Where to find your business credit score

Your business credit score lives with business credit bureaus, not the consumer credit bureaus that track your personal credit. The three main business credit reporting agencies are Dun & Bradstreet, Equifax Business, and Experian Business. Each maintains its own file on your company and calculates scores using different methods, so your score may vary between them.

You can check your score directly through each bureau's website. Dun & Bradstreet offers a free DUNS number lookup and basic score information at dnb.com. Equifax Business and Experian Business both allow you to view your report and score through their business portals, though some features require a paid subscription. Many business owners also check their score through accounting software like QuickBooks or through their bank's business dashboard, which may have integrated access to one or more bureaus.

The process is faster than you might expect — most bureaus show your score within minutes of logging in. You do not need to wait for anything to arrive by mail.

Key Takeaways

  • Business credit scores come from Dun & Bradstreet, Equifax Business, and Experian Business, and each bureau calculates a different score for the same company.
  • You can check your score for free or low cost through each bureau's website by logging in with your business tax ID or DUNS number.
  • Your business credit file starts building when you register your company and open business accounts, but you may need to request that bureaus add your payment history.
  • Checking your own score does not hurt it, but late payments, collections, and liens reported by creditors will lower it significantly.
  • Lenders and suppliers often check one or more of these scores before deciding whether to extend credit to your business.

What you need to check your score

To access your business credit score, you will need your Employer Identification Number (EIN) or DUNS number. Your EIN is the tax ID you received from the IRS when you registered your business. Your DUNS number is a nine-digit identifier assigned by Dun & Bradstreet; if you do not have one, you can request one free at dnb.com.

Some bureaus also accept your business name and address as an alternative to these numbers. You may be asked to verify ownership by providing a business license, articles of incorporation, or a recent business tax return. This verification step protects your file from unauthorized access.

If you are checking through your bank or accounting software, you may already be logged in with credentials that connect to your business profile, so you may not need to enter these details again.

How business credit scores are calculated

Business credit scores are built from your company's payment history, public records, and business profile information. The bureaus look at whether you pay bills on time, how much credit you use relative to what is available, how long your accounts have been open, and whether you have any collections, liens, or judgments against your business.

The exact weighting differs by bureau. Dun & Bradstreet's score ranges from 1 to 100. Equifax Business and Experian Business use different scales. A higher score means lower risk to lenders and suppliers. Scores above 75 on the Dun & Bradstreet scale are generally considered good; below 50 is considered high risk.

Your personal credit score does not directly affect your business credit score, but if you personally may provide a business loan or line of credit, a lender may check both. Sole proprietors sometimes find their personal and business credit intertwined because they have not formally separated the two.

Why your score might be lower than expected

A new business often has a low or missing score because the bureaus have no payment history to report. If you registered your company recently, it can take 30 to 90 days for the bureaus to create a file on you, even if you have already opened business accounts.

Late payments reported by creditors are the most common reason for a low score. Even one payment 30 days late can reduce your score. Collections accounts, tax liens, or judgments against your business will lower it further. If a supplier or lender reports you to a collection agency, that report stays on your file for years.

You may also have a low score if key creditors are not reporting to the bureaus at all. Many small suppliers and local vendors do not report payment history to business credit agencies. If most of your accounts are with businesses that do not report, your file will look thin and your score will be lower than it should be, even if you pay everyone on time.

Disputing errors on your business credit report

If you find an error on your report — a payment marked late when you paid on time, an account you do not recognize, or a collection that was already settled — you can dispute it with the bureau. Each bureau has a dispute process on its website. You will typically submit a written dispute explaining what is wrong and provide documentation like a cancelled check, receipt, or settlement letter.

The bureau has 30 days to investigate and respond. If they find the information is inaccurate, they will remove or correct it. If the investigation does not resolve the dispute in your favor, you have the right to add a statement to your file explaining your version of events.

Disputing an error does not hurt your score. The bureau must investigate without penalizing you for questioning their report.

Building business credit from scratch

If you are starting a business and have no credit history yet, you can begin building one immediately. Open a business bank account in your company's name and use it consistently. Apply for a business credit card and use it for regular expenses, then pay the balance in full each month. This payment history will be reported to the bureaus and will start building your score.

Ask suppliers and vendors whether they report to business credit bureaus before you do business with them. Prioritize working with those who do report, because those payments will help your score. Trade credit — borrowing from suppliers and paying on time — is one of the fastest ways to build business credit.

You can also request that the bureaus add your business to their files by registering with them directly. Dun & Bradstreet allows you to create a profile and claim your company's listing. This does not may provide a score, but it ensures your file exists and is ready to receive reports from creditors.

How lenders and suppliers use your score

When you apply for a business loan, line of credit, or trade account, the lender or supplier will likely check your business credit score. They use it to decide whether to extend credit and what terms to offer. A higher score usually means lower interest rates and higher credit limits. A lower score may result in a denial or require you to provide a personal may provide.

Some lenders check all three bureaus; others check only one. This means your score with one bureau may matter more than the others depending on who you are borrowing from. It is worth checking all three so you know what each lender will see.

Your score can also affect your ability to rent commercial space, get a business insurance quote, or negotiate payment terms with suppliers. A strong business credit profile makes it easier to operate and grow.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does checking my own business credit score hurt it?

No. Checking your own score is a soft inquiry and does not lower it. Only hard inquiries — when a lender or creditor checks your score as part of a credit decision — may have a small impact. You should check your score regularly to monitor it.

How often should I check my business credit score?

Most business owners check their score at least once a year, or before applying for credit. If you are actively building credit or disputing errors, checking every few months helps you track progress. There is no penalty for checking frequently.

What is a good business credit score?

On the Dun & Bradstreet scale of 1 to 100, a score above 75 is generally considered good. Equifax and Experian use different scales, so a "good" score varies by bureau. Your lender can tell you what score they require for the credit you are seeking.

Can I improve my business credit score quickly?

Improvements take time because they depend on your payment history. Paying all bills on time going forward will gradually raise your score over months. Disputing and removing errors can help immediately if inaccuracies are dragging your score down.

What if I have a personal may provide on a business loan?

A personal may provide means you are personally responsible for the debt if the business cannot pay. Lenders will check both your personal and business credit scores. Late payments on the business loan may be reported to both your personal and business credit files.