Building business credit is a crucial step for any entrepreneur looking to grow their business. It not only helps in securing better terms on loans and lines of credit but also establishes the company’s financial credibility. Here’s a step-by-step guide to building your business credit, featuring insights on leveraging tools like myFICO, DisputeBee, and Credit Repair Cloud.
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1. Understand Business Credit
Business credit, similar to personal credit, is a measure of your company’s financial responsibility, but it’s tied specifically to your business’s operations. It’s crucial for securing financing under favorable terms. Understanding business credit involves knowing how credit bureaus, such as Dun & Bradstreet, Equifax Business, and Experian Business, score your business activities.
These scores are used by lenders, suppliers, and other entities to evaluate your business’s creditworthiness. Building a strong business credit profile means your business is seen as less risky, potentially leading to lower interest rates on loans, higher lines of credit, and more favorable payment terms from suppliers.
2. Establish Your Business Entity
Establishing your business as a separate legal entity, such as an LLC or corporation, is the first critical step in building business credit. This separation legally distinguishes your personal finances from your business’s finances. It’s not just about legal protection; it’s about setting the foundation for your business credit.
By incorporating, you ensure that your business activities are reported under the business’s name and EIN, not your personal social security number. This step is fundamental for businesses aiming to build a credit history separate from the personal credit of their owners.
3. Obtain an EIN
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is essentially your business’s social security number and is vital for several reasons. It’s required for filing taxes, hiring employees, and, most importantly for this context, establishing business credit.
Applying for an EIN is a free service offered by the IRS. With an EIN, you can open a business bank account, apply for business licenses, and start building your business credit profile. Think of your EIN as your business’s entry ticket into the world of credit and finance.
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4. Open a Business Bank Account
A business bank account is where your business financial transactions should be conducted. It serves as a clear indicator of your business’s cash flow and financial health to potential creditors. Having a business bank account helps in establishing your business’s financial history, which is crucial when applying for business credit.
This account is also essential for managing your company’s finances effectively, keeping personal and business expenses separate, which is a basic principle of good business financial management.
Also Read: Can I Open a Bank Account with a Bad Credit?
5. Establish Credit with Vendors and Suppliers
One practical method to begin building business credit is by establishing lines of credit with vendors and suppliers that report to the major business credit bureaus. This step can kickstart your business’s credit history, even if your business is relatively new. Paying these invoices on time, or even early, can positively impact your business credit score.
It’s a way to prove your business’s financial reliability without needing to secure large loans or lines of credit from banks.
6. Use Business Credit Cards Wisely
Business credit cards are not just tools for managing business expenses; they’re instrumental in building your business credit. When used responsibly, they can help you establish a credit history for your business. It’s vital to choose cards that report to the business credit bureaus and to ensure that you make payments on time.
Over time, responsible use of business credit cards will contribute positively to your business credit score, enhancing your creditworthiness.
7. Monitor Your Business Credit
Monitoring your business credit is essential for understanding how your business is viewed by lenders, suppliers, and other financial entities. Regular monitoring allows you to track your progress in building credit, identify any issues or inaccuracies, and take corrective action when necessary.
This is where myFICO comes into play, offering comprehensive credit monitoring services that give you insights into your business’s credit standing across the major credit bureaus. Read our detailed review on myFICO for a more clear picture.
FICO is also a standard credit score that is widely used by financial institutions like banks. There are various types of FICO scores, with each type based on need. You can get these scores on myFICO.
Here are what the FICO scores mean in general,
| FICO Score | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 800-850 | Exceptional |
| 740-799 | Very Good |
| 670-739 | Good |
| 580-669 | Fair |
| 300-579 | Very Poor |
8. Leverage Credit Repair Tools
DisputeBee and Credit Repair Cloud are invaluable resources for addressing inaccuracies on your credit reports that could be negatively impacting your scores. Both platforms offer robust features for disputing errors with credit bureaus, from generating dispute letters to managing client accounts for those operating credit repair businesses.
Correcting these errors can significantly improve your business credit score, making your business more attractive to lenders and creditors.
Choosing between DisputeBee and Credit Repair Cloud depends on your specific needs, with DisputeBee being particularly user-friendly and Credit Repair Cloud offering a comprehensive suite for more extensive credit repair operations.
If you are confused between DisputeBee and Credit Repair Cloud, you can read our comprehensive comparison: DisputeBee vs Credit Repair Cloud.
FAQs on Building Business Credit
Building business credit is a process that can take several months to a year, depending on your financial activities and how they are reported to credit bureaus.
Yes, you can build business credit independently of your personal credit. However, some lenders may consider your personal credit during the early stages of your business.
Not all vendors report to credit bureaus, so it’s important to establish credit terms with those who do to ensure your payments are helping to build your credit history.
While not necessary, credit repair software like DisputeBee and Credit Repair Cloud can be extremely helpful in managing and disputing inaccuracies on your credit reports, thereby potentially boosting your credit scores.
Wrapping Up: How to Start Building Business Credit
Building business credit is a critical step for any company’s growth and financial health. By following these steps and utilizing tools like myFICO, DisputeBee, and Credit Repair Cloud, you can establish a solid credit foundation for your business.
Remember, a strong business credit score not only helps in securing financing but also builds your company’s reputation in the financial community.
