How to Build Business Credit
Updated: May 12, 2022
When your business is fresh and new, establishing business credit can be crucial to helping you grow and expand.
But building business credit can be tough, especially if you’re taking bits & pieces of advice from multiple un-credible sources.
This isn’t financial advice, just some tips and tricks I have learned from taking various courses under board-certified members along with attending several webinars & hours of studying other materials.
You may be confused or at a stand still when it comes to what steps to take in order to apply and be approved for funding.
I will go through a few steps you can take to lessen the chances you have of being denied & help ensure that you’re in a good position to be approved for a line of credit for your business.
Remember, it works if you work it. Knowledge is good, but applied knowledge is what can change your life.
We’ll cover:
Why building business credit is so important
How tradelines help you build business credit
How to establish and build business credit in a few steps
Why building business credit is so important
How can you expect to scale your business up and pay for the multitude of business expenses if you don’t have capital handy? More than likely, you’ll be paying for everything from ads to supplies and payroll out of your own pocket.
Building credit is crucial. If you have a solid business credit score it will give you a better chance of securing capital - and I’m talking big money. 10s, 100’s of thousands of dollars worth of funding is on the floor.
Having good business credit will also increase your chances of getting better repayment terms, credit limits, interest rates, and things like that.
Even though your business credit score is separate from your personal credit score, your personal credit will have a huge impact on whether you’ll get approved for funding especially if you’re a brand new business.
If you noticed me talking about personal credit a lot lately, this is why.
We want the BIGGER MONEY so we are doing what it takes to make sure we ‘look good on paper’.
How tradelines help you build business credit
Like with your personal credit reports, business credit reports will also have information that is directly related to your company’s credit, like payment history, account details, and public records.
That payment history can include tradelines you have opened.
Tradelines are any account opened in your business name.
Credit card accounts, personal loans, and mortgages are all examples of a tradeline that would appear on a credit report.
Ideally you want to have at least 3 tradelines reporting and you want to be sure they're Net-30 accounts.
A Net-30 account is where you purchase something in your businesses name and the company you buy it from gives you a 30-day time period to pay the invoice back.
When building you business credit you want to be sure to pay this account back before the 30 day period is up though.
You want to pay it back as soon as they allow you to pay it back, remember - we are trying to look good on paper so we can get the bigger money.
👉🏾 Be sure to comment wit any questions you may have because this gets MUCH deeper! I can do a YouTube video on it if I need to!
How to establish and build business credit in a few steps
So, what exactly do you need to do to start establishing business credit?
Establishing business credit isn’t going to happen overnight by any means, but taking note of these few action tips will help you build business credit without feeling like you’re doing it blindly.
1. Incorporate and register your business
Most people will advise you to structure your business as a limited liability company (LLC) instead of going the sole-proprietorship route. There are several benefits to doing this:
Easier to get funding
Improved interest rates on that funding
Better borrowing power: A business can get 10-100x more financing than an individual
Avoid risking any hiccups with your personal and business finances mixing up by separating your business and personal funds
2. Get an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
When you set up your LLC or C-corp you will get a Employer Identification Number (EIN), or business tax ID, which is basically your businesses social security number - treat it as such.
If you decide to go the sole proprietor route, you can apply for an EIN through the IRS, it should be free, as long as your principal business is located in the United States or a U.S. territory.
3. Open a separate bank account for your business
This is crucial. As a business owner, you need to have a bank account with your business name and in order to get funding it will be a necessity - majority of the time.
To open a business bank account, you’ll need an EIN (or a Social Security number for sole proprietors who don’t obtain an EIN), your business’s formation documents, ownership/operating agreements, and business license.
4. Build credit with vendors and suppliers
Getting Net-30 vendor accounts (again, means you have 30 days from the day you made the purchase to pay off your bill from) with businesses that report to business credit agencies can help you build business credit.
Paying your Net-30 invoices on time (preferably early) not only helps you build good credit but it also helps you to establish good relationships with the vendors as a reliable client. Relationships are key in this space.
5. Make sure you’re shopping with vendors who report to credit reporting agencies
If you’re spending money shopping with vendors in hopes that is helping you establish good business credit but they’re not even reporting to the business credit bureaus - you’re wasting your money!
The three major business credit bureaus are Dun & Bradstreet, Experian Business, and Equifax Small Business.
Before you shop with a vendor, make sure they report to at least one of the business credit bureaus (preferably all 3) that way you know you’re not wasting your money.
Another thing to take note of is how much money you’re spending with each vendor. Some vendors will require you to spend at least $80 with them in order for them to report to the business credit bureaus. You’re a business owner, don’t be afraid to call the companies up and ASK them what their requirements are! Be sure to read through to the end, ill give a few of my vendor names out.
6. Always pay your invoices and bills on time
This is as important with your business as it is with your personal credit history. Especially since we’re trying to secure funding here.
Having a great repayment history will establish your credibility as a borrower.
Making on-time payments can help boost your business credit score, and missing payments and paying late can drop your credit score. Not only can it lower your score but the lenders can actually drop your credit limit at any time and say you’re a delinquent borrower.
BLOG >> Tips For Staying On Top Of Credit Card Payments
👉🏾 If this blog was helpful, LET ME KNOW! Drop a comment, shoot me a email or DM, give me feedback!
There is much more that goes into building business credit - I have some information that isn’t found on Google!
We will dive deeper and deeper as time goes on.
Cheers to More Life!
👀🚨 COMING SOON:
- Bag Baby Media
- Bag Baby Mag
- Bag Baby Apparel
- DIY Credit Repair eBook
- Personal Finance eBook
- Bag Baby Solutions Credit Enhancement
- Million Dollar Mindset Club Journal/Goal Book
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