As a new entrepreneur, you don't want to wait
Everything you need as a starter to manage payments, cards and expenses with ease. All in one place.
Starter account within 1 day
Open a business account as a start-up in 3 minutes and send payments within 1 day.
Let your account do the work
GoDutch automates your financial administration, from incoming invoices to expense management. You focus on doing business, we take care of the rest.
Team roles and cards
Start with your own card and issue more later as your team grows. Stay in control of spending, without the hassle of expense claims.
Link your accounting software
Connect GoDutch to your accounting software and automate your admin. Fewer errors, less work, more clarity.
Pay and get paid super fast as a new entrepreneur
With SEPA Instant, you can quickly and reliably manage all your payments, including bulk payments and direct debits, in one place.
SEPA Instant
With GoDutch, your payments are transferred in a matter of seconds. No more waiting times, instant transfers ensure that your money is directly in the right account.
Upload payment files
Bulk transfers of up to 1,000 transactions per file, ideal for processing invoices and supplier payments from your accounting software.
Direct debits
GoDutch supports automatic direct debits, both B2B and Core. Simple, secure and reliable for all your business collections.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about a business bank account for start-ups
Whether you want to know if, as a start-up, you need a business account, what it costs or how quickly you’ll be operational: you’ll find the answers here.
Is GoDutch suitable for my startup business?
Yes, GoDutch is extremely suitable for starting entrepreneurs. Whether you are starting as a freelancer (ZZP), setting up a sole proprietorship, or starting a BV right away, you open a business account that grows with your company.
You start for free with a Dutch IBAN and a virtual debit card. As your business grows, you can easily upgrade to a package with accounting integrations, automatic invoice payments, and team access. No long-term contracts, no fixed costs that you as a starter do not want to be burdened with. With GoDutch, you will be operational within 1 day.
As a start-up entrepreneur, do I need a business bank account?
That depends on your legal form. With a BV or NV, a business account is legally required. With a sole proprietorship, VOF or freelancer, it is not mandatory, but strongly recommended.
Without a business account, you use your private account for invoices, payments and VAT. This leads to:
Extra work for your accountant (and therefore extra costs) to sort out private and business transactions.
An unprofessional appearance towards customers when your private account is on your invoice.
Risk of errors in VAT returns due to unclear financial flows.
Discussions with the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration (Belastingdienst) about which transactions are business-related.
A business account with GoDutch is free and opened in 3 minutes. It costs you nothing, but saves you hours of administration and prevents problems you do not need as a starting business.
Is a business bank account required when starting out?
A business account is not always mandatory for a start-up, but in most cases, it is highly recommended. Whether it is mandatory depends on your legal form:
Sole proprietorship or freelancer (ZZP): not mandatory, but highly recommended.
General partnership (VOF): not mandatory, but in practice indispensable due to shared liability.
Private limited company (BV) or public limited company (NV): legally required. Your BV is a separate legal entity and must maintain separate records.
Homeowners association (VvE), foundation, or association: legally required.
Regardless of your legal form, the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration (Belastingdienst) expects a clear separation between private and business financial flows. The sooner you arrange this, the fewer problems you will have later. At GoDutch, you can start for free and be operational within 1 day, so you can focus on doing business from day one instead of admin.
What are the advantages of a business account for start-ups?
The benefits of a business account for startups at GoDutch are built on what starting entrepreneurs need most: speed, low costs, and simplicity.
These are the main benefits:
Start for free with a Dutch IBAN and virtual debit card.
Opened in 3 minutes and operational within 1 day.
Professional appearance: a business IBAN on your invoice instead of your private account.
Automatic accounting connection with Moneybird, Exact Online, or e-Boekhouden.
Create pockets for VAT and tax reserves, so you are never faced with surprises.
Up to 1.0% cashback on all your card business spending. Every euro counts as a startup.
24/7 personal support from real people, ideal if you still have many questions.
As a starting entrepreneur, you want to spend your time on clients and growth, not on administration and banking. GoDutch takes that off your hands, so you can focus on what really matters: doing business.
Can I open a business account for free as a start-up?
Yes, as a starter, you can open a business account with GoDutch for free. The free package is not a trial version but a fully-fledged business account, forever. This is what you get immediately:
Dutch IBAN in your company's name.
Virtual Mastercard to pay online immediately.
Send and receive SEPA payments.
Real-time insight into your income and expenses.
24/7 personal support from real people.
Especially as a starter, every euro counts. While at other financial institutions you easily pay €7 to €15 per month for a business account you barely use, at GoDutch you start without fixed costs. You only pay €0.12 per transaction. Is your business growing? Then you can switch to a paid package from €12 per month at any time.
What does a business account for start-ups cost at GoDutch?
Een zakelijke rekening voor starters bij GoDutch kost €0 per maand in het Free-pakket. Je betaalt alleen €0,12 per SEPA-transactie en hebt geen vaste maandkosten. Wil je meer automatisering naarmate je bedrijf groeit? Dan kies je een betaald pakket:
Free (€0/mnd): IBAN en virtuele Mastercard voor starters die snel willen beginnen.
Starter (€12/mnd): boekhoudkoppelingen, automatische factuurbetalingen en boekhouder toevoegen.
Pro (€29/mnd): tot 10 teamleden, 10 kaarten en 0,5% cashback.
Max (€49/mnd): onbeperkt alles en 1,0% cashback.
Geen verborgen kosten of kleine lettertjes. Bij de meeste starters met een handvol transacties per maand kom je met het gratis pakket een heel eind.
How long does it take to open a business account as a new business?
Opening a business account as a startup with GoDutch takes only 3 minutes. You complete the application entirely online and within 1 day you will receive your Dutch IBAN and virtual debit card. If you choose a paid plan, you will also receive a physical Mastercard.
At traditional financial institutions, opening a business account can take weeks, especially for a startup. Extensive documentation, long waiting times and sometimes even a rejection because you do not have a track record yet. In the meantime, you cannot send invoices, receive payments and your entire start is delayed. With GoDutch, that is a thing of the past: you are operational the very same day.
How do I open a business account as a start-up entrepreneur?
You can open a business account as a starting entrepreneur with GoDutch in three simple steps:
Start the application: answer a few short questions about your business and identify yourself with your passport or driving licence using the camera.
We will process your application: within 1 day, you will receive your Dutch IBAN and virtual payment card. If any additional information is required, we will get in touch.
Get started: deposit money into your account, send your first invoice and connect your accounting software.
No paperwork, no physical appointments, no weeks of procedures. As soon as your Chamber of Commerce registration is completed, you can invoice professionally the very same day with GoDutch.
What do I need to open a business account as a start-up?
To open a business account as a startup at GoDutch, you need the following:
A registration with the Chamber of Commerce (KvK number).
A valid passport or driver's licence for identification.
In some cases, a VAT number.
For a BV (limited company): registration via the civil-law notary.
That is all. No business plans, no turnover history, no track record. At GoDutch, you won't be rejected just because you're starting out. You submit everything digitally during the online application, and you'll be operational within 1 day.
Can I open a business account without a Chamber of Commerce number?
No, you cannot open a business account with GoDutch without a KvK (Chamber of Commerce) number. This number is required to verify your business and to ensure that your details match the registration with the Chamber of Commerce.
The good news: you can arrange your KvK registration yourself in one day via kvk.nl or at a KvK office. As soon as you have your KvK number, you can start your application with GoDutch in 3 minutes and be operational within 1 day. Many startups arrange their KvK registration and business account on the same day.
How do I separate my personal and business finances as a start-up?
You separate your personal and business finances as a starting entrepreneur by opening a separate business account. This way, you keep all your business income, expenses, and VAT separate from your personal money. At GoDutch, you can do this for free and in 3 minutes.
Why is that separation so important for a starting entrepreneur?
Your accountant no longer has to figure out personal and business transactions. This saves hours per quarter and therefore money.
Your invoices will state a professional business IBAN instead of your personal account.
Your VAT return becomes easier because all business transactions are in one place.
In the event of an audit by the Tax and Customs Administration, your administration is immediately in order.
Many starting entrepreneurs begin with their personal account for cost reasons, but ultimately pay more for this than a free business account at GoDutch would cost.
How do I set money aside for VAT and taxes as a beginner?
With the GoDutch business account, as a starter you can easily set money aside for VAT and taxes using automatic pockets.
How it works:
Create pockets for VAT, income tax or other reservations.
Incoming amounts are automatically split and set aside.
You always see what you can actually spend, separately from your reservations.
Real-time alerts keep you informed of threshold amounts.
Especially as a starter, this is crucial. Many starting entrepreneurs do not set enough money aside and are faced with surprises during the quarterly VAT or annual tax return. A retroactive assessment from the Tax Authorities when you are just starting out is the last thing you want. With the pockets of GoDutch, you always know exactly what has been reserved, so you can do business with peace of mind.
Can I connect my business account to accounting software?
Yes, you can directly link your business account at GoDutch to your accounting software. We support connections with, among others:
Moneybird
e-Boekhouden
Exact Online
And more
After linking, transactions are automatically synchronised. You never have to manually import CSV files or retype amounts again. Fewer errors, lower costs with your accountant, and more time to do business.
Many starters begin with a simple accounting package such as Moneybird or e-Boekhouden. By linking your business account directly to it, your administration is in order from day one. This not only saves you stress with the VAT return, but also hours that you, as a starter, can better spend on your business.
Which business account do I need for my legal structure?
The business account you need depends on your legal form. At GoDutch, you can choose from accounts tailored to the specific needs of your type of business:
Sole trader or freelancer: Sole trader account.
Growing company with a team: SME account.
Limited liability company: BV account.
General partnership: VOF account.
Multiple operating companies: Holding account.
Apartment owners: VvE account.
Non-profit or charity: foundation account.
Also check out the complete overview on our business accounts page. Not sure which account suits you best? Our team is happy to help you.
