How to choose a bank and a tariff for business

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

"Subscription fee - 0 rubles" does not always mean that you will not have to pay anything, and if you have employees, you should look for an option with a salary project.

In order not to overpay for settlement and cash services, you need to carefully study the description of the specific tariff and conditions that the financial institution offers. We will tell you what to look for in typical situations faced by bank customers.

It is better to start by choosing a tariff: monitor all available ones and make a list of suitable ones for yourself. If you first choose a bank, automatically limit yourself in tariffs: it may turn out that the conditions of another institution are more favorable.

We estimate the tariff

1. "Subscription fee 0 rubles" does not mean that you will not pay a single ruble

The client opened an account with free service. During the month, it received 300,000 rubles - the commission was 3,000.

This happened because the client did not read the terms of the tariff, where the commission is 1% of each receipt. In his case, it is unprofitable: on a tariff with a subscription fee of 1,000 rubles a month and without a commission for admission, he would pay three times less.

What to do

1. Check the commission for receipts at a specific rate.
2. Estimate the estimated monthly income and calculate the commission for this amount. Compare with flat subscriptions on other tariffs.

2. The percentage of the account balance can not always be obtained

The client saw on the bank's website "We charge up to 7% on the balance" and chose the minimum tariff with the lowest monthly fee in this bank. At the end of the month, he had 500,000 rubles left on his account, and he expected to receive 2,900 in interest. But I didn't get it. The fact is that the bank accrued interest only at the maximum rate and on the average daily balance.

What to do

1. Check the percentage of the balance for the selected tariff. Banks often charge the maximum interest on the most expensive tariffs, and offer 1–2% or nothing at all for the initial ones.
2. Find out what limits give a percentage. Some banks set a lower threshold: for example, from 30,000 rubles. Others are also the top one: for example, up to 300,000 rubles. If your balance is greater, the percentage will no longer be charged on the excess amount.
3. Check which balance is taken into account by the bank at your tariff - the average daily or the minimum amount in the reporting period.

3. Cash withdrawal: if you do not read the terms of the tariff, you will have to pay a commission

The information in this section applies only to individual entrepreneurs. The founder or director of an LLC cannot simply withdraw money from the company's account and spend on their own needs.

Individual entrepreneurs can cash out money from a current account in three ways: transfer to a personal card of an individual, withdraw from a corporate card or at the cash desk.

The businessman read on the bank's website: "Withdraw cash up to 1,000,000 rubles a month without commission." And he cashed money from a corporate card that was given to him at the bank. The first two transactions of RUB 50,000 were commission-free. When he withdrew 50,000 for the third time, the bank took a commission of 1,000 rubles.

This happened because the tariff had additional conditions. For example, a client can cash out 1,000,000 rubles without commission, but:

• from a corporate card - only 100,000;
• transfer an individual to your card - 500,000;
• withdraw at the cash desk in the department - 400,000.

The client has exceeded the limit, and the bank charged a commission for the excess amount.

What to do

1. Do not rely only on the total withdrawal limit without commission. Look at the limits for withdrawing from a corporate card, at the cash desk and on transferring to an individual's card.
2. When you cash out money from an individual entrepreneur's account, first of all, transfer to an individual's card. This method always has higher limits than others. Then - withdraw from the corporate card. If the limit is still not enough, you will have to go to a bank branch or pay a commission.

4. Acquiring: interest depends on the tariff and method of receiving payments

The entrepreneur read on the bank's website: “Commission for acquiring - from 1.3%”. I connected acquiring on my website and installed the terminal in the store. For accepting payments in the store, he pays a commission of 1, 3%, and for payments through the site, it turned out to be 2, 8%.

What to do

First, check the commission for a specific type of acquiring:

• Internet acquiring - for accepting payments on the website;
• trade - for terminals in retail outlets;
• mobile - for portable terminals that work in conjunction with a smartphone.

Secondly, check the commissions for a specific tariff. Some banks have the same acquiring fees for all tariffs, while others differ.

5. Commission for account replenishment is important only for those who sell for cash

If you accept payment only through the website or POS terminal, the conditions of cash deposit are not important for you.

If you will be depositing cash into your account, check two parameters:

1. Does the percentage differ when replenishing in different ways: through the ATM of the service bank and other banks, in the offices of partners.
2. What are the monthly top-up limits for a specific tariff.

6. Commission for translations for legal entities and individual entrepreneurs is important if you work with contractors and suppliers

For example, you transfer the payment for the delivery of raw materials or materials to the LLC account. If you rarely or don't do translations for companies and other entrepreneurs, you can skip this parameter.

7. Commission for transfers to individuals from the company's account: a salary project is more profitable

Transfers to your card of an individual from an individual entrepreneur's account, we have considered above. Now let's talk about entrepreneurs and legal entities who pay salaries to employees - transfer money to their cards. Consider examples of two companies.

• Company A is unaware of the salary project and pays 20 employees. The total amount is 700,000 rubles per month.
• Company B has joined a salary project and also pays 700,000 rubles to 20 employees.

Company A chose the RKO tariff, where you can transfer 300,000 rubles per month to individuals without commission. The remaining 400,000 rubles are transferred at a 2% commission, that is, they pays another 8,000 rubles.

Company B took advantage of a project with a fixed commission for the transfer of salaries. And he gives 50 rubles for one transaction, as for a simple payment order. The commission for the transfer of salaries to 20 employees is only 1,000 rubles.

In some banks, the commission for transactions on a salary project is 0.5% of the sum of all salaries. But this is also much more profitable than transfers to the cards of individuals.

What to do

Companies and individual entrepreneurs who transfer employees' salaries to cards need:

1. Use a salary project - this service is offered by many banks.
2. Compare the commission for payments on a salary project in different banks and tariffs.

We evaluate the bank itself

Suppose you have already found 4-5 tariffs in different financial institutions that suit you. Which one to stop at? To choose the best one, you need to evaluate other conditions of cooperation with the bank.

1. Bank reliability

Against the background of periodic closings of banks in the country, I want to be sure that you are turning to a reliable one. But all ratings of the reliability of financial institutions are subjective. To verify this, let's look at the versions of two well-known sites: "" and.

As you can see, different banks were in the first places. This is because different reliability criteria are used when compiling ratings.

In addition, all banks are included in such lists, including those that do not work with businesses or offer unfavorable tariffs.

What to do

For representatives of small and micro-businesses, it is enough to look at the rating of banks' reliability for business - for acquaintance. You can also check whether the selected institution is included in the state participation program - this is an additional plus, but not a 100% guarantee. Trying to analyze deeper is not worth it, you will only get confused. This is done by analysts for businesses with multi-million and multi-billion dollar turnovers.

If you still want to play it safe, open two current accounts in different banks. If problems arise, one of them will be able to quickly transfer money to another.

2. Convenience of opening an account

All banks have the opportunity to open an account in one visit to the branch. But if you don't have time at all, opt for the field manager option. A meeting with a specialist can be made anywhere: he will arrive at the agreed time and bring the documents for signature. After the meeting, you can immediately use the account.

3. Integration with accounting services and free accounting for microbusiness

If you conduct accounting in a third-party service, for example, Elba, Finguru or My Business, make sure that the bank has integration with it.

Entrepreneurs on the 6% STS without employees should check whether the institution offers free Internet accounting. This is not a personal accountant, but a function for calculating taxes and contributions, as well as a calendar of their payment, built into the mobile and online banking.

4. Corporate cards

Cards are issued by all banks, but some - for an additional fee. If the issue is free, make sure that you can receive the card without additional costs after the conclusion of the contract. Some banks have a condition: a free card issue only on the day the account is opened.

5. Promotions

Not all promotions are created equal. For example, you shouldn't choose a tariff just because the bank offers free service for the first two months. This will save you only 1,000–2,000 rubles. A good promotion that should be taken into account when choosing a tariff is a terminal as a gift. The device costs 10,000–20,000 rubles, and you will get it for free.

Check list

1. Do not be limited to the tariffs of one bank, explore all available ones.
2. Always check interest, limits and other conditions for a specific rate.
3. Make sure that the bank does not charge a commission for credits to the account on a free tariff - this is unprofitable.
4. If you plan to receive interest on the account balance, check the amount on which the bank charges interest.
5. Consider how much cash you will be withdrawing now and in the future when profits increase.
6. Select the type of acquiring that you want to connect and check the commission for it.
7. If necessary, find out the commissions for account replenishment, for transfers to legal entities, individual entrepreneurs and individuals.
8. Find out if the bank offers a field manager service.
9. Check if there is integration with the accounting service you are using. If you are an individual entrepreneur on the simplified tax system of 6% without hired workers, choose a bank with free built-in Internet accounting.
10. Make sure the financial institution issues the corporate card for free (if you need one).
11. When choosing a bank, consider only profitable promotions, for example, a terminal as a gift.