BUSINESS CREDIT RESOURCES
Business Credit Resources
Building strong business credit is a critical step toward securing better financing, supplier terms, and long-term growth. This page provides direct access to the major business credit bureaus, government lending programs, and educational tools to help you establish and monitor your company's credit profile. Unlike personal credit, business credit is not regulated by the same federal laws, so it is up to you to stay informed and proactive .
1: Major Business Credit Bureaus – Contact & Disputes
These are the three primary agencies that collect and maintain business credit data. Each bureau has its own scoring models and data sources, so it is important to monitor your profile with all three .
Dun & Bradstreet (D&B)
Overview: The oldest and most widely recognized business credit bureau, founded in 1841. Known for the PAYDEX® score and the D-U-N-S® Number, which many suppliers and government agencies require before extending trade credit .
Get a D-U-N-S Number: Apply for a free D-U-N-S Number on their website.
Monitor Your Credit:
CreditSignal®: A free service that alerts you to changes in your D&B scores .
D&B Credit Insights: Offers free and paid tiers to view your scores, get alerts, and monitor your business credit file .
Dispute Information: Visit the Dun & Bradstreet website to learn how to request corrections to your business information. You can review, request updates, or dispute basic information for free through D-U-N-S Manager .
Website: www.dnb.com
Experian Business
Overview: A major consumer credit bureau that also offers comprehensive business credit reports and the widely used Intelliscore Plus™ .
Monitor Your Credit:
Business Credit Advantage: A subscription service providing access to your full credit profile, including your Intelliscore Plus™, with ongoing monitoring .
Dispute Information: Visit BusinessCreditFacts.com or call (888) 211-0728 to learn how to dispute or update information .
Website: www.experian.com/business
Equifax Business
Overview: Provides business credit reports and scores, including the Payment Index, Business Credit Risk Score, and Business Failure Score .
Monitor Your Credit:
Purchase individual reports through the Equifax Small Business portal. Reports start at $49.95 at the time of writing
Dispute Information: Visit the Equifax small business website for instructions on how to dispute mistakes .
Website: www.equifax.com/business
2: Other Business Credit & Data Reporting Agencies
These additional agencies serve specific industries or provide supplemental business credit data.
Small Business Financial Exchange (SBFE)
Overview: A member-owned trade association that collects business credit payment history from financial institutions and makes that data available to partner credit bureaus. It is a key source of data for your business credit files .
Website: www.sbfe.org
Creditsafe
Overview: A global business credit agency that sells business credit reports on companies worldwide .
Website: www.creditsafe.com
LexisNexis
Overview: A business credit reporting agency that is part of the RELX organization, often used for risk assessment .
Website: www.lexisnexis.com
Ansonia
Overview: A business credit reporting agency specializing in the transportation, logistics, and freight industries .
Website: www.ansonia.com
3: U.S. Government Resources – Business Lending & Education
Official .gov sites for business loans, counseling, and educational resources.
Small Business Administration (SBA)
Overview: The primary government agency supporting small businesses through loan programs, counseling, and contracting opportunities .
SBA Loan Programs:
7(a) Loan Program: SBA's primary business loan program for working capital, equipment, real estate, and debt refinancing .
504 Loan Program: Provides long-term, fixed-rate financing for major fixed assets like real estate and machinery through Certified Development Companies .
Microloan Program: Provides smaller loans up to $50,000 for materials, supplies, or equipment through intermediary lenders .
How to Apply: Use SBA's Lender Match tool to connect with participating lenders.
Local Assistance:
Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs): Provide free or low-cost management and technical assistance.
Women's Business Centers (WBCs): Offer support specifically for women entrepreneurs.
Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOCs): Provide assistance to veteran-owned businesses.
FICO SBSS Score: The SBA and many lenders use the FICO Small Business Scoring Service (SBSS) score, which ranges from 0–300 and incorporates data from both your business and personal credit reports .
Website: www.sba.gov
U.S. Department of the Treasury – CDFI Fund
Overview: The Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Fund certifies lenders that provide loans to businesses in distressed areas. You can search for a CDFI lender near you.
Website: www.cdfifund.gov
Economic Development Administration (EDA)
Overview: While the EDA does not grant directly to businesses, it funds local Revolving Loan Funds (RLFs). Businesses can view a directory of RLF programs by state to find potential local loan sources.
Website: www.eda.gov
4: Non-Profit Lenders & Financial Education
Organizations that offer affordable capital, coaching, and educational resources for small business owners.
Accion Opportunity Fund (AOF)
Overview: A nonprofit small business lender focused on supporting entrepreneurs who have historically lacked access to affordable and responsible financing. Offers affordable capital, coaching, and educational resources .
Learn with AOF: An online learning platform with training on cash flow management, financial documentation, and business credit .
Website: www.accionopportunityfund.org
SCORE
Overview: An SBA partner organization and nonprofit association dedicated to helping small businesses succeed through free mentorship, workshops, and educational resources .
Website: www.score.org
5: Business Credit Monitoring & Educational Platforms
These third-party platforms can help you monitor your business credit across multiple bureaus in one place.
Nav
Overview: Offers business owners the most comprehensive source of business and personal credit data in one place. A free account provides credit report summaries and letter grades from multiple bureaus .
Nav Prime: A paid subscription offering detailed credit reports from multiple business and consumer credit bureaus, plus scores updated monthly .
Website: www.nav.com
Lili BusinessBuild Program
Overview: A credit-building program powered by Dun & Bradstreet that integrates smart credit-building tools into everyday business banking. Includes real-time monitoring, a secured credit card that reports to D&B, and credit education resources .
Features:
Access to six key D&B scores: PAYDEX®, Delinquency Score, Failure Score, D&B Rating, Maximum Credit Recommendation, and Supplier Evaluation Risk (SER) Rating .
Alerts for key changes and score fluctuations
Live monthly webinars hosted by credit experts from Dun & Bradstreet
Library of video tutorials on business credit topics
Website: www.lili.co/businessbuild
6: How to Dispute Business Credit Report Errors
Unlike personal credit, business credit disputes are not governed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). You must work directly with each bureau to correct errors .
General Dispute Steps:
Check your reports: Review reports from all three major bureaus to identify inconsistencies or errors .
Document the errors: Take screenshots and gather supporting documentation like payment records or account statements .
Contact the appropriate bureau: Each bureau has its own dispute process .
Dun & Bradstreet: Visit the D&B website to learn how to request corrections .
Equifax: Visit the Equifax small business website for dispute instructions .
Experian: Visit BusinessCreditFacts.com or call (888) 211-0728 .
Fundbox Dispute Contact
Phone: (855) 908-3533
Email: bureau-disputes@fundbox.com
Mail: 5760 Legacy Dr. Suite B3-535 Plano, TX 75024
Note: Fundbox reports to SBFE, which shares information with Experian, Equifax, and Dun & Bradstreet .
7: Common Business Credit Scores & What They Mean
Bureau Score Name Range What It Measures Dun & Bradstreet PAYDEX® Score1–100Payment history; 80+ = pays on time or early Delinquency Predictor Score101–670Likelihood of late payments Failure Score®1,001–1,875Likelihood of business failure in next 12 months D&B Rating Varies Overall financial strength and business size Experian Intelliscore Plus™1–100Overall creditworthiness; 76+ = low risk Intelliscore Plus™ V3300–850Updated scoring model Financial Stability Risk Score™300–850Risk of business failure Equifax Payment Index1–100Payment history; similar to PAYDEX Business Credit Risk Score™101–992Likelihood of severe delinquency Business Failure Score™1,000–1,880Chance of bankruptcy in next 12 months FICO SBSS Score 0–300 Used by SBA and lenders; combines business and personal data
8: Business Credit Building Tips & Best Practices
Essential Steps to Build Business Credit :
Establish a D-U-N-S Number: Apply for a free D-U-N-S Number from Dun & Bradstreet. This is often required before suppliers and lenders will report your payment history .
Open business credit accounts: Use business credit cards and trade lines that report to the major bureaus .
Pay early or on time: The D&B PAYDEX® score rewards early payments even more than on-time payments. Paying 10–20 days early can boost your scores .
Keep balances low: High credit utilization signals financial stress. Aim to use less than 30% of available credit limits .
Establish trade lines: Work with suppliers that report to Dun & Bradstreet, Experian Business, and Equifax Business .
Monitor all three bureaus: Lenders may check credit at any of the major bureaus, so check and monitor all three regularly .
Limit hard inquiries: Only apply for new business credit when necessary to avoid excessive inquiries .
Strengthen business credibility: Keep your business registered, maintain positive cash flow, and use a dedicated business bank account .
9: Why Business Credit Matters
Strong business credit opens doors to better financing terms and business opportunities .
Impact on Financing :
Loan approval: Higher credit scores can improve chances of approval for small business loans and financing
Interest rates: Strong credit may help your business get lower interest rates
Credit limits: Better scores may lead to higher credit limits
Loan terms: Good credit may help your business qualify for longer repayment periods
Supplier Relationships :
Payment terms: Suppliers may offer net-30 or net-60 terms instead of requiring cash upfront
Credit limits: Higher credit scores can increase purchasing power
Pricing: Some vendors offer better pricing to creditworthy customers
Other Business Benefits :
Insurance premiums: Some insurers factor credit scores into premium calculations
Commercial leases: Landlords often check business credit before approving leases
Telecom and utilities: Businesses with solid credit may avoid large deposits for phone, internet, and utility services
Partnership opportunities: Other businesses may review your credit before entering joint ventures
10: Business Credit Education & Tools
Free Educational Resources
Nav Resource Center: Articles and guides on business credit – www.nav.com/resource
D&B Credit Insights Learn Center: Educational content on business credit scores and ratings – www.dnb.com/education
SBA Learning Center: Free online courses for small business owners – www.sba.gov/learning
SCORE Workshops: Free business mentoring and workshops – www.score.org
Bank Educational Resources
Bank of America – Business Capital Resources: Guides on funding options, building business credit, and navigating the application process – business.bankofamerica.com/resources/capital