You have just obtained your self-employment residence, your Digital Nomad Visa or your Entrepreneur (Startup) Visa, and you are about to launch your activity in Spain. As you set up the business, you need more than a simple account: you want a solution that lets you invoice, track expenses and manage your accounting all in one place, without getting lost in paperwork or branch visits. For this profile, one of our recommendations is Qonto, a 100% digital business account with built-in invoicing and accounting tools designed for those who are just starting out. In this resource we explain why it fits, what it offers and what to keep in mind.
Qonto business account
Invoicing + accounting · Spanish IBAN · 100% online
What is Qonto?
Qonto is a French fintech founded in 2016 and specialised in financial services for companies, the self-employed, startups and SMEs. It arrived in Spain in 2019 and, since 2020, offers a Spanish IBAN (ES…), which sets it apart from many neobanks that only work with a foreign IBAN. It is supervised by the Bank of Spain and the French ACPR.
It is worth being clear about its nature: Qonto is a payment institution, not a licensed bank. It offers the operability of a business account and management tools, but this has implications for deposit protection, which we cover below.
Why it fits those starting their activity in Spain
If you have just regularised your situation and you are about to register as self-employed or incorporate your company, these are the reasons Qonto tends to be a particularly good fit:
- Built-in invoicing. Issue and manage your invoices from the platform itself, with no external tools, right when you start landing your first clients.
- Accounting and expense control. Automatic categorisation, receipt capture and integrations with accounting tools and your gestoría (accountant), so you stay in control from day one.
- Spanish IBAN. Lets you operate normally with the administration, your clients and suppliers, without the usual issues of foreign IBANs.
- Taxes from the app. Qonto is authorised as a collaborating payment institution, which allows you to file and pay forms such as the 303 (VAT), the 130 (income tax) or the 111 without leaving the application.
- 100% online opening. Essential if you have just arrived and are still getting organised: no trips or branch appointments.
Invoicing and accounting tools
This is the point that matters most to anyone launching a business. Beyond the account, Qonto works as a financial management hub:
- Electronic invoicing: create invoices, track pending payments and keep everything tidy for your taxes.
- Expense management: cards with configurable limits, receipt capture and categorisation so your accounting is always up to date.
- Accounting integrations: connection and data export for your accountant or accounting software, saving you hours of manual work.
- Tax payments: filing and payment of tax forms directly from the app.
Plans and pricing
Qonto organises its offering into plans tailored to the size and activity of the business. Broadly, and as of the publication date of this resource:
- Self-employed: plans from roughly €9/month, designed for a single user (freelancers and individual self-employed professionals), with an account, invoicing, cards and accounting tools.
- SMEs and companies: higher plans with team management, more users and advanced features, with prices that scale according to your needs.
It usually offers a free trial with no commitment, as well as savings on annual billing. Fees, promotions and features change frequently; always check the up-to-date prices and conditions on the official website before signing up.
Launch your business with Qonto,
all in a single app
Account with a Spanish IBAN, invoicing, accounting and tax payments built in. Designed for the self-employed, digital nomads and startups getting started.
📊 Accounting
🇪🇸 Spanish IBAN
⚡ 100% online
Free trial, no commitment · Check the conditions on Qonto’s official website.
Direct debits for taxes and recurring payments
Thanks to its Spanish IBAN, Qonto lets you set up direct debits for fixed business expenses (utilities, software, insurance, etc.) via SEPA. And its integration with the Tax Agency makes filing and paying your quarterly forms easy without leaving the app.
Pros and cons
Pros: built-in invoicing and accounting; Spanish IBAN; tax payments from the app; cards and expense control; 100% digital opening and operation; plans for the self-employed and companies; free trial with no commitment; transparent pricing.
Cons: it is a payment institution, not a bank, so balances are not covered by the Deposit Guarantee Fund; it has a monthly fee (it is not free); it is geared towards professional/business use, not a personal account; and it is advisable to confirm that its IBAN is accepted for specific charges such as the self-employed contribution.
Who is Qonto ideal for?
- Self-employed professionals with a self-employment residence who need to invoice and manage their accounting from day one.
- Digital nomads who want to centralise the management of their professional activity in one app, with a Spanish IBAN for their obligations.
- Entrepreneurs with a Startup Visa looking to open a business account quickly and digitally when incorporating their project.
- New entrepreneurs and SMEs who value controlling expenses, cards and team permissions with transparency.
Frequently Asked Questions about Qonto
Is Qonto a bank?
No. It is a payment institution supervised by the Bank of Spain and the French ACPR. It offers services typical of a business account, but its deposits are not covered by the Deposit Guarantee Fund as they would be at a licensed bank.
Does it include invoicing and accounting?
Yes. Qonto integrates electronic invoicing, expense management and accounting integrations, along with the account and cards, in a single platform.
Does it have a Spanish IBAN?
Yes, it offers a Spanish IBAN (ES…), which makes direct debits and dealings with the administration and your suppliers easier.
Can I pay my taxes with Qonto?
Yes. It is authorised to process payments to the Tax Agency, letting you file and pay forms such as the 303, the 130 or the 111 from the app.
Does it have fees?
It works on a monthly fee depending on the plan, from roughly €9/month for the self-employed, usually with a trial period and no commitment. Always review the current fees before signing up.
Conclusion
For anyone starting their activity in Spain (self-employed with a self-employment residence, digital nomads and startups) who wants more than just an account, Qonto brings invoicing, accounting, expense control and tax payments together in a single app. Just remember its nature as a payment institution (no Deposit Guarantee Fund coverage) and its monthly fee when deciding. If you value digital convenience and getting started with everything in order from the beginning, it is well worth a try.
