Solo Biz Soft Editorial Team Business credit works differently from personal credit in one important way: your business credit file is tied to your business’s EIN and, for the biggest bureau, a separate D-U-N-S number — and unlike your personal file, anyone who pays for a report can usually look at it, not just lenders you’ve applied to. Here’s how the three main scores actually work.
The three main business credit scores
Dun & Bradstreet’s PAYDEX score is the one most commonly referenced. It runs from 1 to 100 and is based specifically on how reliably your business pays its bills: 80–100 is considered excellent (paying on time or early), 70–79 is good, 50–69 is fair, and below 50 is poor. Experian Business and Equifax Business each run their own separate scoring models, factoring in things like payment history, credit utilization, company size and industry risk — broadly similar inputs to personal credit scoring, but on a completely separate file.
Business credit vs personal credit
Two differences trip people up the most. First, a PAYDEX score specifically requires a D-U-N-S number, a free identifier Dun & Bradstreet assigns to your business — without one, there’s often no PAYDEX file for your business at all, regardless of how long you’ve operated. Second, business credit reports are generally more publicly accessible than personal ones: a supplier or landlord can often pull a report on your business without your authorization, which is normal in commercial credit and different from how personal credit checks work.
How to check your business credit score
Dun & Bradstreet offers a free tier (branded CreditSignal) that shows score alerts and changes without a full paid report. Several business-credit platforms also offer free aggregated views of your D&B PAYDEX and Experian Business data once you register your business and verify your identity. Full, detailed reports from any of the three bureaus are typically a paid product, often in the tens of dollars a month for ongoing monitoring.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a D-U-N-S number to have a business credit score?
For a Dun & Bradstreet PAYDEX score specifically, yes — it’s a free identifier you can request directly from Dun & Bradstreet. Experian Business and Equifax Business use their own identification methods.
Does checking my own business credit score hurt it?
Checking your own score is a soft inquiry and doesn’t affect it, the same principle as checking your personal credit score.
Can anyone see my business credit report?
Often yes, without your direct authorization, which is one of the clearest differences from personal credit reports. This is standard practice in commercial credit.
More free tools: Credit utilization calculator · Credit card eligibility estimator · All free tools
This article is general information, not financial advice. Scoring models, free-check options and bureau policies change over time — confirm current details directly with each bureau.
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