Best Accounting Software For Businesses In 2026

Mercury offers more advanced security features compared to Novo — particularly in terms of user access control. It provides customizable team permissions, allowing businesses to set precise access levels for different team members. Mercury also offers two-factor authentication and the ability to generate virtual cards for enhanced payment security.

How long does it take to open a Mercury business account?

• Mercury offers three primary business banking products that include checking and savings accounts as well as a high-yield cash management product for businesses with notable cash reserves.
• Manual bookkeeping isn’t the only culprit, inventory discrepancies also lead to accounting errors.
• Look for a bank that provides responsive and helpful customer service, and even those who may offer additional support and resources to help grow your startup.
• Brex’s platform includes advanced expense management, including an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered expense assistant, real-time spend reporting, and bill pay — all available with the free account.
• It’s tailored for a variety of users, from freelancers and small business owners to mid-sized companies looking for an efficient way to manage their finances.

While Brex Cash technically isn’t a bank, we decided to include it here for their “cash management account” offering. A cash management account (CMA) provides all that a business bank account does with fewer fees. You can manage all transactions on one portal, make deposits, trade securities, and even write checks with a CMA.

• It also integrates seamlessly with Mercury’s digital banking platform, allowing for easy transfers between checking and savings accounts.
• Founders don’t have time to juggle separate tools for bill pay, invoicing, or employee expense management.
• Legacy banks, on the other hand, own and operate their own accounts but rely on older infrastructure, which can make it cumbersome or difficult for customers to accomplish routine tasks.
• The less expensive options mentioned, like Wave, can give you an affordable start while maintaining records that can be exported and moved to a different software as you scale.

Pros of Mercury business banking

This model gives fintechs more flexibility to innovate on user experience and build in features beyond a standard checking account. When choosing a digital banking platform for your business, it’s crucial to understand how different services stack up against each other. This section provides a detailed comparison of Novo and Mercury — two popular fintech solutions catering to small businesses and startups.

Quickbooks Online: Bookkeeping & accounting software

The company’s products are available for venture-backed and high-growth businesses. Mercury provides access to funding options and a startup’s financing needs such as providing venture capital connections – this isn’t a service that traditional banks offer. This support can make a significant difference in the success of a startup. There’s no cost to open a business checking account with either Novo or Mercury. However, the two platforms differ in features they offer and their potential fees. Below, you’ll find a brief look at how these two online banking providers stack up against each other.

Brex

• Issue debit and credit cards to your whole team, and grant team members card-only access.
• This fintech company offers a 5.46% yield, access to business lines of credit, and no hidden fees or minimum balance requirements — all of which make it a strong choice for early-stage startups.
• Startups run into all kinds of challenges with their bookkeeping, accounting and business finances, in fact, we dig into some of the various challenges and startup bookkeeping mistakes in a blog post here.
• Otherwise, a lack of integration with essential tools could be a red flag, leading to more manual work and data silos.
• Banking services provided through Choice Financial Group and Column N.A., Members FDIC.

It replaces manual spreadsheets with structured systems, automations, and real-time reports. This can prevent you from needing to migrate all your data to a new accounting software as you grow. Beyond payments, CRMs, and banking, consider integrations with tax software, payroll systems, https://www.theclintoncourier.net/2025/12/19/main-advantages-of-accounting-services-for-startups/ e-commerce platforms, and expense management tools. The more connected your financial ecosystem, the easier it is to maintain accurate records and streamline operations as you scale. While finding the bank with the best business banking features is crucial, your financial management efforts will benefit tremendously from expert assistance.

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Each provides essential services, such as checking and savings accounts, debit cards (both physical and virtual), ACH transfers, wire transfers, and bill pay functionality. Both companies also offer user-friendly digital interfaces, mobile apps, and desktop platforms that allow for easy money management, real-time transaction tracking, and financial insights. Mercury is a digital banking platform designed specifically for tech companies, startups, and ecommerce businesses. Unlike traditional banks, Mercury operates entirely online and offers a suite of financial services tailored to the needs of modern businesses. The company’s core offerings include checking and savings accounts, virtual and physical debit cards, and a user-friendly web and mobile interface for managing finances. A key feature of Mercury is its focus on providing a seamless banking experience for startups and tech companies.

How to automate bank reconciliation for your startup

In Puzzle’s data, we found that traditional bank feeds (not Mercury) that are connected via Plaid are not as powerful as Mercury’s as there is limited metadata. Mercury provides a seamless onboarding process, ensuring that startups can quickly get their banking needs up and running without jumping through hoops or loads of paperwork (usually takes 5 to 7 days). A founder just needs formation documents and an Employer Identification Number (EIN) to open a Mercury account.

Brex is a fintech company that provides banking services for venture-backed startups. The company is a tech-forward alternative to traditional banks, emphasizing its ability to quickly onboard new customers and provide a seamless digital experience for managing business finances. The app enables you to Main Advantages of Accounting Services for Startups monitor your account balances, track and search your transactions, and create and manage virtual debit cards on the go. You can also deposit paper checks using the mobile app and transfer money between your checking and savings accounts. Connecting your business accounts to accounting software, ecommerce platforms, or payroll tools helps reduce manual work and improves accuracy. The best business accounts for startups offer modern APIs and direct integrations so your finances stay synced as you grow.