Building business credit separates your personal and business finances, protects your personal credit, and opens doors to larger funding. Here's how to do it in 90 days.
Days 1-30: Foundation
Get Your Business Structure Right
- Form your LLC or Corporation
- Get your EIN from the IRS
- Open a dedicated business bank account
- Get a business phone number
- Set up a professional business address
Register with Business Credit Bureaus
- Dun & Bradstreet - Get your free DUNS number
- Experian Business - Register your business
- Equifax Business - Create your profile
Days 31-60: Build Trade Lines
Net-30 Vendor Accounts
Open accounts with vendors that report to business credit bureaus:
- Uline - Shipping supplies (reports to D&B)
- Quill - Office supplies (reports to D&B & Experian)
- Grainger - Industrial supplies (reports to D&B)
- Crown Office Supplies - Easy approval
Key: Make purchases and pay before the due date. Net-30 means you have 30 days to pay, but paying early looks better.
Days 61-90: Level Up
Apply for Business Credit Cards
With 2-3 trade lines established, apply for:
- Store credit cards (Staples, Office Depot)
- Fleet cards (Shell, Chevron)
- Business credit cards (after more history)
Understanding Business Credit Scores
- Paydex (D&B) - 1-100 scale, aim for 80+
- Intelliscore (Experian) - 1-100, higher is better
- FICO SBSS - 0-300, used for SBA loans