Mercury, Relay, or Chase: Best Business Bank Accounts for Errand Services & Concierge Businesses
As an errand runner, personal shopper, or concierge, keeping your finances separate is crucial. Mixing your gas money with client payments can quickly turn into a tax headache and put your personal assets at risk. A dedicated business bank account costs nothing to open and immediately protects your business. Here’s which one is best for your personal errands or concierge service.
READY TO TAKE ACTION?
Use the free LaunchAdvisor checklist to track every step in this guide.
The quick answer
Mercury is the top choice for errand runners and personal shoppers who get paid digitally through apps like Square or Zelle. It has no fees, an easy-to-use app, and works well with online tools. Relay is better if you want to automatically set aside money for gas, taxes, or marketing using separate accounts. Chase Business Complete Banking is ideal for concierge services that regularly handle cash payments from clients, especially seniors, or need to visit a bank branch. All three accounts can be opened online in under 30 minutes.
Side-by-side breakdown
Mercury: No monthly fees, no minimum balance to keep, FDIC insured, includes payments like ACH and wire transfers, offers a debit card and virtual cards for things like scheduling software or mileage trackers. Best for solo errand runners or personal shoppers paid mostly through digital apps. No cash deposits.
Relay: No monthly fees, lets you create up to 20 separate checking accounts and 50 virtual debit cards. Perfect for setting aside specific amounts for gas, supplies, self-employment taxes (around 25-30% of income), or marketing. Good if you have a helper or contractor who needs a card with spending limits. Links with accounting tools like QuickBooks.
Chase Business Complete Banking: Has a $15/month fee (you can avoid it by keeping $2,000 in your account or having enough qualifying activity). You get over 100 free transactions each month. You can deposit cash payments (like those from senior clients or tips) directly at their many branches. Good for businesses that need to handle physical cash.
When to choose Mercury
Choose Mercury if your errand or concierge service primarily gets paid through digital platforms like Square, PayPal, Stripe, Zelle, or Venmo Business. It’s perfect if you rarely deal with physical cash. The app is easy to use, and you can get virtual cards. These virtual cards are great for separating expenses like your weekly gas budget, monthly subscription for Route4Me or Acuity Scheduling, or even your mileage tracking app fee. This helps you track everything for tax season.
When to choose Relay
Choose Relay if you want to automatically sort your money into different "buckets." For example, you can set it to immediately move 25-30% of every client payment into a separate account for self-employment taxes. You can also create accounts for specific costs like "Gas & Car Maintenance," "Errand Supplies" (groceries, dry cleaning), or "Marketing." This makes it easy to see where your money goes. If you hire a part-time helper for busy seasons, Relay also lets you give them a debit card with specific spending limits, like $50 for a client's grocery run.
When to choose Chase
Choose Chase if your personal errand or concierge business often gets paid in cash. This is common for senior companion services or if you receive cash tips. Chase has a large network of branches and ATMs, making it easy to deposit those cash payments directly. They are the only option here that handles cash deposits without needing another service. While there's a $15 monthly fee, you can easily avoid it by keeping at least $2,000 in your account, which is achievable once you have a few regular clients paying monthly fees for services like weekly grocery runs or appointment transportation.
The verdict
Primarily digital payments (Square, Zelle): Mercury. Want to separate money for taxes, gas, or supplies: Relay. Regularly receive cash payments from clients: Chase. Get your account open today, before your next client pays for a grocery run or a companion service. Every day you mix your client payments with your personal checking account, you risk your business’s financial safety and tax clarity.
How to get started
1. Pick the bank that best fits how you get paid and manage your money (digital, cash, or detailed budgeting). 2. Apply online. You'll need your Employer Identification Number (EIN) if you have one, your LLC formation papers (if applicable), and your personal ID. 3. Put a small amount of money into the new business account from your personal one to get it started. 4. Make sure all your client invoices or payment requests (for things like weekly grocery shopping or dry cleaning services) now show your new business account details. 5. If you choose Relay, or even with other banks, set up a plan to regularly move 25-30% of your earnings into a separate account for self-employment taxes right from the start. This prevents a big tax bill surprise.
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
Some links above are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you sign up — at no extra cost to you.
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.
Apply This in Your Checklist