Dun & Bradstreet CreditBuilder, also called D&B CreditBuilder or DNB CreditBuilder, offers companies a chance to build credit rapidly and maintain good credit. Business credit scores don't work the same way as personal credit scores. Rather than working off a social security number, many companies research your business credit using a D-U-N-S (Data Universal Numbering System) number issued by Dun & Bradstreet. Once a business gets a D-U-N-S number, credit issuers can monitor and add information to the credit score.

Dun & Bradstreet CreditBuilder allows you to get your D-U-N-S number and begin building credit at the same time. Businesses can get a D-U-N-S number for free, but Dun & Bradstreet CreditBuilder costs money. Dun & Bradstreet credit solutions come in all shapes and sizes, so before spending that money, do your homework about D&B CreditBuilder credit building. Answering these questions should help:

1. Will the IRS recognize your company as a business?

2. What is your business' credit score (without D&B CreditBuilder)

3. Which D&B CreditBuilder program should your business use?

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Establish your business legally before approaching Dun & Bradstreet Credit Solutions

Every bit of information you give to Dun & Bradstreet credit solutions goes into your permanent file, so prepare before you make initial contact. If you plan to incorporate but have yet to do so, do it now. Make sure the government recognizes your business as a legitimate one rather than a hobby. Dun & Bradstreet CreditBuilder information will help boost your business credit score, but do all you can for your business before you approach your Dun & Bradstreet CreditBuilder provider.

I recommend: Paydex Engineering sells credit to corporations that have established, so if you haven't yet incorporated you could get ahead of the credit game with them. Even if you don't choose to incorporate, your business absolutely must have an Employer Identification Number, or EIN, issued by the IRS.

Find out your business credit score before you contact D&B CreditBuilder for businesses

Before you approach D&B CreditBuilder, find out if your business already has a credit score. Even if you don't yet have a D-U-N-S number you need to check your business credit.

I recommend: Both Experian and TransUnion offer business credit reports. Check with both agencies to see what your business credit looks like and report any errors before you contact Dun & Bradstreet CreditBuilder. Credit building services may help you fix errors at that point, but you should contact TransUnion and/or Experian directly about any errors before you call a service.

Enroll in Dun & Bradstreet Credit Solutions

While we've focused on D&B CreditBuilder, your business has other options for finding a credit builder. Dun & Bradstreet also offers a program called D&B Score Builder. Other companies offer comparable services worth investigating, although Dun and Bradstreet Score Builder and DNB CreditBuilder most likely offer your business the solutions it needs to build credit.

I recommend: Brimm Capital offers a comparable program that may offer your business a slightly different solution. When you decide your business is ready, contact Dun & Bradstreet to sign up for a D-U-N-S number and either another credit building service or Dun and Bradstreet CreditBuilder.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Keep good records of payments and debts. Just because you've signed up with D&B CreditBuilder doesn't mean that your business no longer has to worry about its credit. People still make mistakes, so monitor your business credit regularly and be prepared to prove that your company paid a bill on time.