D&B credit report products contain information that Dun & Bradstreet compiles. This information assesses the financial health of a company and provides prospective lenders with an indicator of the likelihood that a company will repay a loan.

A Dun & Bradstreet report contains a great deal of information on a company compiled into one easy-to-access report. Some of the more relevant information included on Dun & Bradstreet reports includes:

1. A thorough company overview including the business's D-U-N-S number as well as its address, net worth and size.
2. D&B credit reports include the D&B PAYDEX score, which is an overview with how the business pays its creditors. An industry-wide PAYDEX report is included, allowing for comparison with competitors.
3. Special events are also included in the D&B credit report. These events can include positive events such as business expansion or negative events such as cutbacks and layoffs.

There are a variety of ways that a company can improve its creditworthiness on Dun & Bradstreet credit reports. A strong Dun & Bradstreet credit report is important to a business that is seeking financial backing.

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

Apply for a D-U-N-S number to build your D&B credit report

A D-U-N-S number is a 9-digit number that is unique to your business. It is used by many organizations other than Dun & Bradstreet. Organizations applying for grants or government contracts are often required to have a D-U-N-S number.

I recommend: A D-U-N-S number is available through Dun & Bradstreet. The D-U-N-S number is different than a company's 9-digit employer identification tax number issued by the IRS. While a D-U-N-S number is optional, many businesses see the benefit of having one to build a presence in the D&B credit reports listings. Use D&B's CreditBuilder to get your new business a credit rating.

Make sure Dun & Bradstreet credit reports reflect your company's credit health

The four Cs of credit are character, capacity, capital and cash flow. Dun & Bradstreet credit reporting includes all of these elements in credit reports. Dun & Bradstreet reports are a compilation of your credit and business history. The purpose of the credit report is to show your creditworthiness to a potential lender.

I recommend: Strong credit makes for a strong Dun and Bradstreet report. Business Credit Services offers a free download on ways to improve your business's credit. You can use Credit.net to check your business's credit history for mistakes and omissions. Routinely check and update your company information at eUpdate on the Dun & Bradstreet website.

Understand who looks at Dun & Bradstreet reports

While the original intent of the Dun & Bradstreet report was to provide a snapshot of a company's credit history, its use has greatly expanded. Dun & Bradstreet reports provide industry information, ownership records and banking commentary. Many grant programs require charities to have a D-U-N-S number before applying for a grant.

I recommend: Know who will have your information. D&B reporting is available at SkyMinder, AutoTrack and Westlaw. When you realize how extensive a Dun & Bradstreet credit report is, it becomes apparent how important having a D-U-N-S number and a strong report are.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  For strong Dun & Bradstreet credit reports, contribute as much information as possible to your profile.
• •  Your company's Dun & Bradstreet credit reports can be affected by your personal financial situation. Particularly in a start-up business, Dun and Bradstreet credit reporting takes your personal finances into consideration.
• •  Monitor changes to your Dun & Bradstreet credit reports. This is much easier than attempting to correct an error when you apply for credit.