Business credit

Build a business lenders can understand.

Set up the foundation, establish reporting accounts, verify what reports, and prepare for funding—without confusing an EIN with automatic borrowing power.

Start the checklist →Learn the foundation
Choose where you are now

What do you need to do?

01Set up the foundationEntity, EIN, bank account, records→02Build reporting historyVendor terms, payments, verification→03Fix a reporting problemAudit bureaus, vendors, identity, UCCs→04Prepare to seek fundingCash flow, documents, terms, lenders→
Free checklistNo account requiredPlain EnglishNo tradeline hypeReality firstApproval is never guaranteed
Pick your next move

The business credit playbook.

Four clear paths. Start where you are and move forward with confidence.

Path 01

Foundations

Entity, EIN, banking, records, and bureau identity—the clean base every lender expects.

Explore this path Path 02

Building Business Credit

Useful vendor terms, reporting verification, payment discipline, and careful graduation.

Explore this path Path 03

Business Credit Remedy

Audit and correct business bureau, vendor, payment, identity, and UCC information.

Explore this path Path 04

Funding Readiness

Capital planning, underwriting documents, cash-flow tests, terms, and lender comparison.

Explore this path
A simple three-part journey

Build it one smart step at a time.

01

Incorporate

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.

02

Register

Get a DUNS number from Dun & Bradstreet, register with business credit bureaus, and open a dedicated business bank account.

03

Build

Start with Net-30 vendor credit lines, graduate to store cards, then business credit cards and term loans — building trade references that report.

The golden rule

Keep your business and personal credit in their own lanes.

Your business is a separate legal entity. Give it its own EIN, bank account, records, and payment history so lenders can understand the business on its own merits.

That separation can help protect your personal finances and create a clearer path to business funding. It is a foundation—not a guarantee—and every playbook here helps you build it carefully.

Show me how to separate them
Know the scorekeepers

Meet the business credit bureaus.

They collect different signals. A healthy business profile means checking what each one sees.

D&B

Dun & Bradstreet

Known for the D‑U‑N‑S number and PAYDEX score. Many vendor accounts report here first.

EXP

Experian Business

Uses Intelliscore and other risk data. Small-business profiles may include both business and personal signals.

EFX

Equifax Business

Tracks payment behavior and business risk. Some lenders review it when considering a funding application.