Do sole proprietors have to open a business account?

No, a business account for sole proprietors is not always required by law. With a business account like Vivid's, you keep your finances clearly separated and manage everything in one place.

Can I use a personal account for business purposes?

In principle, yes. However, many banks exclude business use of personal accounts in their terms. A dedicated account for your business keeps structures clear and avoids issues with taxes and bookkeeping.

How much does a business account for sole proprietors cost?

Prices vary by provider and plan. Many business accounts offer different features and price tiers. With Vivid, you choose the plan that fits your business and benefit from transparent pricing with no hidden fees.

Which documents are required to open an account?

To open a sole proprietor business account, you usually need a valid ID, proof of address and documents covering your self-employment — for example a trade registration or tax number. With Vivid, account opening is fully online with no paperwork.

How quickly can a business account be opened?

Many business accounts can be opened fully online. In most cases, your account is ready within minutes to a few hours. With Vivid, you can start right after approval.

Are there free business accounts for sole proprietors?

Yes, free business accounts for sole proprietors exist. With Vivid, you can also start on a free plan. As your needs grow, additional features are available in paid plans, so the account flexibly adapts to your business.

What should a good business account for sole proprietors include?

A good account offers fast payments, a clear financial overview and simple bookkeeping. With Vivid, you manage payments, expenses and finances in one app.

Which checks are part of the account opening?

When opening a free business account for sole proprietors, an identity check is performed, and in some cases a credit check. This ensures your business account is set up securely and correctly.

Open a business account for sole proprietors

With the business account for sole proprietors, you manage your finances simply and clearly. Open your account online in minutes and benefit from transparent pricing plus smart tools for payments, bookkeeping and cash flow. You save time every day and stay in full control of your business.

Open a business account

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Industry Leader 2026
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Best SME Service Provider 2026
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German Service Award 2026
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Best Business Account 2026
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Why sole proprietors choose our business account

Fast online opening
Open your sole proprietor account in just a few minutes, fully online. No paperwork, no long waiting times. You're ready to go right away and can focus on your business.
Transparent pricing with no hidden costs
You know from the start what your costs will be. No hidden fees, no surprises. Costs stay transparent and easy to plan.
Business and personal cleanly separated
Keep private and business finances strictly apart. That saves time on bookkeeping, reduces errors and keeps your day-to-day processes clear.
Everything digital in one app
Manage your finances in one app. You see income, expenses and payments in real time and always have the full picture.

Features for your business

Payments & transfers

Send and receive money quickly and reliably. With your sole proprietor business account, you handle SEPA transfers, instant payments and international transactions right in the app — and see at once which payments come in and what you spend.

Company cards

Manage business expenses more easily with flexible company cards. Assign payments directly, review transactions in real time and keep team spending under control.

Invoices & receipts

Create invoices in a few clicks and keep an eye on outstanding payments. Upload receipts directly and have them matched automatically, so you spend less time on manual tasks.

Bookkeeping & automation

Your sole proprietor account supports your bookkeeping with automated processes. Transactions are categorised, workflows simplified and errors reduced — so your finances are ready for tax season.

Financial overview & cash flow

See at a glance how your finances are doing. You instantly know how much money is available and make informed decisions for your business.

Integrations & tax advisors

Connect your account to bookkeeping tools and work smoothly with your tax advisor. Data can be shared directly, making coordination faster and more efficient.

Your sole proprietor business account in 3 steps

Apply online

Open your account in just a few minutes, fully online. You start digitally and set up your business account without paperwork or a bank appointment.

Verify your identity

Confirm your identity securely online via VideoIdent or digital verification. Your sole proprietor account is reviewed so everything is set up correctly and all features are available to you.

Start using your account

Once approved, your account is ready to use. Send payments, use cards, track income and manage your finances in one place — with a full view of your business at all times.

Open a business account for sole proprietors

Please review our website to understand the scope of our services and our Privacy notice for the use and handling of your data.

Your security, always in focus

Safely stored

Your money is safeguarded in full: in segregated client-money accounts with European partner banks and in a Qualifying Money Market Fund (QMMF), which may only hold low risk, highly liquid assets. Unlike traditional banks, we don’t use client funds for risky loans.

Overseen by European financial authorities

All our services are provided by the Vivid Money group: Vivid Money SA is regulated by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF) of Luxembourg and Vivid Money B.V. is regulated by the Dutch Authority for Financial Markets (AFM).

Secured against our insolvency

Your funds are kept separate from our own and safeguarded in full. In the unlikely event of Vivid Money S.A. becoming insolvent, your balance would not form part of its estate and would be claimable by you - there is no upper limit. On top of that, funds we hold for you in our client-money account at Natixis (France) are covered by the French statutory deposit guarantee, up to €100,000 per customer, if that bank were to fail. That cover applies to the funds held in that account, not to your full balance, and money market fund holdings are not deposits and are not covered. The funds in your account are yours, and yours alone.

Superior payment security

We comply with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards to protect your payment information.

2-step authentication

With 3D Secure and two-step authentication we ensure no payment is made without your authorisation.

GDPR compliance

Our servers are securely hosted in the European Union, ensuring full compliance with GDPR regulations.

Deposit protection

Your balance is safeguarded in full by Vivid Money S.A. Funds at our partner bank Natixis (France) also carry the French deposit guarantee, up to €100,000 per customer.

Plans for sole proprietors

Monthly

Payment period

Annual

Save up to 24%

Optimal for growing companies with high activity and advanced needs — built to keep fast teams in sync

Free Start
Suited for newly registered companies setting up finances and looking to try key banking features for free
0 € / month
Free of charge at all times
Get started
- Accounts & Interest
  - Free accounts with German IBANs
    Unlimited
  - Initial fixed interest rate p.a.*
    4%
  - Fixed interest rate p.a. after 4 months*
    0,1%
  - Initial fixed interest rate p.a., USD/GBP*
    5%
  - Fixed interest rate p.a. after 5 months, USD/GBP*
    0,2%
- Cards & Cashback
  - Guaranteed unlimited cashback
    0,1%
  - Cashback on selected categories and brands, up to
    2%
  - Virtual and physical cards
    Free
  - Card spending limits for ads & IT services
    Unlimited
- Transfers
  - SEPA Instant
    Free
  - Incoming SWIFT
    Free
  - Outgoing SWIFT
    Not Available
- Support
  - 24/7 human support
    Yes
  - Dedicated customer success team
    No
Basic
Great fit for small businesses with steady transactions needing reliable everyday banking at a low cost
6,9 € / month
2 months free trial
Get started
- Accounts & Interest
  - Free accounts with German IBANs
    Unlimited
  - Initial fixed interest rate p.a.*
    4%
  - Fixed interest rate p.a. after 4 months*
    0,5%
  - Initial fixed interest rate p.a., USD/GBP*
    5%
  - Fixed interest rate p.a. after 5 months, USD/GBP*
    1%
- Cards & Cashback
  - Guaranteed unlimited cashback
    0,2%
  - Cashback on selected categories and brands, up to
    4%
  - Virtual and physical cards
    Free
  - Card spending limits for ads & IT services
    Unlimited
- Transfers
  - SEPA Instant
    Free
  - Incoming SWIFT
    Free
  - Outgoing SWIFT
    5 free per month, then 5 €
- Support
  - 24/7 human support
    Yes
  - Dedicated customer success team
    No
Pro
Optimal for growing companies with high activity and advanced needs — built to keep fast teams in sync
18,9 € / month
2 months free trial
Get started
- Accounts & Interest
  - Free accounts with German IBANs
    Unlimited
  - Initial fixed interest rate p.a.*
    4%
  - Fixed interest rate p.a. after 4 months*
    1,3%
  - Initial fixed interest rate p.a., USD/GBP*
    5%
  - Fixed interest rate p.a. after 5 months, USD/GBP*
    2%
- Cards & Cashback
  - Guaranteed unlimited cashback
    0,5%
  - Cashback on selected categories and brands, up to
    6%
  - Virtual and physical cards
    Free
  - Card spending limits for ads & IT services
    Unlimited
- Transfers
  - SEPA Instant
    Free
  - Incoming SWIFT
    Free
  - Outgoing SWIFT
    10 free per month, then 5 €
- Support
  - 24/7 human support
    Yes
  - Dedicated customer success team
    Yes

Features you get on every plan

Invoicing
Free
Document uploads for bookkeeping (on every paid plan)
Unlimited
Integrations (sevDesk, Lexware Office, DATEV, ...)
Free
Business travel cashback up to
30%
Crypto Earn rewards up to
8% APY
Maximum loan amount & repayment term
200,000 €,
12 months
Fee for receiving card payments from clients (EEA cards), from
0,79% (+0,25 €)
Business Brokerage (stocks, ETFs, crypto)
Free
Tax filing (for freelancers)
Free
POS terminal
Free
Flat transaction fee (all cards)
Up to 1.49%
Digital employees (personal and legal AI assistants)
Free

Compare all features

What our customers say

Excellent! | 28,000+ reviews

5.0

Recommended for freelancers and business owners

So far my experience with Vivid has been great. From the customer service, the account opening, and the digital experience, I haven't had any issues with Vivid. I can only recommend it!

Erick Daniel, Germany

Trustpilot

5.0

I chose Vivid.Money

I chose Vivid.Money because it allows me to manage accounts for all my businesses in one place. Compared to other online banking systems I’ve tried, it offers the best value for money. For one of my businesses, I upgraded to the Pro account—it gives me access to real human support and the highest interest rates I’ve seen on the market. While their regular customer service is already solid, having the option to speak directly with someone was essential for me to build trust. Beyond the practical benefits, I genuinely appreciate how Vivid.Money supports my financial awareness. It’s a service I enjoy using and one that makes me more financially conscious day by day.

Lorand Balazs Imre, Germany

Trustpilot

4.0

Super quick Business account creation

I’d give 4.5 stars as my experience with Vivid has been great, but there is always room for improvement. Especially setting up the business account was so easy and fast, this really struck me. The new feature with E-invoicing is also quite useful but needs some more work with additional fields (e.g. my own tax ID). Looking forward trying more the cashback programs.

Eric, Germany

Trustpilot

5.0

I really love Vivid Bank

I really love Vivid Bank. Really easy to sign up. I love the fact I can have different space with different account numbers where I can transfer money to. The business account has a great interest rate and most important, the costumer support is excellent, something rare these days. Kudos to you and keep up with the good work!

Shaqueera Grey, Spain

Trustpilot

5.0

Very fast and good

Very fast approval, IBAN with connection to DATEV Unternehmen Online and VISA card within 2 days. Works perferct

Mark, Germany

Trustpilot

5.0

Best business banking platform in Europe

The experience with vivid is super smooth and the terms are great!

Marcel, Germany

Trustpilot

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Do sole proprietors have to open a business account?
No, a business account for sole proprietors is not always required by law. With a business account like Vivid's, you keep your finances clearly separated and manage everything in one place.
Can I use a personal account for business purposes?
In principle, yes. However, many banks exclude business use of personal accounts in their terms. A dedicated account for your business keeps structures clear and avoids issues with taxes and bookkeeping.
How much does a business account for sole proprietors cost?
Prices vary by provider and plan. Many business accounts offer different features and price tiers. With Vivid, you choose the plan that fits your business and benefit from transparent pricing with no hidden fees.
Which documents are required to open an account?
To open a sole proprietor business account, you usually need a valid ID, proof of address and documents covering your self-employment — for example a trade registration or tax number. With Vivid, account opening is fully online with no paperwork.
How quickly can a business account be opened?
Many business accounts can be opened fully online. In most cases, your account is ready within minutes to a few hours. With Vivid, you can start right after approval.
Are there free business accounts for sole proprietors?
Yes, free business accounts for sole proprietors exist. With Vivid, you can also start on a free plan. As your needs grow, additional features are available in paid plans, so the account flexibly adapts to your business.
What should a good business account for sole proprietors include?
A good account offers fast payments, a clear financial overview and simple bookkeeping. With Vivid, you manage payments, expenses and finances in one app.
Which checks are part of the account opening?
When opening a free business account for sole proprietors, an identity check is performed, and in some cases a credit check. This ensures your business account is set up securely and correctly.
How secure is a Vivid business account?
A Vivid business account offers modern security standards for digital financial services. Customer funds are kept separate from company assets and are not used for operational purposes. At one of our partner banks, statutory deposit protection applies on top: up to €100,000 per customer, as at any bank in the EU. The funds remain the customer's property, including any amount above that. The business checking account is also protected by strong authentication and encrypted data processing according to European data protection standards. You can read more about deposit protection here and here.