TL;DR — Quick Summary
- Your business credit score is separate from your personal FICO score and lives at D&B, Experian Business, and Equifax Business.
- Dun & Bradstreet Paydex scores range 0–100. A score of 80+ is considered good by most lenders.
- Payment history is the single biggest factor — pay early whenever possible.
- You need at least 3 active trade lines reporting to build a meaningful score.
- Poor or no business credit does not disqualify you from MFE financing — we approve based on revenue.
A business credit score is a numerical measure of how reliably your company meets its financial obligations. It functions like a personal credit score but is entirely separate — tracked by different bureaus, using different scoring models, and tied to your EIN and DUNS number rather than your Social Security number.
Lenders, suppliers, insurance companies, and even potential business partners check your business credit score before entering into financial relationships with your company. A strong business credit score unlocks better rates, higher credit limits, and more favorable vendor terms. A weak or absent score limits your options and increases your borrowing costs.
The Three Main Business Credit Bureaus and Their Scoring Models
Dun & Bradstreet — Paydex Score
Range: 0–100 | Good score: 80+ | Based on: Payment history only
The Paydex score is purely a measure of payment timeliness. A score of 100 means you consistently pay invoices early. 80 = on time. Below 80 = some late payments. Below 50 = significant delinquencies. It requires at least 3 active trade lines reporting to D&B.
Experian Business — Intelliscore Plus
Range: 1–100 | Good score: 76+ | Based on: Payment history, credit utilization, company age, and public records
Intelliscore Plus uses over 800 variables including both business and personal credit factors. It is a broader risk prediction model than Paydex. Experian Business also issues a Financial Stability Risk rating (1–5) that predicts the likelihood of severe financial distress.
Equifax Business — Business Credit Risk Score
Range: 101–992 | Good score: 500+ | Based on: Payment history, credit utilization, public records, company size
Equifax uses a different scale and scoring model. Their Business Failure Score (1,000–1,880) additionally predicts the risk of business closure within 12 months. Both are used by commercial lenders when evaluating loan applications.
Business Credit Score Ranges: What's Good?
| Bureau | Score Range | Low Risk | Medium Risk | High Risk |
|---|
| D&B Paydex | 0–100 | 80–100 | 50–79 | 0–49 |
| Experian Intelliscore | 1–100 | 76–100 | 51–75 | 1–50 |
| Equifax Business | 101–992 | 700+ | 400–699 | 101–399 |
What Factors Determine Your Business Credit Score?
While each bureau has its own model, the core factors across all three are:
- Payment history (largest factor): Whether you pay trade lines, credit cards, and loans on time or early. Even one 30-day late payment can significantly lower your Paydex score.
- Credit utilization: The ratio of credit used to credit available. Keep utilization below 30% on business credit cards and revolving lines.
- Number of active trade lines: More trade lines reporting positive history signals a well-established credit profile. Aim for at least 5 active accounts.
- Length of credit history: Older accounts with positive history strengthen your score. Avoid closing old accounts unless necessary.
- Public records: Tax liens, judgments, collections, and bankruptcies are major negative factors and can remain on your business credit report for 7 to 10 years.
- Company size and financials: Some models factor in revenue, number of employees, and industry risk.
Low Business Credit Score? We Can Still Help.
Merchant Fund Express approves based on your business revenue, not just your credit score. Get a decision today.
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What Business Credit Score Do You Need for a Loan?
| Lender Type | Typical Requirement | Notes |
|---|
| Traditional banks | Paydex 75+, Intelliscore 70+ | Often require 2+ years in business, strong personal credit too |
| Credit unions | Paydex 65–75 | Similar to banks but often more flexible |
| Online term lenders | Paydex 50–65 | Revenue and cash flow weighted heavily |
| Revenue-based lenders (MFE) | No minimum | Revenue, time in business, and performance are primary factors |
| Equipment financing | Paydex 60+ | Equipment as collateral reduces credit requirements |
| Invoice factoring | Not required | Based on your customers' creditworthiness, not yours |
How to Improve Your Business Credit Score
Whether your score is low or you are starting from zero, these steps will move it in the right direction:
- Pay everything early. The Paydex score rewards early payment more than any other behavior. Paying even a few days early can push your score toward 90+.
- Add 3 to 5 net-30 vendor accounts. Vendors like Uline, Quill, and Grainger report to D&B and help build trade line history quickly. See our full guide on how to build business credit.
- Reduce credit card utilization. If you are using more than 30% of your available revolving credit, pay it down before a reporting cycle closes.
- Dispute errors on all three reports. Incorrect late payment notations, wrong account information, or mismatched business details should be disputed immediately at each bureau.
- Keep business information consistent. Your business name, address, and phone number should be identical across your EIN registration, DUNS profile, state filings, and website.
- Avoid unnecessary hard inquiries. Each loan application triggers a hard inquiry. Apply strategically — research lenders first and apply to those most likely to approve you.
How to Check Your Business Credit Score
Unlike personal credit, business credit reports are not free through a federal mandate. Options to access your business credit score:
- Dun & Bradstreet: CreditSignal (free alerts) or paid D&B subscription for full Paydex reports
- Experian Business: Free tier available; detailed reports via paid subscription
- Equifax Business: Per-report purchase or subscription via Equifax Business Credit Monitor
- Nav.com: Aggregates all three bureaus in one dashboard. Free and paid tiers available.
Business Credit Score and Financing at Merchant Fund Express
Many business owners assume they cannot access capital without an established credit profile. That assumption prevents good businesses from getting the funding they need to grow.
Merchant Fund Express evaluates applications primarily on monthly revenue, time in business, and bank statement performance. Our products — including working capital loans, revenue-based financing, merchant cash advances, and invoice factoring — are designed to serve businesses across the credit spectrum.
A strong business credit score does improve your terms and available amounts over time. That is why we encourage every client to work on their business credit while accessing the revenue-based financing they need today.
Frequently Asked Questions
A business credit score is a numerical rating that reflects how reliably your business pays its financial obligations. The most common scores are the Dun & Bradstreet Paydex (0–100), Experian Intelliscore (1–100), and Equifax Business Credit Score (101–992). Higher scores indicate lower credit risk.
Traditional bank loans typically require a Paydex score of 75 or higher. Alternative lenders and revenue-based lenders like Merchant Fund Express place less weight on business credit scores, focusing more on revenue, time in business, and bank statements.
Business credit scores are calculated primarily from payment history (the largest factor), credit utilization, length of credit history, number of trade lines, and public records like liens or judgments. Dun & Bradstreet's Paydex score is based entirely on payment history from vendor-reported trade lines.
No. Checking your own business credit score is a soft inquiry and does not affect your score. Only hard inquiries — when a lender checks your credit as part of a loan application — may have a minor impact.
You can access limited free business credit information from CreditSignal (D&B), Experian Business's free tier, and Nav.com. Full detailed reports from each bureau require a paid subscription or per-report fee.
The fastest ways to raise your business credit score are: pay all existing trade lines early, open 3 to 5 new net-30 vendor accounts and pay them on time, reduce credit card utilization below 30%, and dispute any errors on your business credit reports.
Yes. Business credit scores are built from trade lines (vendor net-30 accounts), business credit cards, and any vendor or supplier accounts that report to business bureaus — not just traditional loans.
Late or missed payments are the biggest factor. Other negatives include high credit utilization, tax liens, judgments, collections, and bankruptcy filings. Inconsistent business registration information across databases can also slow credit building.
Reviewed by the MFE Funding Team | Updated March 2026 | For educational purposes only.