Glossary

Finance

Business credit

Business credit is a company's own borrowing reputation, recorded by commercial bureaus such as Dun & Bradstreet, Experian Business and Equifax Business. It is built by opening accounts that report payment behaviour and paying them on time or early.

In plain terms: Your company's credit reputation, separate from your personal one.

Why it matters

Only accounts that actually report to a bureau build it, which is the detail the business-credit industry tends to skip. Expect six to twelve months of reported history before a company qualifies for meaningful credit without a personal guarantee.

Common misunderstanding

Believing an EIN alone unlocks credit. Lenders want reported history and verifiable revenue.

Read the full guideBusiness credit and funding

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