You probably know a lot about your consumer credit score — where to find it, how it is calculated, and how high it needs to be to get the best rates on loans and credit cards.
Determining a good business credit score to shoot for, on the other hand, may be more complicated. Business credit reports are crucial for evaluating a company’s financial health and reliability, as lenders and other stakeholders use this information to assess credit risk and make informed decisions regarding credit applications.
The systems for calculating and expressing your business credit score vary widely from one reporting company to the next. On some scales, 100 is a perfect score, and anything over 80 would be considered “good.” With other models, an acceptable score is represented by a higher number.
How D&B, Equifax, Experian, and FICO Calculate Credit Scores
Credit reporting agencies like Dun & Bradstreet (D&B), Equifax, and Experian play a crucial role in determining business credit scores by evaluating various factors that influence creditworthiness. Their scores demonstrate to potential investors, lenders, and creditors your firm’s ability to manage its business debt responsibly.
Dun & Bradstreet
D&B calculates business PAYDEX scores based entirely on when you pay your bills. This score ranges from zero to 100.
- Late payments will result in a lower rating, especially if they happen a lot or are more than 15 days past due. Payment history plays a critical role in calculating business credit scores, as late payments can significantly harm them.
- Consistent on-time payments will merit a score of 80, which D&B considers a “good” credit score.
- If you always pay your creditors a month early, your business can earn a perfect 100.
Equifax
Equifax business credit scores are an essential part of understanding the various elements of business credit reports provided by Equifax. Equifax employs three different scoring systems when analyzing your creditworthiness:
- Business Credit Risk Score (101 to 992) — This number predicts how likely your firm will default on a payment in the near future. A good score is a minimum of 892.
- Business Failure Score (1000 to 1610) — This grade forecasts your company’s probability of filing bankruptcy in the upcoming year. This score should be above 1400 to attract potential business partners,
- Payment Index (zero to 100) — Indicates the timeliness of your payments to past creditors. If all payments are made on time, you will earn a good rating of 90.
Experian
The Experian Intelliscore Plus scoring model blends your consumer and business data to create a rating between zero and 100. This system allows a relatively new company to have a business score by giving the owner’s personal credit history more consideration. The business credit scores range used by Experian, along with other agencies like FICO, helps assess the creditworthiness of a business for funding purposes. An Intelliscore Plus rating of 76 or higher is considered a good business credit score. It indicates to creditors that your company has a lower risk of defaulting on future loans.
FICO
Unlike the three companies mentioned above, FICO is not a credit reporting company. Instead, their Small Business Scoring System is a model that lenders often use when evaluating a potential borrower’s application. For small business owners, understanding the significance of business credit scores is crucial, as these scores differ from personal credit scores and can impact access to financing and favorable terms with suppliers. Scores range from zero to 300. The minimum required to pass the pre-screening process for an SBA loan is 140, and many other lenders require a score of at least 160.
Why Identifying What a “Good” Business Credit Score Matters
For each of these systems, the higher your score, the better. Credit utilization is a crucial factor in calculating business credit scores, along with payment history and other financial data. Understanding how to achieve a good rating empowers you to set goals that can bolster your credit profile. Higher scores can lead to:
- Lower insurance rates — When calculating business insurance premiums, insurance companies often consider information from your credit reports. High scores indicate a lower likelihood that you will file a claim or make late payments on your premiums. This translates to lower coverage costs in most states.
- Increased access to loans and credit cards — If your business score is too low, a lender may include your personal score when processing a loan or credit card application. Yet if both scores are inadequate and your default risk is too high, lenders will likely deny your funding request.
- More desirable funding terms — With higher credit scores, you can qualify for loans and lines of credit with more extended payback periods, higher credit limits, lower interest rates, and smaller monthly payments.
- Vendor credit — Suppliers and vendors tend to be more willing to extend credit to your firm knowing you pay your debts on time. The credit provides a cash flow cushion by giving you more time to pay for goods and services.
What if I Discover My Business Credit Ratings Are Too Low?
If, after calculating your business’s credit score, you discover it’s too low, you can take steps to improve it. In the meantime, you may find it challenging to qualify for a traditional loan or be approved for a credit card. While you work to build or rebuild your credit history, explore alternative capital sources like the Finance Logix Business Card. The Finance Logix Business Card can provide you with funding even if D&B, Experian, Equifax, and FICO rate your credit as subprime. That’s because Finance Logix’s underwriting approvals are based on sales and banking activity. Finance Logix eligibility requirements include:
- At least $10,000 per month in sales
- Your business address must be based in the U.S.
- An established business bank account
- Six months or more of operational history
- Minimum bank balance of $1,000 per day on average
- Three or fewer negative days in a month
