Where to find your business credit score
Your company credit score lives with business credit bureaus, not the consumer credit bureaus that track your personal credit. The three largest are Dun & Bradstreet, Equifax Business, and Experian Business. Each one maintains a separate file on your company and produces its own score using different math — so your score will vary between them, sometimes by a lot.
You can view your score directly from each bureau's website. Dun & Bradstreet calls theirs a PAYDEX score (ranging from 0 to 100). Equifax and Experian use different scoring models with different ranges. All three let you see your score for free or a small fee, though the free version often shows less detail than the paid report.
The fastest route is to start with Dun & Bradstreet at dnb.com. Enter your company name and address, and you'll get a basic view of your PAYDEX score within minutes. If you want the full report — which shows payment history, company size, industry, and what creditors are reporting — you'll pay a one-time fee, usually between $50 and $150 depending on how much detail you want.
Key Takeaways
- Business credit scores come from Dun & Bradstreet, Equifax, and Experian, and each one produces a different score for the same company.
- You can see your Dun & Bradstreet PAYDEX score free at dnb.com by entering your company name and address.
- A full business credit report costs $50 to $150 and shows payment history, company details, and what vendors and lenders are reporting about you.
- Your business credit score depends on payment history with vendors and lenders, not on your personal credit — they are completely separate files.
What information you need before you check
Have your company's legal name, address, and phone number ready. If your business is registered as an LLC, corporation, or sole proprietorship, the bureau will ask which one. If you've been in business less than a year or two, you may not have a score yet — the bureaus need time to collect payment history from vendors and lenders before they can calculate one.
If you're checking on behalf of the company but aren't the owner, you may need to provide proof that you're authorized to view the report. Some bureaus ask for a business license or tax ID number. Have those documents nearby before you start, so you don't have to stop halfway through.
Understanding the different business credit bureaus
Dun & Bradstreet is the oldest and most widely used. Their PAYDEX score ranges from 0 to 100, with higher numbers meaning better payment history. Lenders and vendors often check this score first. The score is based almost entirely on how you've paid bills — late payments hurt it, on-time payments help it.
Equifax Business and Experian Business use different scoring ranges and formulas. Equifax's score typically runs from 0 to 100 as well, but the math behind it differs from PAYDEX. Experian uses a range that varies by industry. Some lenders check all three; others focus on just one or two. When you're shopping for a business loan or line of credit, ask the lender which bureau they use, so you know which score matters most for that decision.
You don't have to check all three at once. Start with Dun & Bradstreet because it's the most common. If a lender tells you they use Equifax or Experian, then pull your report from that bureau too.
How payment history builds your business credit score
Your business credit score is built almost entirely from payment records. When you pay a vendor or lender on time, they report that to the credit bureaus. When you pay late, that gets reported too. Unlike personal credit, your business score doesn't include personal bankruptcy, tax liens, or your personal credit history — it's based only on how your company has paid its bills.
The catch: many small vendors don't report to business credit bureaus at all. If you pay your electric bill, internet provider, or local supplier on time every month, those payments may not show up on your business credit file. Only vendors who subscribe to report to the bureaus — usually larger suppliers, equipment leasing companies, and commercial lenders — create a payment history that affects your score.
This means a brand-new company with no payment history won't have a score yet. You have to establish trade credit first. That usually means opening accounts with vendors who report, making purchases, and paying on time for several months before a score appears.
What to do if your score is lower than expected
If your business credit score is lower than you thought it would be, pull the full report, not just the score number. The report shows which vendors or lenders reported late payments, collections, or other negative marks. Sometimes the report contains errors — a payment marked late when you paid on time, or an account listed that isn't yours.
If you find an error, contact the bureau directly and dispute it. You'll need to provide proof — a bank statement showing the payment date, a receipt, or a letter from the vendor confirming the payment. The bureau has 30 days to investigate and correct the record if the error is real.
If the negative marks are accurate, focus on paying all bills on time going forward. Business credit scores improve slowly — it usually takes three to six months of on-time payments to see a meaningful change. If you have old late payments that are still showing, they'll age off the report after a certain time (usually seven years for most negative marks), but you can't remove them before then.
When lenders check your business credit score
Banks, credit card companies, and equipment lenders check your business credit score when you explore for financing. They use it to decide whether to lend to you and what interest rate to charge. A higher score usually means lower rates and better terms. A lower score might mean higher rates, smaller credit limits, or a denial.
Some lenders also check your personal credit score alongside your business score, especially if your company is young or small. They want to see both how the company pays its bills and how you personally manage credit. Ask the lender upfront which bureaus they check so you know what to expect.
Checking your own score doesn't hurt it — that's a "soft inquiry" and doesn't show up on your report. But when a lender checks it, that's a "hard inquiry" and may lower your score slightly for a few months. Multiple hard inquiries in a short time can add up, so try to space out loan applications if you can.
Building business credit if you're starting from scratch
If your company is new and has no business credit score yet, you can start building one by opening accounts with vendors who report to the credit bureaus. Office supply companies, equipment leasing firms, and commercial banks are common starting points. Make small purchases and pay them on time — even one or two months of on-time payments will start to create a history.
Some vendors won't report to the bureaus unless you ask them to. When you open an account, ask whether they report payment history to Dun & Bradstreet, Equifax, or Experian. If they do, make sure to pay on time so that positive history gets recorded. If they don't report, the payment won't help your score, but it won't hurt it either.
You can also register your company with Dun & Bradstreet directly at dnb.com. This creates a file and assigns you a DUNS number (a nine-digit identifier). Having a DUNS number and an active file makes it easier for vendors and lenders to report on your company, which speeds up the score-building process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my business credit score the same as my personal credit score?
No. They are completely separate files maintained by different bureaus. Your personal credit score comes from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion (the consumer bureaus). Your business credit score comes from Dun & Bradstreet, Equifax Business, and Experian Business. A lender may check both, but they are scored independently.
Do I need a DUNS number to have a business credit score?
A DUNS number helps, but it's not required. Dun & Bradstreet uses your company name, address, and phone number to find your file. Getting a DUNS number (free at dnb.com) makes it easier for vendors and lenders to report on your company, which can speed up score-building. But if you already have payment history with vendors, a score may exist even without a DUNS number.
How long does it take to build a business credit score?
Most bureaus need at least three to six months of payment history before they calculate a score. If your company is brand-new, you won't have a score when ready. Start by opening accounts with vendors who report to the bureaus and paying on time. After several months of history, a score should appear.
Can I remove negative marks from my business credit report?
You can dispute errors, and the bureau must investigate within 30 days. But accurate negative marks stay on your report for about seven years. You can't remove them early, but they become less damaging over time as newer, positive payment history accumulates.
What's a good business credit score?
That depends on the bureau. For Dun & Bradstreet's PAYDEX score, 80 or higher is generally considered good, and 50 or lower is considered poor. Equifax and Experian use different ranges. Most lenders will tell you what score range they prefer when you ask about financing.