How it works

How to build business credit: the 8-stage roadmap

This is how to build business credit, step by step. Business bureaus and vendors expect things in a certain order. Skipping ahead is the most common reason payments never count. Here is every stage, in order.

Phase 1Phase 2

Stage 1

Phase 1

Business uniformity

Same legal name, physical business address (no P.O. box), dedicated business phone, and email on the company's own domain everywhere the business is listed. We also confirm the EIN, good standing with the state, and a business bank account in the company's name. Mismatched records are the most common reason bureaus and vendors can't verify a business.

We verify that records are uniform. We do not form companies or obtain EINs.

Check if your business is at this stage Ask a specialist about Stage 1 Business vs. personal credit

Stage 2

Phase 1

Digital presence

A website on the company's own domain, plus Google Business Profile, Bing Places, Apple Business Connect, Yelp, BBB, and major directories, all with identical name, address, and phone. Bureaus can't verify a business they can't find.

Optional add-on: AI search visibility, so the business can be found in assistants like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity.

Check if your business is at this stage Ask a specialist about Stage 2

Stage 3

Phase 1

D-U-N-S number

We register the business with Dun & Bradstreet with the correct SIC/NAICS classification. A D-U-N-S number is free from D&B: you can request a DUNS number directly from Dun & Bradstreet, and the paid rush options are not required. No vendor accounts are opened before the D-U-N-S exists, because payments made before the file exists don't count.

The D-U-N-S number itself is always free from Dun & Bradstreet.

Check if your business is at this stage Ask a specialist about Stage 3

Stage 4

Phase 2

PAYDEX

PAYDEX is Dun & Bradstreet's payment score, from 1 to 100. A score of 80 typically means bills are paid on time, as agreed. PAYDEX measures payment timing against terms, not the length of the terms. A good PAYDEX score is typically 80 or higher; scores above 80 reflect paying before the due date. The goal is to build toward 80 or higher by paying every reporting account as agreed.

Paying on time is the client's part of the program. Results depend on it.

Check if your business is at this stage Ask a specialist about Stage 4 PAYDEX score explained

Stage 5

Phase 2

Net 30 vendor accounts

We help the business open "Invoice me / Net 30" vendor accounts that report payments to business bureaus such as Dun & Bradstreet, Experian, or Equifax. Each one becomes a business tradeline in the company's name. Typically the business starts with 3 to 5 accounts, with a goal of 5 or more reporting trade lines.

EIN-only vendors are prioritized where possible.

Check if your business is at this stage Ask a specialist about Stage 5

Stage 6

Phase 2

Net 60 accounts

As on-time history builds, the business can apply for vendors that offer Net 60 terms. Longer terms add buying power. They don't raise PAYDEX by themselves; paying as agreed does.

Vendor approval is always the vendor's decision.

Check if your business is at this stage Ask a specialist about Stage 6

Stage 7

Phase 2

Net 90 accounts

Net 90 terms are typically negotiated upgrades with vendors the business already pays on time. This is a later stage and may come after the initial program period.

Net 90 is not promised within the 180-day program.

Check if your business is at this stage Ask a specialist about Stage 7

Stage 8

Phase 2

Established business credit

The goal is a PAYDEX of 80 or higher, business profiles with Experian and Equifax, and a FICO SBSS score, all tied to the company's EIN, not the owner's SSN. This is the business credit profile many lenders review when the company applies for a business loan or line of credit elsewhere.

Stop leveraging your personal credit and let your company work for you.

Check if your business is at this stage Ask a specialist about Stage 8 Loan readiness guide

Two phases

A foundation first. Then a payment history.

Phase 2 builds on Phase 1. Accounts opened before the foundation is in place often don't count.

Phase 1Stages 1 to 3

Corporate identity & digital presence

Name, address, and phone match everywhere (NAP)
Website, Google Business Profile, and major listings
D-U-N-S number with the correct SIC/NAICS code

Phase 2Stages 4 to 8

Trade lines & scoring

PAYDEX monitoring and on-time payment plan
Net 30 vendor accounts that report, then Net 60 and Net 90
Experian and Equifax business profiles and FICO SBSS

FAQ

Questions owners ask us

How do I build business credit for a new LLC?

Start with uniform records, an EIN, a business bank account, and a website and listings that match. Then get a free D-U-N-S number and open Net 30 vendor accounts that report. Paying each one on time builds the file. That is the 8-stage order we follow.

Do I have to pay for a DUNS number?

No. A D-U-N-S (DUNS) number is free from Dun & Bradstreet. You can request it on D&B's website; the paid rush options are optional.

What are Net 30 vendors, and which ones report to Dun & Bradstreet?

A Net 30 vendor lets the business buy now and pay within 30 days. Only some report those payments to Dun & Bradstreet, Experian, or Equifax, and their policies change, so we confirm reporting before the business applies.

How long does it take?

Typically about 180 days. Timing depends on how quickly records are made uniform and on the business paying every account on time.

See all questions

Guides

Business credit guides

Plain-language guides, with sources.

All business credit guides

“Stop leveraging your personal credit and let your company work for you.”

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