Which banks do free business banking?
I answered this very question on the window cleaning side years ago and I'll say it again, but briefly.
Why do you want free?
What happens when your customers ask for something free?
Any expenditure comes off your end of year accounts.
You get what you pay for.
I'm very much like Neil. You get what you pay for.
By all means have your attention drawn by the headline but consider the "stuff" not covered and which you need to consider carefully. For example:
How easy is it to pay in-do you have to post in or is it a long way to drive to the nearest branch
Clearing cycle times
Costs of accidentally going overdrawn
how easy is to to speak to somebody in authority if something goes wrong
how easy is it to transfer monies to another account in same bank/to another bank and or branch
length of and time spent queuing to gain access to a cashier
opening hours and number of branches you can pay in at
costs for such things as duplicate statements/stopped cheques etc
level of expertise of those you speak to.
I'm sure all banks will address some/all these issues to a greater or lesser extent. I just find it duplicitious that we as cc's want to maximise income for our labour but then will not accept that other service industries also wish to be recompensed for the services they provide. Or if you change banks following the best deal do not be surprised if your customers (not clients?) show no loyalty to you.
Banks provide a means of converting a piece of paper with words written on it (a cheque) into a way that allows you to buy the things you want. They provide buildings where you go; the staff to process these bits of paper; an infrastructure to undertake the transmission.
I'm more than happy to pay bank charges but I'll still look for an efficient way of doing it. It does however buy me the right that when something goes wrong I can expect my complaint to be taken seriously and answered quickly and accurately.
Each to their own but free does not neccessarily equal best.
Rog