What is business credit?
Business credit is a credit profile attached to your EIN — separate from your personal SSN. The three main bureaus are Dun & Bradstreet, Experian Business, and Equifax Business.
The 6-step business credit roadmap
Follow these in order. Skipping steps is the #1 reason new founders get denied.
1. Form an LLC or Corporation
Sole props can't build true business credit — you need a separate legal entity.
2. Get your EIN
Free from the IRS. Your EIN is the SSN of your business.
3. Open a business bank account
Lenders want to see consistent business banking activity.
4. Get a D-U-N-S number
Free from Dun & Bradstreet. This is the number lenders look for first.
5. Open net-30 vendor accounts
Start with vendors that report to D&B — Uline, Quill, Grainger, Crown Office Supplies. Pay early.
6. Apply for a business credit card
Once you have 3–5 reporting trade lines, apply for a card that reports to business bureaus.
Want optional setup services?
Done-for-you technical setup is available as a separate service.
Vendors that report to business credit bureaus
Start here. Order something small, pay it off in 7 days, and your credit profile starts forming within 30–60 days.
- Uline — packaging and shipping supplies
- Quill — office supplies
- Grainger — industrial supplies
- Crown Office Supplies
- Summa Office Supplies
Business credit scores and what actually moves them
Each bureau keeps its own score, and they are not calculated the same way. Knowing which one a lender or vendor pulls tells you which behavior to prioritize.
D&B Paydex (0–100)
Driven almost entirely by payment timing on reported trade accounts. Paying on the due date scores about 80; paying roughly 20–30 days early is what pushes a file toward 100.
Experian Intelliscore Plus (1–100)
A statistical risk score built from payment history, credit utilization, account age, public records, and company demographics such as industry and size.
Equifax Business Credit Risk Score
Weighs payment behavior and account balances, and is often pulled alongside Experian by banks and leasing companies.
FICO SBSS (0–300)
Blends business and personal credit data. Many SBA 7(a) lenders pre-screen with it, which is why your personal credit still matters early on.
Want optional setup services?
Done-for-you technical setup is available as a separate service.
How long does it take to build business credit?
You can have a basic profile in 60–90 days with consistent vendor reporting. A profile strong enough to qualify for $50K+ in funding usually takes 6–12 months of disciplined credit-building.
Common business credit mistakes to avoid
Most denials trace back to a handful of avoidable problems rather than a bad score.
- Inconsistent business details — your legal name, address, and phone number must match exactly across your Secretary of State filing, EIN letter, bank, D&B record, and vendor applications.
- Using a residential address or a PO box on applications that require a physical business address.
- Running vendor and card balances above roughly 30% of the limit, which reads as cash strain.
- Opening only accounts that don't report — always confirm a vendor reports to at least one business bureau before relying on it.
- Applying for several accounts in the same week instead of spacing them out.
- Letting a reporting account go past due even once — a single late payment can undo months of Paydex progress.
- Paying for 'guaranteed approval' or 'shelf corporation' programs. Your D-U-N-S number and EIN are free.
Want optional setup services?
Done-for-you technical setup is available as a separate service.
What to do next
Work the roadmap in order and treat it as a 90-day project rather than a one-afternoon task.
- Confirm your entity is active and your EIN letter matches your filing exactly.
- Request your free D-U-N-S number and check the record D&B already has on your business.
- Open two or three reporting net-30 accounts, place small orders, and pay them early.
- Set a calendar reminder to review your bureau files quarterly for errors or stale information.