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Getting a business credit report is easy – if you know where to look.
Like a personal credit report, the business version considers the most vital details of a business, including:
With this report in hand, banks and lenders can make an informed decision on providing credit by judging whether your business will meet its contractual obligations based on past performance. In turn, small businesses can get the credit or loan they need to meet short-term needs or invest in growth.
You’ll also find out what kind of repayment terms you can expect at a specified interest rate, what insurance premiums you’ll pay, and how your customers perceive your business.
Affordable and reliable reporting
Fortunately, there are a number of reputable companies that provide business credit reporting at an affordable price.
Dun & Bradstreet
The business performance and analytics company offers credit reports for business starting at the low price of … free, all the way to $39 per month.
With all the plans, Dun & Bradstreet first rates your business’ financial health and assigns a Paydex score, a delinquency score, and a failure score.
While the Paydex score evaluates payment performance (with a score of 1 to 100), the delinquency score (101 to 670) predicts the likelihood of a business paying late. The failure score is used to judge the chances of a business closing down over the next 12 months. On a range of 1,001 to 1,875, a lower score means a higher risk.
Dun & Bradstreet’s free service, CreditSignal, allows small business owners to check their Paydex score and will send an alert if a score changes.
Experian
Experian offers four different business credit reports that can be purchased on a one-time or annual basis.
The company’s CreditScore report product includes your business credit score, financial stability risk rating, payment trends, and account histories.
The business credit score examines payment behavior, the number of delinquent accounts, and the number of accounts with payment terms beyond 30 days. It is rated on a scale of 1 to 100 with a higher score translating into a lower risk for delinquent payments.
The financial risk score predicts the likelihood of default or bankruptcy within the next 12 months. Payment trends and histories look at a small business’ likelihood to pay back their loans on time.
Experian does not offer a free business credit report.
Equifax
Like the other credit report products, Equifax’s report provides multiple scores based on credit risk, failure risk, and a payment index.
Ranging from 101 to 992, the credit risk score predicts the chances of business failure or delinquent payments, with a higher score indicating a lower risk.
The payment index score (1 to 100), on the other hand, evaluates payment history. More delinquencies mean a lower score. Finally, the failure risk score attempts to predict whether a business will close its doors over the next 12 months, with a lower score translating into a higher risk of failure.
Equifax will provide a free report, but on condition that you apply for a loan or credit card. Equifax also allows small business owners to purchase a report on a competitor.
Getting a business credit report is simple, fast, and forward-thinking. If you are a business looking for a little cushion, this report can be invaluable.
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