This is the Business Credit Scoring System Decoded
What is the business credit scoring system all about? How can you read a report? Does your company have a good company credit score? How can you find that out? Get the business credit scoring system decoded.
So you are currently in business, and you are striving to keep on top of your business credit scores. Or perhaps you are not, and have determined that now is a good time to start. Or perhaps your company is fairly new, and this is the very first time you’re doing this. No matter what your conditions, you’ve probably asked this question at least once. Are my credit ratings any good?
Let’s take a look at the three business credit reporting agencies and solve this mystery once and for all.
The Experian Business Credit Scoring System Decoded
Experian’s Credit Score report includes a small business credit score along with other data. So this includes account histories, payment trends, and public records. Experian company credit scores run the gamut from 1 to 100.
In contrast to Dun & Bradstreet’s PAYDEX score and Equifax’s payment index (below), Experian takes into consideration several factors. So it is not simply payment histories.
Factors in an Experian Business Credit Score
The factors that go into the calculation include:
- Lines of credit your company is on application for in the most recent nine months
- New lines of credit you’ve launched in the most recent six months
- Your company’s years in business
- Payment history in the previous twelve months
- Lines of credit in use in the previous six months
- Collections totals in the most recent seven years
- Percent of available credit in use
- Amount of payments one to 30 days overdue, or 31 days or more overdue
- Number of non-net 30 lines of credit. That means the payment is due in fewer or more than 30 days
Generally, even small businesses that use credit conscientiously will get a medium-low risk rating. As you may very well expect, older small businesses will have an easier time getting a low risk rating. Hence if you have a startup venture, do not expect your Experian scores to be stellar. At least, not to start.
A decent Experian score for your business ranges from 76 to 100.
Monitoring Your Experian Account
At Experian, you can monitor your account at: https://www.smartbusinessreports.com/Landing/1217/. The cost will run you about $19.99.
Get your company’s Experian report at: https://www.businesscreditfacts.com/pdp.aspx?pg=SearchForm.
Updating Your Experian Account Information
You can update any incorrect or old information on your Experian account by going here: https://www.experian.com/small-business/business-credit-information.
Disputing Errors in Your Experian Account Report
You can dispute mistakes on your or your company’s Experian report by following the instructions here: www.experian.com/small-business/business-credit-information.
Your Small Business’s PAYDEX Score
Dun & Bradstreet’s PAYDEX score runs from 0 to 100. A PAYDEX score has a basis in payment data which is on report to the agency. Or it is on report to data-gathering firms partnering with the credit reporting agency.
D & B uses this data, in addition to a credit score and financial stress score, in order to recommend just how much credit a creditor ought to extend to your small business.
PAYDEX Scoring Specifics
So as to generate a PAYDEX score, you will have to file for a DUNS number by using Dun & Bradstreet’s web site. But at least the number is absolutely free. Don’t let them upsell you!
In addition the agency needs to have reports of your payments with four or more vendors. Your small business’s PAYDEX score reveals if your payments are usually made promptly or ahead of schedule. As you may expect, a higher number is better. The scores work out as follows:
- 80to 100: A low risk of late payments
- 50 to 79: A medium risk of late payments
- 0 to 49: A high risk of late payments
Your small business’s credit score ranges from 1 to 5. 1 is the very best score. This matches your business with other businesses with comparable payment histories. The figure demonstrates how often those companies tend to pay without delay.
This information can really help creditors to understand your business’s standing. However, it does not really show all of the payment records from your small business.
Financial Stress Score
The financial stress score also ranges from 1 to 5. This score matches your company with other small businesses sharing comparable financial and business qualities.
These similarities are in areas like size or amount of time in business. This score shows how often those companies tend to pay on time. As before, 1 is the best score. This rating is a more comprehensive evaluation of the business landscape, rather than analysis of your business’s actual payment history.
A good PAYDEX score for your small business ranges from 80 to 100.
Monitoring Your Dun & Bradstreet Account
At Dun & Bradstreet you can monitor at: https://www.dandb.com/credit-builder/. D&B’s monitoring cost goes up to $99.99.
Get your company’s PAYDEX report at: https://www.dnb.com/about-us/our-data.html.
Updating Your D&B Account Information
Update the information if there are mistakes or the info is incomplete. At D&B, you can do this at: https://iupdate.dnb.com/iUpdate/viewiUpdateHome.htm.
Disputing Errors in Your D&B Account Report
To dispute a Dun & Bradstreet report, the company wants you to contact their Customer Service Department. So D&B’s PAYDEX Customer Service contact number is here: https://www.dandb.com/glossary/paydex/.
Your Company’s Equifax Score
Equifax shows three distinct business determinations on its business credit reports. These are the Equifax payment index, your business’s credit risk score, and its business failure score.
Similar to the PAYDEX score, Equifax’s payment index. It is a measurement on a scale of 100. So it shows how many of your small business’s payments were made promptly. These include both data from creditors and also vendors. However, it is not meant to anticipate future behavior. That is what the other two scores are for.
Equifax Credit Risk Score
Equifax’s credit risk score checks how likely it is that your company will become severely delinquent on payments. Scores range from 101 to 992, and they evaluate:
- Available credit limit on revolving credit accounts, which includes credit cards
- Your company size
- Proof of any non-financial transactions (such as merchant invoices) which are late or on a charge off for two or more billing cycles
- Length of time since the opening of the earliest financial account
Equifax Business Failure Score
Lastly, Equifax’s business failure score takes a look at the risk of your business shutting down. It runs from 1,000 to 1,600. And it judges these factors:
- Total balance to total current credit limit average utilization in the past three months
- How much time since the opening of the oldest financial account
- Your small business’s worst payment status on all trades in the last 24 months
- Documentation of any non-financial transactions (such as merchant invoices) which are late or are on a charge off for two or more billing cycles
For the credit risk and the business failure scores, a rating of 0 means bankruptcy.
Equifax Scores
A good Equifax score for your business is as follows:
- Payment Index 0 to 10
- Credit Risk score 892 to 992
- Business Failure score 1400 to 1600
Monitoring Your Equifax Account
At Equifax, you can monitor your account at: https://www.equifax.com/business/business-credit-monitor-small-business. The cost will run you about $19.99.
And get your Equifax business credit report at: https://www.equifax.com/business/credit-information.
Updating Your Equifax Information
Update any older Equifax information here: https://www.equifax.com/business/small-business.
Disputing Errors in Your Equifax Account Report
You can dispute your or your company’s Equifax report by following the instructions here.
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The Business Credit Scoring System Decoded: Takeaways
Always use credit sensibly! Do not borrow more than what you can pay back. Also track balances and deadlines for payments. Paying on schedule and completely will do more to increase business credit scores than pretty much anything else.
Growing business credit will always pay. Good business credit scores will help a company get loans. This is because your lending institution knows the business can pay its debts. They know the small business is authentic. The corporation’s EIN links to high scores, and lenders won’t feel the need to request a personal guarantee.
Business credit is an asset which can help your business for years to come. Keep your scores in line and good things will happen. Learn more here and get started toward building business credit attached to your company’s EIN and not your SSN.
