Monday, November 1, 2021

The Penny Hoarder

The Penny Hoarder


Situations When Couples Should Combine Finances — And When They Shouldn’t

Posted: 12 Jul 2021 01:00 PM PDT

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Every partnership is unique, but one topic tends to introduce stress more often than others in a relationship: money. Specifically how we make it, how we spend it and how we talk about it.

Do we get joint bank accounts? Do we invest separately? How do we split the bills? Do we have to tell our partner about every dime we spend?

Finances can be a touchy subject — whether you're married or not — but it's an incredibly important one. What you do today can affect your future together (think: buying a home, going on vacations, retiring) and you need to be on the same page.

But "same page" doesn't always mean sharing the same accounts. Here are the times you should combine your finances — and when you shouldn't.

1. Combine: Car Insurance Payments

Did you know you could save money by combining your car insurance with your partner's? Yep — by putting two cars on one insurance policy, you could be eligible for discounted rates. Some up to 20% per additional car.

That's why this is one financial move you should make together, and one you should check out every six months or so — it could save you some serious money. Let's be real, though. It's probably not the first thing you think about when you wake up. But it doesn't have to be.

A website called Insure.com makes it super easy to compare car insurance prices. All you have to do is enter your ZIP code and your age, and it'll show you your options.

Using Insure.com, people have saved an average of $489 a year.

Yup. That could be $500 back in your pocket just for taking a few minutes to look at your options.

2. Combine: Emergency Funds

If you share a life together, you'll likely share the emergencies, too. Sick kids, company-wide layoffs and natural disasters don't pick and choose their victims.

So having an emergency fund together is a smart move to make sure everyone is protected and has access to it.

If you're looking for a place to safely stash that money away — but still earn money — don't waste your time with a typical savings account. The 0.04% national average interest rate is nothing these days.

But a debit card called Aspiration lets you earn up to 16 times the average interest on the money in your account.

Not too shabby!

Enter your email address here to get a free Aspiration Spend and Save account. After you confirm your email, securely link your bank account so they can start helping you get extra cash. Your money is FDIC insured and they use a military-grade encryption which is nerd talk for "this is totally safe."

3. Combine: Homeowners Insurance

Did you know that even if your home's mortgage isn't in your name  — just your partner's — you can still be on the homeowners insurance? In case something were to happen, you want to make sure you can access the benefits — so combine this, too!

If you're a homeowner, you probably have homeowners insurance, but you hardly ever think about it. That's good — it means you haven't needed to use it. But it also means you don't know if you're being overcharged for it.

It's easy to find out, though. To see if you're overpaying for your policy, check out  a website called SmartFinancial. It's a digital marketplace where you can get quotes and compare rates to make sure you're getting the best price.

Homeowners can save hundreds of dollars when they switch home insurance companies this way. It takes just two minutes to get quotes from multiple insurers, so you can see all your options side-by-side. Get started here. 

4. Combine: Some of Your Credit Cards or Loans

You've got big plans. Maybe you've got your eye on a new car. Or you're hoping to buy a house in the next few years. Or you'd even like to start your own business. But here's the thing: No matter what your goals are, you might not realize how much your credit score is standing in your way.

But if you and your partner work together to pay off debts and keep low balances on credit cards, you can both benefit from any bumps in your credit score.

A free website called Credit Sesame makes it easy to put your credit score on track to reach your goals. We even talked to one guy, James Cooper, of Atlanta, who used Credit Sesame to raise his credit score nearly 300 points in six months.*** He says they showed him exactly what to do — he was even able to open his first credit card.

What could adding 300 points to your score mean for your goals? It could easily save you thousands of dollars over the life of a car loan or mortgage.

In just 90 seconds, Credit Sesame will give you access to your credit score, any debt-carrying accounts and a handful of personalized tips to improve your score. You'll even be able to spot any errors holding you back (one in five reports have one).

Make sure your plans don't get sidelined by bad credit. Sign up for free (it only takes about 90 seconds) and see how much you could improve your score.

5. Combine: Investments

When you invest in the stock market, you could earn an average of 7% year over year just by holding your investments.

And if you invest alongside your partner, you'll also get an average of 7% — but 7% of a larger sum. That's why it could be a smart move to combine your account with your spouse's or open a new one together.

It's easy to do with an app called Stash. Stash lets you be a part of something that's normally exclusive to the richest of the rich — on Stash you can buy pieces of other companies for as little as $1.

That's right — you can invest in pieces of well-known companies, such as Amazon, Google, Apple and more for as little as $1. The best part? If these companies profit, so can you. Some companies even send you a check every quarter for your share of the profits, called dividends.1

It takes two minutes to sign up, and it's totally secure. With Stash, all your investments are protected by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) — that's industry talk for, "Your money's safe."2

Plus, when you use the link above, Stash will give you a $5 sign-up bonus once you deposit $5 into your account.*

6. Combine: Tax Returns

This combined financial strategy might not work for everyone — it depends on how complicated your tax returns are or what your financial goals are.

But for most married couples, the tax credit you'd get on your yearly tax returns is enough to make it worthwhile. In 2020, a married couple filing jointly was able to take a $24,800 deduction, while filing solo only allowed for a $12,400 deduction.

7. Separate: Life Insurance

Ok, so you can't combine life insurance policies even if you wanted to. But you should both have life insurance policies with each other as the beneficiaries.

Why? Because you need to think about how your family would manage without your income after you're gone — Like how they'll pay the bills or send the kids through school. Now's a good time to start planning for the future by looking into a term life insurance policy.

You're probably thinking: I don't have the time or money for that. But you can get free quotes from a company called Policygenius in just a few minutes to help you find the right coverage for your needs.

Some policies start at less than $20 per month.* The peace of mind of knowing your family is taken care of is priceless.

Policygenius offers life insurance policies that don't require the usual medical exam, so you don't even have to get up from the couch. Click here to get a free quote from Policygenius.

8. Separate: Personal and Emergency Savings

Sharing an emergency fund is important — but so is having one all to yourself. Whether it's for something fun like buying surprise gifts or having a financial layer of protection in case you break up, make sure you're saving for yourself.

If you're looking for ways to increase those savings, here are a few options:

  • An Aspiration bank account that will give you up to 5% cash back on debit card purchases and earn you up to 16x the average interest.
  • Cash back and gift card rewards for online shopping, like Capital One Shopping or Rakuten — both offer bonuses for signing up through these links.

9. Combine: Scoring Free Stocks

If you feel like you don't have enough money to start investing, you're not alone. But guess what? Not only can you combine efforts with your partner, you can even get free stocks (worth $2.50 to $200!) if you know where to look.

Whether you've got $5, $100 or $800 to spare, you can start investing with Robinhood.

Yeah, you've probably heard of Robinhood. Both investing beginners and pros love it because it doesn't charge commission fees, and you can buy and sell stocks for free — no limits. Plus, it's super easy to use.

What's best? When you download the app and fund your account (it takes no more than a few minutes), Robinhood drops a share of free stock into your account. It's random, though, so that stock could be worth anywhere from $2.50 to $200 — a nice boost to help you build your investments.

Kari Faber is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. 

***Like Cooper, 60% of Credit Sesame members see an increase in their credit score; 50% see at least a 10-point increase, and 20% see at least a 50-point increase after 180 days.

Credit Sesame does not guarantee any of these results, and some may even see a decrease in their credit score. Any score improvement is the result of many factors, including paying bills on time, keeping credit balances low, avoiding unnecessary inquiries, appropriate financial planning and developing better credit habits.

1Not all stocks pay out dividends, and there is no guarantee that dividends will be paid each year.

2To note, SIPC coverage does not insure against the potential loss of market value.

For Securities priced over $1,000, purchase of fractional shares starts at $0.05.

*Offer is subject to Promotion Terms and Conditions. To be eligible to participate in this Promotion and receive the bonus, you must successfully open an individual brokerage account in good standing, link a funding account to your Invest account AND deposit $5.00 into your Invest account.

The Penny Hoarder is a Paid Affiliate/partner of Stash. 

Investment advisory services offered by Stash Investments LLC, an SEC registered investment adviser. This material has been distributed for informational and educational purposes only, and is not intended as investment, legal, accounting, or tax advice. Investing involves risk. 

*For a $500K policy, subject to eligibility. 

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Prepared Thanksgiving Dinners from 16 Trusted Stores and Restaurants

Posted: 01 Nov 2021 09:00 AM PDT

Thanksgiving is the favorite holiday of many people and one of the biggest home-entertaining days of the year. There's no need to buy gifts, wear a costume, or worry about getting pinched for not wearing green.

On Thanksgiving, all you need to worry about is eating a delicious turkey dinner, watching some football, taking a nap, eating some more food, watching some more football and just chilling with family and friends.

That's a holiday!

You might think, "That's all well and good if you're not the one who has to make that massive feast." Well, you don't have to be the one who does all the cooking this year. You have plenty of options to order Thanksgiving dinner to go from your favorite grocery store or restaurant.

It just depends on what you're willing to spend.

Here's Where to Order Thanksgiving Dinner To Go

Thanksgiving 2020 saw smaller-than-usual gatherings because of the pandemic. But this year, grocery chains are stocking up on larger turkeys as they expect Thanksgiving tables to look more like they did pre-pandemic. If you're hosting that means you need to figure out how to feed all those mouths without collapsing from exhaustion from the cooking duties.

Food prices are also on the rise, with news reports saying that turkeys are likely to cost about 25 cents more per pound than they did in 2020. And it's not just turkey prices that are rising — consumers across the country are noticing higher prices on everything from canned pumpkin to sweet potatoes.

Suddenly, paying someone else to make dinner for you doesn't seem so extravagant. That way, you can spend time decorating the table.

So, what are your options when you want to skip the cooking entirely and let someone else do the heavy lifting?

Here are 16 places where you can order a pre-made Thanksgiving dinner — or at least part of it — to stuff family and friends on the big day. Plus, reduce the work in the kitchen.

1. Publix

If you live in the Southeast, you probably know and love Publix. It loves you right back with the premade Publix Deli large turkey dinner. All you have to do is buy it, take it home and heat it up. It'll feed 14 to 18 people.

This Thanksgiving meal cost $89.99 in 2020, which comes out to $4.99 to $6.43 per person. Prices for 2021 haven't yet been made public as of this writing but this will give you a benchmark.

The meal price includes:

  • One 16- to 18-pound cooked Butterball turkey
  • 5 pounds dressing
  • 5 pounds mashed potatoes
  • 64 ounces Publix gravy
  • 56 ounces Marshmallow Delight, a sweet fruit salad
  • 32 ounces Publix cranberry orange relish

And if you're feeding a smaller family, you can get the Publix Deli turkey dinner for 7 to 10 people for $49.99 (2020 price), or about $5 to $7.14 per person.

The meal includes:

  • One 10- to 12-pound fully cooked Butterball turkey
  • 2 1/2 pounds dressing
  • 2 1/2 pounds mashed potatoes
  • 32 ounces Publix gravy
  • 28 ounces Marshmallow Delight
  • 16 ounces Publix cranberry orange relish

Some items require up to 150 minutes to heat because of their size so plan accordingly. Heating instructions are included for both meals.

2. Cracker Barrel

Nothing says "homestyle" like Cracker Barrel. With its Heat n' Serve Holiday Family Meal To-Go, you know you'll get comfort food — and plenty of it.

This Heat n' Serve Feast feeds eight to 10 people for $139.99, which comes out to $17.50 to $13.99 per person.

The meal includes:

  • Two oven-roasted turkey breasts
  • Cornbread dressing
  • Turkey gravy
  • Cranberry relish
  • Sweet potato casserole
  • Your choice of two country sides
  • Sweet yeast rolls
  • Pumpkin pie and pecan pie

If you're planning a smaller gathering, Cracker Barrel's Heat n' Serve Family Dinner serves four to six people. At $89.99, that comes out to $22.50 to $14.99 per person. The meal includes the following:

  • Oven-roasted turkey breast
  • Cornbread dressing
  • Turkey gravy
  • Cranberry relish
  • Sweet potato casserole
  • Your choice of one country side
  • Sweet yeast rolls

It's pricey per person, but if you pre-order and schedule your pickup for Nov. 22 or Nov. 23, you'll also receive a $10 Cracker Barrel gift card with the Feast or $5 gift card with the Family Dinner.

3. Boston Market

Boston Market prides itself on its homestyle food, so when Thanksgiving rolls around, it's not about to step back. It gets in on the action with its complete Thanksgiving meal for 12.

The price is $149.99, putting it at $12.50 per person.

The meal includes:

  • One whole roasted turkey
  • Spinach artichoke dip and crackers
  • Mashed potatoes
  • Gravy
  • Vegetable stuffing
  • Cranberry walnut relish
  • Dinner rolls
  • Apple pie
  • Pumpkin pie

Or you could go for the essential turkey meal for $129.99, or $10.83 per person, instead. This meal also serves up to 12 people and includes:

  • Whole roasted turkey
  • Mashed potatoes
  • Gravy
  • Vegetable stuffing
  • Dinner rolls
  • Apple pie
  • Pumpkin pie

And for smaller families (up to 6 people), you'll find two meals to choose from on Boston Market's heat-and-serve Thanksgiving menu. If you need any additional meats, sides or desserts, you can order from the a la carte menu. All items are cooked and chilled for pickup the week of Thanksgiving.

The inside of Fresh Market.

4. The Fresh Market

Fresh Market is known as an upscale grocer, but it doesn't stretch the budget with its deluxe holiday dinner. If you want variety in your meal, you'll get it with this one.

The cost to feed 12 to 14 people is $159.99, which comes out to $11.43 to $13.33 per person.

The meal kit includes:

  • One 10- to 12-pound cooked turkey
  • 3 1/2 pounds boneless sliced ham
  • 4 pounds of Yukon Gold whipped potatoes
  • 3 pounds of traditional herb stuffing
  • 30 ounces of turkey gravy
  • 2 pounds of roasted butternut squash with pecans and cranberries
  • 2 pounds of green bean medley
  • 16 ounces of cranberry relish with walnuts
  • 24 dinner rolls
  • 1 apple pie

Wait. Turkey and ham? That's excessiveness we can get behind. Plus, the sides look amazing. If you have a Fresh Market nearby, this could be a great option.

If your Thanksgiving dinner will be a little smaller — as in 8 to 10 people — then you can go for the traditional holiday dinner for $89.99, or about $8.99 to $11.25 per person.

This meal includes:

  • One 10- to 12-pound cooked turkey
  • 3 pounds Yukon Gold whipped potatoes
  • 3 pounds traditional herb stuffing
  • 30 ounces turkey gravy
  • 16 ounces cranberry relish with walnuts
  • 12 golden dinner rolls

And if your Thanksgiving table is even smaller, you can grab the essential holiday dinner for 3 to 5 people. This heat-and-serve meal rings in at $69.99, or about $14 to $23 per person, and includes:

  • 3-pound cooked turkey breast
  • 2 pounds Yukon Gold whipped potatoes
  • 2 pounds traditional herb stuffing
  • 1 pound green bean medley
  • 30 ounces homestyle turkey gravy
  • 8 ounces cranberry relish with walnuts

The Fresh Market will be open Thanksgiving Day from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

5. Bob Evans

To feed 12 people with Bob Evans' Turkey Farmhouse Feast, you'd need to order one eight-person meal and one four-person meal. Together, they run $159.98, putting your bill at $13.33 per person.

The meal includes:

  • Slow-roasted turkey
  • Bread-and-celery dressing
  • Mashed potatoes with gravy
  • Corn
  • Green beans with ham
  • Cranberry relish
  • Dinner rolls
  • Pumpkin pie
  • Pumpkin bread

If you prefer turkey over ham, you can order the Ham Farmhouse Feast for $149.98, or $12.50 per person.

You can also opt for the Premium Farmhouse Feast, which feeds 8 to 10 people for $134.99, or $13.50 to $16.87 per person, and includes:

  • Slow-roasted turkey
  • Hickory-smoked ham
  • Bread-and-celery dressing
  • Mashed potatoes with gravy
  • Corn
  • Green beans with ham
  • Cranberry relish
  • Macaroni and cheese
  • Pumpkin bread
  • Dinner rolls
  • Pumpkin pie
  • Double-crust apple pie

The meals are packed cold, but heating instructions are included.

6. Hy-Vee

If you're lucky enough to live in the Midwest where you can shop at Hy-Vee, you have a great holiday meal option with its family feast turkey dinner. Those outside the Midwest don't know what they're missing from this Iowa-based grocery store chain.

The 2020 price for up to 12 people is $129.99, which comes out to $10.83 per person. Prices for 2021 haven't been released yet.

The meal includes:

  • One 14- to 16-pound Butterball turkey
  • 32 ounces beef or turkey gravy
  • Two large sides mashed potatoes
  • Four large sides your choice (including dessert)
  • 24 dinner rolls

The instructions say to plan for 2 1/2 hours to reheat the meal.

A man carries Whole Foods bags.

7. Whole Foods Market

OK, you're ready to pull out all the stops. "Go big or go home" is a great motto for this holiday. Whole Foods' festive feast for 12 isn't cheap, but it'll blow the doors off your Thanksgiving — as well as your belt buckles and buttons.

The price for up to 12 people is $299.99, which comes out to $24.99 per person.

It includes:

  • One roast turkey
  • One spiral-sliced ham
  • Mashed potatoes
  • Traditional herb stuffing
  • Green beans with roasted shallots
  • Roasted butternut squash with cranberries and sage
  • Creamed spinach and kale
  • Turkey gravy
  • Cranberry orange sauce
  • Spiced brown sugar ham glaze
  • Brioche rolls
  • One pumpkin pie
  • One apple pie

At $279.99, it's a more expensive option, but you're getting a lot of food for your buck. Plus, there are a few smaller holiday meal options.

8. Costco

It's no surprise to find Costco on this list. Just like most things you buy here, you can expect quality and deliciousness from their Schwan's Thanksgiving Meal, also billed as Thanksgiving meal in a box.

The meal serves 8 people and costs $119.99, which works out at $14.99 a head. Watch out for discounts early in the month, which can bring the price down even more.

This meal includes:

  • Two 2.5-pound turkey breasts (ready to roast)
  • 2-pound bag whole baby potatoes, roasted and seasoned with garlic, onion and salt
  • 2-pound bag roasted sweet potatoes
  • 36 ounces MicroSteam whole green beans
  • 26 ounces super-sweet corn
  • Southern-style biscuit dough
  • Traditional pumpkin pie
  • Old-fashioned apple pie
  • Classic vanilla ice cream

You need to pre-order this meal by Nov. 12, 2021, for delivery between Nov. 17 and 19. This means you'll need to have room in the fridge for about a week. And keep in mind, you will be doing more cooking than you would with other meal offers.

9. Albertsons

If you live west of the Mississippi, Albertsons has your back this Thanksgiving. You can order a fully cooked Smoked Turkey Holiday Dinner that serves 8 to 10 people for just $62.99. That works out between $6.30 and $7.87 per person!

For that low, low price, you'll get a lot of food to feed your crew. It includes:

  • Fully cooked turkey
  • Cornbread dressing
  • Mashed potatoes
  • Cranberry relish
  • Giblet gravy
  • Dinner rolls

You can also choose a version with turkey breast instead of whole turkey for the same price, or a version that subs in spiral-cut ham for $67.99.

Order online from Nov. 1-22, 2021, for Thanksgiving. You can also order the meals for the Christmas holiday from Nov. 16-Dec. 21, 2021.

10. Shoprite

Looking to feed 8 to 10 people? Check out the Complete Thanksgiving Dinner from Shoprite. It includes:

  • Fully cooked 10- to 12-pound Butterball turkey
  • 3 pounds mashed potatoes
  • 2 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes
  • 2 pounds holiday stuffing
  • 2 pounds green bean casserole
  • 2 pounds turkey gravy

Ordering should open soon, so keep an eye on the website to get yours in ASAP!

11. Popeyes

When it comes to Thanksgiving meals, the turkey is the main attraction. It seems deceptively simple to roast a perfect bird but how many of us have served it dried out or undercooked? Stick to making the sides and get a cooked turkey from Popeyes instead.

Popeye's turkey is hand-rubbed and infused with Cajun seasonings before being roasted. The restaurant chain then freezes the cooked turkey so all you need to do on Thanksgiving day is reheat the thawed bird. Check thawing times because you should start that a day or two ahead of the day you want to heat and eat.

You can also pick up sides at Popeyes, including mashed potatoes, biscuits and mac n cheese.

Since Popeyes restaurants are franchises, the price of the turkey will vary based on location. Contact your local Popeyes to find out more and place an order.

12. Buca di Beppo

Buca di Beppo is known for its family-style meals, so what better place to get your family's Thanksgiving dinner? Buca's Thanksgiving Feast To-Go costs $78.99 for a small (feeds 3) or $148 for a large (feeds 6). That works out around $24-$26 per person.

The meal includes:

  • Sliced white meat turkey
  • Roasted garlic mashed potatoes
  • Homestyle gravy
  • Spicy Italian sausage stuffing
  • Green beans
  • Cranberry sauce
  • Pumpkin pie

You can order online now and pick up on Nov. 23, 2021.

13. Harry & David

Harry & David is known for its premium foods that it delivers by mail nationwide. You can order the Gourmet Turkey Feast for your family for $229.99, which is pricey but may be worth it if you have a lot of picky mouths to feed. It doesn't specifically say how much it feeds but a 10-pound turkey is usually good for about six people, leaving some for leftovers.

The meal includes:

  • 10-pound oven-roasted turkey
  • Apple sausage stuffing
  • Creamy Brussels sprouts with bacon
  • Brown sugar sweet potatoes
  • Classic turkey gravy
  • Spiced cranberry sauce
  • Pumpkin cheesecake

You can also upgrade to the Wow Holiday Meal for $399.99 if you're really feeling fancy — and flush with money — this year.

14. Omaha Steaks

Omaha Steaks is typically known for their namesake meat, but at Thanksgiving you'll want to get your hands on one of their prepared Thanksgiving dinners.

There are four options available: Custom Thanksgiving Feast for Four ($129.99), Custom Thanksgiving Dinner for Six ($149.99), Build Your Own Thanksgiving Feast for Six ($179.99), and Tailor-Made Thanksgiving for Eight ($199.99). Depending on which you order, the per-head price ranges from $25 to $32.50.

The meal for 8 includes:

  • Choice between whole turkey or spiral-sliced ham
  • Three sides of your choice (options include smashed red potatoes, green bean casserole and creamed corn)
  • Two desserts of your choice (options include pumpkin pie and pecan pie)
  • Mini baguettes with garlic butter

Once you've ordered, your meal will ship directly to you and all you'll need to do on the day is reheat it.

15. Hello Fresh

Meal delivery service Hello Fresh offers a complete Thanksgiving meal kit shipped straight to your door for $16.99 per person for 8-10 guests.

You can customize your box depending on your food preferences. Choices include:

  • Roast turkey
  • Ciabatta stuffing
  • Creamy mashed potatoes
  • Classic gravy
  • Cranberry sauce
  • Apple ginger crisp

Once you've placed your order, it'll be delivered to your door in the two weeks leading up to Thanksgiving. Make you you give the turkey at least four days to thaw!

A slow exposure of cars going by Trader Joe's.

16. Trader Joe's

While Trader Joe's doesn't have a complete Thanksgiving meal kit available, they do have several options to make Thanksgiving meal prep easier.

Choose options like:

  • Turkey & stuffing en croute ($15.99, serves 8)
  • Cornbread stuffing mix ($3.99, serves 12)
  • Scallopini potatoes ($3.99, serves 3.5)
  • Turkey gravy ($1.49, serves 20)

It's important to note that these are recommended serving sizes, which are not equal to Thanksgiving serving sizes, so make sure you buy enough food to account for seconds (and thirds, and fourths …).

Holidays should be fun and relaxing, not tiring and taxing. Sometimes it pays to spend a little money to buy back your time.

Pittsburgh-based writer Brynne Conroy is the founder of the Femme Frugality blog and the author of "The Feminist Financial Handbook." She is a regular contributor to The Penny Hoarder. Information from a previous post by Tyler Omoth is included in this report.

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Find Remote Jobs at These 32 Work-From-Home Companies

Posted: 01 Nov 2021 07:00 AM PDT

Since March 2020, more and more Americans have been working from home thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. But now, with vaccinations available widely, many workplaces are asking their employees to return to the office.

Or, at least, management is talking about returning while keeping an eye on the Delta variant and increased infection numbers around the country before making a firm decision.

If the thought of giving up your WFH life fills you with dread, it's time to look for a new job that allows you to work remotely 100% of the time.

To help your search, we have put together this list of companies that regularly offer WFH positions. This list is not exhaustive; a lot of companies who previously only had in-office positions are moving toward more WFH jobs in order to attract qualified candidates and to save money on office rentals.

32 Companies With Work-From-Home Jobs

We do our homework on companies before sharing them with our readers by vetting them. Here's a list of work-from-home companies with regular job opportunities.

Adobe

Adobe is known for several products, including Acrobat, Photoshop and Illustrator. The company, which employs more than 21,000 people, has offices in cities around the world but also offers numerous work-from-home opportunities.

Benefits: Adobe has a substantial benefits package that includes medical insurance, 401(k), dependent care FSA, unlimited PTO and tuition reimbursement. The company also offers employee resource groups to help workers from similar backgrounds connect.

Pay: Varies by position.

How to Apply: Go to the Adobe careers page and type "Remote" in the search bar to see all current remote positions.

Alorica

Alorica provides customer service and customer relationship management across a variety of industries, including healthcare and retail. The company employs more than 100,000 people and hires WFH customer service positions. There are a variety of shifts available, so it's ideal if you're looking for a flexible schedule.

Benefits: Alorica's employee benefits include health insurance, tuition reimbursement, bonus potential, paid vacation and retirement planning.

Pay: Varies by position.

How to Apply: On the Alorica jobs page, select "Work at Home Agents" in the "Job Category" drop-down menu, then choose your current location to see what opportunities are available in your area.

Amazon

A person carries Amazon boxes to deliver

There's no need to explain what Amazon does; it's one of the best-known companies in the world. Amazon employs more than 1 million people, according to an October 2020 article in the Washington Post. Want to be one of those people? Amazon has an entire page that lists work-from-home jobs in several areas, including HR, software development and sales.

Benefits: Amazon's benefits package for employees includes health coverage, 401(k), paid parental leave, adoption assistance and employee discounts.

Pay: Varies by position.

How to Apply: See a list of open WFH positions here.

Anthem

Anthem is a health insurance company that offers various part-time and full-time positions in a remote capacity. WFH jobs at Anthem include nurse reviewer, behavioral health care manager and customer care representative

Benefits: Benefits at Anthem include 100% paid preventative health care, six weeks of parental leave at 100% of pay, adoption and surrogacy assistance, paid time off and back-to-school assistance.

Pay: Varies by position.

How to Apply: Search for remote jobs here and narrow your search down by career area to see what options are available to you.

Appen

Appen is a software company that counts training data and data collection among its solutions. The company serves numerous industries, including technology, automotive, government and healthcare. It has various remote job roles that include part-time to longer-term projects as well as full-time corporate positions in management, engineering and more. Appen was named the most remote-friendly company in the U.S. by FlexJobs.

Benefits: Full-time employees enjoy a variety of benefits, such as health insurance, 401(k), parental leave, tuition assistance and volunteer time off. Part-time or contract associates are not offered any benefits.

Pay: Varies by position.

How to Apply: Go to the Appen job portal to see current WFH opportunities.

Cigna

Nurse tending patient in intensive care

Cigna is a medical insurance company that employs more than 73,000 people. The company is headquartered in Connecticut but offers various positions in a remote capacity, including sales administration, financial analyst, business analyst, claims professional and engineer.

Cigna also focuses on recruiting veterans and runs a Veterans Enterprise Resource Group called Salute.

Benefits: Cigna's main benefits fall into one of four categories: Personal health, family health, community health and financial health. That includes medical insurance, 401(k), paid time off and tuition reimbursement.

Pay: Varies by position.

How to Apply: See a list of remote positions by typing "Remote" into the search bar on the Cigna careers page.

Citizens Bank

Citizens Bank is one of the oldest and largest financial institutions in the country. The company's headquarters are in Providence, Rhode Island, but it hires remote associates for positions like mortgage underwriter, software engineer and account executive.

Benefits: Citizens Bank offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes health insurance, 401(k) with company match, educational assistance and discounts on financial products like mortgages and savings accounts.

Pay: Varies by position.

How to Apply: Browse remote jobs at Citizens Bank by typing "Remote" into the search bar.

Concentrix

Concentrix is a customer experience outsourcing company that employs people in more than 40 countries, many of whom work from home full time. Most available positions are in customer service.

Benefits: Benefits at Concentrix include health insurance, individual and team rewards and performance-based pay.

Pay: Varies by position.

How to Apply: See what WFH jobs are available here and apply through the Concentrix website.

CVS Health

CVS Health is known for its pharmacies in states across the country, but it also offers a lot of WFH positions. Remote roles at CVS include social worker, pharmacy technician, customer service representative and outreach coordinator. Some positions require you to be located within certain states, but others can be done from anywhere in the U.S.

Benefits: CVS Health offers a wide range of benefits, including medical insurance, a stock purchase plan, tuition reimbursement and an employee discount at CVS stores.

Pay: Varies by position.

How to Apply: Apply for remote positions via the CVS jobs website.

Dell

Dell is best known for its range of personal computers. Headquartered in Round Rock, Texas, Dell employs more than 165,000 people worldwide, including many remote employees. As of October 2021, Dell listed more than 450 open WFH positions on its job website.

Benefits: Dell's benefits package includes health coverage, employee pricing on Dell products, employee referral bonuses and professional counseling.

Pay: Varies by position.

How to Apply: Browse WFH jobs by using the keyword "Remote" in the search bar on Dell's job portal.

HCA

HCA Healthcare is made up of 185 hospitals and over 2,000 sites of care in 20 U.S. states and the U.K. Sites of care include freestanding ERs, surgery centers, urgent care centers and physician's offices. The company employs more than 275,000 people in total, both within its facilities and in a remote capacity.

Remote opportunities at HCA include clinical statistical programmer, placement specialist PRN and clinical team lead.

Benefits: Benefits at HCA include tuition reimbursement, health benefits, time away from work policies, adoption reimbursement and 401(k).

Pay: Varies by position.

How to Apply: Search for work-from-home jobs by typing "Remote" into the search bar on the HCA careers site.

Hilton Hotels and Resorts

A lounge in a Hilton Hotel in London

If you haven't heard of Hilton Hotels, chances are you live under a rock. Hilton owns hotels and resorts around the world and employs more than 360,000 people globally, including many in remote customer experience positions.

Hilton provides some equipment to its WFH customer experience employees, but you must have a wired connection (wireless not permitted), monitor and dedicated work space of your own in order to do the job.

Benefits: Hilton offers several benefits for its WFH employees, including health insurance, 401(k), paid time off and discounts on travel.

Pay: The base pay for a customer experience position is $11 per hour, and there are monthly incentive programs that give you more opportunities to earn.

How to Apply: Search for available WFH jobs at the Hilton jobs website.

Hopper

Hopper is a website and app that helps you find good deals on flights, hotels and car rentals. While Hopper isn't as large a company as many on this list, it offers a lot of opportunities for those who want to work from home, specifically in customer service.

Benefits: Benefits at Hopper are typical and include health coverage, paid time off, 401(k) and company stock options.

Pay: Varies by position.

How to Apply: Browse Hopper's customer service jobs to see what's available in your field.

Hubstaff

Hubstaff is a fully remote company that offers monitoring services, such as time-tracking software, to other companies with remote workforces. Hubstaff lists customers such as Groupon and Instacart on its website.

Remote opportunities at Hubstaff are vast and include customer service, digital advertising, engineering and more.

Benefits: Benefits at Hubstaff include annual retreats, generous PTO and paid parental leave. However, health insurance isn't listed as an offered benefit, possibly because Hubstaff hires on a contract basis.

Pay: Varies by position.

How to Apply: Browse Hopper's remote jobs to see what's available in your field.

Humana

Humana is a health insurance company offering medical, dental and vision coverage. The company has long believed in the power of a remote workforce — Humana reports that 47% of its workforce is remote during "normal" times, though this has risen during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Available remote job roles include medical director, case manager and sales support.

Benefits: Benefits at Humana include medical insurance, 401(k) with 125% company match up to 6%, paid volunteer time and life insurance.

Pay: Varies by position.

How to Apply: Check the box that says "Work at Home" under "Work Style" in the Humana job listings site to see what's available in your field.

Intuit

You might not have heard of Intuit directly, but you've certainly heard of its products, which include TurboTax, QuickBooks and Mint. Intuit hires remotely for positions such as talent acquisition, service and support and loan servicing.

Benefits: Full-time employees at Intuit enjoy benefits like healthcare, professional counseling, fertility benefits and dependent care FSA.

Pay: Varies by position.

How to Apply: WFH jobs are denoted with a green circle on the Intuit careers website.

Kaplan

A teacher and students using computers and a touchscreen tablet

Kaplan provides learning resources such as test prep, career advancement and foreign language instruction for students of all ages. Kaplan has a global presence but is headquartered in the U.S. and has many remote job openings. Positions are available in multiple areas such as marketing, accounting, recruiting and IT.

Benefits: Kaplan offers the usual benefits — health, 401(k), etc. — in addition to its Gift of Knowledge Program, which offers free or discounted courses to employees and their immediate family through the Kaplan platform.

Pay: Varies by position.

How to Apply: Browse Kaplan's remote job listings by selecting "Remote/Nationwide, USA" under "Locations."

Kelly Services

Kelly Services is a staffing agency that hires internally as well as for its business partners. Kelly's specialty areas include education, technology, engineering, science and government.

Benefits: Benefits vary based on the position.

Pay: Varies by position.

How to Apply: Click to see available WFH job listings through Kelly Services.

Lionbridge

Lionbridge provides content, testing and translation services to multiple industries, including life sciences, automotive, gaming, banking and travel. The company operates in 28 countries and employs thousands of people worldwide.

Lionbridge has plenty of remote job openings in positions like content editor, customer success manager, program manager and HR generalist.

Benefits: In addition to typical benefits like health insurance and 401(k), Lionbridge lets employees take their birthday off and encourages employees to volunteer by offering paid time off for this purpose.

Pay: Varies by position.

How to Apply: Click here to see a list of current remote positions at Lionbridge.

Liveops

Liveops offers virtual call center services to companies in multiple industries, including  healthcare, retail, insurance, energy and travel.

While corporate jobs at Liveops are based at the company's headquarters in Scottsdale, Arizona, the company hires work-from-home agents on a contractor basis. This allows you to work as much or as little as you want, and whenever you want.

Be prepared for some upfront costs, including providing your own equipment and paying for your own background check.

Benefits: Because Liveops agents are independent contractors and not employees, no benefits are offered.

Pay: Earnings are dependent on call volume, incentives, utilization and how many hours you can commit, but most agents earn between $12 and $17 per hour.

How to Apply: Click here to see current openings for Liveops agent positions.

Nielsen

A wall of tv screens

Nielsen is known for its TV ratings, but the company offers so much more. Its suite of solutions includes audience measurement, audience outcomes and Gracenote content services.

Nielsen's remote positions include product manager, software engineer, call center, account manager and analyst.

Benefits: Benefits at Nielsen for full-time associates include health coverage, 401(k), unlimited vacation time and paid parental leave.

Pay: Varies by position.

How to Apply: You can view a list of current remote opportunities at Nielsen by clicking here.

Qurate Retail Group

Although you might not recognize the name, Qurate owns home shopping network titans HSN and QVC. The company employs remote associates mostly in customer service positions. Though remote, these employees must be located in certain cities with local phone numbers, and they must supply their own equipment (like computer, headset and phone).

Benefits: Qurate focuses its benefits on its employees' physical health, financial health and work-life balance.

Pay: Customer service positions at HSN start at $13.25/hour with increases every 3 months for the first year, and every 6 months after that.

How to Apply: Check out opportunities in your area at the Qurate website.

Salesforce

Salesforce is a customer relationship management company that serves a huge variety of industries. It's one of the best-known CRM providers out there right now, and the company is always hiring for new positions, many of which are remote.

Benefits: Benefits at Salesforce include medical coverage, flexible spending accounts, 401(k), employee stock purchase plan, educational reimbursement and paid parental leave.

Pay: Varies by position.

How to Apply: To see current remote job listings at Salesforce, click here, then select United States of America and your state followed by "Remote" in the left sidebar.

Add to your skill set without going back to school. We have great deals on courses you can complete from home.

Stride K12

Stride K12 is an education company that offers online, in-person or hybrid learning. The company caters to homeschooled kids, military families and those looking for learning opportunities beyond their local public K-12 schools.

Stride K12 has virtual jobs in several areas, including teaching, HR and marketing.

Benefits: Benefits include health coverage, parental leave, flexible spending accounts, paid time off and 401(k).

Pay: Varies by position.

How to Apply: See a list of virtual jobs in corporate and teaching by selecting "Virtual" under "Company Location."

Sutherland Global Services

Sutherland Global Services is a process transformation company that specializes in helping its customers bring their processes into the digital age. The company serves clients in more than 140 countries and in over 40 languages. Sutherland hires remotely for numerous roles, including customer service, software development, sales and IT.

Benefits: Sutherland's benefits package includes paid time off, paid training, medical benefits, flexible scheduling, performance incentives and career advancement opportunities.

Pay: Varies by position.

How to Apply: Search for remote roles at Sutherland by clicking here.

Trusted Health

Trusted Health matches travel nurses with jobs that fit their requirements, preferences and location. When you sign up for an account with Trusted Health, you'll see personalized job matches based on your license type and clinical specialties. When you get a match, you will see information about the facility, the pay and the assignment (length, shift, etc) so you can determine whether it's a good fit.

Benefits: Benefits depend on the assignment you are contracted for.

Pay: Varies based on assignment.

How to Apply: Sign up for Trusted Health by clicking here.

TTEC

TTEC is a customer experience software as a service company whose employees help solve problems and provide support for their customers' customers. TTEC hires remotely for positions such as customer service, IT, consulting, marketing and sales.

Benefits: Benefits at TTEC include medical, dental and vision coverage; 401(k); pet insurance; paid leave; and tuition reimbursement.

Pay: Varies by position.

How to Apply: Search for available WFH jobs on the TTEC careers portal.

Tutor.com

A young girl is tutored online.

Tutor.com is a service of the Princeton Review that offers personalized tutoring services for students in all stages of their education. Tutor.com offers work-from-anywhere opportunities for tutors who want flexibility and regular payments with no invoices required.

Benefits: No benefits are offered to tutors, as they are considered independent contractors rather than employees.

Pay: Tutor.com does not list its hourly rate, but tutors report an average of $12-$13 per hour on Glassdoor.

How to Apply: Click here to apply to be a tutor.

UnitedHealth Group

UnitedHealth Group primarily provides medical insurance policies through United Healthcare. It is also the parent company of Optum, which is a health information and technology firm. UnitedHealth Group hires in many areas, including clinical, consulting, corporate, healthcare, project management and technology. Many of these jobs are remote.

Benefits: Benefits include medical plans, savings and retirement plans, tuition reimbursement, adoption assistance and paid time off. UnitedHealth Group offers medical and wellness benefits to full-time employees, as well as part-time employees who work 20 hours or more per week.

Pay: Varies by position.

How to Apply: To see a complete list of remote job openings at UnitedHealth Group, click here.

Working Solutions

Working Solutions provides customer service through its virtual contact center network. Companies that use Working Solutions include Shell, Intuit, Pfizer, Sprint, Peloton, Zillow and Expedia.

Agents at Working Solutions are all WFH and can work when and where they want. Because of that, agents are considered independent contractors instead of employees.

Benefits: Because agents are not employees of Working Solutions, there are no benefits offered.

Pay: Working Solutions reports that its agents earn an average of $15 per hour.

How to Apply: Search for available jobs here, and click the button to apply.

Xerox

Xerox has been around since the early 1900s and offers printers and supplies, 3D printing and various business solutions. The company is headquartered in Rochester, New York, but employs over 8,000 remote associates through its Virtual Office Program. This program employs associates in customer care, tech support, quality control, systems development and more.

Benefits: Benefits at Xerox include paid holidays, healthcare, life insurance, retirement savings plans, employee assistance programs and resources for childcare and eldercare.

Pay: Varies by position.

How to Apply: Click here to search for open jobs at Xerox.

Zoom

Zoom has been providing cloud video conferencing since its initial release in 2012, but thanks to the pandemic pushing all meetings to virtual, it became the fifth-most-downloaded app worldwide in 2020. Zoom is hiring for many positions, including some that are fully remote (and, presumably, meet with their teams via Zoom).

Remote positions at Zoom include enterprise sales associate, data scientist, software engineer and visual/web designer.

Benefits: Zoom offers benefits like health insurance, 16 weeks paid parental leave, generous PTO, personal finance coaching and book reimbursement.

Pay: Varies by position.

How to Apply: View remote job listings at Zoom here.

Ohio-based Catherine Hiles is a British writer and editor living and working in the U.S. She has a degree in communications from the University of Chester in the U.K. and writes about finance, cars, pet ownership and parenting. Information from contributor Danielle Braff and former staff writers Kaitlyn Blount and Matt Reinstetle is included in this report.

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.

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5 Best Business Checking Accounts for November 2021

Posted: 01 Nov 2021 05:00 AM PDT

Starting a business is an opportunity to be your own boss, make money and grow your skill set.

There are also the not-so-great, somewhat messy and complicated parts about operating a business. If you start off solo or small, you'll be tackling a lot of tasks yourself.

But don't worry. In this article, we're going to address something relatively simple in the business world: the best business checking accounts.

We'll go into why you need one, what you should look for and several of the best ones available, both in-person and online-only.

Wait, Do I Really Need a Business Checking Account?

The purpose of a business checking account is to keep your business finances separate from your personal finances.

Technically, you might not need one depending on the legal structure of your business.

For example, if you're a freelance writer who established a sole proprietorship and is starting slowly, you could use your personal checking account to get off the ground. But you'll want to be extremely organized about keeping track of your business money for tax time. (Nothing will dampen your momentum like getting audited.)

The type of business you're running makes a difference here. If it's transaction-heavy — or a particular legal structure, like a limited liability company — you might need a business checking account, full stop.

But if you're starting any kind of business, it's probably in your best interest to open one.

Business checking accounts make it easier to track profits, expenses and deductions, and help establish your operation if you file for business credit cards or loans down the line.

What You Need to Open a Business Checking Account

To open an account, you'll typically need the following:

  • Social security number (SSN) or employee identification number (EIN)
  • Valid driver's license or state ID
  • An initial deposit

How easy it is to open a business checking account will depend on your business. If you're a sole proprietor, the process might feel similar to opening a personal checking account. If you have a different legal business structure, you'll likely have to provide additional documentation (like your articles of incorporation). Requirements will vary from bank to bank.

business owner opening store for the day

What You Should Look for in a Business Checking Account

Before you peruse accounts, get a handle on your business needs and wants. For instance, do you make a lot of transactions? Do you want a business credit card ASAP? Do you prefer a big bank where you can pop into a different branch every half mile?

There are other considerations. Do you want your bank, credit union or financial institution to…

  • Offer free bank statements?
  • Have an app? (a fair requirement in 2021)
  • Offer free online banking and/or bill pay?
  • Have in-person locations?
  • Offer comprehensive customer service, i.e., allow you to talk to someone online and on the phone 24/7?
  • Have integration with tools, like invoicing software?
  • Offer multiple products, such as business credit cards, small-business loans, etc.?

There are lots of banks for small businesses to choose from, but you want one that will give you the most options. And ideally, save you some money and headaches in the process.

To choose the best business checking accounts, we focused on accounts that:

  1. Require a low minimum initial deposit ($1,000 or less — most require only $25).
  2. Offer a certain number of transactions for free.
  3. Either have no monthly service fee or make it easy to have the fee waived.

We also focused on checking accounts for small and medium businesses. If you're looking for accounts to manage a higher volume, many of the traditional institutions on our list have them, too.

An inconvenient reminder: Banking institutions can be acquired and shut down (RIP Azlo). So, it's a good idea to keep the following business bank accounts in mind in case you find yourself suddenly needing to move your money.

Pro Tip

Check out our current list of bank promotions for a chance to gain a monetary bonus when signing up for a new business checking account.

The 5 Best Business Checking Accounts for November 2021

We chose five institutions and a couple of different checking account options for each where available.

1. Chase: Best for 24/7 Customer Service and Overall Accessibility

Chase is a well-known brand with many physical branches and flexible options for business owners. It's a good choice if you want to be able to find a chain easily and talk to someone in person. Chase also offers 24/7 support, so you can call and email them anytime of day. From personal experience, if you send them a secured online message, they typically follow up within 24 hours. To learn more, read our Chase Bank review.

  • Number of branches: Approximately 4,700
  • Number of ATMs: 16,000

Here's the lowdown on Chase Business Complete Banking and Chase Performance Business Checking.

Chase Business Complete Banking

Chase Business Complete Banking (for small businesses) at a glance:

Sign-up bonus: $300 for new customers who meet certain criteria

Minimum initial deposit: $25

Monthly service fee: $15; waived if you maintain a minimum daily balance of $2,000, link a qualifying Chase account or abide by other listed stipulations.

Cash deposits per month: Up to $5,000 without an additional fee

Free transactions per month: 100

Other benefits:

  • Access to Chase online and mobile banking
  • Get same-day deposits on card payments at no additional cost

Chase Performance Business Checking

Chase Performance Business Checking (for medium-sized businesses) at a glance:

Sign-up bonus: None specified

Minimum initial deposit: $25

Monthly service fee: $30; waived if you maintain a minimum daily balance of $35,000 or more in qualifying accounts

Cash deposits per month: Up to $20,000 without an additional fee

Free transactions per month: 250

Other benefits:

  • No charge for all incoming wires and two outgoing domestic wires per statement cycle
  • Interest-bearing option available

Chase has business saving account, lending and credit card options, too. Chase offers several small-business credit cards, all with new card member bonuses, which include $750 cash back to 100,000 bonus points depending on the card.

A man rides a bike past Wells Fargo in St. Petersburg, Fla.

2. Wells Fargo: Best for Small Business Owners Just Getting Started

Wells Fargo is another strong choice for your business checking account needs. It has many branch locations and you can call them 24/7. Its website is also easy to navigate and lets you find answers to your questions without clicking on a ton of links. Check out our Wells Fargo Bank review for more information.

  • Number of branches: Approximately 7,200
  • Number of ATMs: Over 13,000

Wells Fargo Initiate Business Checking

Initiate Business Checking (for new and small businesses) at a glance:

Sign-up bonus: None specified

Minimum initial deposit: $25

Monthly service fee: $10; waived by having a minimum daily balance of $500 or $1,000 average ledger balance

Cash deposits per month: Up to $5,000 for free

Free transactions per month: 100

Other benefits:

  • Customized business debit card
  • 24/7 fraud monitoring
  • Mobile deposit

If you're just getting started with your small business and don't expect to scale right away, Initiate Business Checking is a solid, affordable account to open.

Wells Fargo Navigate Business Checking

Navigate Business Checking (for small- to medium-sized businesses) at a glance:

Sign-up bonus: None specified

Minimum initial deposit: $25

Monthly service fee: $25; waived by having a minimum daily balance of $10,000 or an average combined business deposit balance of $15,000

Cash deposits per month: Up to $20,000 for free

Free transactions per month: 250

Other benefits:

  • Customized business debit card
  • 24/7 fraud monitoring
  • Mobile deposit

Wells Fargo also offers small-business lending and credit card options.

3. U.S. Bank: Best for Simple, Fee-Free Banking

While primarily located in the Midwest, this chain has lots of locations across the country. That's great news if you're a small-business owner looking for a simple checking account.

U.S. Bank has no monthly service fees for its Silver account, so no worries about meeting certain criteria to have the fee waived. You can also go to its website and take a short quiz to determine which account would work best for your needs.

  • Number of branches: 3,106
  • Number of ATMs: 4,842

U.S. Bank offers Silver, Gold, Platinum and Premium business checking accounts, and we're going to outline the first two.

U.S. Bank Silver Business Checking

Silver Business Checking (best for newer or smaller businesses) at a glance:

Sign-up bonus: None specified

Minimum initial deposit: $100

Monthly service fee: $0

Cash deposits per month: 25 for free

Free transactions per month: 125 per statement cycle; 50 cents per excess transaction

U.S. Bank will charge you $5 for paper statements, so stick with online ones to save money and the planet.

Other benefits:

  • Online and mobile banking
  • Discount on first check order
  • Small Business Visa credit card
  • Card payment processing

U.S. Bank Gold Business Checking

Gold Business Checking (for businesses with moderate transaction levels) at a glance:

Sign-up bonus: None specified

Minimum initial deposit: $100

Monthly service fee: $20; waived by satisfying one of several criteria listed on its website

Cash deposits per month: 100 for free

Free transactions per month: 300 per statement cycle; 45 cents per excess transaction

Other benefits:

  • Online and mobile banking
  • Remote check deposits
  • Discount on first check order
  • Small Business Visa credit card
  • Card payment processing

Silver and Gold are good options for small businesses looking for free business checking accounts (as long as you stay within the limits). And in general, Chase, Wells Fargo and U.S. Bank are all good options for an LLC.

4. BlueVine: Best for Fee-Free, Online-Only Banking

Want to open an account on your phone and manage it entirely online? Welcome to 2021… and to BlueVine.

BlueVine boasts no hidden fees and unlimited transactions. Members can pay vendors, schedule one-time and recurring payments, and earn an impressive 1.0% on their checking account balance up to $100,000. (Note: The APY will be adjusted from 1.0% to 0.6% Dec. 1 2021.) Deposits are FDIC-insured (up to $250,000) through Coastal Community Bank.

  • Number of branches: 0
  • Number of ATMs: Users can withdraw cash fee-free at over 38,000 MoneyPass® locations in the U.S.

BlueVine at a glance:

Sign-up bonus: None specified

Minimum initial deposit: $0

Monthly service fee: $0

Cash deposits per month: Unlimited. You can deposit cash at close to 100,000 retail locations through a partnership with Green Dot. A $4.95 fee, per deposit, applies.

Free transactions per month: Unlimited

Other benefits:

  • A BlueVine Business Debit Mastercard®
  • Access to a business line of credit
  • Two free checkbooks
  • Phone and email customer support

5. Axos Bank: Best for Business Interest Checking

Axos Bank is another online-only bank. In addition to business checking accounts that earn interest, customers can take advantage of surcharge-free ATMs across the U.S.

  • Number of branches: 0
  • Number of ATMs: You can use any ATM in the U.S. and you'll be reimbursed for the fees

Axos Bank offers Basic Business Checking, Business Interest Checking and Analyzed Business Checking. We're going to look at the first two.

Axos Basic Business Checking

Basic Business Checking at a glance:

Sign-up bonus: $100 if you incorporated after June 1, 2020

Minimum initial deposit: $1,000

Monthly service fee: $0

Cash deposits per month: Up to 60 items with remote deposit

Free transactions per month: 200; afterward, 30 cents each

Other benefits:

  • Pay bills with no charge through the app
  • First set of 50 checks is free
  • Compatible with QuickBooks

Axos Business Interest Checking

Business Interest Checking at a glance:

Sign-up bonus: $100 if you incorporated after June 1, 2020

Minimum initial deposit: $100

Monthly service fee: $10; waived if there's an average daily balance of $5,000

Cash deposits per month: Up to 60 with remote deposit

Free transactions per month: 50; afterward, 50 cents each

Other benefits:

  • Earn up to 0.81% APY
  • First set of 50 checks for free

Axos Bank also offers savings accounts and Business CDs, but no credit cards.

female business owner working on laptop

Regional Business Checking Account Options

Here's a glance at three smaller, regional options for business checking accounts. If your area isn't listed, you can research credit unions and banks near you.

America First Credit Union

This institution has branches in Nevada and Utah. America First offers four types of business checking accounts: Basic, Premier, High-Yield and Non-Profit.

The Basic Business Checking offers 250 free monthly transactions, free online bill pay, access to money market savings, lines of credit and a Business Visa credit card.

First Horizon

This bank has branches in Tennessee, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Texas. First Horizon offers BizEssentials Checking, Plus Checking) and Interest Checking accounts.

The Business Interest Checking Account has no minimum balance requirements (though you can waive the monthly maintenance fee when you keep an average of $10K in it), plus you'll earn interest on your balance and have access to a Visa Business debit card.

SunTrust, Now Truist

This operation has branches in Alabama, Arkansas, Washington, D.C., Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. SunTrust offers three types of business checking accounts: Simple Business Checking, SunTrust Primary Business Checking and SunTrust Business Advantage Plus Checking.

SunTrust Primary Business Checking has a $15 monthly fee that's waived in the first two statement cycles and after that when you have a $1,000 minimum daily balance. Each month, you'll get 150 free transactions and $5,000 cash processing.

What's the Right Business Checking Account for You?

The best business checking account for you will depend on your business and needs. Whether you're just starting out or looking to level up, there are plenty of options out there, online and off. Start your search now, so your future self — and CPA, come tax time — will thank you later.

Contributor Kathleen Garvin (@itskgarvin) is a personal finance writer based in St. Petersburg, Florida, and former editor and marketer at The Penny Hoarder. She owns a content-writing business and her work has appeared in U.S. News, Clark.com and Well Kept Wallet.

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.

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