Business Credit University
Educational framework for building business credit from scratch.
A structured curriculum covering EIN credit, DUNS profiles, vendor accounts, SBA financing, and how to separate personal and business credit.
All Articles (15)
Business Credit Basics
Business credit is a separate credit profile tied to a business entity rather than an individual - built primarily through trade lines and reported by bureaus distinct from those used for personal credit.
EIN Credit
EIN credit refers to credit lines and trade accounts reported under a business's Employer Identification Number rather than the owner's Social Security Number.
DUNS Profiles
A DUNS number is a unique nine-digit identifier issued by Dun & Bradstreet that anchors a business credit profile and enables PAYDEX scoring based on payment history with reporting vendors.
Vendor Credit
Vendor credit is short-term trade credit extended by suppliers - and accounts with vendors that report to business credit bureaus are the most common starter trade lines.
Net 30 Accounts
Net 30 is a trade-credit term granting 30 days to pay an invoice - and on-time Net 30 payment history is a common foundation for business credit profiles.
Business Credit Cards
Business credit cards extend credit to a business entity but typically require a personal guarantee from an owner - meaning the owner remains personally liable even though the account belongs to the business.
Fleet Credit
Fleet credit accounts are vendor-specific credit lines used for fuel and vehicle maintenance - often issued with fewer requirements than general business cards and frequently reporting to business bureaus.
Equipment Financing
Equipment financing structures borrowing around the useful life of the equipment being financed - with the equipment itself often serving as collateral.
SBA Financing
SBA financing is small-business credit partially guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration - reducing lender risk and expanding access to credit for qualifying businesses.
Commercial Lending
Commercial lending evaluates the business's cash flow, the value of collateral, and the strength of personal and business credit profiles before extending credit.
Business Lines of Credit
A business line of credit is a revolving credit facility a business can draw on as needed, repay, and reuse - most commonly used for working capital and short-term cash flow.
Building Business Credit From Scratch
Building business credit from scratch typically follows a sequence: entity formation, EIN, business bank account, DUNS, reporting vendor trade lines, then graduating to business cards and lines.
Separating Personal and Business Credit
Maintaining separate personal and business credit profiles protects personal credit from business volatility, expands borrowing capacity, and supports cleaner financial reporting.
Business Credit Mistakes
Common business credit mistakes include using non-reporting vendors, mixing personal and business spending, missing trade payments, and applying for too many accounts at once.
Scaling Business Financing
Scaling financing typically progresses from vendor and card credit, to lines of credit, to term loans and SBA financing, and ultimately to commercial banking relationships with covenants and structured facilities.