When a new LLC applies for credit or financing, lenders often evaluate the FICO Small Business Scoring Service (SBSS) score and Experian’s Intelliscore Plus. While Dun & Bradstreet is widely known for issuing D-U-N-S numbers, its Paydex score is used mainly by trade vendors and suppliers rather than banks or card issuers. For small business loans, including some SBA 7(a) loans, some lenders pull the FICO SBSS score, which blends the personal credit of the LLC owners with the business credit profiles from Experian, Dun & Bradstreet, and Equifax. Experian is the commercial bureau most frequently checked for credit cards and lines of credit, making Experian credit monitoring more critical than D&B for securing bank financing early on.

Which Business Credit Score Do Lenders Actually Look At?

The term business credit score is often used as if a single numeric value exists across all bureaus. In practice, commercial credit reporting is fragmented, and different financial institutions rely on entirely different credit evaluation systems depending on the type of credit requested.

For bank financing, term loans, and lines of credit, lenders rely heavily on the FICO SBSS score. The FICO SBSS model aggregates data from personal credit bureaus alongside commercial files from Experian, Dun & Bradstreet, and Equifax. Some lenders making SBA 7(a) loans use it to pre-screen applications, which makes it an important score for institutional borrowing.

For business credit cards and uncollateralized revolving lines, financial institutions most frequently pull Experian’s business credit database, specifically looking at the Intelliscore Plus model. Experian tracks public records, corporate filings, UCC filings, and trade payment data to generate a commercial risk rating from 1 to 100.

Dun & Bradstreet produces the Paydex score, which measures payment speed relative to net terms. Paydex operates on a scale from 1 to 100, where a score of 80 indicates that payments are made promptly on agreed terms. Paydex is the standard benchmark evaluated by trade suppliers, equipment leasing companies, and vendors offering net-30 billing terms. It is rarely the primary metric used by traditional commercial banks evaluating cash-flow loans or credit line applications.

Equifax Business also maintains commercial credit profiles that feed into multi-bureau scoring models like FICO SBSS, but standalone Equifax commercial reports are checked less frequently by primary card issuers than Experian or D&B profiles.

Experian vs Dun & Bradstreet: Core Differences for LLCs

Experian and Dun & Bradstreet fulfill distinct functions within the business credit ecosystem. Understanding how each bureau collects data and calculates risk determines where a new business owner should focus attention.

Experian automatically creates a commercial credit profile when public records, corporate registrations, or reporting creditors submit information under an LLC’s legal name and Employer Identification Number (EIN). You do not need to apply for a specialized identifier to establish an Experian business file. Experian collects data from credit card issuers, commercial lenders, public court filings, tax liens, and utility providers. Its primary scoring metric, Intelliscore Plus, uses predictive analytics to assess the likelihood of serious delinquency over a 12-month period.

Dun & Bradstreet requires a business to possess a D-U-N-S (Data Universal Numbering System) number before a complete credit file can be managed or reviewed. Dun & Bradstreet focuses heavily on trade credit, supplier relationships, and vendor payment experiences. Its flagship Paydex score reflects how quickly a company pays its trade accounts. Dun & Bradstreet's published Paydex scale puts payment 30 days ahead of terms at 100 and payment on the due date at 80.

The federal government previously required a D-U-N-S number for federal grants and contracting. On April 4, 2022, the General Services Administration (GSA) officially transitioned all federal systems from the D-U-N-S number to the Unique Entity ID (SAM), generated through SAM.gov. Consequently, while a D-U-N-S number remains relevant for private trade credit files at Dun & Bradstreet, it is no longer a prerequisite for government awards or federal registrations.

The SBA Sequence for Building Business Credit

Building business credit requires completing prerequisites in a precise order. According to guidance published by the U.S. Small Business Administration, establishing business credit follows five specific steps:

  1. Choose the Right Business Structure: Form a legal structure such as an LLC, LLP, or corporation to establish the company as a distinct legal entity separate from its owners.
  2. Obtain a Federal Tax ID Number (EIN): Apply for an Employer Identification Number directly through the Internal Revenue Service. An EIN is required to open accounts and report business credit.
  3. Open a Business Bank Account: Establish a dedicated commercial checking account under the official LLC name and EIN to maintain financial separation.
  4. Establish Credit with Vendors and Suppliers: Open trade credit accounts with vendors and suppliers that report payment activity to commercial credit reporting agencies.
  5. Monitor Your Business Credit Reports: Regularly review commercial credit files to verify reporting accuracy and track changes across the reporting bureaus.

Separation of personal and commercial finances is the underlying requirement for every step. An unincorporated sole proprietorship cannot build a standalone business credit history separate from the individual owner's personal credit file.

The IRS provides EINs online at zero cost. Third-party services that charge fees to submit an EIN application are filing basic paperwork that business owners can complete directly on the official IRS website without charge.

Credit Monitoring and Bureau Product Costs

Monitoring business credit profiles allows new business owners to verify that trade accounts and lines of credit are actively reporting. Pricing structure, accessibility, and subscription models vary significantly across the commercial monitoring landscape.

As of October 6, 2026, prices for business credit monitoring, credit reports, and service tiers are structured as follows:

American Express offers various business credit cards with annual fees that vary by specific card product.

Brex provides its Essentials tier for free, its Premium tier at $12 per user per month, and Enterprise tiers on a custom quote basis.

Chase offers checking options including Business Complete Banking at $15 per month, Performance Business Checking at $40 per month, and Platinum Business Checking at $95 per month. Monthly fees are waivable if specified account activity or balance thresholds are met.

Dun & Bradstreet offers D&B Credit Insights Free at $0 per month, Basic at $49 per month or $499 per year, Plus at $149 per month or $1,499 per year, and Premium at $199 per month or $1,999 per year. D&B formerly marketed monitoring under the CreditSignal brand name, which has since been retired in favor of the current D&B Credit Insights product suite.

Equifax business credit reports are sold through authorized third-party resellers rather than directly to small business owners on the Equifax website. Resellers include eCredable for standard one-off reports at $49.99, and Nav for ongoing monthly monitoring subscriptions starting from $39.99 per month.

Experian sells business reporting products directly through its online portal. Options include a one-off CreditScore Report for $59.95, a ProfilePlus Report for $69.95, an annual Business Credit Advantage subscription for $199 per year, and Business CreditScore Pro for $1,995 per year.

Nav offers a Free tier at $0 per month, which displays basic credit summaries from Experian, Dun & Bradstreet, and Equifax. Nav also offers paid plans including Track at $39.99 per month, Build at $49.99 per month, and Expand at $74.99 per month.

Ramp offers its platform at $0 per user per month on the Free tier, $15 per user per month on the Plus tier, and custom pricing for Enterprise clients. The underlying corporate card product incurs no annual fee across tiers.

ZenBusiness provides entity formation and business setup services. The ZenBusiness Starter plan is $0 plus state filing fees, while Pro ($199 a year) and Premium ($299 a year) include the EIN and operating agreement, and registered agent service is a separate $199 a year. ZenBusiness also offers a dedicated accounting service suite.

Protecting Your LLC from Advance-Fee Credit Scams

Newly formed LLCs frequently receive solicitation offers promising guaranteed lines of credit, high-limit business cards, or rapid business credit score increases regardless of commercial history.

The Federal Trade Commission warns small business owners against advance-fee loan schemes and fraudulent funding promises. Legitimate financial institutions and banks do not promise or guarantee approval for a loan or credit line prior to receiving and evaluating an official application.

A request for an upfront fee before granting credit is a primary indicator of a loan scam. These fees are often disguised as charges for processing, insurance, application handling, or legal paperwork. Ads featuring phrases the FTC lists, such as "Bad credit? No problem" and "No hassle, guaranteed," are designed to collect upfront money without delivering funds. Legitimate business lenders evaluate risk, review personal credit, use blended models like FICO SBSS, inspect bank statements, and assess commercial credit profiles before committing capital.

Business Credit and Service Providers

The following providers, listed alphabetically, offer financial products, reporting files, card accounts, or compliance tools relevant to operating an LLC:

American Express provides commercial charge cards and credit cards that report payment history to business credit repositories, enabling LLC owners to build a commercial credit record through regular corporate spending.

Brex offers business accounts, corporate cards, and spend management tools built for emerging companies, evaluating cash balances rather than traditional personal credit scores.

Chase offers small business checking accounts and business credit card products that assist LLC owners in maintaining separated finances and building commercial banking relationships.

Dun & Bradstreet tracks trade credit payment history and assigns D-U-N-S numbers along with Paydex scores evaluated primarily by suppliers, vendors, and trade credit managers.

Equifax maintains commercial database files that track financial trade lines, lease history, and public records, accessible via authorized reseller networks for business monitoring.

Experian provides business credit reporting services, compiling Intelliscore Plus ratings used by commercial banks, card issuers, and institutional lenders evaluating small business risk.

Nav operates a credit monitoring marketplace platform that aggregates business credit data summaries from Experian, Dun & Bradstreet, and Equifax into a single dashboard.

Ramp delivers corporate cards and automated expense management software designed to streamline cash-flow tracking and eliminate manual expense reporting for businesses.

ZenBusiness provides LLC formation, registered agent representation, and corporate compliance services that help business owners establish the legal entity structure required before building commercial credit.

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