Where to find your business credit score
Your business credit score lives with the three major business credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and Dun & Bradstreet. Unlike personal credit, which is held by Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, business credit is tracked separately and you will need to contact each bureau directly to see your score.
The most common business credit score is the Dun & Bradstreet PAYDEX score, which ranges from 0 to 100 and measures how reliably you pay vendors and suppliers. Many lenders and vendors check this score first. You can view your PAYDEX score free on the Dun & Bradstreet website if you have a DUNS number — a nine-digit identifier assigned to your business.
Equifax and Experian also produce business credit scores, though they use different models and naming conventions. Equifax calls theirs the Business Equifax Score, and Experian uses the Intelliscore Plus. Each bureau may show a different number because they track different payment histories and use different scoring methods.
Key Takeaways
- Business credit scores come from Dun & Bradstreet, Equifax, and Experian — not from the same bureaus that track personal credit.
- You can check your Dun & Bradstreet PAYDEX score free online if you have a DUNS number, which takes minutes to look up.
- Each bureau tracks different payment data and uses different scoring methods, so your score will vary between them.
- You will need to register or create an account with each bureau separately to view your full business credit report and score.
- Checking your own score does not hurt it — only late payments, collections, and liens damage your business credit.
How to get your DUNS number if you don't have one
A DUNS number is required to check your Dun & Bradstreet score and is used by most vendors and lenders to look up your business. If your business is registered with your state and has a federal Employer Identification Number (EIN), you can request a DUNS number free from Dun & Bradstreet.
Go to the Dun & Bradstreet website and use their DUNS lookup tool. Enter your business name, address, and phone number. If no DUNS number appears, you can request one immediately through the same tool. The process takes about 15 minutes, and you will receive your DUNS number right away — though it may take a few days for Dun & Bradstreet to fully populate your business profile.
Once you have your DUNS number, you can log into the Dun & Bradstreet portal and view your PAYDEX score and a summary of your business credit report at no cost. A full detailed report costs money, but the score and basic information are free.
Checking Equifax and Experian business credit
Equifax and Experian both offer free business credit reports and scores, though the process differs slightly from Dun & Bradstreet. On the Equifax website, you can search for your business by name and address, then register for a free account to view your Business Equifax Score and report summary.
Experian's process is similar: visit their business credit section, search for your company, and create a free account to see your Intelliscore Plus and basic report information. Both bureaus will ask you to verify your business ownership or authority to view the report — usually by confirming your business address or phone number.
Because these three bureaus do not share data, you may see different payment histories and scores across all three. A vendor or lender might report a late payment to only one or two of them, which is why checking all three gives you a complete picture of how your business credit looks to different creditors.
What information affects your business credit score
Business credit scores measure how reliably you pay bills and manage debt. The main factors are payment history (whether you pay on time), credit utilization (how much credit you are using compared to your limits), length of credit history, and public records like liens, judgments, or collections.
Unlike personal credit, business credit is built through vendor and supplier relationships. If you have a business credit card, a business line of credit, or accounts with vendors who report to the business bureaus, those payment records will show up on your report. A single late payment can lower your score by 10 to 50 points depending on how late it was and which bureau is scoring it.
Public records — tax liens, court judgments, or bankruptcy filings — have the largest negative impact. These stay on your business credit report for years and signal serious financial trouble to lenders and vendors.
How often to check your business credit score
You should check your business credit score at least once a year, and more often if you are planning to borrow money, apply for a business credit card, or negotiate terms with new vendors. Checking your own score does not lower it — only missed payments, collections, and public records damage your score.
If you spot errors on your report — a payment marked late when you paid on time, or an account you do not recognize — you can dispute it directly with the bureau. Dun & Bradstreet, Equifax, and Experian all have dispute processes on their websites. Provide documentation (invoices, payment receipts, bank statements) to support your claim, and the bureau will investigate within 30 days.
Monitoring your score regularly also helps you catch fraud or identity theft early. If someone opens a business account in your company's name without permission, you will see it on your credit report before it causes serious damage.
Understanding score differences between bureaus
Your Dun & Bradstreet PAYDEX score ranges from 0 to 100, with 80 or higher considered good. Equifax's Business Equifax Score and Experian's Intelliscore Plus use different ranges — typically 0 to 100 as well, but with different thresholds for what counts as good or poor. A score of 75 on one bureau might not mean the same thing as 75 on another.
This happens because each bureau collects data from different vendors and creditors. A supplier might report to Dun & Bradstreet but not to Equifax, or vice versa. Over time, as your business builds more credit relationships, the scores tend to move in the same direction — but they will rarely be identical.
When you are preparing to borrow money or negotiate with a major vendor, ask them which bureau they check. That way you know which score matters most for that specific decision, and you can focus on understanding what that particular bureau is measuring.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does checking my business credit score hurt it?
No. Checking your own score is a "soft inquiry" and does not lower your score. Only hard inquiries — when a lender or creditor pulls your report to make a lending decision — may have a small temporary impact. Missed payments, collections, and public records are what damage your score.
What if I just started my business and have no credit history?
You can still get a DUNS number and register with the business credit bureaus. Your score will be low or nonexistent at first because you have no payment history. Start building business credit by opening a business credit card, setting up vendor accounts that report to the bureaus, or taking a small business loan. Each on-time payment will gradually raise your score.
Can I improve my business credit score quickly?
Business credit builds slowly — typically over months and years, not weeks. Paying all bills on time going forward is the most effective step. If you have old late payments or collections on your report, they will age and have less impact over time. Disputing errors can help immediately if the bureau removes inaccurate information.
Why do lenders check business credit if I have good personal credit?
Business credit and personal credit are separate. A lender cannot assume your business pays its bills on time just because you personally do. Business credit shows how your company manages vendor relationships, lines of credit, and business debt — which is what lenders actually care about when deciding whether to lend to your business.
What should I do if I find an error on my business credit report?
Contact the bureau directly through their website and file a dispute. Provide documentation that proves the error — a paid invoice, bank statement, or receipt showing you paid on time. The bureau has 30 days to investigate. If they confirm the error, they will remove or correct the information and send you an updated report.