Month 1–2: Foundation
- Form the entity and get EIN or UTR
- Open a business bank account in the exact legal name
- Register a business phone number and business address
- Get a DUNS number (free)
Month 3–4: First trade lines
- Open 2–3 net-30 vendor accounts (Uline, Grainger, Quill)
- Buy monthly, pay early
- Set up automated payments to avoid missed invoices
Month 5–8: Add revolving credit
- Apply for a Capital One Spark or Chase Ink Business Unlimited (US)
- Apply for an Amex Business Gold once revenue is $50k+
- Keep utilization below 30%
Month 9–12: Higher limits and net-60/90
- Request credit-line increases every 6 months
- Approach suppliers for net-60 or net-90 terms
- Monitor DUNS and Experian scores monthly
Frequently asked questions
Not in year one. By year two, most Amex and Chase business cards will drop the guarantee.