Building Your Business Business Banking How To Manage Your Bank Accounts When Self-Employed By Nora O'Malley Nora O'Malley Nora O'Malley covers small business finance and entrepreneurship topics for The Balance. Along with her writing work, Nora is an entrepreneur and consultant who opened an all-tap wine bar in New York's East Village dubbed Lois and owns a sophisticated snack food business Aida. For her businesses, Nora is responsible for finances, marketing, operations, and fundraising. Along with The Balance, her writing has appeared in Thrillist, Insidehook and Vinepair. learn about our editorial policies Updated on December 12, 2021 Reviewed by Ebony J. Howard Reviewed by Ebony J. Howard Ebony Howard is a certified public accountant and a QuickBooks ProAdvisor tax expert. She has been in the accounting, audit, and tax profession for more than 13 years, working with individuals and a variety of companies in the health care, banking, and accounting industries. learn about our financial review board Fact checked by Robyn Conti In This Article View All In This Article Why You Need To Manage Bank Accounts Prepare for Taxes Open a Business Bank Account Self-Employed Retirement Accounts Use Budgeting Software Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Photo: Alistair Berg / Getty Images Self-employment has many perks, such as making your own hours, flexible working locations, and time off when you want. When you become your own boss, however, there are some important things to take into consideration, such as managing your business finances, maintaining a budget, and planning for tax requirements. You often have more financial responsibilities than an employee with a regular paycheck. One of the best ways you can juggle all your responsibilities as a self-employed person is by opening designated bank accounts and managing them on a monthly basis. That way, you can stay ahead of your expenses, eligible deductions, and income reporting when it comes time to pay taxes. Although it may seem overwhelming, a little planning can go a long way when it comes to managing bank accounts. Learn what types of bank accounts to consider, how to budget for expenses and taxes, and what kinds of tools can help you along the way. Key Takeaways Opening dedicated business accounts is one of the first things you should consider when starting a new business.Moving 30% of your income into a dedicated tax savings account will streamline your quarterly estimated tax filings, which are required for self-employed individuals.Linking your accounts together with budgeting software will make it easy to manage your accounts, your retirement contributions, and your businesses financials. Why You Need To Manage Bank Accounts Although it’s not a requirement for most small businesses, separating your personal finances from your business expenses will help streamline your tax and income reporting. Essentially, managing your bank accounts well helps you stay organized so you can run your business efficiently. Dedicated business bank accounts can help limit your personal liability, protect your customers’ private information, and establish credit history for your business. Making the Most of Expenses Businesses accrue numerous expenses, and keeping those organized will allow you and your tax professional to deduct those expenses accurately. The IRS considers a business expense deductible if it is both ordinary for your industry and necessary for the course of business. If you work from home, for example, you can take advantage of the home-office deduction, which accounts for not only the office space, but supplies, utilities, and even a proportionate amount of your mortgage or rent. Similarly, if you run a client-based business, you can use that business bank account to pay for any client meetings, mileage, and other expenses that may be required to acquire new clients. Note Deductions are an important part of tax planning, so work with a tax professional to understand what you can deduct before committing to the expense. Understanding what qualifies as a deductible expense can help you make major decisions while growing your business, such as whether to buy a car or enroll in continued education. Deducting expenses allows you and your business to keep more of your income, and can lower your tax burden significantly. So it’s important to maximize your available deductions. Prepare for Taxes Seasoned self-employed business owners know the importance of keeping up with their tax responsibilities. When you’re earning a W-2 income, the taxes are withheld and sent directly to the IRS for you. When you’re self-employed, you must set aside a significant portion of your income to avoid being hit with a major tax bill. Maintaining a bank dedicated to taxes can simplify the process. In addition, you’ll need to plan for any sales taxes, employee taxes, and state and/or local taxes you and your business might owe. You can plan for your estimated taxes based on the income and expenses you’re seeing in your dedicated business bank account. Setting aside 30% to 35% of your earned income is a good rule of thumb, and using a separate bank account to do that can keep all your funds and expenses organized. Note There are unique situations for self-employed individuals, such as being able to deduct the employer portion of the Social Security tax from your self-employed tax. A tax professional can help you take advantage of tax-reduction opportunities. Open a Business Bank Account Opening a business bank account is as simple as opening a personal checking account. You can open an account online or by visiting a bank or credit union branch. By providing some personal information and making a minimum deposit, you can open your account in one day, sometimes in a matter of minutes. Like any bank account, fees can vary by banking product, or be waived entirely depending on the type of account you choose. Consider local credit unions, online banks, and major banking institutions when you’re researching the best business bank account for you. Take advantage of any introductory offers. Think about how your business will use a bank account. Do you have hundreds of daily sales, or are you simply using it to collect 1099 income from freelancing? Note Compare different accounts at different banks by evaluating if the monthly transactions you need are included, if there are any limits or fees on sending or receiving ACH payments, and whether there are any options for future lines of credit. Self-Employed Retirement Accounts Working for yourself also means you are responsible for your own retirement fund. Although managing another account may be the last thing you want to do, setting up a 401(k) or an IRA will ensure you receive tax advantages for retirement savings. If you are a self-employed individual with no employees, you can set up a solo 401(k), which has the same rules, contribution limits, and tax benefits as any other 401(k). You may also consider a traditional or Roth IRA. Use Budgeting Software Budgeting software can help you understand how your personal budget ties into your business budget. There are plenty of affordable budgeting software options to choose from to help you manage your bank accounts. Find an app or program that can fit your needs, perhaps by integrating bank accounts to help you manage your budgets and bank accounts in one place. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Do I need a business bank account if I’m self-employed? Although it is recommended that every business open a separate bank account, legally, you must open one if your business is a separate legal entity or operating under a DBA (Doing Business As). How many bank accounts can you have at once? There is no limit as to how many bank accounts you can have. Depending on the type of bank account, you may have a minimum balance or deposit requirements to consider. How do you link bank accounts? Having all your accounts at one financial institution is the easiest way to link bank accounts. It allows for easier transfers between checking and savings. You may face fees and delayed funds if you’re transferring between accounts at different institutions. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. IRS. "Home Office Deduction." IRS. "Deducting Business Expenses." IRS. "Self-Employment Tax: Social Security and Medicare Taxes." IRS. "Traditional and Roth IRAs."