Barclays business account review for UK businesses

Barclays business account review

Barclays is one of the UK’s largest high street banks, offering a range of business bank accounts tailored to companies at different stages of growth. In this review, we’ll explore the key features of Barclays accounts, who they’re for, and whether they’re the right fit for your business.

Barclays business account verdict

Best for: businesses that want a traditional bank with multiple account options and branch access.

Not ideal for: founders who care most about smooth support, digital-first tools, and a simpler setup.

Bottom line: Barclays has the reach and product range, but the review intent around this brand is heavily shaped by service quality and trust – so this page needs to answer that head-on.

Types of Barclays business accounts

Barclays currently offers three main types of business accounts:

• Start-up business account
• Business account for turnover of up to £400k
• Business account for £400k-£6.5m turnover

Start-up business account

This is an account for new businesses. If you’re a sole trader or a sole director LTD company you can apply for a Start-up business account online or in the Barclays app. If your company has more than one director, you can request a callback.

You get:

• Barclays banking app
• Business debit and credit cards
• Free invoicing and account software from FreshBook
• Simple, secure online banking
• UK-based business managers
• Free digital banking for the first 12 months

Barclays business account pros and cons

Pros

• A familiar high street brand with branch access and a broad account range.
• A start-up account with 12 months of free digital banking.
• Useful add-ons like invoicing software and lending options as your business grows.

Cons

• Review intent around Barclays is strongly shaped by support and complaint-related content, which can make trust a sticking point.
• The setup is more traditional than with digital-first rivals, especially if your business has more than 1 director.
• The application flow is not as smooth as newer app-based business accounts.

ANNA also offers a Start-up Business Account If you’re starting a new business and looking for an easy, fast and modern alternative to traditional banks, ANNA’s Start-up business account could be the perfect fit.

We’re a start-up ourselves, so we know exactly what new businesses need – because we’ve been through the same journey. From setting up your company to chasing your first invoices, we’ve built ANNA to solve the real problems that start-ups face.

Business account for turnover of up to £400k

This account is for more established businesses and Barclays can help with cash flow and lending, international expansion, different payment solutions and other opportunities for growth. You also get the same basic features as the Start-up account.

Business account for £400k–£6.5m turnover

This is an account for bigger businesses and Barclays provides a team of banking experts and Business Managers to work with you.

How to open a Barclays business account: requirements and documents

• You need to be at least 18 years old
• You need the right to live permanently in the UK
• One document to prove your identity (e.g. passport or driving license)
• One document to prove your UK address (e.g. full driving license or council tax bill)
• If you’re a LTD company, you will need to provide your company registration documents

Be prepared to wait

At the moment the main obstacle to opening a Barclays business account is time. On the Barclays website it says it can take up to 10 days to open an account, however there are reports that it can take longer.

Open an ANNA account in under 10 minutes

In contrast, you can open an ANNA account in under 10 minutes. You’ll need ID and proof of address ( additional information about your business will definitely speed up the process) and you’re good to go.

You can be a sole trader or LTD company. You get a Debit card, virtual cards you can use instantly, as well as invoicing and receipt scanning tools. You can easily sort your expenses with ANNA and there’s even a payment link so you can get paid by QR code or online. There is 1% cashback on a range of business purchases, and you can use Apple Pay and Google Pay to pay with your phone.

ANNA also has award-winning 24/7 customer support in Cardiff, which may be one of the reasons we score 4.7 on Trustpilot, the best in our field. So if you’re looking for a business account, ANNA is a very good place to start.

Who Barclays is best for

Barclays is best suited to established businesses that want a traditional relationship-led bank, branch access, and several account options under one roof. It’s less compelling for founders who want faster support, smoother onboarding, and more automation built into the account itself.

Barclays business account review – final thoughts

Barclays can work well if you want a recognisable high street provider and you’re comfortable with a more traditional banking experience. But if your priority is speed, simplicity, and less admin, newer business account options are often easier to live with.

Sign up for ANNA