Establishing your business credit for your small business is essential if you starting a new business. It is equally important for an existing small business without a complete business credit profile. Lenders will scrutinize your business credit profile carefully, but they are not the only ones that will consider this. Any company with which you intend to be involved will assess your business credit worthiness before determining whether to do business with you. Many of these companies rely on Dun & Bradstreet for this information.


According to Dun & Bradstreet, a strong business credit profile can help your small business by:

• "Obtaining better interest rates and credit terms from banks and lenders"
• "Increasing the likelihood of buying on credit from other businesses"
• "Lowering your workers' compensation premiums from insurance companies"
• "Making it easy for potential business partners to completely assess the risk of doing business with you"

An incomplete credit profile with Dun & Bradstreet or simply not having a business credit file can make your small business appear unstable when in fact may be financially sound. The appearance of instability from the lack of strong business credit can cost you in sales and money.