7 steps to build business credit
- Make the LLC look like a real, separate business. Consistent legal name, address and phone across your state filing, IRS records, bank and website. Keep the LLC in good standing.
- Get an EIN. Your EIN is the LLC’s identifier with lenders and bureaus. It’s free from the IRS.
- Open a business bank account. Lenders review business bank history, and it separates LLC finances from yours.
- Get listed with business credit bureaus. Dun & Bradstreet, Experian Business and Equifax Business maintain business credit files.
- Add tradelines that report. Open accounts with vendors or services that report on-time payments to business bureaus. Nav Prime, for example, reports its membership as a tradeline to Experian, Equifax and D&B.
- Pay early or on time, every time. Payment history is what business scores are built on.
- Monitor your files. Check your business credit regularly and dispute errors.
Business credit vs personal credit
| Item | Business credit | Personal credit |
|---|---|---|
| Tied to | Your LLC’s legal name and EIN | Your Social Security number |
| Main bureaus | Dun & Bradstreet, Experian Business, Equifax Business | Experian, Equifax, TransUnion |
| Built from | Payments to vendors, lenders and cards that report to business bureaus | Your personal loans and cards |
| Who can see it | Generally available to businesses checking you | Access restricted by federal law |
Mistakes that slow you down
- Using a different business name or address with each vendor and bank.
- Paying business bills from a personal account — the payments don’t build the LLC’s file.
- Opening accounts that don’t report to business bureaus.
- Letting the LLC fall out of good standing with the state; lenders check it.
- Applying for several loans at once, which can add hard inquiries to your personal credit.
Tools
Nav
Free · Prime from $39.99/mo
- Free plan with business credit ranges from D&B, Experian and Equifax
- Nav Prime reports your membership as a tradeline to business bureaus
- Shows financing you’re likely to qualify for
Watch out: Full scores and the tradeline need Nav Prime ($39.99–$74.99/mo)
Mercury
$0/mo
- $0 monthly fee, no minimum balance, no opening fees
- Free ACH and free domestic wires, sent and received
- Free outgoing USD international wires
Watch out: No cash deposits
Bluevine Line of Credit
Rates from 7.8%
- Credit lines up to $250,000
- Rates as low as 7.8% for top-qualifying customers
- Checking eligibility doesn’t affect your credit score
Watch out: Needs 12+ months in business and $10K monthly revenue
Loan amounts, rates and requirements come from each lender’s site and change often. Approval isn’t guaranteed. Compare the total cost (APR or total payback), not just the payment. Verified October 18, 2026. We may earn a commission if you sign up through our links, at no cost to you. How we’re funded.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to build business credit?
It depends on how quickly reporting accounts are added and how long they’re paid on time. Nav notes that its tradeline payments take 14–45 business days to appear on reports after each monthly report.
Does an LLC have its own credit score?
It can. Business bureaus (Dun & Bradstreet, Experian, Equifax) build files tied to the business, separate from your personal score — though many lenders still check both for small LLCs.
Can I check my business credit for free?
Nav’s free plan shows basic business credit ranges from D&B, Creditsafe, Experian and Equifax and one Experian personal score. Full scores and reports require a paid plan.
Does business credit affect my personal credit?
Business accounts reported only to business bureaus don’t usually affect personal credit, but personal guarantees and applications that pull personal credit can.
Your LLC setup checklist
- Get a free EINFrom the IRS, in minutes online.
- Open a business bank accountKeep LLC money apart from yours to protect the liability shield.
- Sign an operating agreementSettle who owns and decides what before it matters.
- Get business insuranceCover what the LLC itself doesn’t protect.
- Plan your taxesKnow your tax status and federal due dates.
- Track state deadlinesFree reminders before each filing.
Everything in one list: printable LLC compliance checklist · live deadline calendar.