Last Updated on October 30, 2026
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A dental practice is paid by the NHS, by patients and often by a plan provider. The bank account has to handle large monthly receipts, a payroll and more than one person approving payments.
We priced a standard year at 15 UK business accounts on 1 October 2026 for a practice with three directors, 12 staff, £50,000 a month received and very little cash. For our model mixed NHS and private dental practice, a standard year of banking cost £54 at Virgin Money M Account and £625.80 at NatWest Standard Tariff.
The accounts that suit dental practices
- Virgin Money M Account, £54 a year. No monthly fee, free electronic payments and a branch. For turnover under £1m.
- HSBC UK Small Business Banking, £90 a year. No monthly fee, free digital payments and a branch, with lending.
- Co-operative Bank Business Bank Account, £90 a year. No monthly fee and free electronic payments, with a branch bank behind it.
Virgin Money’s M Account only suits a practice turning over less than £1m a year; our model practice takes £600,000. The left-out table below explains the rest.
The model month
| Each month | Dental practice, 12 staff (limited company) |
|---|---|
| Payments received | 40 (£50,000 in total) |
| Transfers sent | 50 (including 12 staff payments) |
| Direct Debits | 15 |
| Debit card purchases | 25 |
| Cash paid in | £500, in 2 deposits of £250 |
What a standard year cost a mixed NHS and private dental practice
| Account | Standard year | What drives the bill |
|---|---|---|
| Virgin Money M Account | £54 | Cash 90p per £100; turnover under £1m |
| HSBC UK Small Business Banking | £90 | Post Office cash 1.5% (tariff from 14 December 2026) |
| Co-operative Bank Business Bank Account | £90 | Cash £1.50 per £100 |
| Barclays Business Current Account | £138 | £8.50 a month after 12 free months; cash 60p per £100 |
| Starling with Bulk Payments | £156 | Bulk Payments add-on £7 a month (limited companies); cash 0.7%, minimum £3 |
| Lloyds Business Account | £216 | £10 a month after 12 free months; counter cash £1.60 per £100 |
| Tide Free | £300 | 20p per transfer in or out after 5 a month |
| Monzo Business Team | £324 | £25 a month Team plan (staff access, bulk payments) plus £1 per cash deposit |
| Tide Smart | £389.88 | £12.49 a month, 30 transfers included |
| NatWest Standard Tariff | £625.80 | 35p per electronic item and card payment; cash 95p per £100 plus 95p a deposit |
Left out for this trade, and why:
| Account | Why it is not in the table |
|---|---|
| Mettle (NatWest) | Only one owner can access the account |
| Santander Business Classic | Maximum two directors, owners or partners |
| Revolut Business Basic | Takes no cash |
| Countingup | Cash fee not published |
| ANNA Free | Cash fee not on its pricing page |
What matters for dental practices beyond the fee
NHS and plan income
NHS contract payments and dental plan collections arrive as electronic payments. Accounts that charge per payment received (NatWest’s Standard Tariff, Tide after its allowance) charge for each.
Associates and payroll
Self-employed associates are paid differently from employed staff. The bank charges the same per payment either way. Paying staff one by one costs time, and on per-transfer plans it costs money. Starling sells Bulk Payments for limited companies at £7 a month; Monzo’s Team plan (£25 a month) includes bulk payments of up to 200 at once; ANNA puts bulk payments on its Business plan. Mettle lets only one owner into the account.
Buying or selling a practice
Practice finance is usually arranged with a bank that knows the sector. If a purchase is coming, ask the lender which current account it expects you to hold.
Before you open
- List users and approval rules before comparing fees.
- Check the turnover limit on any free account.
- Price your own month: count a month of payments in, payments out, Direct Debits and cash, then use the fees on our best business bank accounts UK page.
- Check protection: who holds the money and whether it shares an FSCS limit. See FSCS protection on business accounts.
More for dental practices: the dentist hub and dentist software and tools. Every trade we priced: business banking by trade.
For a practice, fees are small next to access, approvals and lending. Shortlist on those, then let the fee decide.
Questions
What is the best business bank account for dental practices?
In our model of a mixed NHS and private dental practice, priced from published fees on 1 October 2026, the cheapest standard year was Virgin Money M Account at £54, then HSBC UK Small Business Banking at £90 and Co-operative Bank Business Bank Account at £90. The cheapest high street bank was Virgin Money M Account at £54. Your own mix of payments and cash decides the answer.
Do dentists need a special business bank account?
No special account is required for the practice’s own money. What matters is multi-user access, approvals and turnover limits: Virgin Money’s M Account is for turnover under £1m, and Mettle allows only two owners, with one able to access the account.
Method, limits and legal position
This page is general information for UK businesses. It is not financial, insurance or legal advice, and it does not take account of your circumstances. Fees, rates, terms and eligibility change, so check the provider’s own current terms, and take regulated advice where you need it, before you act.
One NatWest assumption: NatWest’s business charges page says debit cards cost “0.35p” each time they are used, while its own fee table lists automated items at £0.35. We priced NatWest card use at 35p a time. If NatWest charges less for card use, its yearly figures on this page would be lower.
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