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Business credit and DUNS numbers

advanced · 5 min read

What it is

Business credit is a separate credit profile tied to your business's EIN (or your SSN for sole props). It's tracked by Dun & Bradstreet (DUNS), Equifax Business, and Experian Business.

Why you want it

  • Higher limits that don't count against personal utilization.
  • Access to vendor terms (net-30, net-60) you can't get as a consumer.
  • Eventually: business loans and credit lines based on business profile, not personal guarantee.

The path

1. Register your LLC or S-Corp. 2. Get an EIN from the IRS (free). 3. Register with D&B for a DUNS number (free via the "I'm a small business" flow — don't pay their $229 fee). 4. Open a business checking account. 5. Apply for net-30 accounts with office supply vendors (Uline, Grainger, Quill) to establish trade lines. 6. Apply for a business credit card using your EIN.

The personal guarantee reality

Most business credit cards still pull your personal credit and require a personal guarantee for the first few years. Pure EIN-only cards exist (Amex, Ramp, Brex, Divvy) but require higher revenue thresholds.