<HTML style="FONT-SIZE: x-small; FONT-FAMILY: MS Sans Serif" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40" xmlns:v = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word"><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> <META content=Word.Document name=ProgId> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2802" name=GENERATOR> <META content="Microsoft Word 10" name=Originator><LINK href="cid:filelist.xml@01C610C7.1F7649E0" rel=File-List> <STYLE>  </STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY lang=EN-US style="BORDER-TOP-STYLE: none; BORDER-RIGHT-STYLE: none; BORDER-LEFT-STYLE: none; WORD-WRAP: break-word; BORDER-BOTTOM-STYLE: none; tab-interval: .5in; khtml-nbsp-mode: space; khtml-line-break: after-white-space" vLink=blue link=blue bgColor=white> <DIV> <DIV>David,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I could have had a free business account, but the bank's online banking program would not have allowed me to make online transfers between our personal joint account and the business account.  So instead I have a personal account for the piano business.  As I said, either way, no fee.  The bank does charge for some business accounts, based on how many transactions per month you're going to have.  Fewer than 20 is free (deposit once per week, and a handful of checks per month, my business is pretty simple).  I think it is legitimate for them to charge for a business that makes a deposit every day, writes hundreds of checks, dips into their credit line regularly, etc. etc.  Mine is a local/regional bank with onlly 4 branches all within about 15 miles.  The multi-state banks seem less flexible and more greedy.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Basic operation:  All piano business money goes through the piano account.  I also have an individual credit card, no annual fee, which I use only for piano business expenses.  Credit card bill is paid in full every month from the piano account.  My wife's salary is direct deposited into our joint account every other week.  In the off-weeks,  I transfer an equivalent amount from the piano account into the joint account:  my salary.  What remains in the piano account is available for quarterly tax filings, investment in tools and equipment, professional development, whatever.   Inevitably there are good times, and there are bad times,  so occasionally I move money from the piano account to a savings account, and occasionally the money moves in the opposite direction.   The joint account pays all our personal expenses, mortgage, IRA and other savings.</DIV> <DIV></DIV></DIV> <DIV>Mike</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt Arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title=ilvey@sbcglobal.net href="mailto:ilvey@sbcglobal.net">David Ilvedson</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To: </B><A title=deanmay@pianorebuilders.com href="mailto:deanmay@pianorebuilders.com">deanmay@pianorebuilders.com</A>;<A title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A></DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> 1/4/2006 11:29:47 AM </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> RE: Separate business/personal accounts?</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV><FONT size=2> <P>I don't get charged anything for my business account.   I get interest (teeny amount).   </P> <P>Is this something most people are having to deal with?   I'd like to hear from others that have extra fees for business banking...</P></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>