Barclays Business Account Opening: Everything you Need to Know

If you’re a business owner or are planning to start a new business, one of the first things you’ll need is a dedicated business bank account.

Barclays is one of the biggest names in UK banking, with over 900,000 business banking customers in the UK¹. It has streamlined recently, bringing together a range of business solutions into one standard current account - designed for companies of all shapes and sizes - from sole traders and startups to global corporations.

This guide will explore how to open a Barclays Business account, covering eligibility, key features and more. Plus we'll touch on Wise Business as a potential alternative to Barclays Business which lets you manage your business finances in multiple currencies, with low fees and mid-market exchange rate.

💡 Learn more about Wise Business

Barclays business account types

Barclays offers just one business bank account, to suit everyone from startups to growing businesses and social enterprises.

It used to have multiple account types, with specific options aimed at start-ups, established/growing businesses and larger companies with complex financial needs.

But many of these features have now been brought together under one streamlined Barclays Business Current Account.

Barclays business bank account features

Here are the features you’ll be able to access when you open a Business Current Account with Barclays::

• Mobile banking on the move with the award-winning Barclays app
• Free invoicing and accounting software from FreshBooks
• Safe, secure online banking - including 24/7 fraud protection
• 24/7 UK-based customer support
• Access to business debit and credit cards
• Access to support from Eagle Labs, which connects founders to an ecosystem which accelerate ideas and growth

For established businesses, there are other benefits and features on offer including:

• Specialist support from industry experts
• A dedicated relationship team
• Multi-director access
• Access to the complex payments platform
• Invitations to networking, business and investor events
• Access to other corporate services as needed.

Barclays also has a Foreign Currency Account, which you can use if your business trades in other countries or has international clients. This kind of account can reduce the cost of international transfers for 17 currencies², compared to using a standard Barclays business account. It can also streamline and simplify international transactions, helping you to cut down on admin time.

However, you’ll need to open a separate account for each currency with Barclays, as for example an USD account if you do business with American customers or suppliers. This makes it best for businesses wanting to send and receive payments in just one or two currencies only, unless you’re happy opening and managing multiple foreign currency accounts at once.

Barclays business account charges³

Now we come to the important part - how much does the Barclays business account cost?

Here’s a quick rundown of the main fees you need to know about:³

Barclays business account opening

Let’s take a look at the different ways to open a business account with Barclays, starting with online.

Open Barclays business account online

You can apply on the Barclays website for all of its business bank accounts.You can either complete an online application process, or use the Current Account Switch Service to move over to Barclays from your existing bank.

Barclays bank account opening appointment

Another way to open Barclays business account is in your local branch. It’s recommended to call up on 0800 515 4621 to make an appointment first, to check whether new customers are currently being accepted and if so, what information and documents you’ll need to bring with you.

Barclays business account contact number

Have a question about opening an account, or want to complete the process over the phone? You can call Barclays business banking support on 0800 515 462⁴ - just make sure you have all relevant details to hand.

Barclays business banking opening hours

The opening times for Barclays local branches vary depending on the location. You can find your nearest branch here.

But business customer support phone lines are open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.⁴

Requirements to open a Barclays business account⁶

The requirements for opening a business account with Barclays can vary and can depend on the type of business you operate. Sole traders and partnerships may be required to supply different kinds of information than corporate business or charities, for example.

But in general, the requirements for opening a Barclays business account are as follows:⁴

• Be at least 18 years old
• At least one applicant must be a UK resident

Applicants will be asked to supply the following information:

• Your Companies House registration number, plus the date of incorporation, if applicable
• Details about your business, including tax information and turnover
• Details of all directors or partners
• Trading address
• Your address history for the past 3 years

International transfers with Barclays

If you trade internationally and are moving forward with the Barclays business account opening process, one thing to consider before completing your application is international payments.

Key questions to ask are - can I make international payments with Barclays Bank, and how much does it cost? In a nutshell, yes you can - but there are quite high fees to pay. The Barclays International Payments Service (BIPS) lets you send money all over the world, choosing either a standard or priority service.

You’ll pay between £15 and £25 per transaction⁵ (non-SEPA, SWIFT) to send money abroad using your business account, depending whether you set up the transfer in branch or over the phone, or using online or mobile banking (the cheaper option). All online payments are treated as priority, so they should arrive more quickly.

Manage payments and scale globally, the smart way with Wise Business

If you’re looking for a secure, convenient and low-cost way to manage your business finances, check out the Wise Business account. You can open your account online or in the Wise app, and get everything you need to grow your business across borders - including the option to hold a balance in currencies, international debit and expense cards, and local account details to get paid in 8+ major currencies.

Wise currency conversion always uses the mid-market exchange rate with no sneaky exchange rate markups or hidden fees - just low, transparent charges based on the services you need.

With Wise Business, you can:

• 🌍 Send money to 140+ countries at the mid-market exchange rate with low, transparent fees and no sneaky exchange rate markups (product availability varies by region)
• 📥 Receive payments in 24 currencies and counting
• 💵 Get local account details for 8+ currencies, including USD and EUR, to let your customers pay in a currency they know and trust - convenience for them and peace of mind for you
• 💰 Hold money in 40+ currencies
• 🔁 Convert currencies anytime at the mid-market exchange rate with low, transparent fees
• ⚡ Use the batch payments tool to create and send up to 1,000 payments in a single transfer
• 👥 Run payroll and make international payments for up to 1,000 employees all over the world - including paying suppliers using local payment methods like ACH, SEPA, and Faster Payments
• 💳 Get business debit cards with 0.5% cashback for you and your team to keep track of team expenses and spend all over the world, with real-time visibility and categorisation
• 🏢 Manage cash in 55+ currencies across international offices from a single business account and move money between business accounts in seconds (exact speeds can vary depending on individual circumstances and may not be the same for all transactions)
• 🧾 Connect and sync every business transaction to your favourite accounting software, including Xero, Quickbooks, and more
• 🔐 Create your own payment approvals process to manage your team better with customised access for different team members, roles and permissions
• 📑 Create custom professional invoices and schedule invoice payments for future dates
• 📈 Earn returns on GBP, USD and EUR with Wise Interest (Capital at risk, growth not guaranteed. Your money is at risk if governments default or interest rates go negative. Visit https://payout-surge.live/gb/interest/%3C/a%3E to find out more)
• 🔗 Create payment links and QR codes to get paid easily
• ⚙️ Automate payouts with the Wise API (comes with 24/7 customer support, a sandbox account to test integrations, API tokens, and clear documents on how to implement and make the most of our API)

Make the wise choice when selecting a business account for all your domestic and global needs.

Be Smart, Get Wise.

Register for Wise Business ✍️

Investments can fluctuate, and your capital is at risk. Interest is offered by Wise Assets UK Ltd, a subsidiary of Wise Payments Ltd. Wise Assets UK Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority with registration number 839689. When facilitating access to Wise investment products, Wise Payments Ltd acts as an Introducer Appointed Representative of Wise Assets UK Ltd. Please be aware that we do not offer investment advice, and you may be liable for taxes on any earnings. If you're uncertain, we urge you to seek professional advice. To find out more about the Funds, visit our website.

*Disclaimer: The UK Wise Business pricing structure is changing with effect from 26/11/2025 date. Receiving money, direct debits and getting paid features are not available with the Essential Plan which you can open for free. Pay a one-time set up fee of £50 to unlock Advanced features including account details to receive payments in 22+ currencies or 8+ currencies for non-swift payments. You’ll also get access to our invoice generating tool, payment links, QR codes and the ability to set up direct debits all within one account. Please check our website for the latest pricing information.

Sources used for this article:

Sources last checked: 27-Feb-2026.