The business credit bureaus, explained

Dun & Bradstreet, Experian Business, and Equifax Business each keep their own file on your company. Here's what each one tracks — and why you want to build across all three.

When someone checks your "business credit," they're really checking one of three separate bureaus — each with its own report and score on your company. A supplier might pull one, a lender another. That's the single most important thing to understand: because they're separate, a tradeline that reports to one bureau does nothing for the others. Building a complete, lender-ready profile means having positive history on more than one file.

Dun & Bradstreet

Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) identifies your business by a unique D-U-N-S Number and is one of the most widely used business bureaus, especially by suppliers. Its best-known score is PAYDEX, a payment-behavior score from 1 to 100.

A PAYDEX of 80 or above generally reflects paying on time.
The highest scores reward paying early — before the due date, not just on it.
Your D-U-N-S Number is the anchor of this file, so getting one is foundational.

How to get a D-U-N-S Number

You can request a D-U-N-S Number for free directly from Dun & Bradstreet. It's a nine-digit identifier that establishes your company's file. Do it early — many vendors and lenders expect to find one, and it makes building the rest of your profile smoother.

Experian Business

Experian maintains its own business credit report and score, drawing on tradelines, public records, and other data about your company. It's commonly pulled by lenders and suppliers, which makes reporting to Experian Business especially valuable. If you're choosing where to build first, a tradeline that hits this file tends to get seen.

A tradeline that reports to Experian Business

PeakDiscounters is a net-30 account that reports your on-time payments to Experian Business — a simple way to put positive history on one of the most-checked files from day one.

Equifax Business

Equifax keeps a separate business credit file as well, built from tradelines, public records, and firmographic data. Like the others, it only reflects accounts that report to it — another reason to spread your tradelines rather than concentrate them all in one place.

Why building across all three matters

You can't control which bureau a given lender or supplier will check, so the safest strategy is a profile with positive, reporting tradelines on more than one file. When you open net-30 vendors that report, note which bureau each one reports to and aim for coverage across D&B, Experian, and Equifax over time.

Check your reports for errors

Business credit reports can contain mistakes — wrong balances, accounts that aren't yours, outdated information — and an error can cost you an approval just as easily as a missing tradeline. It's worth reviewing all three periodically. Trustvane's Bureau Report Reviewer reads your own D&B, Experian, or Equifax report, flags likely errors and thin spots, and even drafts dispute letters, so problems get caught before a lender sees them.

Frequently asked questions

What are the business credit bureaus?

The three main business credit bureaus are Dun & Bradstreet, Experian Business, and Equifax Business. Each keeps its own file and score on your company, drawing on tradelines, public records, and other data. Because lenders may check any of them, a strong profile reports to more than one.

What is a D-U-N-S Number and how do I get one?

A D-U-N-S Number is a unique nine-digit identifier assigned by Dun & Bradstreet that establishes your business's file with that bureau. You can request one for free directly from Dun & Bradstreet. Getting it early makes it easier to build a complete business credit profile.

What is a good PAYDEX score?

PAYDEX is Dun & Bradstreet's payment score, ranging from 1 to 100. A score of 80 or above generally reflects paying on time, and the highest scores reward paying early. Consistent early or on-time payments to reporting vendors are what raise it.

How is business credit different from personal credit?

Business credit lives at the business bureaus under your company's name and identifiers, separate from your personal FICO score at the consumer bureaus. It reflects how your business borrows and repays, which is why it can be built without tying everything to your personal credit.

How do I check my business credit reports?

You can request your reports from each business bureau, and it's worth reviewing all three because they can differ. Check for errors, outdated information, and thin spots, since mistakes on a business report can cost you an approval just as easily as a missing tradeline.

Build across every bureau, the right way

Get the free Business Credit Starter Kit, or join Trustvane and let your AI Advisor build coverage across all three bureaus for you.

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