We’re building a service that lets you manage all your money from one app no matter if it’s for you or for your [business](https://monese.com/blog/2018/10/monese-business-arrived). And now this includes your company’s billing! 

If you have a [UK registered business](https://monese.com/blog/2020/02/register-your-uk-company), you can open a Monese business account to quickly and painlessly send and receive domestic and international payments for the services you provide. To help you keep track of your accounts and get paid on time, you can now create invoices right from your Monese app!

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### What goes into an invoice
A proper business invoice will help you organise your billing and stay on top of your financial records. We think this should include details like: 

- __The name of your business and contact details__ to make it easy for your customers to get in touch with you.
- __The invoice number and date__ to stay organised and help you during tax season.
- __The payment terms and due date__, which should be clear and easy to understand, so you’re paid on time.
- __Product or service details__, including descriptions and quantities, to make it clear what the invoice is for.
- __Payment instruction__, including your account details so clients know how to pay you.

### How to create your invoice
![Business-Invoices-Visual-1](//images.ctfassets.net/96dxy75w1gjr/4BKZN5q68hIPzogy9Qf4wQ/77055f1e47aa165e468da8565d5f0dce/Business-Invoices-Visual-1.png)

To create and send an invoice with Monese, all you need to do is log in to your business account and choose ‘Invoices’ under the ‘More’ section of the app. We’ll then take you through each of the fields separately to make sure nothing is missing. 

### VAT registered

Depending on your type of business, you may or may not be registered for VAT (Value Added Tax). In both cases, our invoicing system will work just fine, and you’ll see an additional field just for that. After completing all the fields, you’ll be able to check everything once more, share it with the customer right away or save for later. All your invoices - both drafts and those already paid - will be available for you at any time directly in the Monese app. 

![invoice-1](//images.ctfassets.net/96dxy75w1gjr/3jUc6B55flOXDyiQswP1nM/756eadb8d45f1d62b776e31e8bcc7b92/invoice-1.jpg)

We’re constantly working on improving our business accounts. We want to provide a seamless and complete service to make running your company that much easier. If you’ve got any ideas or suggestions, please share them with us on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/MyMonese), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/monese), [Instagram](https://instagram.com/monese) or send us a note at [community@monese.com](mailto:community@monese.com).

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Blog post > Create and send invoices with Monese

Create and send invoices with Monese

Get your business paid faster, all through your app

Just over a year ago, we launched [business accounts](https://monese.com/gb/en/blog/monese-business-arrived), and we're quickly welcoming a base of small UK registered businesses. With fast account opening, free domestic payments, low-cost international transfers, a bundled personal account and a free contactless debit card, the Monese business account is perfect for entrepreneurs looking for a world-class digital experience. But before you open a business account with us, you’ll need to register your business. Here’s a step-by-step walkthrough.

### What is a UK registered company? 

A UK registered company is one listed on [Companies House](https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/companies-house), which holds information on private companies. The majority of businesses are registered as either __sole traders, limited companies or partnerships__. 

- If you register as a __sole trader__, you are personally liable for your business’ debts, along with accounting responsibilities. 
- If you choose to register as a __limited company__, your organisation’s finances are separate from your personal finances. However, you have more reporting and management responsibilities (learn more below). 
- Finally, __partnership__ is the best way to register if two or more people are running a company together. 

In this post, we’ll focus on registering in the UK as a limited company. 

### How to get set up

Registering as a limited company is simple and only costs £12. There are no separate rules for registering your business as a foreigner. To get set up, you’ll need to register an official UK address for your business, which could be your home address if you don’t have an office. You’ll also need to choose a SIC code. This identifies what your company does. You’ll also need at least three pieces of personal information about yourself and your shareholders or guarantors. These could be: 

- town of birth
- mother’s maiden name
- father’s first name 
- [National Insurance number](https://www.gov.uk/apply-national-insurance-number)
- passport number 

You’ll need to complete a quick application on the [Companies House website](https://www.gov.uk/set-up-business). You’ll also need to come up with a company name. There are specific [rules](https://www.gov.uk/limited-company-formation/choose-company-name?step-by-step-nav=37e4c035-b25c-4289-b85c-c6d36d11a763) around the name you choose for your organisation:

- It can’t be the same or similar to another company’s name.
- It can’t be offensive or contain any sensitive words or expressions. 
- The name can’t suggest a connection to the government or local authorities without permission. 

You'll also want to make sure that the name you choose is [available](https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company-name-availability) and check any existing [trade marks](https://www.gov.uk/search-for-trademark?step-by-step-nav=37e4c035-b25c-4289-b85c-c6d36d11a763). 

You’ll also have to [appoint](https://www.gov.uk/limited-company-formation/appoint-directors-and-company-secretaries?step-by-step-nav=37e4c035-b25c-4289-b85c-c6d36d11a763) a [director](https://www.gov.uk/running-a-limited-company?step-by-step-nav=37e4c035-b25c-4289-b85c-c6d36d11a763) to your company and a company secretary, the latter being optional. Directors are legally responsible for running the company and ensuring that the organisation’s accounts and reports are correctly done. 

You’ll require documents outlining how the company will be run. For this, you’ll need to present a [memorandum and articles of association.](https://www.gov.uk/limited-company-formation/memorandum-and-articles-of-association?step-by-step-nav=37e4c035-b25c-4289-b85c-c6d36d11a763) All shareholders and guarantors must sign the memorandum of association. If you're registering online, you won't have to worry about writing this memorandum as it should be created automatically for you when you register. If you’re registering by post, however, use this [template](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/give-notice-of-subscribers-company-with-share-capital). __The memorandum of association can’t be updated once your company is registered__. For the article of association, you can use [model articles](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/model-articles-of-association-for-limited-companies) or write and send/upload your own when you’re registering your company. 

After completing all the steps, your company should be registered after 24 hours. When you register with Companies House, you usually are registered for Corporation Tax at the same time. If for whatever reason, you can’t register for both at once, you can [register for HMRC for Corporation Tax](https://www.gov.uk/limited-company-formation/set-up-your-company-for-corporation-tax?step-by-step-nav=37e4c035-b25c-4289-b85c-c6d36d11a763) separately after completing your registration with Companies House. You must do this within three months of [starting to do business](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/corporation-tax-trading-and-non-trading). Otherwise, you’ll face a severe penalty if you register late. 

### What are the benefits of registering? 
Registering your limited company legally and financially separates you from your company. This means that you're not responsible for the debt of your company, because your personal finances remain separate from those of the business. As the owner of a limited company, you'll have accounting and reporting responsibilities, such as filing a [tax return](https://www.gov.uk/company-tax-returns) and paying [corporation tax](https://www.gov.uk/corporation-tax). 

> It was the first step on our journey to becoming the company we are today.

When we asked Ricardo Tannus, founder of [Join](https://www.comejoin.io/) and a H, why he registered his company, he had this to share: “We needed a business registration to start officially trading, invoicing clients, collecting payments, paying for services and so on. It was the first step on our journey to becoming the company we are today”. 

Of course, the major benefit is that you can then apply to open a [business account](https://monese.com/gb/en/business) with Monese! 

> With Monese, I loved the ease of it. It’s the first financial services company I’ve trusted.

“I worked with all kinds of different banks, and they’re all very expensive”, said [Emma Bewick](https://monese.com/blog/2019/07/clear-ideas-bold-approaches-monese-business), one of our business customers from CELO-Global. “With Monese, I loved the ease of it. It’s the first financial services company I’ve trusted. I like the idea that he [Norris] set everything up with entrepreneurs in mind, and I’ve now decided that Monese is going to be my main account”.

![Monese-Business-Accounts-Visual-2-v2 (1)](//images.ctfassets.net/96dxy75w1gjr/VX3LwCEVBT3cK9lbObLq9/8b1a5eab7a5a83a2e52a18013497644b/Monese-Business-Accounts-Visual-2-v2__1_.jpg)

### Already have a limited company? 
That’s great! If you already have a UK registered business, you can apply to open a Monese Business account today! Click the button below to get started. 

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### What if my business isn’t UK registered?

If you run a business, but it’s not registered in the UK, then we’ve got something coming for you. We’ll be launching business accounts for EU businesses as well. Make sure you follow us on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/MyMonese), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/monese), [Instagram](https://instagram.com/monese), [LinkedIn](https://linkedin.com/company/monese) or regularly check [our blog](https://monese.com/gb/en/blog) for the latest!
Have you had success with registering your UK business? What was your experience like? Feel free to share your story or any tips with us on social or via email at [community@monese.com](mailto:community@monese.com).

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Blog post > Registering your company in the UK

Registering your company in the UK

Monese Business accounts are available to UK registered companies 

As we enter a new decade, it’s a crucial time for businesses across the UK to start thinking about what’s ahead, particularly for the small business community. At Monese, we had the opportunity to sit down and chat with small business experts in the field, including organisations like the [Yorkshire Mafia](https://theyorkshiremafia.com/), the F[ederation of Small Businesses (FSB)](https://www.fsb.org.uk/) and Arjun Singh, advertising guru and business owner.

We want to be sure to keep on top of the latest trends and concerns for businesses across the country as we enter 2020. With their needs in mind, we can bring the best solutions for our business customers at Monese and keep key issues at the centre of discussions in the community. 

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### Brexit and its effect on business in the next decade
We first spoke with the Yorkshire Mafia, the North of England’s largest B2B membership group, which brings together 15,000 business professionals each year. We asked about what major challenges small businesses would face and what’s at the top of their minds in 2020. Unsurprisingly, Brexit is certainly the largest problem lying ahead.

> Once Brexit is done and over with, small companies can then invest and focus their energies on adaptation.

“Brexit has been front and centre on everyone’s minds - including businesses and small business owners”, says Janie Gonsalez, Business Development Executive. Andrew Haldenby, Managing Director, expands: “The fog from it all will take time to lift. When it does, organisations will worry about skills, training, digital transformation, among other things. Once Brexit is done and over with, small companies can then invest and focus their energies on adaptation. As of now, though, businesses can start planning for specific possibilities. For example, we now know we’ll be able to do agreed trade deals with other nations, which will impact industries that rely on international trade”.

### Tackling climate change as an opportunity for business
Another hot topic that will continue to be debated in 2020, and this decade is climate change. Colin Borland, Director of Devolved Nations at FSB, shared his thoughts on how global warming presents a challenge for us all but also a great opportunity for small businesses in particular: “Moving to net-zero will be a big deal in the 2020s”, he stated. “Potential opportunities could be charging infrastructure for electric cars, the first [low-emission zones in Scotland](https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-46714705), which could change what vehicles are purchased, and [replacing gas burners in the UK](https://classic.qz.com/perfect-company-2/1146469/one-companys-ambitious-plan-to-cut-carbon-emissions-for-an-entire-nation/). Someone has to do it”. 

> Climate change is going to affect your business in some shape or form.

The advice Borland gives to small businesses looking to tackle climate change in 2020 and the years ahead is: “Climate change is going to affect your business in some shape or form. From the energy solutions you use for your commercial premises, to regulatory changes like the [compulsory deposit and return scheme](https://www.gov.scot/publications/deposit-return-schemme-scotland-regulations-accompanying-statement-proposed-regulations/) that will affect your business operations, there will always be a need to adapt to changing circumstances. Keep informed on these issues and find the best solutions for your business.” 

In general, his piece of advice for small businesses is to keep up with industry news and the wider world. “The most successful business people I know are interested in what is going on around them”, he said. “Keep engaged and informed”. 

### An evolving and more diversified business culture
Finally, we talked with Arjun Singh, an advertising expert with more than 20 years of industry experience. He explained the need for greater diversity among organisations today, along with a focus on nurturing young talent. “We're living through a time of great change and uncertainty, and every business is either tinkering with the way they work or overhauling their structures entirely”.

> It is more important than ever to create a workplace that has more tolerance, diversity and a programme in place to nurture talent.

He said: “Most businesses are still powered by people and culture. It is more important than ever to create a workplace that has more tolerance, diversity and a programme in place to nurture talent. I don't see enough of that in most businesses”. He added: “Nurturing talent is time consuming and not revenue-generating in the short-term; however, at 42, I feel that I have a huge amount to pass on and also a huge amount to learn from the new generation of talent”. 

So, what does this all mean for the world of business? Twenty-twenty will be a year of promising change, challenges and renewal for business owners. The same can be said for our product and community here at Monese. As we continue to grow and expand, the most important things for us to keep at the heart of what we do are the needs and challenges faced by our customers. 

What are your predictions for the business scene in 2020? If you have any useful insights you’d like to share with us, let us know on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/MyMonese), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/monese), [Instagram](https://instagram.com/monese) or write to us at  [community@monese.com](mailto:community@monese.com).

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Blog post > What's in store for businesses in 2020?

What's in store for businesses in 2020?

From the effects of Brexit, climate change and a changing workplace culture, here’s what small businesses in the UK can expect  

We’ve created [Monese Business](https://monese.com/gb/en/blog/monese-business-arrived "Monese Business has arrived") for globally-minded entrepreneurs. To power up our no-fuss and hassle-free business accounts, we’re proud to announce our new partnership with [iwoca](https://www.iwoca.co.uk/ "iwoca: Business loans. Simplified") - the award winning digital lending platform that allows small business owners to apply for flexible loans. 

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## Get the tools to grow your business

With Monese Business accounts, you can manage your business and personal finances seamlessly. To make this experience even better, we also want to provide the right tools for you to keep control over your finances, and manage your cash flow or support your investments.

With the help of iwoca, eligible Monese customers can now get access to the cash needed to grow their business even more – with loans of up to £15,000 and a decision in minutes. 

## How does it work?

Applying for a loan is easy and you can do it straight from your Monese app. Here’s what you’ll need:

- A Monese business account
- An annual turnover of more than £10,000 
- A business that’s been registered for more than three months

All you have to do is fire up the Monese app, select your Business account, tap on “More” at the bottom of the screen and then “Business Loans”. 

Then, just follow the step-by-step guide to complete the application with iwoca. If approved, you’ll receive the money in your Monese account – and you can check your loan details at any point, from your app.

We’ve got a lot of exciting features in the pipeline on the business accounts front. If you aren’t a customer (yet!) but you have a UK-registered business, you can open a Monese business account in minutes and get access to a business and a personal account, all in one place. You can [learn more here](https://monese.com/gb/en/business "Open a Monese business account online").

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Blog post > Quick, easy business finance with iwoca

We’re proud to announce our new partnership with iwoca - the award winning digital lending platform that allows small business owners to apply for flexible loans.

Quick, easy business finance with iwoca

Monese Business customers now have access to business credit with our partner iwoca

Country Tag > United Kingdom

We launched business accounts last year, and we're quickly welcoming a base of small UK registered businesses. With fast account opening, free domestic payments, low-cost international transfers, a bundled personal account and a free contactless debit card, the Monese business account is perfect for entrepreneurs looking for a world-class digital experience. 

[We've been asking](https://monese.com/gb/en/blog-list?cat=business "Monese Business: Latest Articles") our business customers the tough questions. *What does it mean to start your own business? What are some of the hardest challenges you've had to face? How can a Monese business account help or hinder your growth?* We have a diverse range of companies using our accounts, and can’t wait to learn from their successes and failures when it comes to setting up your own business.

### Introducing Join

Ricardo Tannus is the CEO of Join, a company promising to flip recruitment on its head. Join is a platform that connects candidates to employers over blind dinners, in which neither the candidates nor the employers know who they’re going to meet. 

Three years into his entrepreneurial journey, Ricardo had many thoughts to share about the challenges of starting a business and what it means to remove barriers between humans on either side of the hiring process. 

Join started as a social experiment that Ricardo conducted during his master's at London Business School back in 2017. The idea was simply to get people that had common ground to bond over dinner, and connect people who wouldn’t normally meet. Being “blind”, where participants have no information about one another, was an important element, because it “prevents people from showing up with a preconceived notion about the other people around the table.” 

> You’re selling the same thing, but if you word it in a different way, people understand it as a completely different thing. That changes the price point, that changes the use case, that changes people’s willingness to give it a go.

Ricardo realised the best way to engage the ambitious and eager-to-please students of London Business School was to pitch the dinners as “networking” opportunities, rather than a chance to meet new friends. 

This was one of his first and most formative lessons as an entrepreneur: “You’re selling the same thing, but if you word it in a different way, people understand it as a completely different thing. That changes the price point, that changes the use case, that changes people’s willingness to give it a go.” 

The students suddenly saw this as a business opportunity rather than an activity for “lonely” people, Ricardo explained, so it brought them in their floods to the dinner table. 

Springing out of this, two groups emerged: employers and candidates, which inspired Ricardo to change the nature of the dinners entirely. 

Today, Join brings five candidates and one employer to have dinner together in a London restaurant. The employer is a representative from the team that is hiring for new roles, rather than an HR colleague, something Ricardo said is key in the success of the dinners. He explained that on the employer side, this makes the team more engaged as they get a chance to be gatekeepers in the hiring process, and on the candidate side, they get to understand on a more granular level what the team does. 

![Join-Business-Monese-s](//images.ctfassets.net/96dxy75w1gjr/7Lfy91ekqXAOFtn4R4Ncnt/c4283608056184fabf481804ac2645c4/Join-Business-Monese-s.jpg)

Ricardo went into the methodology of this approach in more detail: “Every company has what’s called an EVP: Employer Value Proposition, or the employer brand. Companies with a positive EVP find no trouble attracting talent, but suffer a surplus of applications. Companies with a negative EVP or an unknown brand have trouble attracting talent at all.” 

Join seeks to even out this process, and allow large, popular companies to cut down the interview process by meeting suitable candidates in person, and on the flip side allow candidates to meet potential employers they may never have considered applying to. Join effectively removes barriers between companies and candidates, to allow them to get to know each other in ways they otherwise might never have the chance to.

> Then they can see that it’s also a better experience for the people who are recruiting, because they feel empowered.

When asked to describe his biggest challenge in this, Ricardo laughed: “My biggest challenge today?” As the idea of Join is very new, he explained that the hardest thing was convincing companies to take the trade-off: “I’m a computer engineer by trade, and we always talk about trade-offs. If you have a computer with a flash HD and not a disk, it’s better because you access memory much faster, but it doesn’t store as long. 

One of the trade-offs of Join is that they’re spending two hours to get to know five candidates. But interviewing five people that have been pre-screened is a time saver. The candidates then often skip some steps in the interview process, so we reduce the time to hire significantly, and maintain the candidate’s engagement.” His way of getting over this hurdle is simply to offer companies a trial: “Then they can see that it’s also a better experience for the people who are recruiting, because they feel empowered.”

### Advice for entrepreneurs

When asked if he had any advice to give entrepreneurs, Ricardo had three things to share: “Do something you’re passionate about, leverage everything you have, and have patience.” 

> Do something you’re passionate about, leverage everything you have, and have patience.

Starting Join was a very natural process for him because his passion and his strength is introducing people to other people. He is able to leverage his natural abilities and his network to serve this end. His frustrations come from the fact that it takes a lot of time to get people on side, to convince them of the validity of new ideas. 

What gets him through tough times is when, through his facilitation, people manage to make human connections they wouldn’t have otherwise: “As a byproduct of making a human connection, we’re getting people jobs. And that’s a pretty good byproduct.”

### How Monese is helping

When it came to opening a business account, Ricardo and his team went through the same trials as many small business owners. 

> We were looking for something easy, and Monese was there to help us out in our time of need.

They simply couldn’t open an account quickly, even with the bank Ricardo held a personal account with. Ricardo first registered a personal account with Monese to be able to separate his finances, and was one of the first on the waiting list when we launched business accounts. He said of the service: “We were looking for something easy, and Monese was there to help us out in our time of need.”

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Ricardo’s efforts to remove barriers between employers and candidates resonated with us at Monese, as our challenge has always been to remove barriers to financial freedom through innovation. 

His human approach to HR is indeed very new but seems to be gaining traction, getting candidates employed in companies they would never have considered, with realistic expectations of what their job will be. It will be exciting for us to see Join grow, and we look forward to helping Ricardo and his team along that journey.

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Blog post > Humanising recruitment

We've been asking our business customers the tough questions: What does it mean to start your own business? What are some of the hardest challenges you've had to face? How can a Monese business account help or hinder your growth?

Humanising recruitment

Ricardo Tannus, a Monese business customer, tells us how Join is tearing down barriers between companies and potential employees

We launched business accounts in October 2018, and are rapidly welcoming a base of small UK registered businesses. Offering two-day account opening, free domestic payments, low-cost international transfers, a bundled personal account and a free contactless debit card, the Monese business account is perfect for new or seasoned entrepreneurs looking for a world-class digital experience. 

In an exciting new [blog series](https://monese.com/gb/en/blog-list?cat=business "Monese Business: Latest articles"), we ask our business customers the tough questions. *What does it mean to start your own business? What are some of the hardest challenges you have had to face? How can a Monese business account help or hinder your growth?* We have a diverse range of companies using our accounts, and can’t wait to learn from their successes and failures when it comes to setting up your own business. 

> I started it as a bet.

Emma Bewick is CEO of CELO-Global, a multinational leader in event conception, design and management, established in 2013. Emma could be described as a serial entrepreneur, having run Juno Productions (which then morphed into CELO-Global) for 15 years prior to that. When I asked why she was running her own business, her immediate response was: “I started it as a bet.”

Emma’s success, however, was far from uncalculated. The clarity of her ideas along with her ability to make shrewd assessments when it comes to people and projects, is something that carried her through 20 years of entrepreneurship. 

Emma began her life in the film industry, where she started to perceive a demand that was unfulfilled by existing network structures: “Celebrity endorsement is huge with brands. Celebrity talent is quite heavily guarded by publicists, managers and agents, but they’re all at film festivals to promote their product. They don’t often know how to connect with each other.” 

She began creating a win-win situation for both parties, by connecting them at film festivals via exclusive industry lounges: “I connect investors, brands and talent in a safe space with a carefully selected guest list. As well as the networking, the lounges offer the additional business benefits of a media studio to promote the cast and films and fabulous hospitality encouraging new business development and relaxation between meetings and events.”

> Experience is by far the greatest teacher.

Being in the somewhat unique position of having started two businesses, Emma was able to offer a lot of insight into how to deal with the challenges of starting and growing companies. 

When I asked her what she would’ve changed the first time round, knowing what she knows now, she staked experience as one of the only ways to learn when it comes to making the right decisions on people: “I don’t know that anything would have changed. 

Experience is by far the greatest teacher. Learning to trust your instincts, particularly in my industry, is a big one. There are plenty of people who give a good talk but actually have very different agendas. There’s no real way of knowing that you’re dealing with a less than honourable client until you’ve actually experienced it. But having a strong work ethic, building a good and solid reputation, and surrounding yourself with first-rate clients and mentors can deliver wonderful results and bring great satisfaction.”

> I make sure the client understands that it isn’t just a walk in the park.

When probed on what was the greatest thing she had learned during her time, Emma talked about her relationship to her clients and managing their expectations: “I realise people take a lot of what you do for granted and they don’t know the sheer amount of work that goes into what you do. So now I’m very clear about the scope of the work and how much detail goes into that. I make sure the client understands that it isn’t just a walk in the park.”

She explained that this involves saying no to certain clients because of the scope of work, and the difficulty but importance of turning down exciting projects if clients are unable to pay for her time. 

We asked Emma if she had gotten better at learning to deal with failure, but she said she had always been more adept at that than learning to deal with her own success: “I’ve always had more a fear of success than a fear of failure. When I fail, I’m good at getting back up, dusting myself off and getting back out there. But I think I suffer from imposter syndrome because I deal with very high-level clients and I often wonder how I got there.”

Emma explained that the way to manage this kind of fear is to push yourself in moments, not expect a full personality change: “It’s important to be very confident in yourself, even if it's only temporary,” and to approach single tasks with a view of: “What’s the worst that could happen? Just go for it.”

> I worked with all different banks, they’re all very expensive, and with Monese, I loved the ease of it.

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Emma explained why she had come to Monese: “I worked with all different banks, they’re all very expensive, and with Monese, I loved the ease of it. It’s the first financial service I’ve trusted, actually. I really like the idea that (Norris) set up a mobile money account with entrepreneurs in mind, and I have now decided that Monese is going to be my main financial service provider.”

Emma had some invaluable insight to share with us. Having a balance of clarity and boldness – being clear on your ideas and expectations, and bold in your pursuits – was what we understood from her to be the key to running successful businesses. 

She is just one of the talented and diverse business owners who has chosen to migrate to Monese, so it will be exciting to see what else gets unearthed in this series. Stay tuned!

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Blog post > Clear ideas, bold approaches

We launched business accounts in October 2018, and are rapidly welcoming a base of small UK registered businesses. 

Clear ideas, bold approaches

Monese customer Emma Bewick talks about the importance of clarity and boldness in business

We launched [Business accounts](https://monese.com/business) in October 2018, and are rapidly welcoming a base of small UK-registered businesses. Offering two-day account opening, free domestic payments, low cost international transfers, a bundled personal account and a free contactless debit card, the Monese Business account is perfect for new to seasoned entrepreneurs looking for a world-class digital experience.

In an exciting new blog series, we ask our business customers the tough questions. *What does it mean to start your own business? What are some of the hardest challenges you have had to face? How can a Monese business account help or hinder your growth?* We have a diverse range of companies using our accounts, and can’t wait to learn from their successes and failures when it comes to setting up your own business. 

Lavin Jane D’Souza, director of Marily London, was first to be interviewed. Marily London is a fledgling management consultancy, having only established in December 2018. It focuses on helping small companies with their HR processes and management skills, offering training and workshops to employees in positions of leadership. Given her line of work and her role as company director, Lavin had plenty of insight to offer into how small businesses can succeed in a competitive marketplace. 

> My transition started years ago. I had to mentally shift myself from the corporate world to being self-employed. It is not easy - I had to learn to function on my own.

Lavin previously worked as a consultant for Marily in the United Arab Emirates, before moving to set up the business in the UK. 

Her transition from consultant to entrepreneur, however, was a long process: “My transition started years ago. I had to mentally shift myself from the corporate world to being self-employed. It is not easy - I had to learn to function on my own.” Her process was incremental: “I was attending extra workshops, conferences, expos on different markets. I was expanding my horizons, understanding how these industries worked, and talking to people about how they started their businesses.” 

> Businesses prefer if you have dealt with UK businesses, not international. They want social proof.

People are a key focus for Lavin, both in terms of her own development, and the management of her company. 

She spoke about the power of networking and how trust, especially for foreign businesses, can be one of the biggest barriers: “Businesses prefer if you have dealt with UK businesses, not international. They want social proof.” She overcomes this by taking a personal approach: “Businesses are based on relationships. Everyone is human at the end of the day. If you approach them in a friendly way, people open up.” 

Although she continues to face challenges as a foreigner setting up a company, Lavin was quick to extoll the virtues of the UK as a hub for businesses: “The UK is the centre of business - it’s a really dynamic spot. So many companies are being formed every day. ” Digging into the ins and outs of the process, she commented: “It’s easy to start a business - the whole process in the UK is very streamlined. It’s free of bureaucracy.” 

> Unless you have a council tax bill, water, electricity bills, you can’t open a bank account. I didn’t have a credit history. Actually with both things (personal and business), Monese helped me.

Accessing finance as a foreigner remains a key challenge for customers like Lavin. 

When asked about the challenges she has faced so far, banking was the first to come up: “Unless you have a council tax bill, water, electricity bills, you can’t open a bank account. I didn’t have a credit history. Actually with both things (personal and business), Monese helped me.” 

Reflective of the problems faced by a large number of our customers, Lavin expressed the weight of this bank account dilemma: “Not having a bank account and having one is a completely different story,” referring to her inability to access credit and other essential services without a current account. 

Monese business customers face tough challenges every day - particularly if they are foreign nationals running cross-border companies. What Lavin made clear is the importance of being in the right mindset to tackle the challenges of opening a new business in a new country. Her sense of optimism, and her willingness to learn, is something that seems to drive Lavin’s success. 

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As entrepreneurs ourselves at Monese, we love to learn from people going through the same difficulties, and we take joy in being able to knock down some of the barriers to their success. It will be interesting to see how customers like Lavin build their companies into scalable enterprises. 

3 M0 A5132

Blog post > The entrepreneurial mindset

Lavin Jane D’Souza, a Monese Business customer, talks about getting into the mindset of a global entrepreneur

The entrepreneurial mindset

*__Update:__ We're making some changes in the background and not onboarding new business customers right now.* 

Brace yourself for some exciting news, Monese Business accounts are here!
Say hello to a new kind of money management for business that can be set up in minutes, from your mobile. It’s no-fuss and hassle-free. So you can get on with running your business. 

Opening a business account can be a time-consuming and complicated process. If you’re not a local it is especially rigid, expensive and - at times - painful. It can take weeks, or even months, to get your foot in the door with a traditional bank. If your business takes you all over the world, you don’t have time to wait for the bank manager to call. 

We have created Monese Business for globally-minded entrepreneurs. We know that life moves fast for you. Why should your ambitions have to wait?

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## Money management for business that moves as fast as you do
Using our app, you’ll be able to set up your account in minutes, simply from your mobile phone, wherever you may be in the world. All you need to have is a UK registered company and a passport. 

We’ve also included our popular and trusted Monese Plus account in the package at no extra cost, for which you’ll be verified in minutes, so you’ll have immediate access to your personal account. 
Once your new Monese Business account is opened, you’ll be able to manage your business and personal finances seamlessly, in one place, via our simple-to-use app.

![biz blog post img2](//images.ctfassets.net/96dxy75w1gjr/2VLCoN5zf3JsB2FDbI56Ij/a2556dfe6527272338cacb3c1dd91a77/biz_blog_post_img2.jpg)

To top that, Monese Plus gives you access to two personal accounts, both a UK account and a Euro IBAN account, allowing you to manage money like a local in 20 countries. That’s a grand total of three accounts!

## A fixed fee that’s simple and fair
The Monese Business account costs a simple £9.95 a month and offers all the popular features you would find for our personal accounts: unlimited transfers, direct debits and our award-winning app. It also gives you great rates on currency conversions, as well as affordable cash deposits across over 40,000 locations in the UK. And we’ll always give you complete transparency on fees, whether you’re a Personal or Business customer.

Business accounts also come with a beautiful, shiny-new Monese Business Mastercard and a personal Monese Mastercard, both of which you can use anywhere in the world.
On the ATM withdrawals front, the first six on your Business card are free. Then you also get six free with your personal card. That’s 12 free cash withdrawals each month, plus additional, free withdrawals via in-store cashback!

## Lots of ‘smarts’, lots of languages
Just like our personal customers, you’ll have access to our app, website and live customer support in 12 different languages - all from your pocket!
‘Monese Business’ also includes our nifty Smart Transaction feature. You can use this to categorise your spending (helpful when those year-end accounts come around) and keep a real-time oversight of your cash flow. You’ll also be able to view, export and print your statements without any bother.

## Coming very soon...
Monese Business is only going to get better over the coming months, as we work behind the scenes to launch more in-depth features. We’ll also be adding European accounts very soon, offering the same perks and features that we know you’ll love. We’re looking forward to helping you do business. 

We’re in the process of rolling it out to everyone, so simply head over to your app store and download the latest version of the Monese app to get started! In the meantime, [learn more here!](https://monese.com/business "Open a Monese business account online")

Monese Business Card

Blog post > Monese Business has arrived

Manage your business and personal finances in one place, all for a fixed price that's simple and fair.

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