A Dun & Bradstreet D-U-N-S Number is used by over 120 million companies worldwide. Using a Dun & Bradstreet D-U-N-S number allows you access to the credit files of other companies. A D-U-N-S number lookup will give you a good idea if a company is credit worthy or a risk.

Registering your company for a D-U-N-S number is necessary if you do business with the US government. Also, the UN, the European Commission and the Australian government use D-U-N-S numbers as the standard business identifier.

1. Registering for a Dun & Bradstreet D-U-N-S number is free but you do pay a fee to create a credit file and put it online.

2. Companies with a Dun & Bradstreet number get better interest rates, help with accounts receivables and credit management strategies.

3. A Dun & Bradstreet D-U-N-S number is necessary to get other business solutions from Dun and Bradstreet.

Action Steps
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Use a D-U-N-S number lookup to get a targeted list of potential clients

One of the benefits of using a Dun & Bradstreet D-U-N-S number is the volume of companies in its database. You can create marketing lists and know before hand the viability of the company or companies you're targeting.

I recommend: Dun & Bradstreet offers a 7-day trial for Selectory, a business solution for creating a list of potential clients, with all their business information. You can perform a D-U-N-S number search for other companies. MarketPlace Gold is another solution that gives you access to 14 million US businesses from a CD. It includes analytical tools to conduct customer research.

Use a D-U-N-S number to create your company business file

A D-U-N-S number gets you started in creating a credit file that will help you manage your business credit and allow other businesses to scope out your company.

I recommend: Along with registering for a DUNS number, you will have free access to the eUpdate feature for managing your company's credit profile. It is suggested that new businesses benefit from buying CreditBuilder, a D&B product that will give your business profile a commercial credit rating used by banks and credit card agencies.

Gain added benefits from using a Dun & Bradstreet number

Dun and Bradstreet's business is information, business and credit information, on companies all over the world. The world-wide usage of D&B numbers can help your business in other ways.

I recommend: D&B Trade Exchange is an accounts receivable product on a secure site that sends out invoices noting that payment activity is reported to D&B. This helps stop late payments. You can also get a monthly report on your A/R activity. Debt Collection Services are available for a fee with companies with a D&B number.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Using a Dun & Bradstreet D-U-N-S Number is a good way to make your business viable and creditable, due to the cachet of using D&B numbers. Dun & Bradstreet D-U-N-S Number business listings are both marketing and information assets.

The Data Universal Numbering System or D-U-N-S Number is a unique nine-digit number that gets assigned to businesses who apply for one. The D&B number was developed as a way of identifying businesses. Once a Dun & Bradstreet number is assigned to a business, it stays with that entity even if the company goes out of business. It is a life to death number.

Once your business has been assigned a Dun & Bradstreet D-U-N-S Number it will be listed among other companies in the D&B database. Anyone who would want to do business with your company will be able to access your company's profile by doing a D-U-N-S number lookup. Here are some reasons why your business should apply for a Dun & Bradstreet number:

1. A D&B number is required to conduct business with the United States Federal government.

2. Acquiring a D&B number is the first step in establishing your business credit history.

3. Businesses who want to sell to you or give you a loan will not do so unless you are a business with a D-U-N-S number.

Action Steps
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Apply for your Dun & Bradstreet D-U-N-S Number

Obtaining a D-U-N-S number is very easy. The application for getting a D-U-N-S number asks for the name, address, telephone number, owner's name, names of officers, a description of the primary line of business, year established and last year's revenue figures.

I recommend: Get your D-U-N-S number directly from D&B. You can do it right online or over the telephone. D&B is also a major provider of credit reports so you can establish your business credit with them by completing a business credit profile. Check out myFICO for additional information on credit history.

Update your information contained in the Dun & Bradstreet D-U-N-S Number business listings

When you receive a D-U-N-S number your company's data is automatically entered into a database of Dun & Bradstreet D-U-N-S Number business listings. Other businesses will use a D-U-N-S number search to get an objective view of potential new companies to conduct business with in the future. For this reason you should update your information at least twice a year, and more frequently if your company is undergoing major changes, to ensure the accuracy of the information that is being reported on your company.

I recommend: Update your D&B data with eupdate. It's a good idea to check your company's credit history at least once a year by contacting Experian for a report. Learn the ABC's of business credit history from Entrepreneur.com.

Screen suppliers and vendors with a D&B number lookup

Before entering into a business relationship, screen the other company with a D-U-N-S number lookup. A D-U-N-S number is attached to the D&B credit history so you can ensure that the company you are looking into is the correct entity.

I recommend: There are other service providers who allow you to do a D-U-N-S number lookup such as Zapdata and KnowX. The lookups are free, but you will have to pay a fee for detailed reports. D&B has a service called D&B’s Supplier Information Report that allows you to screen potential suppliers.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  D-U-N-S Number assignment is free for all businesses required to register with the United States Federal government for contracts or grants.

The Dun & Bradstreet D-U-N-S number debuted in 1962 as a means of identifying businesses and business information through data processing. A D-U-N-S number is part of a global database of information on over 120 million businesses. Companies with a D-U-N-S number can create a company profile that they update several times a year, although this service isn't free.

A D-U-N-S number lookup will provide other companies information on yours, along with credit information. Learn more about Dun & Bradstreet numbers with respect to your business.

1. D-U-N-S stands for Data Universal Numbering System. There is a Dun & Bradstreet D-U-N-S number business listing for 14 million US businesses, 100 million worldwide.

2. A Dun & Bradstreet number is necessary if you want to do work with the US government.

3. A D& B number allows you access to information on other businesses whether you're looking for potential clients, vendors or suppliers.

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

Find out about a Dun & Bradstreet number

There are number of things to learn about a Dun & Bradstreet number. Your company could already have a Dun & Bradstreet D-U-N-S Number.

I recommend: Dun & Bradstreet provides an explanation of what the D&B number is. Business Credit Services discussion on D&B numbers is helpful and why a D-U-N-S number lookup is helpful to business. You can check to see if your company is already in the D-U-N-S Number database.

Find out what a Dun & Bradstreet number can do for your business credit

A Dun & Bradstreet number is necessary to create a business/credit profile. But you should understand more about business credit, what it means and what qualities make up good business credit.

I recommend: Find out here what business credit means. In creating a good credit rating for your company, the four Cs are important to establishing a credit rating. Frequently asked questions on D& B numbers is another resource for more information on using a D&B number.

Explore other uses of the Dun & Bradstreet D-U-N-S number

Dun & Bradstreet D-U-N-S number business listings are important for companies but other organizations and individuals use them too.

I recommend: Americans for the Arts (and other artist programs) recommends that artists register for a D-U-N-S number. The US Department of Housing asks grant applicants to register for a D-U-N-S Number to speed up the application process.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Registration for a Dun & Bradstreet D-U-N-S number is free; you don't have buy any products. If you don't wish to be used on a marketing list, make that clear at the outset. Further info can be found by directly calling (877) 753-1444.

Dun & Bradstreet supplier information report key terms can help you navigate the giant database of Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) used by the United States government, the United Nations, the Australian government and the European Commission. It can also help you build business credit.

A D-U-N-S number lookup will give you information about a company. It is a good way to assess potential clients, suppliers and partners. Also, it is necessary that your business acquire a D-U-N-S number is necessary if you wish to do business with the U.S. government and other agencies around the world. You can get D-U-N-S number free of charge.

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

D-U-N-S, or DUNS, number

A DUNS number is an ID that puts you into a huge database of businesses compiled by company, Dun & Bradstreet. It allows other organizations to access your company's credit report.

I recommend: Dun & Bradstreet defines the DUNS number and explains its functions.

D-U-N-S number lookup

A D-U-N-S number lookup is a method of getting a credit report on another business from the D&B database. A D-U-N-S number lookup is a way to look up the D-U-N-S number of another company by type in the company's name and any other information you have.

I recommend: Go to D&B's D-U-N-S number lookup page to learn more.

D&B's Supplier Information Report

A D&B's Supplier Information Report is one of D&B's risk management solutions for small business. The report will give you information on financial history of a supplier, including its history, overview and filings.

I recommend: Learn more about the Supplier Information Report at D&B.

US government vendor

All vendors for the US government are required to have a a DUNS number.

I recommend: Go to Grants.gov to find out more about obtaining a DUNS number to begin the grant application process.

eUpdate

EUpdate is a free tool offered by D&B. It allows you to update your credit report and monitor information for accuracy in order to keep your credit information current.

I recommend: Find out more about the benefits of eUpdate from D&B.

CreditBuilder

Getting a D-U-N-S number is the first part building your credit profile in D&B's database. This small business solution is helpful for new businesses who do not have much of a credit history.

I recommend: CreditBuilder Basic supplies new business with a real presence within the database. It allows a new business to monitor its credit report and check on the credit of other companies.