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Markus Field, founder of The Trades Business BuilderMarkus FieldThe Trades Business Builder
Tide logoBusiness accountCode REFER200

Tide Business Account Review & Referral Code REFER200

Free business account with invoicing, payment links and expense cards — plus £200 free cash with code REFER200. No credit check, open in about five minutes.

We may receive a referral reward if you open a Tide account after using our referral code. That never changes what we write, and it does not affect the terms you receive. Read our full affiliate disclosure before you click.

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Tide business account review

Tide provides UK business accounts aimed at sole traders and small limited companies. For a trade business, the practical value is not the app design — it is that money for the business stops living in the same account as the weekly shop, and that invoices, payment links and card spend are recorded where your bookkeeper can see them.

The referral code REFER200 unlocks £200 of free cash in two parts: £75 once you have spent £100 on your Tide card within 30 days of opening, and a further £125 if you deposit at least £5,000 into a Tide Instant Saver within 7 days of opening and leave it there for a month. The first part is achievable for almost any working trade business; the second only if you genuinely have £5,000 spare, so treat it as optional.

✓ Pros

  • – Sole traders currently running the business through a personal current account.
  • – Small limited companies that need a separate account and want invoicing in the same place.
  • – Businesses that want payment links and expense cards without a separate subscription.

✗ Cons / who it may not suit

  • – Businesses that bank a lot of cash weekly — check cash deposit charges first.
  • – Businesses needing branch-based support or complex lending facilities.
  • – Anyone already happy with an existing business account and clean records.

What you get

  • A business current account with a sort code and account number, card, and mobile/desktop access.
  • Invoicing with payment links, so a customer can pay by card or bank transfer from the invoice.
  • Payment matching, so incoming money is tied to the invoice it settles.
  • Team Access and Expense Cards for businesses with staff, with visibility of what was bought.
  • Read-only accountant or bookkeeper access.

How UK tradespeople use it

Untangling personal and business money

One account that only ever receives customer payments and pays business costs makes the tax return and the VAT reserve arithmetic possible without a shoebox of receipts.

Getting paid on the doorstep

An invoice with a payment link removes the 'I'll do it when I'm at the computer' delay that turns a same-day invoice into a 24-day wait.

Seeing what the team spent

Expense cards with per-person visibility replace 'I paid for it, I'll find the receipt', which is where small businesses lose recoverable cost.

Costs and risks

  • Account plans, transfer fees, cash deposit fees and card fees are set by Tide and change — check the current price list on Tide's own site before applying.
  • Tide is an e-money institution, not a bank. Business current accounts are powered by ClearBank, which is FSCS-protected up to £120,000 per depositor — higher than the standard £85,000 bank limit. E-money held directly with Tide (sort code 23-69-72) is safeguarded but not FSCS-covered. Check Tide's own disclosures to confirm which applies to your account.
  • Switching accounts mid-year means splitting bookkeeping records across two systems for that period.
  • A referral reward is not a reason to choose a business account. Fees, cash handling and support matter far more over a year.

Eligibility

  • – New Tide customers only — UK-based sole traders and registered businesses that meet Tide's own onboarding checks.
  • – Applicant must be able to complete Tide's identity and business verification.
  • – The referral code REFER200 must be entered at sign-up.
  • – Tide is an e-money and business banking provider — eligibility, features and pricing are set by Tide, not by this site.

Exclusions

  • – Existing Tide members, and accounts opened without the referral code applied at sign-up.
  • – The £125 saver element is a limited-time addition and can be withdrawn by Tide at any time.

How to use the Tide referral code

  1. 1.Read the eligibility and exclusions below, and our affiliate disclosure.
  2. 2.Apply through Tide using the referral code REFER200 at sign-up — a code added afterwards is normally not accepted.
  3. 3.Complete Tide's identity and business verification.
  4. 4.Spend £100 on your Tide card within 30 days of opening to unlock the £75. Optionally deposit £5,000 into a Tide Instant Saver within 7 days and keep it there for a month for the extra £125.

Application process

  1. 1.Apply online with your details and business information.
  2. 2.Enter the referral code REFER200 at sign-up.
  3. 3.Complete identity verification (photo ID and a selfie check are typical).
  4. 4.Wait for Tide's decision — approval is not guaranteed and we have no influence over it.

Alternatives worth considering first

  • Any high-street business current accountBranch access and cash handling often matter more than app features for cash-heavy trades.
  • A second personal account is not a substituteFor limited companies a business account is required because the company is a separate legal entity. Sole traders may legally use a personal account but most bank terms prohibit business use.
  • Work out what you actually need firstUse the [Business Account Needs Finder](/tools/business-account-needs-finder) before comparing providers.

Tide referral code FAQ

What is the Tide referral code?
The code is REFER200 and it must be entered when you sign up. It unlocks £200 of free cash: £75 after £100 of card spend in 30 days, plus £125 if you put £5,000 into a Tide Instant Saver within 7 days and leave it a month.
Do I have to deposit £5,000 to get anything?
No. The £75 part only needs £100 of card spend within 30 days. The £125 saver bonus is a separate, limited-time addition — skip it if the money is not genuinely spare.
Does using the code change my account terms?
No. A referral code affects whether a referral reward is considered; it does not change the account's fees, features or eligibility, all of which are set by Tide.
Can sole traders apply?
Tide accounts are aimed at sole traders as well as registered companies. Eligibility is decided by Tide's own checks.

Sources

All factual claims on this page are verified against the provider's own published materials. Last verified: August 2026.