Mercury vs Relay vs Chase: Best Business Bank Account for Your Cleaning Business
Cleaning up your business's finances is as important as cleaning your clients' homes. For cleaning business owners, mixing personal and business money is the fastest way to lose your LLC's liability protection. A dedicated business bank account costs nothing to open and fixes this problem instantly. Here's which one is right for your cleaning service, whether you focus on residential homes, Airbnb turnovers, or commercial contracts.
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The quick answer
For cleaning businesses, the best bank account depends on how you get paid and how you manage your money. If you mostly get paid digitally through apps like Stripe or Square for your residential or commercial contracts, Mercury offers a smooth online experience. If you want to strictly separate money for cleaning supplies, payroll for your team, marketing, and taxes from every client payment, Relay is built for that. But if you often receive cash payments from residential clients, or tips, and need to deposit that money easily, Chase Business Complete Banking is usually the best fit with its branch network. All three can be opened online quickly.
Side-by-side breakdown
**Mercury:** No monthly fees, no minimum balance. Good for cleaning businesses primarily paid through online invoices (Stripe, PayPal) or scheduling software like Housecall Pro. Offers virtual cards to manage recurring software costs (CRM, booking apps). *Key downside for cleaners:* No direct cash deposits. If clients hand you cash after a deep clean, you'll need a workaround.
**Relay:** No monthly fees. Offers up to 20 checking accounts and 50 virtual debit cards. This is powerful for cleaning businesses: set up separate "envelopes" for payroll, cleaning supplies (chemicals, vacuums), vehicle maintenance, and marketing. Great for managing money for a team of cleaners. Integrates well with QuickBooks for easy bookkeeping.
**Chase Business Complete Banking:** $15/month fee (waived with $2,000 average daily balance or $2,000 in monthly deposits). This is the go-to for cleaning businesses that handle cash. Deposit cash from residential clients or tips directly at any Chase branch or ATM. Access to over 16,000 ATMs for quick cash for supplies or emergencies. Integrates with Zelle for quick payments to vendors or contractors.
When to choose Mercury
Choose Mercury if your cleaning business operates almost entirely online and handles *no cash*. This might be a cleaning company focused on large commercial contracts paid via ACH or wire, or perhaps a highly automated Airbnb turnover service where all payments are processed through booking platforms or dedicated software. If your clients pay you through apps like Stripe, Square, or directly via bank transfer, Mercury's clean online interface and virtual cards for managing software subscriptions (e.g., booking software, CRM) are very useful. However, if you ever touch a dollar bill from a client, Mercury will not work easily for you.
When to choose Relay
Choose Relay when you want strict control over your cleaning business's cash flow. Its multi-envelope system is perfect for a cleaning business. You can instantly set aside a percentage of every payment into accounts for:
* **Taxes:** (e.g., 25-30% of revenue for estimated taxes). * **Payroll:** For your cleaning crew or independent contractors. * **Cleaning Supplies:** For buying detergents, mops, HEPA vacuums, or refillable solutions. * **Marketing:** To attract new residential or commercial clients. * **Profit:** To pay yourself or reinvest.
Relay also works well if you have multiple cleaners or team leads who need their own debit cards with spending limits for supplies, gas, or client incidentals.
When to choose Chase
Choose Chase Business Complete Banking if your cleaning business frequently receives cash payments. This is very common for residential house cleaning services, tips, or smaller one-off Airbnb turnover jobs. You can easily deposit cash income at any of Chase's thousands of branches or ATMs. This is vital when you finish a client's home and they hand you cash for the service. Chase's wide network also means you can easily access cash if you need to buy last-minute cleaning supplies like specific stain removers, vacuum bags, or a new mop at a local store. The monthly fee is usually waived if you maintain a small average balance of around $2,000, which is typical for a busy cleaning business.
The verdict
For cleaning businesses:
* **Mostly digital payments (no cash) & tech-focused commercial contracts:** Mercury. * **Strong cash flow management, multiple expense categories, and team cards for supplies/payroll:** Relay. * **Receives cash payments often (residential, tips) and needs easy local deposit:** Chase.
Open your dedicated cleaning business bank account today – before your next client payment. Every dollar from a cleaning job deposited into your personal account risks your LLC's protection and makes tax time a headache.
How to get started
1. **Choose your bank:** Based on how you get paid and how you want to manage your cleaning business's money. 2. **Apply online:** Have your EIN (Employer Identification Number), LLC documents (if applicable), and personal ID ready. This usually takes under 30 minutes. 3. **Fund the account:** Make a small initial deposit from your personal account to activate it. 4. **Update invoicing & payment methods:** Change all your client invoices, booking software (e.g., Housecall Pro, Jobber), or payment apps (Stripe, Square) to direct funds to your new business account. 5. **Set up separate accounts/envelopes:** From day one, set aside money for taxes (25-30% of revenue), cleaning supplies, payroll, and marketing. This ensures your cleaning business stays profitable and prepared.
RECOMMENDED TOOLS
Mercury
Best online business bank — no fees, strong integrations
Relay
Built for profit-first budgeting with multiple accounts
Chase
Best for businesses needing branch access and cash deposits
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do I need a business bank account if I am a sole proprietor?
Legally no, but practically yes. Even as a sole proprietor with no liability protection, a separate business account makes bookkeeping, tax preparation, and expense tracking dramatically simpler. When you form an LLC, a separate account becomes essential for maintaining your liability protection.
Can I open a business bank account without an LLC?
Yes. Most banks will open a business bank account for a sole proprietor using your Social Security Number and a DBA (Doing Business As) registration. However, forming an LLC first and using your EIN is cleaner and protects you better.
How much should I keep in my business account?
At minimum: enough to cover two months of operating expenses. Additionally, set aside 25-30% of gross revenue in a separate tax savings account from day one. Many business owners are blindsided by their first quarterly estimated tax payment — this prevents that.
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