Business credit score
A business credit score is a rating of how reliably a company pays its debts, scored separately from the owner's personal credit.
A business credit score measures the creditworthiness of a company itself. Bureaus such as Dun and Bradstreet, Experian, and Equifax build these scores from things like payment history with vendors and lenders, outstanding balances, public records, and the age and size of the business. The scales differ by bureau. For example, the Dun and Bradstreet Paydex score runs from 1 to 100, where a higher number signals a stronger record of paying on time. A business score is tied to identifiers like your DUNS number rather than your Social Security number.
Lenders may look at your business score alongside your personal credit, especially for established companies, and a stronger score can mean better terms and access to more financing. You can build business credit by opening accounts with vendors and suppliers that report payments, paying invoices on or before the due date, keeping balances reasonable, and making sure your business is properly registered and listed with the bureaus. Check your business reports for errors, since incorrect entries can drag a score down.
Common questions
How is a business credit score different from my personal score?
A business credit score reflects the company's own payment history and is tied to business identifiers, while your personal score reflects your individual credit. Lenders for small businesses often review both.
How do I start building business credit?
Register your business properly, get a DUNS number, open accounts with vendors that report to the bureaus, and pay every bill on time. Consistent on time payments are the biggest factor.
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