Key takeaways
- The Barclays Business Account has no monthly fee for the first 12 months, then costs £8.50 a month, under its tariff dated March 2026.
- The 12 months free offer is not available to businesses that already have a Barclays business current account.
- Faster Payments, Direct Debits, standing orders, debit card payments and cash machine withdrawals are free on the Barclays Business Account.
- Barclays charges 60p per £100 for cash paid in at a cash machine, Post Office or self-service device, and £1.20 per £100 at a branch counter.
- Cheques paid in through the Barclays app or a self-service device cost 60p each, and cheques written cost 60p each.
- A CHAPS payment from Barclays Online Banking costs £15, and an unarranged overdraft is charged interest at 29.5% a year.
- Eligible business deposits with Barclays Bank UK PLC are protected by the FSCS up to £120,000, the limit since 1 December 2025.
The Barclays Business Account is free for the first 12 months for businesses new to Barclays, then costs £8.50 a month. Electronic payments, card payments and cash withdrawals are free; paying in cash and cheques is charged per item. This review sets out the published charges; it does not rate or rank the account.
All prices come from the Barclays Business Account tariff (item ref 9918661, dated 03/26), checked on 6 November 2026.
How much does a Barclays business account cost?
The account costs £8.50 a month after a 12-month free period. Barclays says the free period is only for businesses that do not already hold a Barclays business current account.
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly fee, first 12 months | Free |
| Monthly fee, after 12 months | £8.50 |
| Annual cost after year one | £102 |
Barclays sends an “Advance notification of charges” statement each month, 7 to 14 days before it takes the fees. It must give at least two months’ notice of any increase.
What transactions are free?
Barclays calls most self-service payments “standard transactions”, and many of them are free.
- Simple electronic payments: Faster Payments, Direct Debits, standing orders and sweeping payments made in Online Banking or the Barclays app, plus electronic payments into your account
- Debit card payments
- Cash out at a cash machine, Post Office or self-service device
- Transfers between your own Barclays accounts
If most of your income arrives by bank transfer or card, you may pay only the £8.50 monthly fee.
What does Barclays charge for cash and cheques?
Cash and cheque handling is where costs build up. The tariff splits them into standard (self-service) and assisted (counter or staff-made) transactions.
| Transaction | Self-service | At the counter |
|---|---|---|
| Cash paid in | 60p per £100 | £1.20 per £100 |
| Cash withdrawn | Free | £1.20 per £100 |
| Cheques paid in | 60p each | £1.20 each |
| Cheques written | 60p each | Not listed |
| Electronic payment | Free | £1.50 each |
Barclays Collect, its G4S cash collection service, adds £15 plus VAT for deposits under £2,000 and £7.50 plus VAT for £2,000 to £3,999.99. Collections of £4,000 or more carry no collection charge, though the 60p per £100 deposit fee still applies.
Worked example. A shop paying in £2,000 of cash a month at a self-service device pays £12 in deposit fees (20 lots of £100 at 60p). After the free year, its monthly cost is £20.50 including the £8.50 fee.
What do CHAPS and international payments cost?
High-value and overseas payments are charged separately. The main tariff charges are:
- CHAPS from Online Banking: £15; by branch or telephone: £25
- SEPA euro transfer from the app or Online Banking: £0.35
- International payment (BIPS) online: £15; in branch: £25
- Receiving an international payment over £100: £6, unless the sender pays all fees
- Currency conversion: no more than 2% for business customers
- Debit card spending in a foreign currency: 2.75% of the transaction
What does an overdraft cost?
Arranged overdraft charges are agreed with you when the facility is set up or renewed. An unarranged overdraft is charged interest at 29.5% a year, calculated daily and taken monthly.
Our guide to business overdrafts and loans compares the options.
Who can open a Barclays business account?
You must be 18 or over, and at least one person on the application must be a UK resident, according to Barclays’ Business Current Account page. Have these ready before you apply:
- residential addresses for the last three years
- the business’s trading address
- for a limited company, the Companies House registration number and incorporation date
- tax details and turnover
- full names, mobile numbers and email addresses of all directors or partners
You can save an application and continue it later. Our guide on how to open a business bank account covers the process with any bank.
What else comes with the account?
Barclays lists these extras alongside the account:
- Sage invoicing and accounting software: 12 months free, then 50% off, on Sage’s terms
- 24-hour fraud protection and support through the Barclays app
- Eagle Labs support for startups and scaleups
- a relationship team and multi-director access for established businesses
Is my money protected?
Yes, eligible deposits are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme up to £120,000, the limit since 1 December 2025. The cover is per business across Barclays Bank UK PLC’s brands, including Tesco Bank, so balances above that are not protected. See FSCS protection for business accounts.
Which applies to you?
- If you are new to Barclays and bank mainly online, you pay nothing for a year, then £8.50 a month.
- If you pay in a lot of cash or cheques, add 60p per £100 or 60p per cheque to the monthly fee, and more at the counter.
- If you want no monthly fee at all, compare free business bank accounts and our business bank account fees guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a Barclays business account per month?
It is free for the first 12 months for businesses new to Barclays, then £8.50 a month.
Does Barclays charge for business transfers?
No, Faster Payments, Direct Debits and standing orders made online or in the app are free. Payments made for you by Barclays staff cost £1.50 each, and CHAPS costs £15 online.
How much does Barclays charge to pay in cash?
It charges 60p per £100 at a cash machine, Post Office or self-service device, and £1.20 per £100 at a branch counter.
Can I get 12 months free if I already bank with Barclays?
No. The tariff says businesses with an existing Barclays business current account are not eligible for the free period.
Is a Barclays business account protected by the FSCS?
Yes. Eligible deposits are protected up to £120,000 per business across Barclays Bank UK PLC’s brands.
Sources
Rates, thresholds and rules in this guide were checked against HMRC and GOV.UK guidance on 6 November 2026. Tax rules change, so check the current position on GOV.UK or with a qualified adviser before acting. This guide is general information, not personal advice.