TL;DR — Quick Summary
- Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) is the largest business credit bureau in the world, used by over 90% of Fortune 500 companies to evaluate vendors.
- Your DUNS number is a free 9-digit business ID — the foundation of your D&B credit profile. Register at dnb.com.
- The Paydex score (0–100) measures payment timeliness. 80 = pays on time. 90+ = pays early.
- You need at least 3 trade lines reporting to D&B to generate a score.
- MFE does not require a Paydex score to approve your application — revenue is our primary criterion.
Dun & Bradstreet is to business credit what Equifax and TransUnion are to personal credit — except D&B is the dominant player in commercial credit reporting, with over 500 million business records worldwide. If you want to build business credit, access trade financing, or qualify for competitive business loans, your D&B profile matters.
This guide explains how your DUNS number and Paydex score work, how to establish them, and what lenders actually look at when they pull your D&B file.
What Is a DUNS Number?
A DUNS number (Data Universal Numbering System number) is a unique 9-digit identifier assigned by Dun & Bradstreet to every distinct business entity. Think of it as your business's Social Security number within the D&B system.
Your DUNS number:
- Is free to register
- Is tied to your specific business location and legal name
- Is required for federal government contracts (SAM.gov registration)
- Anchors your Paydex score and all D&B credit data
- Is permanent — it stays with your business entity as long as it exists
Multiple locations of the same business can have separate DUNS numbers. A parent company and its subsidiaries may each have their own. This is intentional — D&B tracks credit at the entity level, not the brand level.
How to Get a DUNS Number
| Method | Cost | Processing Time |
|---|
| Standard online registration (dnb.com) | Free | Up to 30 business days |
| D&B CreditBuilder Plus (expedited) | Paid subscription | 5 business days or less |
| SAM.gov government contract registration | Free | Varies (built into SAM workflow) |
To register, you will need your business legal name, physical address, phone number, EIN, industry type (SIC or NAICS code), and number of employees. Provide accurate, consistent information — it must match your state registration and other official documents.
What Is the Dun and Bradstreet Paydex Score?
The Paydex score is D&B's primary measure of a business's creditworthiness. Unlike personal credit scores that factor in multiple variables, the Paydex score is based entirely on one thing: how quickly your business pays its trade obligations relative to due dates.
Paydex Score Reference Chart
100
Anticipates payment — Pays 30+ days early. Best possible score.
90
Discounts taken — Pays 20 days early.
80
Prompt payment — Pays on the due date. This is the minimum "good" threshold.
70
Slight delinquency — Pays up to 15 days late. Lenders may flag this.
60
Moderate risk — Pays up to 22 days late.
50
High risk — Pays up to 30 days late.
Below 50
Severe risk — Consistent late payments. Disqualifies most lenders.
D&B Scores Beyond Paydex
When lenders pull a full D&B report, they see more than just the Paydex score. Other D&B scores include:
- Delinquency Predictor Score (DPS): Predicts the probability your business will pay 90+ days late or enter charge-off within the next 12 months. Scored 1–5 (1 = lowest risk).
- Financial Stress Score (FSS): Predicts the probability your business will fail (cease operations) within 12 months. Scored 1–5.
- D&B Credit Rating: A combined assessment of financial strength and composite credit appraisal. Based on business size and financial data if available.
- Supplier Evaluation Risk (SER) Rating: Used by procurement teams to assess vendor financial risk. Scored 1–9.
How to Build Your Paydex Score
A Paydex score requires a minimum of 3 trade lines reporting payment activity to D&B. Here is the sequence:
- Register your DUNS number at dnb.com (free, takes up to 30 days).
- Open 3 to 5 net-30 vendor accounts with suppliers that report to D&B. Good starter vendors include Uline, Quill, Grainger, and Crown Office Supplies.
- Make small purchases on each account. Even $50 orders establish the trade relationship.
- Pay invoices early — not just on time. The Paydex score rewards early payment directly. Paying 5 days early pushes your score higher than paying on the exact due date.
- Allow 30 to 60 days for vendors to report your payment activity to D&B.
- Monitor your D&B profile via CreditSignal (free alerts) or D&B's paid products to verify trade lines are reporting correctly.
For the full step-by-step credit building guide, see How to Build Business Credit.
Don't Have a Paydex Score Yet? That's OK.
MFE approves businesses based on revenue performance, not credit scores. Get funding while you build your D&B profile.
Apply Now
(305) 384-8391
DUNS Number vs. EIN: What's the Difference?
| Feature | EIN | DUNS Number |
|---|
| Issued by | IRS (federal government) | Dun & Bradstreet (private) |
| Purpose | Tax identification | Business credit identity |
| Format | 9 digits (XX-XXXXXXX) | 9 digits |
| Required for | Tax filings, banking, hiring | D&B credit profile, federal contracts |
| Cost | Free (IRS.gov) | Free (dnb.com standard) |
| Multiple per company? | Typically one per entity | One per location/entity |
Who Uses D&B Scores?
D&B data is used across a wide range of commercial relationships:
- Business lenders — Traditional banks and some alternative lenders pull D&B reports as part of their underwriting process.
- Vendors and suppliers — Companies extending net-30 or net-60 trade credit often check D&B scores before approving new accounts.
- Insurance companies — Commercial insurance underwriters may check D&B to assess business stability.
- Federal and state government agencies — SAM.gov registration requires a DUNS number for businesses seeking federal contracts.
- Large enterprise customers — Fortune 500 companies often require vendor D&B profiles as part of procurement vetting.
Financing While You Build Your D&B Profile
Building a strong Paydex score takes time. In the meantime, Merchant Fund Express provides revenue-based financing that does not require an established D&B profile. Our funding products are approved based on your monthly revenue, bank statements, and business performance:
Frequently Asked Questions
A DUNS number is a unique 9-digit identifier assigned by Dun & Bradstreet to every business entity. It serves as your business's ID within the D&B credit ecosystem and is required to build a Paydex score.
Register for a free DUNS number at dnb.com. Standard processing takes up to 30 business days. An expedited option is available for a fee with faster turnaround.
The Paydex score is Dun & Bradstreet's primary business credit score. It ranges from 0 to 100 and measures payment timeliness. A score of 80 means on-time payment. Scores above 80 indicate early payment. Scores below 80 indicate late payments.
A Paydex score of 80 or above is considered good by most lenders. A score of 80 equals paying on the due date. Scores from 90 to 100 indicate paying 30 or more days early. Most lenders prefer at least 75 for standard financing.
You need at least 3 trade lines reporting payment activity to D&B before a Paydex score is generated. This typically takes 3 to 6 months after opening your first net-30 vendor accounts.
Having a DUNS number itself does not affect your credit score. It creates a business identity within the D&B system. Your Paydex score only develops when trade lines begin reporting payment activity against your DUNS number.
In addition to the Paydex score, D&B issues a Delinquency Predictor Score, a Financial Stress Score, and a D&B Credit Rating. Lenders may review all of these when evaluating a loan application.
Yes. The Paydex score is built entirely from vendor trade lines — net-30 accounts with suppliers like Uline, Quill, and Grainger — not traditional loans. You do not need a bank loan to establish or improve your Paydex score.
Reviewed by the MFE Funding Team | Updated March 2026 | Educational content — not financial advice.