How to Check and Monitor Your Business Credit Report

Not knowing your business even has a credit report can leave you blindsided when trying to secure funding, negotiate better terms with suppliers, or open a small business line of credit. Many business owners only learn about their business credit report when they’re denied financing or face higher interest rates — all because of a late payment or inaccurate information lurking in their file. Don’t let this happen to you. Understanding, checking, and monitoring your business credit report is not just a good habit — it’s an essential part of running a financially healthy business.

In this article, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about how to check and monitor your business credit report step-by-step, why it matters, and how to protect your company’s reputation and financial future.

Why Your Business Credit Report Matters

Your business credit report is essentially a financial report card for your company. Lenders, suppliers, and even potential partners use it to assess your business’s financial health and reliability. A good business credit score can help you:

Qualify for a small business line of credit at lower interest rates.
Negotiate better terms with suppliers and vendors.
Lower your insurance premiums.
Impress investors and potential partners.

On the other hand, a poor or inaccurate credit report — possibly caused by even one late payment — can make it harder and more expensive to access credit or grow your business.

The good news? You can take control of your business credit by regularly checking and monitoring your report. Here’s how.

Step 1: Obtain a DUNS Number (If You Don’t Already Have One)

One of the primary business credit reporting agencies is Dun & Bradstreet, and they require your business to have a DUNS Number — a unique nine-digit identifier — in order to report and track your business credit.

If your business doesn’t already have a DUNS Number, you can apply for one through Dun & Bradstreet. The process is free, but it may take a few weeks to receive your number. Once you have your DUNS Number, you can start building and monitoring your business credit with Dun & Bradstreet.

Pro Tip: Even if you’ve been in business for a while, it’s worth checking whether you already have a DUNS Number assigned to your business.

Step 2: Choose a Credit Reporting Agency

There are three major business credit reporting agencies in the U.S.:

Dun & Bradstreet (D&B)
Experian Business
Equifax Business

Each of these agencies collects different data and offers slightly different reports and monitoring services. Some lenders and vendors prefer one agency over another, so it’s a good idea to check your credit with all three for a complete picture.

When choosing which agency to start with, consider your industry and which lenders you’re most likely to work with. For example, many government contractors and large corporations rely heavily on Dun & Bradstreet reports.

Step 3: Access Your Business Credit Report

Once you’ve chosen which agencies to check, you’ll need to access your business credit report. You have both paid and free options to choose from:

Paid Reports

All three major credit bureaus offer paid, comprehensive business credit reports directly from their websites. These reports include the most detailed and up-to-date information about your business credit.

Free Options (with limitations)

Dun & Bradstreet Credit Signal and Credit Insights Free: These tools give you limited access to your PAYDEX score and some basic business credit information.
Nav: This is a popular service that offers free access to your business credit scores and reports from Dun & Bradstreet, Experian, and Equifax when you sign up.

While free reports are a great place to start, they may not include all the details lenders see. If you’re planning a big financial move, such as applying for a small business line of credit, it’s wise to purchase the full reports.

Step 4: Review Your Business Credit Report

Once you have your report in hand, review it carefully. Business credit reports are not always error-free, and inaccuracies could hurt your ability to get financing or secure favorable terms.

Here’s what to look for:

Business information: Ensure your company’s name, address, and industry classification are correct.
Credit history: Look at your payment history, outstanding debts, and credit accounts.
Negative information: Check for late payments, collections, liens, or judgments that may hurt your score.
Scores and ratings: Understand the scores provided and what they mean (we’ll cover this next).

If you find errors, dispute them with the credit reporting agency as soon as possible. Keeping your report accurate is key to maintaining your business’s reputation and creditworthiness.

Step 5: Understand Credit Scores and Ratings

Each agency uses its own system to evaluate your business’s creditworthiness. Familiarizing yourself with these scores helps you understand your business’s risk profile.

Dun & Bradstreet

PAYDEX Score (1–100): Measures your payment performance; scores of 80+ indicate prompt payments.
Delinquency Predictor Score: Estimates the likelihood of serious credit problems in the next 12 months.
Failure Score: Predicts the chance of business failure.

Experian and Equifax

Both agencies provide their own versions of business credit scores, typically on a 1–100 scale, as well as other risk indicators.

Understanding these numbers allows you to take action if your scores are lower than expected — whether that means paying down debts, avoiding late payments, or adding positive trade lines to your report.

Step 6: Monitor Your Business Credit

Checking your report once is not enough — your credit profile can change month to month based on how you manage your finances and how vendors report your activity.

Regular monitoring helps you:

Catch errors early.
Identify fraud or suspicious activity.
Track the impact of your financial decisions.
Prepare for applying for credit or financing.

Monitoring Services

Many business credit bureaus offer monitoring services for a monthly fee. These services notify you of changes to your credit file, new accounts, and shifts in your scores.

For example:

Experian Business Credit Advantage: Offers ongoing access to your credit report and score with alerts to key changes.
Capitalise Credit Monitor: A free tool that provides ongoing insight into your business credit score and how it can affect your borrowing power.

Regular monitoring is especially important if you’re planning to apply for a small business line of credit or loan, as it gives you time to address issues before lenders see them.

Best Practices for Managing Business Credit

Now that you know how to check and monitor your business credit report, here are some tips to help you maintain or improve your score over time:

Always pay your bills on time (or early, if possible).
Keep your debt levels manageable.
Avoid unnecessary late payments, even to small vendors.
Build positive credit history by working with vendors who report to credit bureaus.
Check your report at least once every quarter.

Why Choose Vyde?

While you can certainly tackle checking and monitoring your business credit on your own, working with a trusted financial partner like Vyde makes the process easier, smarter, and more effective.

Vyde doesn’t just help you monitor and improve your business credit — they also provide the best accounting advice and expert bookkeeping services to ensure your finances are always in order. Their team helps you maintain accurate records, avoid costly mistakes, and keep your payment history spotless — all of which contribute to a stronger credit profile.

When you partner with Vyde, you get:
✅ Proactive monitoring and guidance to improve your business credit.
✅ Expert bookkeeping to keep your financial records clean and compliant.
✅ Professional accounting advice to help you make smarter financial decisions.
✅ Peace of mind knowing your credit and finances are in the hands of professionals.

With Vyde by your side, you can focus on growing your business while they handle the numbers, keep your books balanced, and protect your credit reputation — giving you the confidence to apply for funding, avoid late payments, and unlock better financial opportunities.

Take Control of Your Business’s Financial Future

Your business credit report is more than just a score — it’s a reflection of your company’s financial responsibility and a critical factor in securing financing, building partnerships, and growing your business. Don’t wait until a denied small business line of credit application or a supplier refusal forces you to pay attention to your credit report.

By following these steps to check and monitor your business credit regularly, you can stay on top of your company’s financial health, catch errors before they hurt you, and position your business for success.

Take the first step today: check your business credit report and sign up for a monitoring service that works for you. Staying proactive about your business credit will save you money, open doors to new opportunities, and give you the confidence to grow your business without fear of surprises.

Don’t wait — Call Vyde and take control of your business credit today!