The business account for freelancers and the self-employed
Kontist combines your business account with features for taxes, receipts and invoices. So you can keep track of your finances and focus on your business.
- No account management fee in basic plan
- German IBAN
- Automatic tax reserves
- Open an account without a SCHUFA credit check
- Personal support
Users love the Kontist app
4.7
on Trustpilot
4.5
on Google Play Store
4.7
on App Store
Users love the Kontist app
Why freelancers and the self-employed need a separate account
As a freelancer or self-employed professional, using the same current account for both personal and business finances can quickly get messy. It becomes harder to keep track of your money, preparing your tax return takes longer, and closing your books at the end of the year means extra work. In the worst case, mixing the two can even cost you money.
Always stay on top of your finances
When you mix personal and business expenses in one account, it can be difficult to see how much you actually owe the tax office. With a separate business account, you can see at a glance what’s coming in, what’s going out and how much you should set aside for taxes.
Keep business and personal finances separate
Invoices paid into a personal account can look unprofessional. With a business account and dedicated IBAN, you can keep your finances clearly separated and present a professional image to clients and customers.
Less bookkeeping hassle
When all your business transactions run through one account, you can save yourself hours of sorting at the end of the year. It makes it easier to stay on top of your bookkeeping and makes life easier for your tax advisor too.
Plan ahead with confidence
Knowing exactly how much money is in your business account makes it easier to plan ahead, whether for slower months, investments or additional tax payments.
Features at a glance
No unnecessary extras. Just what you need as a freelancer.
From your first incoming payment to your next bank transfer, Kontist lets you take care of your most important financial tasks directly from your business account. Here’s a quick overview of the features that make managing your finances as a freelancer easier and more straightforward.
Business account with a German IBAN
Automatic tax reserves in real time
SEPA instant transfers
Google Pay & Apple Pay
Up to 4 cash withdrawals per month
Integrated invoicing tool
Receipt scanner & receipt management
VAT advance returns
DATEV export
Deposit protection up to €100,000
Real-time tax estimation
No more worrying about unexpected tax payments
Additional tax payments often catch freelancers off guard. Not because they don’t earn enough, but because they don’t know how much they should have set aside. Kontist solves exactly this problem.
With automatic real-time tax estimation, you can immediately see how much income tax and VAT you should set aside whenever you receive a payment. The amount is calculated automatically and shown in your account overview as money earmarked for taxes.
Automatic income tax and VAT estimates for every transaction
No manual calculations, no spreadsheets, no guesswork
Money for the tax office stays where it belongs
Banking made easy for freelancers and the self-employed
A business account doesn’t have to be complicated. Kontist is fully digital and works where you already do: on your smartphone.
Subaccounts
Create up to 5 subaccounts and assign each one a purpose, such as tax reserves, ongoing expenses or savings for slower months. This gives you an even clearer picture of where your finances stand.
SEPA instant transfers
Transfer money within seconds, even on weekends and outside regular banking hours. This means you can pay invoices right away and keep a closer eye on your ongoing payments.
Fully digital
Manage your business account directly in the Kontist app. Check your transactions, make transfers and pay for business expenses with Google Pay or Apple Pay. Your banking is always at your fingertips.
Business cards for your business
With Kontist, you can pay for business expenses easily and securely, whether you’re in the office, on the go or online. And you’ll always stay on top of your spending.
Physical Visa debit card
Use it worldwide, wherever Visa is accepted, with payments taken directly from your business account.
Virtual Visa debit card
For online purchases or as a backup when you don’t have your physical card to hand.
Google Pay & Apple Pay
Turn your smartphone into your card. Fast, secure and contactless.
Invoices, receipts and bookkeeping. All in one place.
Take care of essential bookkeeping tasks directly in Kontist. For more comprehensive bookkeeping, simply connect your account to sevdesk and automatically sync your transactions.
Integrated invoicing tool
Create and send invoices directly from your account. No separate software required.
Receipt scanner
Scan receipts and expenses with your smartphone and assign them directly to the corresponding transaction.
VAT advance returns
As a Kontist Plus user, you can submit your VAT advance return directly to the tax office from the app.
Integration with sevdesk
If you need more advanced bookkeeping features, you can connect Kontist to sevdesk accounting software. Your transactions will then be transferred automatically. > Learn more about the sevdesk bundle
Who is the Kontist business account for?
Kontist is designed for anyone who works for themselves and wants to stay in control of their finances without spending hours getting to grips with bookkeeping.
Creatives & service providers
Whether you work in photography, design, writing or music, your income often comes in project by project, while software, equipment and other expenses are ongoing. With a separate business account, you can keep track of both and set money aside for taxes as you go.
Consultants & agencies
Multiple clients, recurring payments and ongoing expenses for tools or freelancers: Kontist helps you keep your income and expenses clearly separated. You can manage invoices and receipts directly from your account.
Online businesses
With digital services, content or e-commerce, many payments are made online and often through different providers. Kontist brings your income and expenses together, lets you match receipts to transactions and helps you keep track of your reserves.
Affordable plans for freelancers and the self-employed
Find the plan that fits your business
Whether you’re just getting started or your business is already up and running, with Kontist you only pay for what you really need. And if your needs are simple, you pay nothing at all.
Kontist Free
- SEPA instant transfers
- Real-time tax estimation
- Business account with German IBAN
- 5 SEPA transfers & direct debits
Kontist Start
Kontist Plus
Kontist Free
- SEPA instant transfers
- Real-time tax estimation
- Business account with German IBAN
- 5 SEPA transfers & direct debits
Trust real customers
See what other freelancers have to say about Kontist
"I feel very well taken care of and can wholeheartedly recommend Kontist."
"The best thing about Kontist is that I can see immediately after each transaction how much is left for me and how much goes to the tax office. This saves me from nasty surprises when I file my tax return".
How to open your Kontist account as a freelancer or self-employed professional
No paperwork, no branch visits, no waiting around. You’ll be ready to go in under 10 minutes.
1. Download the Kontist app
Download the app for free on iOS or Android. The entire setup process takes place on your smartphone, so there’s no need for a laptop or any paperwork.
2. Enter your details
The app guides you through the registration process step by step. Simply enter your personal details and the key information about your business. It only takes a few minutes.
3. Verify your identity
Our partner IDnow verifies your identity in a short video call. It’s all online and can be done conveniently from home, with no branch visits or waiting around.
4. Get started
Your account is ready to use right away. You can start sending and receiving payments, set up subaccounts and create your first invoice.
Personal live support when you need it
With the Kontist app help is always close at hand. The integrated chat connects you directly with our support team, so you can get the help you need as quickly as possible.
Our customers regularly praise the quality of our support on Trustpilot.
Hey! Have questions about Kontist?
Philipp from Kontist
Your finances are in safe hands with Kontist
Your Kontist business account is provided by Solarisbank SE, a fully regulated German bank. This means your deposits are protected by the statutory deposit guarantee scheme.
Deposit protection up to €100,000
Your money is protected by the European deposit guarantee scheme. Even if something goes wrong, your funds are protected.
Regulated by BaFin and the ECB
Solarisbank SE, Kontist’s banking partner, holds a full banking licence and is supervised by the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) and the European Central Bank (ECB).
Data protection in accordance with GDPR principles
Your data is processed exclusively in accordance with European data protection standards. Made in Germany.
All banking services are provided bSolaris
Fluctuating income?
More financial flexibility with our flexible loans
Whether you want to finance new equipment, cover a large invoice upfront or bridge a temporary cash flow gap, the Kontist loan helps you stay financially flexible.
While traditional banks often require collateral that self-employed professionals simply don’t have, Kontist is specifically designed to support small business owners. This means you can cover essential expenses without using up all your available cash.
Loan amounts from €500 to €50,000, tailored to your individual financing needs
The assessment takes your account activity and the development of your business into consideration
9 out of 10 applications are approved and paid out
Flexible and EU-funded
Frequently asked questions about business accounts for freelancers and the self-employed
Do I even need a business account as a freelancer?
What should I look for when choosing a business account as a freelancer or self-employed professional?
What documents do I need to open a business account as a freelancer or self-employed professional?
Can I use Kontist for free?
Is there a SCHUFA check when I open a business account?
How do automatic tax estimates work?
Can I connect Kontist to sevdesk?
Is Kontist a real bank?
Is Kontist Free enough for freelancers?
How safe is my money with Kontist?
What happens if my business grows?
How long does it take to open an account?
Not a freelancer? Discover all Kontist business accounts
Small business owners
Even if you don’t charge VAT, Kontist gives you plenty of practical features that make running your business easier.
GmbH/UG/GbR
Running a company? Kontist gives you a flexible and secure banking solution that fits your needs.
Founders
Just getting started? With Kontist, you’ll have the right business account for your business from day one.