Compare Business Bank Accounts in South Africa: Monthly Fees, Transactions and Banking Features

Choosing between business bank accounts in South Africa is not as simple as looking for the lowest monthly fee.

A business that makes five electronic payments a month has very different banking needs from one that processes 50 or 100 payments. A cash-heavy retailer may care more about deposit charges, while an online business may care more about EFT pricing, digital banking and payment acceptance.

That is why I prefer looking at the complete pricing structure rather than asking which account has the cheapest monthly fee.

For this comparison, I checked current 2026 information published by FNB, Standard Bank, Absa, Nedbank and Capitec. The banks use different pricing models, so the figures below should be read as examples of the currently published account structures rather than a universal ranking.

FNB currently lists First Business Zero from R0 per month for qualifying sole proprietors, Gold Business from R49 and Platinum Business from R150.

Standard Bank lists MyMoBiz at R15 per month on a pay-as-you-transact structure, while its Bizlaunch account is R315 per month with bundled services.

Absa’s current Business Evolve range includes Evolve Lite at R50 per month, PAYT at R115 and fixed-fee packages such as Evolve Start at R335.

Nedbank currently lists a R0-per-month Startup Bundle for qualifying sole business owners for two years, Business Pay-as-you-use at R80 per month, Business Bundle 50 at R320 and Business Bundle 100 at R450.

Capitec’s current business offering has a R50 monthly fee for CIPC-registered businesses, while qualifying sole proprietors and unregistered businesses can use its Entrepreneur Account without an additional monthly fee and pay the same transaction fees as its personal banking pricing.

Important Notes:

• Business bank accounts in South Africa generally use either pay-as-you-transact, bundled pricing, or a combination of the two.
• A low monthly fee does not automatically mean a low total banking cost.
• FNB offers several business-account tiers, including First Business Zero for qualifying sole proprietors with annual turnover of up to R1 million.
• Standard Bank’s MyMoBiz has a R15 monthly fee and provides several free digital and card-related features, while MyMoBiz Plus costs R175 per month and includes 10 free electronic payments.
• Absa Business Evolve Lite costs R50 per month and charges separately for many transactions, while Evolve Start bundles 50 electronic transactions for R335 per month.
• Nedbank offers both pay-as-you-use and fixed transaction bundles, including Business Bundle 50 and Business Bundle 100.
• Capitec’s 2026 business model emphasises simple transaction pricing, with a R50 monthly business fee for CIPC-registered companies and an Entrepreneur Account for sole proprietors and informal businesses.
• The most meaningful comparison is the total cost based on your actual business activity, including EFTs, cash deposits, card payments, debit orders and payment-acceptance services.
• Account eligibility matters. Some products are designed for sole proprietors, while others require a registered business or have turnover thresholds.

Why Business Bank Accounts Are Different From Personal Accounts

A business account does more than provide somewhere to receive money.

It can separate business income and expenses from personal spending, provide business-specific statements, support multiple users or signatories, facilitate supplier payments and help create a clearer financial record for the business.

The features you need will depend on how your business operates.

For example, a freelancer working mostly online might need:

• Low electronic-payment costs
• Mobile and online banking
• Easy account statements
• A way to receive payments
• A separate account for business income

A retail business might instead need:

• Cash deposits
• Card-payment acceptance
• Multiple cards
• Supplier payments
• Higher transaction limits
• Cash-management services

A growing company may need something more advanced, including relationship banking, credit facilities, international payments and additional business-management tools.

That difference explains why comparing only the monthly account fee can produce the wrong conclusion.

Business Bank Account Pricing Models Explained

Before comparing individual banks, it helps to understand how the pricing models work.

Pay-as-you-transact

With this structure, you pay a monthly account or maintenance fee and then pay separately for transactions.

This can work well for businesses with relatively low transaction volumes.

Absa’s Evolve Lite, for example, currently charges R50 per month and uses a pay-as-you-transact structure, with electronic transactions priced separately.

Nedbank’s Business Pay-as-you-use account currently has an R80 monthly maintenance fee and is specifically described as being suited to businesses starting out or with lower transaction volumes.

Bundled pricing

A bundled account charges a higher fixed monthly fee but includes a defined number of transactions or services.

This makes monthly costs more predictable.

Standard Bank’s Bizlaunch account, for example, currently costs R315 per month and includes bundled services.

Nedbank’s Business Bundle 50 and Business Bundle 100 follow the same general principle, with R320 and R450 monthly maintenance fees respectively.

Hybrid pricing

Some banks offer several plans so a business can move between pay-as-you-use and bundled pricing as its needs change.

FNB’s business range is a good example. It offers multiple account levels and pricing structures depending on the business’s turnover and transaction requirements.

This is useful because your business may not have the same transaction pattern next year that it has today.

FNB Business Bank Accounts

FNB has several business-account options aimed at different business sizes and turnover levels.

Its current business-account page lists:

FNB First Business Zero: from R0 per month, for qualifying sole proprietors with turnover of R0 to R1 million per year.

FNB Gold Business: from R49 per month, for businesses with turnover of R0 to R5 million.

FNB Platinum Business: from R150 per month, for businesses with turnover of R5 million to R60 million.

FNB Enterprise Business: relationship-based pricing for businesses with turnover of R60 million or more.

FNB First Business Zero

This account is particularly relevant to sole proprietors and small businesses.

FNB says the account is designed for sole proprietors with annual turnover between R0 and R1 million. It has zero monthly account fees and includes unlimited card swipes.

The account also connects with business services such as Speedpoint Go, SpeedeeApp and SpeedeeQR for payment acceptance, as well as access to business funding solutions.

The important qualification is that this is not simply a free account for every business.

The eligibility criteria matter.

FNB Gold and Platinum

Businesses that are larger or have more demanding banking needs can move into FNB’s Gold or Platinum structures.

The Platinum Business account, for example, has different pricing options, including pay-as-you-use and single-fee pricing.

FNB’s published Platinum comparison shows a R105 monthly fee under its pay-as-you-use option, while bundled options are priced at R415 and R560 and include defined transaction allowances.

This demonstrates why the phrase “FNB business account fee” is not enough to describe what a customer will actually pay.

There are different account tiers and pricing models.

Standard Bank Business Bank Accounts

Standard Bank also uses different pricing structures for small businesses.

Two useful examples are MyMoBiz and Bizlaunch.

Standard Bank MyMoBiz

Standard Bank currently lists MyMoBiz at R15 per month on its pay-as-you-transact structure.

The account includes a business debit card and several digital features.

Standard Bank says free features include debit-card purchases, inter-account transfers, statements through digital channels, emailed statements and certain account-management functions.

That makes the account structure particularly relevant when your business mainly uses digital banking rather than frequent branch transactions.

Standard Bank MyMoBiz Plus

For businesses that want more transactions bundled into the monthly fee, Standard Bank offers MyMoBiz Plus.

The current listed monthly fee is R175, and the account includes 10 free electronic payments per month. It also includes free debit-card purchases and ATM deposits up to R25,000.

The difference between R15 and R175 therefore is not simply about account access.

It is about what gets bundled into the pricing structure.

Standard Bank Bizlaunch

Bizlaunch currently costs R315 per month and uses a bundled-pricing model.

Standard Bank says the account includes a fixed fee for bundled transactions, multiple company-card options and digital banking access. It also provides access to relationship-manager support.

For a business with regular transactions, the predictable monthly fee can be easier to budget for than a pure pay-as-you-use structure.

Absa Business Bank Accounts

Absa’s Business Evolve range provides several pricing levels.

The current comparison includes:

These are current published monthly fees; eligibility and transaction inclusions differ between products.

Business Evolve Lite

At R50 per month, Evolve Lite is aimed at smaller businesses.

Absa says it is designed for registered businesses with annual turnover up to R1.5 million and provides access to Absa Online, the banking app, a Visa debit card and Liquidity Plus.

Electronic transfers are charged separately under the pay-as-you-transact model.

Business Evolve PAYT

The current comparison lists the Business Evolve PAYT account at R115 per month.

It includes free Absa inter-account transfers and Absa-to-Absa debit orders, while electronic transactions use the applicable transaction pricing.

This structure can make sense for a business that wants a relatively predictable base fee without committing to a large monthly transaction bundle.

Business Evolve Start

The Evolve Start package costs R335 per month and includes:

• 50 electronic transactions
• 10 cash deposits or withdrawals at Absa ATMs, subject to the stated cash-value cap
• 2 immediate interbank payments
• Unlimited Absa inter-account transfers
• Unlimited Absa-to-Absa debit orders
• Digital banking access

This is a very different proposition from Evolve Lite.

The monthly fee is substantially higher, but more activity is included.

Nedbank Business Bank Accounts

Nedbank’s small-business offering is structured around both pay-as-you-use and fixed-fee packages.

Its current published options include:

The Startup Bundle is for sole business owners with annual turnover below R1 million and is available online.

The Business Pay-as-you-use package is described by Nedbank as suitable for businesses starting out or those with lower transaction volumes.

The fixed bundles become relevant when the number of monthly transactions increases.

Nedbank says Business Bundle 50 includes 50 transactions and Business Bundle 100 includes up to 100 transactions, along with business-card and other banking features.

One point worth remembering is that a promotional or introductory price should not be confused with the long-term account cost.

If an account has a temporary fee waiver, calculate what you will pay after the promotional period ends.

Capitec Business Bank Accounts

Capitec takes a different approach to business banking.

Its current business-banking page lists a R50 monthly fee for businesses that are CIPC registered, with the same low transaction fees as its Personal Banking Account.

For sole proprietors, side hustlers and freelancers who are not registered companies, Capitec offers an Entrepreneur Account.

The bank says there is no additional monthly fee for this account and that customers pay the same transaction fees as its personal banking structure.

Capitec’s current 2026 fee guide states:

• R1 for a Capitec-to-Capitec payment
• R2 for a payment to another South African bank
• R3 for a debit order
• R6 for an immediate payment to another South African bank
• R10 per R1,000 for cash withdrawals at any South African bank ATM

The published pricing is valid from 1 March 2026.

Capitec also says its Entrepreneur Account allows business owners to separate business and personal finances and use a linked card machine.

Business Bank Account Comparison for Monthly Fees

Looking only at the starting monthly fees produces this snapshot:

But this table should not be read as a ranking.

The accounts are not identical.

Some have turnover requirements. Some are specifically for sole proprietors. Some bundle transactions. Others charge per transaction.

A R15 account and a R335 account cannot be compared fairly by monthly fee alone if one includes dozens of transactions and the other does not.

Comparing Transaction Costs

This is where the comparison becomes much more useful.

Imagine two businesses.

The first business is a freelance designer who sends five EFTs a month, receives client payments electronically and rarely handles cash.

The second is a small retailer that makes 40 supplier payments, deposits cash regularly and has several employees using business cards.

The first business may have little reason to pay for a large transaction bundle.

The second may benefit from paying a higher fixed fee if the included transactions reduce its variable costs.

This is the same principle I found when comparing personal bank accounts: the account that looks cheapest on the advertising page may not be the cheapest once you use it regularly.

Our Compare Bank Accounts Using Real Usage Scenarios article goes deeper into this method.

Why Cash Deposits Matter for a Business

Cash handling can completely change the calculation.

An online consultancy may deposit almost no physical cash.

A restaurant, informal retailer or market trader may deposit cash several times a week.

In that situation, you need to check:

• Cash-deposit fees
• Cash withdrawal fees
• Deposit limits
• ATM versus branch pricing
• Whether cash deposits are included in a bundle
• Whether charges are calculated per transaction or according to the cash amount

For example, Standard Bank’s MyMoBiz Plus currently includes ATM cash deposits up to R25,000 without the stated charge.

Absa’s Evolve Start includes 10 cash deposits or withdrawals at an Absa ATM, subject to a monthly cash-value cap.

These details matter far more to a cash-intensive business than whether the monthly account fee differs by R20 or R30.

Digital Banking Features Matter Too

The modern business account is not just a place where money enters and leaves.

Your business may rely on digital tools every day.

Look at whether the account supports:

Mobile banking: Can you approve or monitor transactions while away from your desk?

Online banking: Can you manage payments, beneficiaries and statements efficiently?

Multiple users: Can employees or business partners have appropriate access?

Payment approvals: Can transactions require more than one person to approve them?

Statements: Can you retrieve historical statements without visiting a branch?

Payment acceptance: Can you accept card or mobile payments?

Business funding: Does the bank offer overdrafts, loans or asset finance that fit your business needs?

Standard Bank’s MyMoBiz, for example, includes digital account management and a feature for jointly approving payments through Permissions Manager.

FNB’s First Business Zero provides access to business funding solutions and payment-acceptance products such as Speedpoint Go and SpeedeeApp.

Capitec also connects its business offering with card machines, business credit and other services.

Turnover Can Determine Which Account You Can Use

One of the easiest mistakes is choosing an account based on its fee before checking its eligibility.

FNB’s First Business Zero is designed for sole proprietors with annual turnover up to R1 million. Its Gold Business covers turnover from R0 to R5 million, while Platinum covers R5 million to R60 million.

Absa’s Evolve Lite is aimed at registered businesses with turnover up to R1.5 million, while other Evolve products have broader eligibility.

Nedbank’s Startup Bundle is for sole business owners below R1 million annual turnover.

This is why the monthly fee should be the second question rather than the first.

The first question is:

Can my business actually qualify for the account I am comparing?

Sole Proprietor vs Registered Company

Your business structure can also affect which account is appropriate.

A sole proprietor and a CIPC-registered company do not necessarily have the same banking requirements.

Capitec makes this distinction particularly clear.

Its Entrepreneur Account is designed for sole proprietors, side hustlers and freelancers who are not registered businesses, while its Business Banking account is aimed at CIPC-registered businesses.

FNB’s First Business Zero is also specifically designed for sole proprietors.

If you operate as a registered company, check whether the account requires company-registration documentation, resolutions or information about directors and signatories.

Standard Bank, for example, lists company registration documents among the requirements for a registered business applying for its business accounts.

Which Features Should You Compare?

Instead of copying a bank’s marketing checklist, I would compare business accounts across the same categories.

Monthly fee

What is the fixed cost before you make a single transaction?

EFT payments

How much does each electronic payment cost?

If you make 50 payments every month, this can become more important than the account fee.

Immediate payments

Do you regularly need money to reach suppliers or employees quickly?

If so, compare the immediate-payment fee.

Cash deposits

This is critical for businesses that receive physical cash.

Debit orders

Check both incoming and outgoing debit-order charges where relevant.

Card purchases

Find out whether business card purchases are free, bundled or separately charged.

Payment acceptance

If customers pay by card or mobile, compare the cost of the payment-acceptance system as well as the bank account itself.

Digital banking

Look at the actual tools you will use rather than simply checking whether an app exists.

Multiple users and approvals

This becomes increasingly important as the business grows.

Business funding

If you may need an overdraft, working-capital facility or asset finance, check what the bank offers separately from the transactional account.

A Practical Business Bank Account Comparison

Here is how I would approach the comparison before opening an account.

Scenario 1: Freelancer with low transaction volume

Imagine a freelancer with monthly revenue of R25,000.

They receive client payments electronically and make around eight business payments a month.

They rarely deposit cash.

For this type of business, a low fixed fee and simple electronic transaction pricing may be more important than 50 bundled transactions.

Accounts such as FNB First Business Zero, Standard Bank MyMoBiz, Capitec’s Entrepreneur Account or a Nedbank pay-as-you-use option illustrate the kinds of structures worth examining.

Scenario 2: Growing small business

Now imagine a business with 30 to 50 electronic transactions every month.

The owner also needs multiple business cards and more predictable monthly expenses.

At this point, bundled accounts become more interesting.

Standard Bank MyMoBiz Plus, Absa Evolve Start and Nedbank’s Business Bundle 50 illustrate different approaches to bundling transactions and services.

Scenario 3: Higher transaction volume

A business making close to 100 transactions a month needs to look beyond the entry-level accounts.

Nedbank’s Business Bundle 100, for example, includes up to 100 transactions for a R450 monthly maintenance fee.

Absa’s higher Evolve packages also increase the number of included electronic transactions as the monthly fee rises. Evolve Grow currently includes 85 electronic transactions, while Evolve Excel includes 150.

At this level, the calculation should be based on actual transaction volume rather than the headline monthly fee.

How to Calculate Your Real Business Banking Cost

A simple calculation is:

Total monthly banking cost = monthly account fee + transaction fees + cash fees + debit-order fees + other service charges

For a bundled account, you then need to account for transactions outside the included allowance.

For example, if an account includes 50 electronic transactions but your business makes 70, the additional 20 transactions can change the calculation.

That is why I recommend recording one representative month’s banking activity before changing accounts.

Count:

• EFT payments
• Immediate payments
• Debit orders
• Cash deposits
• Cash withdrawals
• Card transactions
• Branch transactions
• International payments
• Other recurring business services

Then compare those figures against each account’s tariff.

Our SA Bank Fees Calculator can help estimate monthly banking costs by allowing you to enter your monthly account fee, EFTs, instant payments, debit orders, cash deposits and other charges.

It is an estimate rather than an official bank quotation, but it can make the comparison easier.

What About Bank Promotions?

Promotions can make an account temporarily cheaper.

For example, banks sometimes waive monthly fees for new customers, provide cashback, offer payment-acceptance incentives or introduce limited-time business offers.

The important thing is to separate the promotional benefit from the standard account pricing.

Our Bank Specials page tracks South African bank promotions and incentives, although promotional terms and closing dates should always be checked against the bank’s own current terms before relying on them.

For a business, a once-off reward should not outweigh a materially higher recurring cost unless the numbers actually work.

What I Would Check Before Opening a Business Account

Before submitting an application, I would make a short checklist.

1. Business structure

Are you a sole proprietor, freelancer, partnership or registered company?

2. Turnover

Does your annual turnover fit the account’s eligibility criteria?

3. Transaction volume

How many EFTs, debit orders and card transactions do you make?

4. Cash usage

How much cash do you deposit or withdraw?

5. Payment acceptance

Do customers pay you through cards, QR codes, links or other digital methods?

6. Staff access

Will other employees or business partners need access?

7. International transactions

Do you receive or send foreign currency?

8. Funding

Will you potentially need an overdraft, loan or asset-finance facility?

9. Digital tools

Can the app and online banking platform handle your day-to-day workflow?

10. Total cost

What will the account cost after all normal transactions are included?

This last question is the one I would not skip.

Why the Lowest Monthly Fee Can Be Misleading

Suppose Account A costs R15 per month.

Account B costs R175.

At first glance, Account A appears R160 cheaper every month.

But suppose Account A charges separately for most of your EFTs, while Account B includes 10 electronic payments and free card purchases.

If you make only two payments, Account A may remain attractive.

If you make 50 payments, the result could be completely different.

The point is not that Account B is automatically cheaper.

The point is that the transaction pattern determines the answer.

That is the same lesson from our existing Monthly Bank Fees Compared Across South African Banks article: the monthly fee is only one part of the total cost of banking.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the cheapest business bank accounts in South Africa?

There is no single account that can accurately be described as the cheapest for every business because transaction volumes, eligibility and account features differ.

Current examples include FNB First Business Zero from R0 per month for qualifying sole proprietors, Standard Bank MyMoBiz at R15 per month, Absa Evolve Lite at R50, Nedbank’s Startup Bundle at R0 for two years for qualifying sole business owners, and Capitec’s Entrepreneur Account with no additional monthly fee for qualifying sole proprietors.

The relevant comparison is the total cost for your actual business activity.

What is the best business bank account in South Africa?

There is no universal answer because businesses have different transaction volumes, turnover levels, cash requirements and digital-banking needs.

A freelancer, retailer and established company can reasonably require different account structures.

How much does a business bank account cost in South Africa?

The monthly cost varies considerably.

Current published examples range from R0 introductory or qualifying options to several hundred rand for bundled accounts. FNB, Standard Bank, Absa, Nedbank and Capitec all use different pricing structures.

Which bank has a business account with no monthly fee?

Several banks have accounts or offers with no monthly fee for specific customers or circumstances.

FNB First Business Zero has zero monthly account fees for qualifying sole proprietors.

Nedbank’s Startup Bundle is currently R0 per month for two years for qualifying sole business owners with annual turnover below R1 million.

Capitec’s Entrepreneur Account has no additional monthly fee for qualifying sole proprietors and unregistered businesses.

These offers should not be interpreted as meaning that all business transactions are free.

Does Capitec have a business bank account?

Yes.

Capitec currently offers Business Banking for CIPC-registered businesses at R50 per month and an Entrepreneur Account aimed at sole proprietors, side hustlers and freelancers.

How much is Capitec business banking per month?

Capitec’s current business-banking page lists a R50 monthly fee for CIPC-registered businesses. Its Entrepreneur Account for qualifying sole proprietors and unregistered businesses has no additional monthly fee.

How much is FNB business banking per month?

FNB currently lists First Business Zero from R0, Gold Business from R49 and Platinum Business from R150, depending on the account and qualifying turnover.

How much is a Standard Bank business account?

Standard Bank currently lists MyMoBiz at R15 per month and MyMoBiz Plus at R175 per month. Its Bizlaunch account is R315 per month with bundled services.

How much is an Absa business account?

Absa currently lists Business Evolve Lite at R50 per month, Business Evolve PAYT at R115, Evolve Start at R335 and Evolve Grow at R450.

How much is a Nedbank business account?

Nedbank currently lists a Startup Bundle at R0 per month for two years for qualifying sole business owners, Business Pay-as-you-use at R80, Business Bundle 50 at R320 and Business Bundle 100 at R450.

Should I choose a pay-as-you-use or bundled business account?

Look at your transaction volume.

A low-volume business may prefer pay-as-you-use pricing because it avoids paying for transactions it does not need.

A business with frequent predictable transactions may prefer a bundle because more costs are included in a fixed monthly amount.

Calculate both using your actual monthly transaction history before deciding.

Do business bank accounts charge EFT fees?

Some do, while others include a specified number of electronic transactions within a monthly package.

For example, Absa Evolve Lite uses pay-as-you-transact pricing, while Absa Evolve Start includes 50 electronic transactions.

What should a small business look for in a bank account?

Start with your actual requirements: monthly fee, EFT costs, cash handling, debit orders, payment acceptance, digital banking, additional users, transaction limits and access to business funding.

Do not choose an account based only on the advertised monthly price.

Can a freelancer open a business bank account?

Yes, depending on the bank and account.

Capitec specifically offers its Entrepreneur Account to sole proprietors, side hustlers and freelancers who want to separate personal and business finances.

FNB also has First Business Zero for qualifying sole proprietors.

Do I need a CIPC-registered company for a business bank account?

Not necessarily.

Some accounts are designed for sole proprietors or unregistered businesses, while others are specifically intended for registered companies.

Capitec, for example, distinguishes its CIPC-registered Business Banking offering from its Entrepreneur Account for unregistered businesses.

Conclusion

Comparing business bank accounts in South Africa is really a comparison of pricing models and business needs.

A R15 monthly account may look dramatically cheaper than a R315 account. But if the cheaper account charges separately for the transactions your business makes every day, the difference can shrink quickly.

The same applies in reverse.

A bundled account can provide useful predictability, but paying for 50 or 100 included transactions makes little sense if your business only uses five.

That is why I would start with your actual banking behaviour.

Look at one or two recent months of business transactions.

Count your EFTs.

Count your debit orders.

Look at cash deposits.

Check card usage.

Consider whether you need immediate payments.

Then compare those numbers against the account’s published pricing structure.

The current 2026 offerings from FNB, Standard Bank, Absa, Nedbank and Capitec show just how different the models can be. FNB combines turnover-based account tiers with different pricing structures, Standard Bank offers both low-cost pay-as-you-transact and bundled options, Absa provides several Evolve packages, Nedbank combines pay-as-you-use with transaction bundles, and Capitec focuses on relatively simple transaction pricing for its business customers.

If you want to go beyond the advertised monthly fee, use the SA Bank Fees Calculator to model your own monthly activity. It lets you enter EFTs, immediate payments, debit orders, cash deposits and other costs so you can see which charges are actually driving your banking expenses.

And if you are still comparing personal and business banking costs, our Monthly Bank Fees Compared guide provides the broader context for understanding how South African banks structure account fees.

Disclaimer: Banking fees, account eligibility, transaction allowances and promotional offers can change. The figures in this article reflect information published by the relevant banks that was checked during the September 2026 update. Always confirm the latest pricing guide and account terms with the bank before opening an account or making a decision.