

How does Starling work?

Starling operates its business accounts through its highly-rated mobile app and web platform. When a UK business opens an account, it receives a free GBP current account with a Mastercard debit card compatible with Apple, Google, Samsung, and Garmin Pay³.

Businesses enjoy instant notifications for all transactions, automated spending categorisation, digital receipt capture, and the ability to create separate ‘Spaces’ for paying bills. Starling also integrates with major UK accounting software alongside various business services through its marketplace. 

The platform follows a transparent pricing model: Core domestic banking is free, but additional features come at separate monthly costs:

• International needs require separate currency accounts (EUR: £2/month, USD: £5/month)

• Business administration tools are available via The Business Toolkit (£7/month). These include invoicing, tax calculation, and VAT submission capabilities that are designed primarily for UK tax obligations.

This à la carte approach means businesses pay individually for each service they need. As customers expand to new markets or require additional features, both costs and account management complexity may increase accordingly.

Key features of Starling Business Accounts

Starling combines essential banking functions with modern digital capabilities to support small and medium UK businesses.

Key Features:

• Free UK business current account

• Multi-currency account

• Physical and digital Mastercard debit cards

• Money management tools

• Marketplace integration

• FSCS protection

Free UK business current account

Starling offers a fee-free GBP business account with no monthly charges and unlimited free UK transfers, making it particularly attractive for startups and small businesses minimising overhead costs.

Multi-currency accounts

Starling provides EUR and USD accounts (each with additional monthly fees) that offer local receiving details for businesses trading internationally. While this allows companies to accept payments in two major currencies, businesses operating in multiple international markets may find the offering restrictive.

The associated cards have no additional charges for same-currency purchases.

Physical and digital Mastercard debit cards

Businesses receive a contactless Mastercard debit card that works globally with no foreign transaction fees. The card integrates with Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, and Garmin Pay for convenient mobile payments with customisable security controls.

Money management tools

For an additional fee, businesses can access bookkeeping features like invoice creation and management, tax calculations and VAT submissions. These are particularly valuable for sole traders.

Marketplace integrations

Starling connects seamlessly with essential business tools, including Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent, and various insurance, lending, and payment processing services through its in-app marketplace.

FSCS protection

As a licensed UK bank, Starling provides Financial Services Compensation Scheme protection, offering business owners peace of mind that their funds are secure up to the value of £85,000.

Starling pricing and fees

Starling offers multiple pricing tiers to suit businesses of different sizes and needs.⁴

What do you need to open a Starling business account?

To open a Starling business account, you'll need to provide⁸:

• Documents showing your business activity and trading history, which may include:

  • Signed agreements or contracts

  • Industry body membership proof

  • Relevant qualifications

  • Business licences or registrations

  • Solicitor documents or decisions in principle

  • Property ownership proof or land registry details

  • Lease agreements

  • Bank statements showing business transactions.

• If you don't already have a Starling personal account, you'll also need to:

  • Upload an ID document

  • Complete video verification

  • Provide proof of address (if requested).

The application process is completed entirely through Starling's mobile app or website. If you apply as a sole trader, the Starling team will check if you are eligible for an account.

Alternatives to Starling: consider Airwallex

While Starling provides reliable UK banking services, companies operating globally are likely to outgrow Starling's limited currency options (currently USD and EUR), limited payment routes, and basic international capabilities.

If you're looking for a business account to help you win and keep overseas customers, a purpose-built platform like Airwallex may be a better option. Instead of adding international capabilities as an afterthought, Airwallex is designed specifically for ambitious companies expanding across borders with local accounts in 23+ currencies, competitive FX rates, and integrated global payment collection from 180+ countries.

Every Airwallex plan also offers treasury management, borderless cards, and expense control features in one unified dashboard. This gives our customers the comprehensive global infrastructure they need to compete effectively in international markets without the limitations of domestic-oriented banking solutions, which often include additional account management, higher fees, long settlement times, and fragmented visibility across currencies.

Ultimately, your choice of business account should match your ambitions. For UK-focused operations, Starling offers a solid foundation. For businesses crossing borders, Airwallex could provide the tools you need to scale with confidence in 2025 and beyond.

How to open a business account with Airwallex

Opening an Airwallex account is straightforward. Simply visit the Airwallex website, complete the online application form, and upload the required documentation. Approval typically takes a few days, after which you can access your account.

Disclaimer: We wrote this article in Q1 2025. The information in this article is based on our own online research. Airwallex wasn't able to manually test each tool or provider. The information is provided for educational purposes only and a reader should consider the specific requirements of their business when evaluating providers. This research is reviewed annually. If you would like to request an update, feel free to contact us at [[email protected]]. Airwallex (UK) Limited is authorised by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority (‘FCA’) under the Electronic Money Regulations 2011 (‘EMRs’) (firm reference number 900876). If you would like to request an update, feel free to contact us at [email protected].

Sources & References

1. https://www.starlingbank.com/about/

2. https://www.starlingbank.com/business-account/

3. https://www.starlingbank.com/business-account/

4. https://www.starlingbank.com/business-account/

5. https://www.starlingbank.com/send-money-abroad/country-fees/

6. https://www.starlingbank.com/business-account/multi-currency/euro-business-account/

7. https://www.starlingbank.com/business-account/multi-currency/usd-business-account/

8. https://help.starlingbank.com/business/topics/setting-up-an-account/what-documents-do-i-need-to-open-a-starling-business-account/