Business credit is a separate system from personal credit — different bureaus, different scoring models, different rules. Here are the playbooks for establishing, building, and leveraging business credit the right way.
The minimum Paydex score most lenders require for favorable terms.
Dun & Bradstreet recommends at least 5 reporting trade references.
The goal — business credit that stands on its own without personal liability.
Entity structure (LLC/C-Corp), EIN registration, DUNS number, business bank account setup, and separating personal from business credit.
coming soon
Net-30 vendor tradelines, business credit cards, reporting to business bureaus, and Paydex score mechanics.
coming soon
Disputing business credit report errors, UCC filings (legitimate use only), and vendor/creditor escalation.
coming soon
What lenders check, common disqualifiers, and how to position your business for capital access.
coming soon
Form a legal entity (LLC or C-Corp), obtain an EIN from the IRS, and establish your business identity separate from your personal credit profile.
Get a DUNS number from Dun & Bradstreet, register with business credit bureaus, and open a dedicated business bank account.
Start with Net-30 vendor credit lines, graduate to store cards, then business credit cards and term loans — building trade references that report.
The entire business credit system rests on one principle: your business is a separate legal entity from you. If your personal credit and business credit are tangled — personal guarantees on every account, personal cards used for business expenses — you have no business credit at all.
Business credit means your EIN stands on its own. Lenders, vendors, and bureaus evaluate your business's creditworthiness based on its own history — not yours. That separation is what limits your personal liability and unlocks funding that doesn't touch your personal credit profile.
Every playbook on this page is designed to build that separation systematically.
The dominant business credit bureau. Issues the DUNS number and Paydex score. Most vendor tradelines report here first.
Maintains business credit reports with the Intelliscore — a blended risk score that may factor in personal data for small businesses.
Business Risk Insight score and payment index. Less commonly referenced by vendors but monitored by lenders during funding applications.