Quick overview

A business credit report collects financial and legal data about your company from banks, suppliers, and public records. Lenders, insurers, and vendors use these reports to decide whether to extend credit or set pricing. Major providers include Dun & Bradstreet, Experian Business, and Equifax Business (see SBA guidance on business credit).

Step-by-step: How to read a business credit report

  1. Get the report from the bureau that matters to your lender. Common sources are Dun & Bradstreet (Paydex/DUNS), Experian Business, and Equifax Business. Each bureau shows similar fields but uses different scores and formats (D&B, Experian, Equifax).
  2. Confirm business identity and basic details. Check company name, DBA, address, phone, industry (NAICS), and owner/officer names. Identity mix-ups are a frequent cause of incorrect listings—see our guide on fixing identity mix‑ups on business credit reports: https://finhelp.io/glossary/fixing-identity-mix-ups-on-business-credit-reports/.
  3. Read the credit score and rating. Note the bureau name and score scale. Ask lenders which bureau and score they use—scores are not interchangeable. For background on score factors, consult SBA and Experian resources.
  4. Review payment history and trade lines. Trade lines show creditor name, credit amount, terms, balance, and payment timeliness. Look for late payments, slow pays, or reported charge‑offs.
  5. Check credit utilization and balances. Some business scores consider utilization of business credit lines and cards. High utilization can lower rankings and signal cash stress.
  6. Scan public records. Look for liens, judgments, bankruptcies, UCC filings, and tax liens. These items often have an outsized effect on credit decisions.
  7. Note inquiries and recent activity. A run of hard inquiries or many new trade lines can change a lender’s view.
  8. Look for reporting gaps and anomalies. Missing expected trade lines (e.g., major supplier not reporting) can understate your credit profile.

What specifically to check (quick checklist)

  • Company identifiers: legal name, EIN, DUNS, address
  • Bureau and score name (Paydex, Experian Intelliscore, Equifax Business Score)
  • Trade lines: creditor names, terms, balances, most recent payments
  • Payment trend: on‑time vs 30/60/90+ days late
  • Public records: liens, UCCs, judgments, bankruptcies
  • Credit limits and utilization
  • Owner personal guarantees or cross‑references to personal credit
  • Last report date and reporting frequency

Real-world example (short)

A small retail client had on‑time bank loans but one supplier consistently reported 60‑day payments. The supplier’s trade line lowered the company’s payment history indicator. After negotiating with the supplier to correct reporting and paying short past balances, the business’s score improved and a lender approved a line of credit.

How to dispute errors and missing accounts

If you find an error, gather supporting documents (invoices, canceled checks, court records). File a dispute directly with the reporting bureau and the reporting creditor. For step‑by‑step instructions on disputing inaccuracies, see our walkthrough: https://finhelp.io/glossary/credit-reports-and-scores-how-to-dispute-inaccuracies-on-business-credit-reports/.

Bureaus also have their own dispute portals: Dun & Bradstreet, Experian Business, and Equifax Business. The U.S. Small Business Administration recommends monitoring your business credit and addressing errors quickly (sba.gov).

Practical tips to improve and protect your report

  • Monitor at least annually and before any financing application.
  • Get major suppliers and lenders to report timely payments.
  • Keep utilization low and pay invoices on time.
  • Separate business and personal accounts; only give personal guarantees when necessary.
  • Build trade lines with vendor credit that reports to bureaus.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Assuming all bureaus use the same score. They don’t.
  • Ignoring small trade‑line delinquencies — they add up.
  • Not correcting identity mix‑ups (wrong EIN, old address).

Next steps

  1. Pull your reports from the bureaus relevant to your lenders. 2. Use the checklist above to review each section. 3. Dispute errors with documents. 4. Put a monitoring routine in place.

Additional resources

  • SBA: Establish and Build Business Credit (sba.gov)
  • Experian Business (experian.com/business)
  • Dun & Bradstreet (dnb.com)

Internal reading

Professional disclaimer: This article is educational and not personalized financial advice. For decisions that affect loans, taxes, or legal status, consult a licensed advisor or attorney.