Business credit from zero: the six-step start

Six steps, in order

• Set up properly: a registered LLC or corporation, a free EIN from IRS.gov, and a dedicated business address and phone
• Open a business checking account — required for almost every credit application
• Get your free DUNS number at dnb.com — your business’s ID with the biggest bureau
• Open net-30 vendor accounts that report to the bureaus, and pay on time
• Add a business credit card for recurring expenses — paid in full, every month
• Monitor your profile so you catch errors early and watch the scores move

The habits that protect the build

• Don’t fire off multiple applications at once — stacked hard inquiries drag scores down
• Keep card balances under about 30% of the limit
• Avoid personal guarantees where you can — a profile that stands on its own is the whole point

Why start before you need it

Meaningful business credit takes 6–12 months of on-time history — and lenders also weigh your time in business, revenue, and banking behavior. The owner who starts in year two is in a different universe by year five. When the right truck or the big contract shows up, you want to be ready, not starting.

Watch the full breakdown

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