Opening overview

A 90-day sprint to improve your business credit score focuses on the highest-impact, easy-to-execute actions: review reports, stop late payments, get trade accounts to report, reduce outstanding balances, and document fixes. Many small businesses see measurable changes within 60–90 days once corrected information and new tradelines begin appearing on reports.

90-day action plan (by weeks)

  • Weeks 1–2: Snapshot & fixes

  • Order business credit reports from the major bureaus and review them for inaccuracies. Each bureau has different score ranges and fields; compare reports from Dun & Bradstreet, Experian, and Equifax. (See SBA guidance on business credit basics: https://www.sba.gov)

  • Verify your legal business name, EIN, address, and owner(s) on each report. If you don’t have a D‑U‑N‑S Number, request one from Dun & Bradstreet so trade accounts can attach to your file. (Dun & Bradstreet: https://www.dnb.com)

  • Create a prioritized corrections list and start the dispute process for clear errors.

  • Weeks 3–4: Stabilize cash flow and payments

  • Automate bill payments for loans, credit cards, and vendor invoices to avoid new late payments.

  • If you have past-due items, contact creditors to negotiate pay-for-delete or settlement offers and request updated reporting in writing.

  • Ask key suppliers to report your payments to business credit bureaus or add your account as a trade reference.

  • Weeks 5–8: Optimize credit usage and add reporting accounts

  • Lower balances on revolving accounts; target below 30% of the available credit limit as a practical benchmark to reduce utilization impact.

  • Apply selectively for one or two credit facilities that report to the bureaus (net-30 vendor accounts, a business card, or a small line of credit). New, well-managed tradelines often improve scores as they age and report positive payments.

  • Request credit line increases on low-utilization accounts to improve utilization ratios—ask lenders whether increases trigger a hard inquiry.

  • Weeks 9–12: Monitor results and escalate

  • Pull updated reports every 30 days and confirm that disputes and new tradelines appear correctly.

  • If errors persist, escalate disputes with documented evidence and request bureau reviews.

  • Prepare a 12-month follow-up plan to keep improvements and build longer history.

Key tactics explained

  • Check and fix reporting errors: Business credit files frequently include wrong addresses, closed accounts listed as open, or misattributed late payments. Disputes can trigger rapid corrections once the creditor confirms the change. See our guide on disputing errors: How to Dispute Inaccuracies on Business Credit Reports.

  • Build trade lines that actually report: Not all suppliers report payments. Prioritize vendors and lenders that do. Net-30 accounts (suppliers who invoice you and expect payment in 30 days) are a common, low-cost way to build tradelines.

  • Separate business and personal credit: Use your EIN, a business bank account, and business cards for business activity. Establishing corporate credit profiles reduces personal exposure and clarifies business payment history—see our overview: Business Credit Profiles: Establishing Corporate Credit Separately.

Practical metrics and expectations

  • Score ranges differ by bureau: D&B Paydex and Experian Intelliscore use roughly 1–100 scales; Equifax business scores use a different numeric scale. Expect visible improvements when negative items are corrected and new positive tradelines report, typically within 30–90 days of updated reporting.
  • Avoid promises of exact point gains. Real-world results depend on the starting profile, types of accounts, and how quickly creditors update reporting.
  • In my practice helping small businesses, consistent on-time payments plus two to three vendor tradelines that report have driven steady gains within three months.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Relying on credit mix alone: Opening many accounts at once can backfire if you trigger multiple hard inquiries or can’t pay on time.
  • Assuming all vendors report: Always confirm whether a supplier reports to Dun & Bradstreet, Experian, or Equifax before relying on them to build credit.
  • Neglecting documentation: Keep confirmation emails, statements, and dispute receipts. If you need to escalate a dispute, documented evidence speeds resolution.

Monitoring, disputes, and next steps

  • Monitor monthly: Check business reports monthly during your 90-day plan and quarterly afterward.
  • Dispute process: File disputes with the bureau and the creditor, include copies of invoices or paid receipts, and follow up until corrected. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has resources on credit reporting rights: https://www.consumerfinance.gov.
  • Long-term plan: After 90 days, maintain automatic payments, review credit utilization monthly, add one new reporting tradeline every 6–12 months, and keep business contact information current with bureaus.

Useful internal resources

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Professional disclaimer

This article is educational and not personalized financial advice. For decisions about loans, credit applications, or dispute strategies specific to your company, consult a qualified financial advisor or credit professional.