6 Reasons Why Freelancers and Self-Employed Business Owners Should Use Chase Business Complete Checking

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Self-employment and freelancing can be rewarding ways to earn a living with the flexibility to set your own schedule, along with getting to be your own boss and many other potential perks. Yet, as an entrepreneur in either of these categories, you’re likely to face unique obstacles as well—such as the challenge of finding the right bank account to fit your business needs. 

The Chase Business Complete Checking® account has the potential to be a solid banking option for many freelancers and self-employed entrepreneurs. The account features multiple ways to waive the monthly service fee and a hassle-free option for setting up credit card acceptance. Customers can also take advantage of unlimited electronic deposits and an impressive bonus opportunity for eligible new customers.

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• Intro Bonus $300Expires July 22, 2024 More Info

  Earn $300 when you open a new Chase Business Complete Checking® account. For new Chase business checking customers with qualifying activities.

The Chase Business Complete Checking® account is an attractive option. It offers the convenience of one of the largest financial institutions in the country, and it frequently offers bonuses that are relatively easy to earn. While it does not allow you to accrue interest on your funds like some other popular small business checking accounts, it's still very much worth considering if you can meet the requirements to waive its monthly fees.

• Overview
• Pros & Cons

Overview

The Chase Business Complete Checking® account comes loaded with a valuable sign-up bonus and an assortment of helpful perks, so long as you can meet the requirements to waive its monthly fees. It’s a good fit for many business checking customers, regardless of business size.

Pros

• Generous signup bonus
• Several options to waive monthly fee
• Same-day deposits using QuickAccept℠ service
• Huge network of in-person branches and ATMs

Cons

• Monthly maintenance fee
• Overdraft fees are relatively high
• Limit on fee-free cash deposits and physical transactions

If you’re a freelancer or a self-employed business owner, below are the top six reasons why a Chase Business Complete Checking account might make sense for you.  

1. Multiple Ways to Avoid the Monthly Service Fee

As a self-employed business owner or freelancer, keeping business costs under control is essential. Some entrepreneurs might be disappointed to learn that the Chase Business Complete Checking account features a $15 monthly service fee. 

On a positive note, there are five ways to qualify for a fee waiver: 

• Maintain a minimum daily account balance of $2,000. 
• Open a Chase Ink® Business credit card and make $2,000 in monthly purchases. 
• Open a Chase QuickAccept℠ account (or other eligible Chase Payment Solutions℠ account) and receive $2,000 in monthly deposits. 
• Open a Chase Private Client Checking℠ account and link it to your business account. 
• Provide proof of eligible military status (active-duty servicemembers and spouses). 

Chase has three business checking account options. Of the three, Business Complete Banking features the most affordable monthly service fee and has the easiest requirements to qualify for a fee waiver. 

2. A Potentially Easier Path to Credit Card Acceptance

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Setting up a merchant account to accept credit card payments from customers isn’t always easy. And when you’re a busy freelancer or a self-employed business owner without any support staff to call on for help, finding ways to establish and manage a merchant account in the most convenient ways possible matters. 

With a Chase Business Complete Checking account, accepting credit card payments is an easy-to-initiate process for eligible customers. You can activate Chase QuickAccept in the Chase Mobile® app or on Chase.com. Once your business passes through verification, you’ll be able to accept credit card payments through the Chase Mobile app or through a contactless mobile card reader. 

As with any merchant account, there are additional costs to accept credit card payments including: 

• $49.95 (optional) for the Chase QuickAccept contactless mobile card reader.
• 2.6% + $0.10 per transaction for tap, dip and swipe purchases through the contactless mobile card reader (paired with the Chase Mobile app).
• 3.5% + $0.10 per transaction for manual transactions you key in using the Chase Mobile app or Chase.com. 

Perhaps the biggest perk of pairing a Chase QuickAccept account with a Chase Business Complete Checking account is that you can access the credit card payments you collect in your business checking account on the same day. Other than the regular processing fees above, there’s no additional charge for same-day deposits. 

3. $300 Bonus Offer

The chance to earn extra cash is always nice. You might be pleasantly surprised to learn that the Chase Business Complete Checking account comes with a $300 bonus opportunity for new customers through July 22, 2024. 

Earning the bonus isn’t hard, but you will need to complete the following steps to be eligible: 

• Sign up to become a new Chase Business Complete Checking customer online or at a Chase Bank branch. 
• Deposit at least $2,000 in new-to-Chase money into the account within 30 days from account opening to qualify for a $300 bonus. Your new money deposit amount is determined at the 30-day mark from account opening.
• Maintain at least a $2,000 minimum balance for 60 days
• Complete at least five qualifying transactions within 90 days of enrolling in the offer. Qualifying transactions may include debit card purchases, Chase QuickAccept deposits, Chase QuickDeposit℠ transactions, ACH credits (additional fees may apply), wire transfers and Chase Online^℠ Bill Pay.

Once you complete all of the requirements above, Chase will deposit the bonus into your new business checking account within 15 days. However, if you’ve received a new account bonus from Chase within the past two years, you might have to wait before you’re eligible for another bonus. 

4. Chase Mobile App

Many banks offer apps and online account management tools to support their customers. However, Chase Bank has an award-winning app that can simplify your financial management tasks for small businesses of all sizes—including freelancers and self-employed entrepreneurs. 

Chase Business Complete Checking customers can use the Chase Mobile app to do the following (and more): 

• Set up account alerts and paperless statements. 
• Use and schedule bill pay services. 
• Transfer money to linked Chase accounts. 
• Transfer money to others using Zelle®.
• Make mobile deposits. 
• Review account balances and activity. 

In addition to the mobile app, customers can also log in to their Chase Business account online to manage their business checking account from a computer or laptop. 

5. Unlimited Electronic Deposits

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Another feature that’s likely to appeal to busy freelancers and self-employed individuals is the fact that the Chase Business Complete Checking account comes with unlimited electronic deposits. However, you might have to pay for other transactions on the account.

6. In-Person and Online Banking Options

JPMorgan Chase Bank is the largest bank in the United States and one of the largest financial institutions in the world. As such, it’s no surprise that Chase has online and in-person banking options for business owners of all sizes. 

Whether you prefer the speed and convenience of online banking or you’re an entrepreneur who needs to visit a local branch, there’s a good chance that Chase will be able to serve your needs. The bank has a network of over 4,700 branch locations throughout the country and over 15,000 ATMs. 

Drawbacks of a Chase Business Complete Checking Account

It’s also important to consider the potential downsides before you open a new business checking account. The biggest negative of the account is the fees you might have to pay.

You should take a close look at the details you’ll need to meet to qualify for a fee waiver each month. You’ll also want to examine the other potential fees below that you might run into depending on how you use the account. 

Other Potential Transaction Fees

• For deposits and withdrawals that you make with a teller and the paper checks you write on your account, only the first 20 each month are free. After those 20 freebies, there’s a $0.40 charge per additional transaction each month. 
• Additional processing fees apply to cash deposits over $5,000 each month. 

Bottom Line

The Chase Business Complete Checking account is a trusted resource that many small business owners enjoy using. The account has many features business owners expect from their bank. Plus, the checking account includes a built-in credit card acceptance process, Chase’s award-winning mobile app, and other details that could make life easier for freelancers, self-employed business owners, and others. 

However, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons of the account to make sure it’s a good fit for you. If you don’t think you can qualify for a fee waiver (and if the idea of a $15 monthly fee bothers you) or if any other aspects of the account don’t appeal to you, you might want to see what some of the other best small business checking accounts have to offer instead. 

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