Business Credit Score: How It’s Calculated and How to Build It

Business Credit Score vs. Personal Credit Score

Business credit and personal credit are often confused, but they operate very differently. Understanding the four key distinctions helps you manage both more effectively.

1. Who Reports the Data

Personal credit scores are fed by lenders — banks, credit card companies, and auto financiers — who are required by consumer protection law to report your payment activity. Business credit, by contrast, is almost entirely voluntary. Vendors, suppliers, and lenders report your business payment behavior only if they choose to. This is why actively managing your business credit relationships matters so much: if your suppliers aren’t reporting, your on-time payments are invisible.

2. The Scoring Scale

Personal credit scores (FICO) run from 300 to 850. Business credit scores use different, often non-intuitive scales depending on the bureau. Dun & Bradstreet’s Paydex runs 1–100, Experian’s Intelliscore runs 1–100, and Equifax’s Payment Index also runs 1–100. The FICO Small Business Scoring Service (SBSS) runs 0–300. Comparing scores across bureaus requires knowing which scale you’re reading.

3. Who Can See It

Your personal credit report is protected by the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Accessing it requires your permission. Your business credit report, however, is semi-public. Any vendor, competitor, investor, or lender can pull your business credit profile without your knowledge or consent. This transparency is by design — it supports commercial due diligence — but it means your business financial reputation is always on display.

4. What It Affects

Personal credit affects mortgages, auto loans, and personal cards. Business credit affects your ability to secure commercial financing, negotiate vendor payment terms (net-30, net-60), get business insurance premiums, and attract partnerships or contracts with larger companies. A strong business score can also protect your personal credit by keeping business debt off your personal report.

The 3 Major Business Credit Bureaus (Plus FICO SBSS)

Dun & Bradstreet — Paydex Score (1–100)

D&B is the oldest and most widely recognized business credit bureau. Their flagship score, the Paydex, runs from 1 to 100 and focuses almost entirely on payment history relative to invoice due dates. A score of 80 means you’re paying on time. A score above 80 means you’re paying early. Most lenders and vendors consider 75+ acceptable and 80+ strong. To get a Paydex score, you must first have a DUNS Number (free to obtain at dnb.com) and at least three tradelines reporting.

Experian Business — Intelliscore Plus (1–100)

Experian’s Intelliscore Plus is a statistically-driven score using over 800 variables. It predicts the likelihood of a business becoming seriously delinquent in the next 12 months. Scores of 76–100 are low risk. Scores below 25 are high risk. Experian pulls data from both trade vendors and financial institutions, making it more comprehensive for lenders who want a complete risk picture.

Equifax Business — Payment Index (1–100)

Equifax tracks business payment trends and produces several scores including the Payment Index (1–100), Business Credit Risk Score (101–992), and Business Failure Score (1,000–1,880). The Payment Index reflects how recently and consistently a business pays its obligations. Equifax is especially influential with commercial lenders and insurance underwriters.

FICO Small Business Scoring Service (SBSS) — 0–300

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Frequently Asked Questions