Exceptional Credit for Businesses – Even Yours!

Be awesome and get credit for businesses easily! We can show you how to build business credit quickly, with fewer chances of being turned down. Get the revenue you need to grow.

Establishing small business credit means that your company obtains opportunities you never considered you would. You can get brand-new equipment, or bid on real property. And you can deal with the company payroll, even when times are a bit lean.

This is especially helpful in holiday firms, where you can go for months with merely minimal sales.

Due to this, you should really focus on developing your company credit. Enhance and maintain your scores and you will have these possibilities. Do not, and you will not get these business opportunities. Or they will set you back you a lot more.

And no company owner wants that.

You ought to recognize what affects your company credit before you can make it better.

The Skinny on Credit for Businesses: Credit History Length Matters

This is basically how long your firm has been making use of company credit. Certainly newer small businesses will have brief credit histories. While there is not too much you can particularly do about that, do not despair.

Credit reporting bureaus will also assess your personal credit score and your background of payments.

If your individual credit is excellent, and in particular if you have a relatively lengthy credit history, then your consumer credit can come to the rescue of your company. That is, you did not just get your first credit card not too long ago.

Obviously the converse is also true. So if your individual credit history is poor, then it will affect your company credit scores. That is, until your small business and consumer credit can be separated.

The Skinny on Credit for Businesses: Your Payment History is Important

Late repayments will impact your small business credit score for a good seven years. Pay your company (and personal) financial obligations off, as rapidly as possible and as completely as possible. And then you can make a very real difference when it involves your credit scores.

Ensure to pay in a timely manner and you will reap the rewards of promptness.

The Skinny on Credit for Businesses: Your Personal Credit Can Affect Your Business Credit

Are you having a substandard business year? Then it could wind up on your consumer credit score. And in the event that your company has not been in existence for too long, it will directly impact your business credit.

But you can separate them both by taking steps to uncouple them. As an example, get credit cards only for your small business. Or you could open up business checking accounts and various other bank accounts (and even get a business loan).

So then the credit reporting bureaus will start to address your private and small business credit independently.

Also, make sure to incorporate, or at least file a DBA (doing business as) status. You can also take care of your company’s expenses with your company credit card or checking account. And make sure it is the small business’s full name on the bill and not your own.

The Skinny on Credit for Businesses: Do Not Let Your Credit Utilization Rate Hurt Your Small business

Credit utilization rate just shows the amount of cash you have on credit. So it is then divided by your total available credit. Lenders generally speaking do not wish to see this exceed 30%. So for every $100 in credit, do not borrow on more than $30 of that.

If this percent is climbing, you’ll need to spend down and pay off your financial debts prior to borrowing more.

The Skinny on Credit for Businesses: The Credit Reporting Bureaus Can Get it Wrong

Just the same as each and every entity out there, credit reporting bureaus just like Equifax and Experian are only as good as their data. If your firm’s name is similar to another’s, or your name is a lot like another business owner’s, there can potentially be some mistakes.

So monitor those reports, and your company report at Dun & Bradstreet, PAYDEX. Stay on top of these reports. And contest charges with documentation and clear-cut communications. Do not just allow them to stay incorrect! You can repair this!

And while you’re at, it you should also be keeping track of the credit reporting bureau which exclusively handles personal and not company credit. And that is TransUnion.

If you do not know how to pull a credit report, do not worry. It is easy. Just Google and you can find the links to the CRAs.

The Skinny on Credit for Businesses: How to Build It

Company credit is credit in a company’s name. It doesn’t link to an entrepreneur’s consumer credit, not even when the owner is a sole proprietor and the sole employee of the company.

Accordingly, a business owner’s business and consumer credit scores can be very different.

The Advantages

Given that business credit is independent from consumer, it helps to protect a business owner’s personal assets, in the event of court action or business bankruptcy.

Also, with two distinct credit scores, an entrepreneur can get two different cards from the same merchant. This effectively doubles buying power.

Another benefit is that even startup ventures can do this. Heading to a bank for a business loan can be a recipe for frustration. But building company credit, when done right, is a plan for success.

Individual credit scores depend upon payments but also various other considerations like credit use percentages.

But for small business credit, the scores truly just hinge on if a company pays its debts promptly.

The Process

Establishing small business credit is a process, and it does not occur without effort. A small business must proactively work to build small business credit.

Nevertheless, it can be done readily and quickly, and it is much more efficient than establishing personal credit scores.

Vendors are a big aspect of this process.

Carrying out the steps out of sequence will lead to repetitive rejections. No one can start at the top with business credit. For instance, you can’t start with store or cash credit from your bank. If you do you’ll get a denial 100% of the time.

Small Business Legitimacy

A business must be reputable to lending institutions and merchants.

Due to this fact a small business will need a professional-looking website and e-mail address. And it needs to have website hosting from a merchant such as GoDaddy.

And business telephone and fax numbers should have a listing on ListYourself.net.

Also the company phone number should be toll-free (800 exchange or comparable).

A business will also need a bank account dedicated only to it, and it must have every one of the licenses necessary for operating.

Licenses

These licenses all must be in the particular, accurate name of the business. And they must have the same business address and telephone numbers.

So keep in mind that this means not just state licenses, but possibly also city licenses.

Dealing with the IRS

Visit the IRS web site and obtain an EIN for the small business. They’re free of charge. Pick a business entity such as corporation, LLC, etc.

A business can begin as a sole proprietor. But they will probably want to switch to a form of corporation or partnership.

This is in order to decrease risk. And it will optimize tax benefits.

A business entity will matter when it pertains to tax obligations and liability in the event of litigation. A sole proprietorship means the entrepreneur is it when it comes to liability and taxes. No one else is responsible.

Sole Proprietors Take Note

If you run a small business as a sole proprietor, then at the very least be sure to file for a DBA. This is ‘doing business as’ status.

If you do not, then your personal name is the same as the small business name. Because of this, you can end up being directly responsible for all business debts.

Also, according to the Internal Revenue Service, by having this arrangement there is a 1 in 7 possibility of an IRS audit. There is a 1 in 50 possibility for corporations! Avoid confusion and significantly reduce the chances of an Internal Revenue Service audit at the same time.

Beginning the Business Credit Reporting Process

Start at the D&B website and get a totally free D-U-N-S number. A D-U-N-S number is how D&B gets a small business into their system, to produce a PAYDEX score. If there is no D-U-N-S number, then there is no record and no PAYDEX score.

Once in D&B’s system, search Equifax and Experian’s websites for the business. You can do this at fastcs.wpengine.com/reports. If there is a record with them, check it for accuracy and completeness. If there are no records with them, go to the next step in the process.

In this manner, Experian and Equifax will have activity to report on.

Vendor Credit Tier

First you need to build trade lines that report. This is also called the vendor credit tier. Then you’ll have an established credit profile, and you’ll get a business credit score.

And with an established business credit profile and score you can begin getting retail store and cash credit.

These kinds of accounts have the tendency to be for the things bought all the time, like coffee, shipping boxes, outdoor work wear, ink and toner, and office furniture.

But first of all, what is trade credit? These trade lines are credit issuers who will give you initial credit when you have none now. Terms are normally Net 30, versus revolving.

Hence if you get an approval for $1,000 in vendor credit and use all of it, you will need to pay that money back in a set term, such as within 30 days on a Net 30 account.

Details

Net 30 accounts need to be paid in full within 30 days. 60 accounts need to be paid completely within 60 days. Unlike with revolving accounts, you have a set time when you must pay back what you borrowed or the credit you made use of.

To start your business credit profile the proper way, you should get approval for vendor accounts that report to the business credit reporting bureaus. When that’s done, you can then use the credit.

Then repay what you used, and the account is on report to Dun & Bradstreet, Experian, or Equifax.

Vendor Credit Tier – It Makes Sense

Not every vendor can help in the same way true starter credit can. These are merchants that will grant an approval with nominal effort. You also need them to be reporting to one or more of the big three CRAs: Dun & Bradstreet, Equifax, and Experian.

You want 5 to 8 of these to move onto the next step, which is the retail credit tier. But you may need to apply more than once to these vendors, and you may have to purchase some items you don’t really need. So this is to prove you are trustworthy and will pay in a timely manner.

Consider giving nonessential things to charitable organizations.

Uline Shipping Supplies

Uline Shipping Supplies is a true starter vendor. You can find them online at www.uline.com. They sell shipping, packing, and industrial supplies, and they report to D&B.

You must have a D-U-N-S number. They will ask for 2 references and a bank reference. The first few orders may need to be paid in advance to initially get approval for Net 30 terms. Also, you may need to buy some things you don’t need.

Quill

Quill is another true starter vendor. You can find them online at www.quill.com. They sell office, packaging, and cleaning supplies, and they report to D&B and Experian.

Since Quill reports to two separate credit reporting agencies, you get two credit experiences with them. Place an initial order first unless the D&B score is developed.

Often they’ll put you on a 90 day prepayment schedule. If you order items every month for 3 months, they will typically approve you for a Net 30 Account.

Grainger Industrial Supply

Grainger Industrial Supply is also a true starter vendor. You can find them online at www.grainger.com. They sell safety equipment, plumbing supplies, and more, and they report to D&B. You will need to have a business license, EIN, and a D-U-N-S number.

For under a $1000 credit limit they will approve almost anybody with a business license.

Accounts That Don’t Report

Non-Reporting Trade Accounts can also be helpful. While you do want trade accounts to report to a minimum of one of the CRAs, a trade account which does not report can also be of some worth.

You can always ask non-reporting accounts for trade references. Plus credit accounts of any sort ought to help you to better even out business expenses, thereby making budgeting less complicated. These are companies like PayPal Credit, T-Mobile, and Best Buy.

Retail Credit Tier

Once there are 5 to 8 or more vendor trade accounts reporting to at least one of the CRAs, then move onto the retail credit tier. These are businesses such as Office Depot and Staples. These companies are more likely to have things you need.

Use the business’s EIN on these credit applications.

One example is Lowe’s. They report to D&B, Equifax and Business Experian. They want to see a D-U-N-S and a PAYDEX score of 78 or higher.

Fleet Credit Tier

Are there 8 to 10 accounts reporting? Then progress to the fleet credit tier. These are businesses like BP and Conoco. Use this credit to buy, fix, and maintain vehicles. Make certain to apply using the business’s EIN.

One such example is Shell. They report to D&B and Business Experian. They want to see a PAYDEX Score of 78 or better and a 411 small business phone listing.

Shell may claim they want a certain amount of time in business or profits. But if you already have enough vendor accounts, that won’t be necessary. And you can still get approval.

Cash Credit Tier

Have you been sensibly managing the credit you’ve up to this point? Then move to the cash credit tier. These are service providers like Visa and MasterCard. Keep your SSN off these applications; use your EIN instead.

One such example is the Fuelman MasterCard. They report to D&B and Equifax Business. They need to see a PAYDEX Score of 78 or better. And they also want you to have 10 trade lines reporting on your D&B report.

Plus they want to see a $10,000 high credit limit reporting on your D&B report (other account reporting).

Plus they want you to have an established business.

These are businesses such as Walmart and Dell, and also Home Depot, BP, and Racetrac. These are normally MasterCard credit cards. If you have 14 trade accounts reporting, then these are feasible.

Monitor Your Business Credit

Know what is happening with your credit. Make certain it is being reported and deal with any errors ASAP. Get in the practice of taking a look at credit reports and digging into the specifics, and not just the scores.

We can help you monitor business credit at Experian and D&B for only $24/month. See: fastcs.wpengine.com/business-credit-monitoring.

At D&B you can monitor at: www.dandb.com/credit-builder. At Experian, you can monitor your account at: www.smartbusinessreports.com/Landing/1217/. And at Equifax, you can monitor your account at: www.equifax.com/business/business-credit-monitor-small-business. Experian and Equifax cost about $19.99; D&B ranges from $49.99 to $99.99.

Update Your Information

Update the information if there are inaccuracies or the info is incomplete. At D&B, you can do this at: https://iupdate.dnb.com/iUpdate/viewiUpdateHome.htm. For Experian, go here: www.experian.com/small-business/business-credit-information.jsp. And for Equifax, go here: www.equifax.com/business/small-business.

Fix Your Business Credit

So, what’s all this monitoring for? It’s to dispute any inaccuracies in your records. Mistakes in your credit report(s) can be corrected. But the CRAs generally want you to dispute in a particular way.

Get your small business’s PAYDEX report at: www.dnb.com/about-us/our-data.html. Get your company’s Experian report at: www.businesscreditfacts.com/pdp.aspx?pg=SearchForm. And get your Equifax business credit report at: www.equifax.com/business/credit-information.

Disputing credit report errors generally means you send a paper letter with duplicates of any evidence of payment with it. These are documents like receipts and cancelled checks. Never send the original copies. Always mail copies and retain the original copies.

Details

Fixing credit report errors also means you precisely detail any charges you challenge. Make your dispute letter as clear as possible. Be specific about the problems with your report. Use certified mail so that you will have proof that you mailed in your dispute.

Dispute your or your business’s Equifax report by following the directions here: www.equifax.com/small-business-faqs/#Dispute-FAQs.

You can dispute mistakes on your or your small business’s Experian report by following the directions here: www.experian.com/small-business/business-credit-information.jsp.

And D&B’s PAYDEX Customer Service telephone number is here: www.dandb.com/glossary/paydex.

A Word about Building Business Credit

Always use credit smartly! Don’t borrow more than what you can pay back. Keep an eye on balances and deadlines for payments. Paying punctually and in full will do more to increase business credit scores than pretty much anything else.

Growing company credit pays. Good business credit scores help a small business get loans. Your loan provider knows the company can pay its debts. They understand the business is authentic.

The small business’s EIN attaches to high scores and lenders won’t feel the need to request a personal guarantee.

Takeaway

Business credit is an asset which can help your company in years to come. Learn more here and get started toward establishing small business credit.

The Skinny on Credit for Businesses: Takeaways

Once you find out what has an effect on your business credit score, you are that much nearer to creating improved business credit. Learn more here and get started in getting credit for businesses.