What business credit is
Every US company has a DUNS number and a Paydex score maintained by Dun & Bradstreet. Every UK company has an Experian Business Score and Creditsafe International Score. These files record trade history with suppliers and lenders and determine whether the business gets net terms, credit lines, or corporate cards.
US business credit basics
- Get a DUNS number for free from Dun & Bradstreet
- Register the entity with a real business phone and address
- Open net-30 accounts with vendors that report (Uline, Grainger, Quill)
- Pay every invoice early — Paydex rewards paying before due date, not on time
UK business credit basics
- Companies House filings feed Experian and Creditsafe automatically
- File full accounts (not micro-entity) when possible for stronger scoring
- Register with major utility and supplier accounts
- Register a Business Credit Report subscription to monitor
Why it matters
Business credit unlocks Amex, Chase Ink and Capital One business cards; net-90 supplier terms; higher-limit Stripe processing; and much easier debt raises. Founders without a file remain personally guaranteed on every credit line.
Frequently asked questions
6–18 months to reach a scoring threshold that unlocks meaningful credit.