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Business account for the self-employed
The Holvi business account for running your business solo. Including a German IBAN, a corporate card, invoicing and a VAT preview. So you can relax at the end of the day.
Since 2011 · Supervised by BaFin · English-language phone support
Business banking you can rely on
Separate from day one
Your own account keeps business and private money apart. Opened online, with no SCHUFA check, from €0/month.
- German IBAN – for a clean split
- Up to 15 IBANs on higher plans – for taxes and reserves
- Real-time transfers and standing orders – made quickly
- Store receipts in the app – attached right to the transaction
- Add other accounts – keep the full picture
Business cards for every kind of spending
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Pay in person, receipt attached
Pay for materials, fuel or supplies in-store, straight from the card. Snap a photo of the receipt and attach it to the transaction. The debit card works worldwide, with Apple Pay and Google Pay.
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Pay online, ready in seconds
Pay for software, ads or subscriptions online with a virtual card that’s ready straight away, with full control over your costs. Every payment shows up instantly in the app, and works with Apple Pay and Google Pay.
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A buffer until the money lands
When a customer pays late or a bigger expense comes up, the Holvi Business credit card bridges the gap.
A credit limit of up to €5,000 for the self-employed, available as a physical and a virtual card. It’s applied for separately and granted after a credit check (your ability to repay). Opening the account itself stays SCHUFA-neutral.
Always see what’s left
Income and expenses flow into the overview straight away.
- Balance forecast: see how your balance develops over the next 30 days, based on expected transactions (incoming and outgoing).
- VAT: shows how much to set aside for the tax office, so there’s no surprise later.
- Profit: a clear overview of what’s left after your costs, with a view of the past months.
Invoicing and e-invoicing, straight from your account
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Create invoices with Holvi
Create and send invoices in a few clicks (with Holvi Pro and higher). Incoming payments are matched to the invoices you’ve sent, so you can see at a glance what’s still open.
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Ready for mandatory e-invoicing
Receive, check, pay and legally archive incoming e-invoices with Holvi Lite and higher. Create, send and track them from Holvi Pro. In both German standard formats (ZUGFeRD and XRechnung).
Clean books, a happy accountant
The connection to your accountant runs in the background. Sorted data, receipts already attached to the payments and their own access to the account. DATEV, sevdesk, Lexware Office and many other tools seamlessly.
Payments from other business accounts? Easy to add.
Secure by default.
For over 15 years, businesses have trusted Holvi to keep their money safe.
3D Secure on every online payment
Extra protection built into every card.
Lock and unlock in a tap
Block a card instantly from the app and unblock it just as quickly.
Your money, safeguarded
Holvi is supervised by BaFin and customer funds are held as safeguarded funds.
Ready in a few steps
Apply for your account online, with no appointment.
A valid ID or passport, plus your tax number or VAT ID.
After the check, your account is usually ready within a day. In exceptional cases it can take a little longer.
Connect your bookkeeping software or DATEV access for your accountant, quickly and easily.
“Having a platform like Holvi can solve a lot of problems for an entrepreneur”
Filmmaker
Different forms of self-employment – different accounts
Freelance, small trade or GmbH/UG? Get to the right account.
Freelancer
For freelance work with no trade licence (e.g. creative, consulting or IT work)
Kleingewerbe
For a registered small trade, often under the small business regulation.
Frequently asked questions about the Holvi business account for the self-employed
It depends on the activity: freelancers (Freiberufler*innen) – such as artistic, writing, academic or medical work – are usually not subject to trade registration, whereas the self-employed (Einzelunternehmer*innen, also known as „Gewerbetreibende”) is. Both can be run as a one-person-business. Which classification applies in your case is best assessed with your accountant. Holvi offers both a business account for freelancers and a business account for small trades (Kleingewerbe).
No, there’s no legal obligation for the self-employed, only limited companies like a GmbH or UG must keep a separate account. It still makes sense, though: your own account that works out VAT and profit as you go keeps the overview clean and your image professional.
In principle yes, but it’s not recommended. Business and private transactions will then get mixed up. At tax time, that means sorting through countless entries to prove to the tax office what’s business. Many banks also prohibit business use of a private current account and later require a switch. A tidy start on your own business account saves that effort.
An account for the self-employed should generally offer:
- A mobile app and online banking
- An overview with a VAT preview and profit
- Uploading receipts right on the transaction
- Invoices and e-invoices from the account
- A connection to bookkeeping software or your accountant
- Corporate cards for business expenses
With Holvi, all of that comes from a single account.
Yes. The self-employed can apply for the Holvi Business credit card with a credit limit of up to €5,000. It’s generally issued after around six months of business activity and a credit check (your ability to repay the credit). It’s handy as a buffer when a customer pays late. If you repay in full by the end of the month, there’s 0% interest; otherwise it’s 18% p.a. on instalments.
After you open online, your IBAN is usually ready for payments within a day. In exceptional cases, activation can take a little longer.
Usually an ID card or passport, plus your tax number or VAT ID. There’s a checklist for opening in our Help Centre.
No, opening a Holvi business account leaves your SCHUFA score untouched. A check only happens if you later apply for a Holvi credit card.