D&B credit report products contain information that Dun & Bradstreet compiles. This information assesses the financial health of a company and provides prospective lenders with an indicator of the likelihood that a company will repay a loan.
A Dun & Bradstreet report contains a great deal of information on a company compiled into one easy-to-access report. Some of the more relevant information included on Dun & Bradstreet reports includes:
There are a variety of ways that a company can improve its creditworthiness on Dun & Bradstreet credit reports. A strong Dun & Bradstreet credit report is important to a business that is seeking financial backing.
Apply for a D-U-N-S number to build your D&B credit report
A D-U-N-S number is a 9-digit number that is unique to your business. It is used by many organizations other than Dun & Bradstreet. Organizations applying for grants or government contracts are often required to have a D-U-N-S number.
I recommend: A D-U-N-S number is available through
Dun & Bradstreet. The D-U-N-S number is different than a company's 9-digit employer identification tax number issued by the
IRS. While a D-U-N-S number is optional, many businesses see the benefit of having one to build a presence in the D&B credit reports listings. Use D&B's
CreditBuilder to get your new business a credit rating.
Make sure Dun & Bradstreet credit reports reflect your company's credit health
The four Cs of credit are character, capacity, capital and cash flow. Dun & Bradstreet credit reporting includes all of these elements in credit reports. Dun & Bradstreet reports are a compilation of your credit and business history. The purpose of the credit report is to show your creditworthiness to a potential lender.
I recommend: Strong credit makes for a strong Dun and Bradstreet report.
Business Credit Services offers a free download on ways to improve your business's credit. You can use
Credit.net to check your business's credit history for mistakes and omissions. Routinely check and update your company information at
eUpdate on the Dun & Bradstreet website.
Understand who looks at Dun & Bradstreet reports
While the original intent of the Dun & Bradstreet report was to provide a snapshot of a company's credit history, its use has greatly expanded. Dun & Bradstreet reports provide industry information, ownership records and banking commentary. Many grant programs require charities to have a D-U-N-S number before applying for a grant.
I recommend: Know who will have your information. D&B reporting is available at
SkyMinder,
AutoTrack and
Westlaw. When you realize how extensive a Dun & Bradstreet credit report is, it becomes apparent how important having a D-U-N-S number and a strong report are.
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