The business credit scores
| Score | Range | What's good |
|---|---|---|
| Dun & Bradstreet PAYDEX | 1–100 | 80+ (paying on time) |
| Experian Intelliscore Plus | 1–100 (V2); 300–850 (V3) | 76–100 on V2 is "low risk" |
| Equifax business scores | Several models, e.g. 101–662, 101–715, 300–660 | No single published threshold |
| FICO SBSS | 0–300 | 180+; SBA loans sometimes require 165 minimum |
How PAYDEX works
PAYDEX is based on how quickly you pay vendors and suppliers:
- 100: paying 30 days early
- 80: paying on time
- 50–79: paying 1–30 days late
- Below 50: paying more than 30 days late
To get a score at all, D&B needs at least three trade experiences from two or more tradelines. That's why net-30 vendor accounts matter so much early on.
Steps to build business credit
- Get an EIN from the IRS. It's your business's tax ID.
- Open a business bank account and keep business money separate.
- Get a free D-U-N-S number from Dun & Bradstreet. You don't need to pay for one.
- Open a business credit card. Standard cards generally want a 670+ personal FICO score; secured options exist if you're below that.
- Set up net-30 trade lines with vendors and suppliers who report to business bureaus. Aim for at least three.
- Pay on time or early. Early payment pushes PAYDEX above 80.
- Monitor your reports with D&B, Experian and Equifax and dispute errors.
- Keep personal credit strong. It still drives business card approvals and SBA loans.
Cards and accounts that report to business bureaus
Not every card helps your business file. Pick ones that report:
- U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa Business reports to Dun & Bradstreet.
- Mercury IO reports to Experian, Equifax and Dun & Bradstreet business files only, not personal.
- BILL Divvy reports to the Small Business Financial Exchange (SBFE) only, not personal.
Mercury IO and BILL Divvy also don't require a personal guarantee. See no-personal-guarantee cards and employee expense cards for details. If you're just starting, see startup business cards.
Using net-30 accounts the right way
A net-30 account lets you buy from a vendor and pay within 30 days. It's the most direct way to add tradelines to your Dun & Bradstreet file, but only if the vendor reports. Before opening one, ask which bureaus it reports to.
- Pay before the due date. Paying on day 30 earns an 80 PAYDEX; paying early pushes it toward 100.
- Use the accounts regularly. Each on-time payment is another trade experience.
- Keep it separate. Pay vendors from the business bank account, not a personal one, so the history attaches to the business.
Check your reports
Business reports are kept separately by D&B, Experian and Equifax, and they don't always match. Review each one, confirm your business name, address and EIN are right, and dispute anything that isn't. A lender may pull any of them, and FICO SBSS — used by some SBA lenders — can blend business and personal data.
Business credit vs. personal credit
Your personal score still matters most for bank business cards, because issuers check it and require a personal guarantee. Most major issuers — Chase, Amex, Bank of America, U.S. Bank — report only serious delinquencies to your personal file. Read business card vs. personal card for the full issuer list.
If your personal credit needs work first, see secured cards and how to get approved with bad credit. Reporting practices can change, so confirm with each vendor or issuer.
Frequently Asked Questions
80 or higher. PAYDEX runs from 1 to 100, and 80 means you pay on time. A 100 means you pay 30 days early, while 50–79 means you pay 1–30 days late.
Yes. Dun & Bradstreet issues D-U-N-S numbers free of charge. You don't need to buy a package to get one.
At least three trade experiences from two or more tradelines. Net-30 accounts with vendors that report to D&B are the usual way to get there.
Only if they report to business bureaus. U.S. Bank Triple Cash reports to D&B, Mercury IO reports to Experian, Equifax and D&B, and BILL Divvy reports to SBFE. Check before you apply.
Dun & Bradstreet PAYDEX score — Nav
What is a good business credit score? — Nav
What is a good business credit score? — Chase
How to get and build business credit — NerdWallet
U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Business review — NerdWallet
Credit reporting for IO — Mercury
BILL Divvy Card requirements — BILL
Card terms, rates and fees change often and APRs are variable. Information was checked in October 2026; confirm current terms on the issuer's website before applying. MoneyVerge may be compensated by some card issuers; this does not affect our assessments.