Overview
Opening a Relay business account is a fast, secure, and entirely online process designed for small business owners, entrepreneurs, and accounting professionals.
Before submitting an application:
- Relay supports accounts for businesses that are registered and operate in the United States.
- Certain industries are not supported. See: Prohibited Industries
- Relay does not currently support accounts for personal banking, escrow, trusts, or 401(k)s.
- Business owners residing in these countries are not eligible for a Relay account.
To learn more about Relay before submitting your application, see: What is Relay?
What You’ll Need to Apply
Before you begin, make sure you have the following ready:
- Your legal business name and address
- Employer Identification Number (EIN) and formation documents (e.g., Articles of Incorporation)
- Personal information for all beneficial owners (name, date of birth, address, SSN, photo ID)
- A valid U.S. phone number and email address
- Internet access and a computer or mobile device
For a detailed list by business type (LLC, Corporation, Sole Proprietor, etc.), see: Required Documents and Organization Details to Open a Relay Account (by Entity Type).
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Go to the Relay Sign-Up Page
- Enter Your Email. Provide a valid email address you’d like associated with your Relay account. This will be used for all future communications.
-
Confirm Your Eligibility. Relay only supports U.S.-registered business entities. You must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have a valid SSN
- Be operating a business registered in the United States
-
Provide Business Details
- You’ll be asked to enter:
- Business name and DBA (if applicable)
- Type of business entity (LLC, Corporation, etc.)
- EIN (Employer Identification Number)
- Business address* and industry
-
Add Owners and Beneficial Controllers. For each owner and anyone who controls the business (e.g., a CEO), you’ll need to submit:
- Full legal name
- Date of birth
- Residential address
- Social Security Number (SSN)
- Valid government-issued photo ID
-
Upload Required Documents. Relay will prompt you to upload formation documents and verification materials. These may include:
- Articles of Incorporation
- EIN confirmation letter
- Business address verification
- Personal ID (driver’s license or passport)
-
Complete Identity Verification. You may be asked to complete a selfie verification step. Make sure you:
- Have good lighting
- Remove hats or glasses
- Hold a valid ID clearly in view if prompted
- Review & Submit Your Application
Once all required information is entered, click Submit. You’ll receive a confirmation email and can log in to track your application status.
*Please Note: If your business uses a Registered Agent (RA) address as its legal business address, you'll be prompted to provide a second address — your operational business address. This should be the physical location where you conduct your business (such as a home office or coworking space), and it cannot be another RA address.
What Happens Next?
- Most applications are reviewed within 1–2 business days.
- You may receive follow-up requests to clarify or update documents.
- Once approved, you can immediately fund your account and start using Relay.
Ready to be On the Money?
- For a full overview of the required documents and information needed to complete your application, see: Required Documents and Organization Details to Open a Relay Account (by Entity Type).
- To apply for a Relay account, click here. It only takes a few minutes to submit an application.
- Most applications are reviewed within 1–2 business days.
- You may receive follow-up requests to clarify or update documents.
- Once approved, you can immediately fund your account and start using Relay.
Related Articles
- Required Documents and Organization Details to Open a Relay Account (by Entity Type)
- Getting Your EIN & Articles of Incorporation
- What Happens After You Submit Your Application
- How to Verify Your Identity