This is Step 2 of 7 in the Build Business Credit guide. Complete Step 1 — legal foundation — before this one.
Three separate credit bureaus maintain business credit files in the U.S., and each one uses a different scoring model. Different lenders pull different bureaus. To build a profile that works across the widest range of lenders, you need a presence at all three. None of them are fully automatic — you have to take action to get your file created, verified, and accurate.
The Three Business Credit Bureaus
Dun and Bradstreet
D&B is the oldest and most widely referenced business credit bureau. It issues the D-U-N-S Number — a nine-digit identifier that becomes the anchor of your business credit identity. Nothing reports to D&B without it. Vendors, lenders, and government agencies use the D-U-N-S Number to look up and match your business.
Apply for your D-U-N-S Number at dnb.com. It is free but takes up to 30 business days through the standard process. An expedited option costs $229 and processes in one to five days. The standard free path is usually sufficient if you begin in Week 1 — by the time you are ready to open vendor accounts in Month 1, your number will be issued.
Once issued, claim your file at dnb.com, log in, and verify that your business name, address, phone, and industry are exactly correct. D&B offers a free monitoring tier (CreditSignal) that shows when your scores change, though it does not show the full report.
Experian Business
Experian Business does not require you to register. It automatically creates a file once trade lines report to it. However, you should check proactively at businesscredit.experian.com to confirm your file exists and that the business information shown is accurate.
Experian Business is the bureau most commonly pulled by major credit card issuers when evaluating business card applications. A strong Experian Business profile is essential for access to business credit cards from Chase, Amex, Capital One, and others.
Equifax Business
Equifax Business maintains a separate file from your personal Equifax profile. Fewer vendors report to Equifax than to D&B or Experian, which makes the vendors that do report here particularly valuable — they provide bureau coverage that most profiles lack. Register at equifax.com and confirm your business is visible and accurate.
The Four Scores That Determine What You Qualify For
| Score | Bureau | Range | Key Threshold | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PAYDEX | Dun and Bradstreet | 0–100 | 80+ = low risk | Vendor terms, trade credit, most lender approvals |
| Intelliscore Plus | Experian Business | 1–100 | 76+ = low risk | Credit card issuers, lenders who pull Experian |
| Business Credit Risk Score | Equifax Business | 101–992 | Higher = lower risk | Lenders who pull Equifax; broader risk model |
| FICO SBSS | Blended (all three + personal) | 0–300 | 165+ required for SBA 7(a) small loans as of June 2026 | SBA loans, bank term loans |
PAYDEX in Detail
PAYDEX is a payment speed score, not a payment history score in the traditional sense. It measures how quickly your business pays invoices relative to the agreed terms. Paying on day 30 of a net-30 account produces a score of 80. Paying 10 days early produces 85–89. Paying 20–30 days early produces 90–100. This is why the strategy throughout Step 3 is to pay invoices early — not just on time.
D&B also dollar-weights the PAYDEX calculation. Larger invoices have more influence on the score than smaller ones. When you have an established profile, larger purchases paid early move the needle more than small purchases.
FICO SBSS
The FICO Small Business Scoring Service blends your business credit data from all three bureaus with your personal credit data. It is used by SBA lenders to evaluate 7(a) loan applications. The minimum FICO SBSS score for SBA 7(a) small loans increased to 165 in June 2026. To reach this threshold, both your personal credit (680+ FICO recommended) and your business credit profile need to be in reasonable shape — neither alone is sufficient.
Free Monitoring Options
You cannot build what you cannot see. Set up monitoring at all three bureaus before you open your first vendor account so you can confirm tradelines are reporting correctly and catch errors early.
| Service | Cost | Covers | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| D&B CreditSignal | Free | D&B score change alerts | Knowing when your PAYDEX changes |
| Nav (free tier) | Free | D&B and Experian Business summaries | Monitoring two bureaus without cost |
| Nav Prime | ~$49/month | All three bureaus, full scores | Active credit builders who need complete visibility |
| Direct D&B report | $49–$149/month | Full D&B file and all D&B scores | Seeing exactly what lenders see on the D&B pull |
Before moving to Step 3: Your D-U-N-S Number should be issued and your file claimed at D&B. Check Experian Business to confirm your file exists or will auto-populate once your first vendor reports. Set up at least one free monitoring service so you can confirm tradelines appear within 60–90 days of opening accounts.
Build Business Credit — All Steps: Back to full guide
