Your business credit score is one of the most important financial metrics you'll never see on your monthly statements. Unlike personal credit scores that are readily available through countless free services, checking your business credit score requires more intentional effort – but the insights you'll gain are absolutely worth it.

Whether you're looking to secure better financing rates, qualify for premium business credit cards, or simply understand how lenders view your company, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know about monitoring your business credit health.

What Is a Business Credit Score and Why Does It Matter?

Your business credit score is essentially your company's financial report card. Lenders, suppliers, and even potential business partners use this score to evaluate your creditworthiness before extending credit, setting payment terms, or entering into partnerships.

Unlike personal credit scores that range from 300 to 850, business credit scores use different scales depending on the bureau. Experian and Dun & Bradstreet scores range from 1 to 100, while Equifax business scores range from 101 to 992. The higher your score, the better access you'll have to favorable loan terms, lower interest rates, and premium business credit cards.

Here's what makes business credit scores particularly important for savvy business owners: they're public information. Anyone can look up your business credit score, which means suppliers checking your creditworthiness before offering net payment terms, or potential partners evaluating your financial stability.

The Three Major Business Credit Bureaus

Understanding the three major business credit bureaus is crucial because each calculates scores differently and may have varying information about your business.

Dun & Bradstreet (D&B)

Dun & Bradstreet is often considered the most influential business credit bureau. Their PAYDEX score ranges from 1 to 100, with scores above 80 considered excellent. D&B assigns your business a unique D-U-N-S number (Data Universal Numbering System) that serves as your business identifier across their network.

Many Fortune 500 companies rely heavily on D&B reports when making decisions about supplier relationships and credit terms. If you're planning to work with larger corporations, having a strong D&B profile is essential.

Experian Business

Experian's business credit scores also range from 1 to 100, but they use different factors in their calculations. They offer several score types, including the Intelliscore Plus, which predicts the likelihood of serious delinquency in the next 12 months.

Equifax Small Business

Equifax takes a different approach with their Business Credit Risk Score, ranging from 101 to 992. They focus heavily on payment history and credit utilization, similar to personal credit scoring models.

Free vs. Paid Business Credit Monitoring: What You Actually Get

The landscape of business credit monitoring offers both free and paid options, but understanding the differences will save you from frustration and help you make informed decisions.

Free Business Credit Monitoring Options

Nav offers the most comprehensive free business credit monitoring available. Their platform provides free access to your Equifax and Experian business credit scores, along with monitoring alerts when your scores change. You'll also get your personal Experian credit score as part of the package.

What makes Nav particularly valuable is their financing marketplace that matches your credit profile with potential lenders. If you're actively seeking business financing, this can streamline your search significantly.

Dun & Bradstreet provides a limited free option that shows you four of your business credit scores for two weeks. After that, you'll only receive alerts when scores change, without detailed explanations for the changes.

While these free services provide basic monitoring, they typically don't include the detailed reports necessary for comprehensive credit management.

Paid Business Credit Monitoring Services

For business owners serious about credit optimization, paid services offer significantly more value:

Nav Business Boost Plan ($49.99/month) provides unlimited access to detailed reports from all three bureaus, credit monitoring alerts, and their financing marketplace with pre-qualified offers.

Experian Business Credit Reports cost $39.95 per individual report or $189 annually for unlimited access. Their reports include detailed trade information, public records, and business demographics.

Dun & Bradstreet CreditSignal Plus ($15/month) offers basic monitoring and alerts, while their CreditMonitor service ($39/month) provides comprehensive monitoring across all their products.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Check Your Business Credit Score

Step 1: Gather Your Business Information

Before checking your business credit score, ensure you have:

• Your business legal name (exactly as registered)
• Federal EIN (Employer Identification Number)
• Business address and phone number
• D-U-N-S number (if you have one)

Step 2: Choose Your Monitoring Strategy

For occasional checking: Use free services like Nav or request individual reports from each bureau.

For active credit management: Invest in comprehensive monitoring through paid services, especially if you're actively seeking financing or working to improve your scores.

Step 3: Review Your Credit Reports Thoroughly

When you receive your business credit reports, pay attention to:

• Payment history accuracy – Verify all reported payments match your records
• Credit utilization rates – Ensure reported balances are current
• Public records – Check for any liens, judgments, or bankruptcies
• Business demographic information – Confirm your business details are accurate

Step 4: Identify Areas for Improvement

Look for patterns in your credit reports that might be impacting your scores negatively. Common issues include high credit utilization, late payments, or incomplete business information.

What Information Appears on Your Business Credit Report

Your business credit report contains several key sections that lenders and suppliers review:

Trade Information

This section shows your credit relationships with suppliers, lenders, and vendors. It includes payment history, credit limits, outstanding balances, and payment terms. Trade information typically covers the last 24-36 months of activity.

Public Records

Any legal actions involving your business appear here, including:

• Tax liens
• Judgments
• Bankruptcies
• Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) filings

Business Demographics

This section contains basic information about your company, including:

• Years in business
• Number of employees
• Annual revenue (if reported)
• Industry classification codes
• Business structure (LLC, Corporation, etc.)

Accurate demographic information is crucial because it helps lenders understand your business context and assess appropriate credit limits.

How to Improve Your Business Credit Score

Improving your business credit score requires consistent effort and strategic planning. Here are the most effective approaches:

Establish Credit Relationships Early

The sooner you start building business credit, the better. Consider these strategies:

• Apply for a business credit card from your bank where you already have a relationship
• Work with suppliers who report to business credit bureaus
• Consider a secured business credit card if you're just starting out

For business owners looking to maximize their credit card strategy, our guide on small business credit card strategy provides detailed insights on choosing the right cards for credit building and rewards optimization.

Optimize Your Credit Utilization

Keep your credit utilization below 30% across all accounts, with an ideal target of under 10%. This applies to both individual cards and your overall credit portfolio.

Pay Bills on Time, Every Time

Payment history is the most significant factor in your business credit score. Set up automatic payments or calendar reminders to ensure you never miss a due date.

Monitor and Correct Errors Quickly

Regularly reviewing your credit reports helps you catch and dispute errors before they significantly impact your scores. Common errors include:

• Incorrect payment dates
• Wrong outstanding balances
• Outdated business information
• Accounts that don't belong to your business

Separate Personal and Business Credit

Maintain strict separation between personal and business finances. This includes using business bank accounts, business credit cards, and business loans exclusively for company expenses.

If you're wondering about qualifying for business credit in the first place, our comprehensive guide on how to qualify for a business credit card covers the essential requirements and strategies.

Advanced Business Credit Strategies

Building Strategic Supplier Relationships

Work with suppliers who report positive payment history to business credit bureaus. Many suppliers offer early payment discounts that can improve your cash flow while building credit.

Leveraging Business Credit Cards for Points and Building Credit

Business credit cards serve a dual purpose: building credit history and earning valuable rewards. The Chase Ink Business Preferred offers 3x points on travel and select business categories, making it an excellent choice for businesses looking to optimize both credit building and rewards earning.

When using business credit cards strategically:

• Pay balances in full each month to avoid interest charges
• Keep utilization low to maintain optimal credit scores
• Use cards for regular business expenses to build consistent payment history

Understanding Credit Score Timing

Business credit scores update on different schedules than personal credit scores. Most business credit reports update monthly, but some trade information may lag by 30-60 days. Plan your credit improvement efforts with these timelines in mind.

When to Check Your Business Credit Score

Before Applying for Financing

Check your business credit score at least 30 days before applying for loans or credit lines. This gives you time to address any issues and optimize your credit profile.

Quarterly Monitoring for Active Businesses

Established businesses should monitor their credit quarterly to catch issues early and track improvement progress.

Before Major Business Decisions

Check your credit before:

• Negotiating supplier payment terms
• Applying for premium business credit cards
• Seeking new business partnerships
• Renewing existing credit facilities

Understanding business credit fundamentals can help you make these decisions more strategically.

Personal Credit Monitoring for Business Owners

While focusing on business credit, don't neglect your personal credit health. Many business credit decisions still consider personal credit scores, especially for smaller businesses or newer companies.

Credit Sesame provides free personal credit monitoring with personalized recommendations for improving your credit health. Their insights can help you maintain the strong personal credit that supports your business credit goals.

For comprehensive personal credit education, our guide on credit score basics for business owners covers essential concepts every entrepreneur should understand.

Common Business Credit Mistakes to Avoid

Mixing Personal and Business Credit

Using personal credit cards for business expenses can hurt both your personal and business credit profiles. It also complicates bookkeeping and tax preparation.

Ignoring Supplier Reporting

Many business owners don't realize that supplier payments affect their business credit. Ask suppliers whether they report to business credit bureaus and prioritize relationships with those who do.

Closing Old Business Credit Accounts

Length of credit history matters for business credit too. Keep old accounts open and occasionally active to maintain a longer average account age.

Not Monitoring Credit Regularly

Business credit can change quickly based on supplier reporting and public records. Regular monitoring helps you stay ahead of potential issues.

For more insights on avoiding credit-related mistakes, check out our article on common credit card misconceptions that apply to both personal and business credit management.

The Connection Between Business Credit and Travel Rewards

For businesses that travel frequently, strong business credit opens doors to premium travel rewards credit cards with substantial sign-up bonuses and ongoing benefits.

Cards like the American Express Business Platinum and Chase Ink Business Preferred require excellent credit profiles but offer exceptional value for businesses that can meet spending requirements and utilize travel benefits effectively.

Our comprehensive guide to choosing the best business card for travel rewards explores how to match your business credit profile with optimal rewards strategies.

Taking Action: Your Next Steps

Checking your business credit score is just the beginning. Here's your action plan:

1. Start monitoring immediately – Sign up for Nav's free business credit monitoring to establish a baseline
2. Review reports thoroughly – Look for errors, outdated information, or missing trade relationships
3. Create a credit improvement plan – Focus on payment history, credit utilization, and building new relationships
4. Set monitoring reminders – Check your scores quarterly and review reports for changes
5. Consider paid monitoring – Upgrade to comprehensive monitoring if you're actively managing business credit

Remember that building business credit is a marathon, not a sprint. Consistent attention to your business credit health pays dividends through better financing terms, higher credit limits, and increased business opportunities.

The investment in understanding and monitoring your business credit score will serve your company for years to come, opening doors to better financing options, stronger supplier relationships, and the premium business credit cards that can supercharge your rewards earning potential.

Ready to start optimizing your business credit strategy? Begin with Nav's free business credit monitoring to get your baseline scores and alerts. For additional credit insights and monitoring, consider Credit Sesame for your personal credit health – because strong business owners need strong personal credit too.

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