Which Credit Cards Report to Dun & Bradstreet?

Do you know which business credit cards can help your company to establish business credit? We have the cards that will help you the most.

Small business credit cards offer a variety of perks. These can be great rewards and cards with limits that are typically greater than on personal cards.

In fact, obtaining one of these cards may help start your company with building business credit. But that is so long as the card issuer reports to at least one of the major commercial credit agencies.

Not all cards have the same policy when it relates to reporting to business credit agencies, though. So it is necessary to understand how each one works.

How Business Credit Card Data Ends Up on Credit Reports

The best-known commercial credit reporting agencies in the United States are Dun & Bradstreet, Equifax and Experian.

Credit reporting is a completely voluntary activity. No issuer is required to report data to credit bureaus. And that’s true whether it’s personal or commercial credit data.

So with business credit especially, it can be tough to find lenders and vendors that report. That’s why this kind of information is important.

Make certain to consult a provider if you are uncertain.

Tips for Building Business Credit with Credit Cards

If one of your goals is a good business credit rating, then seriously consider getting a business credit card.

Many small business owners think their business must be well-established and financially successful to qualify. But that is not always so.

Card issuers are often more concerned with the personal credit score of the business owner who applies. And they will regularly take into consideration revenue from a myriad of sources. This is not just the business itself.

Details for Building Business Credit

If you want to establish sound business credit by using a business credit card, see to it you:

Pay Your Credit Card On Time

Payment history is the most significant factor in personal credit scores. And it might be an even more significant factor with business credit scores. Some business credit scoring models rely almost entirely on payment history.

Keep Balances Low

Business credit reports are different from personal credit reports in many ways. One is that issuers don’t typically report credit limits. Compared to personal credit scores, where debt use is based upon the balance compared to the credit limit, with business credit the balance may be compared with the highest balance reported.

Your business may seem to be “maxed out” more readily this way. Not all commercial credit scoring models will evaluate debt utilization. But when they do, lower balances can be a benefit.

Evaluate Your Business Credit Often

Another manner business credit reports are different than personal credit reports is they do not provide the name of the lender (or card issuer).

As you start to develop business credit, take note of your business credit reports. Make sure to identify when one of these accounts reports. You’ll then be able to track how various accounts impact your credit history.

Bonus Tip: Check Your Business Credit

Know what is happening with your credit. Make sure it is being reported and fix any inaccuracies as soon as possible. Get in the practice of checking credit reports and digging into the particulars, and not just the scores.

We can help you check business credit at major bureaus for a considerable savings! 

Fix Business Credit

So, what’s all this monitoring for? It’s to fix business credit inaccuracies in your records. Mistakes in your credit report(s) can be fixed. But the CRAs often want you to dispute in a particular way. 

Disputing credit report errors commonly means you precisely itemize any charges you challenge.

Credit Builder Business Credit Cards Can Make Your Credit Surge!

Here’s another option: using a credit builder business credit card.

Check out the Visa card from Divvy. They report to the Small Business Financial Exchange and Dun & Bradstreet. As a result, you can build business credit. 

Earn rewards or statement credits, or get cash back. This is no annual fee for this credit card.

If you are willing to settle for a lower credit limit or a more frequent payment schedule, you should be able to qualify for this small business credit card even with bad personal credit.

You Can Also Try Secure Small Business Credit Cards for Fair Credit

For Fair Credit, we like the Capital One Spark Classic for Business. It has no annual fee. There are cash-back rewards. But you will have to have a fair credit score, which is usually 630 – 639, or better. 

This card will only report to personal credit. So, you can improve your personal credit, but not your business credit.

And BEAR IN MIND: the standard APR is 28.49% variable APR.

Building Business Credit

The sheer act of building business credit often brings you into contact with credit card providers. Here are some.

Kicking Off the Business Credit Reporting Process

Begin at the D&B website and get a free DUNS number. A DUNS number is how D&B gets a corporation into their system, to produce a PAYDEX score. If there is no DUNS number, then there is no record and no PAYDEX score.

Once in D&B’s system, search Equifax and Experian’s websites for the business. You can do this through Credit Suite, too. If there is a record with them, check it for accuracy and completeness. If there are no records with them, go to the next step in the process. This way, Experian and Equifax will have activity to report on.

Vendor Credit

Start with vendor credit. First you should establish trade lines that report. These are also known as vendor accounts. Then you’ll have an established credit profile, and you’ll get a business credit score.

And with an established business credit profile and score you can begin getting more credit.

These kinds of accounts tend to be for the things bought all the time, like outdoor workwear, ink and toner, and office furniture.

But to start with, what is trade credit? These trade lines are credit issuers who will give you starter credit when you have none now. Terms are frequently Net 30, instead of revolving.

Hence if you get approval for $1,000 in vendor credit and use all of it, you will need to pay that money back in a set term, such as within 30 days on a Net 30 account.

Details

Net 30 accounts must be paid in full within 30 days. 60 accounts must be paid fully within 60 days. In contrast to revolving accounts, you have a set time when you have to pay back what you borrowed or the credit you made use of.

To kick off your business credit profile the right way, you should get approval for vendor accounts that report to the business credit reporting agencies. As soon as that’s done, you can then use the credit.

Then pay back what you used, and the account is on report to Dun & Bradstreet, Experian, or Equifax.

Not every vendor can help like true starter credit can. These are vendors that will grant an approval with marginal effort. You also need them to be reporting to one or more of the big three CRAs: Dun & Bradstreet, Equifax, and Experian.

You want 3 of these to move onto the next step.

Which Credit Cards Can Help Establish Business Credit? Uline

Uline is a true starter vendor. They sell shipping, packing, and industrial supplies, and they report to D&B and Experian.

You must have a DUNS number along with all other aspects of a Fundability Foundation™. The initial few orders may need to be paid in advance to initially get approval for Net 30 terms.

Which Credit Cards Can Help Establish Business Credit? Marathon

Starter vendor Marathon Petroleum Company provides transportation fuels, asphalt, and specialty products throughout the United States. Their comprehensive product line supports commercial, industrial, and retail operations. This card reports to Dun & Bradstreet and Experian.

Before applying for multiple accounts with WEX Fleet cards, make sure to leave enough time in between applying so they don’t red-flag your account for fraud.

Your business will need to have a strong Fundability Foundation™. A personal guarantee (PG) is required, with a minimum FICO score of 700. They will do a soft pull on your credit. Apply online or over the phone. Terms are Net 15.

Which Credit Cards Can Help Establish Business Credit? Grainger Industrial Supply

Grainger Industrial Supply is likewise a true starter vendor. 

They sell safety equipment, plumbing supplies, and more. And they report to D&B. You will need to have all aspects of a strong Fundability Foundation™.

Accounts That Don’t Report

Non-Reporting Trade Accounts can also be helpful. While you do want trade accounts to report to at least one of the CRAs, a trade account which does not report can still be of some worth.

You can always ask non-reporting accounts for trade references. And also credit accounts of any sort should help you to better even out business expenses. So this consequently makes budgeting easier.

Which Credit Cards Can Help Establish Business Credit?

Not all business credit cards report to the credit reporting agencies. For those that do, then using them can help your small business grow in more ways than one. Check out how this will help your company get business credit cards.

FAQs

How Can I Monitor my Business Credit Report?

Credit Suite offers business credit checking for significantly less than it would cost if a small business got individual monitoring from the major credit bureaus.

What are the 3 Credit Monitoring Agencies?

Also called credit reporting agencies or credit bureaus, on the business side they are Dun & Bradstreet, Equifax, and Experian. On the personal side, there’s Equifax and Experian, but TransUnion in place of Dun & Bradstreet.

Can I Get a Free Business Credit Report?

Not for business credit, not really. Per the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you’re entitled to one free personal credit report per year, but that law does not apply to business credit.

How do I Monitor Business Credit?

Monitoring business credit involves getting your reports and checking them. Beyond just looking at reports, this can also involve talking with your bookkeeper or accountant to see if any payments or transactions are being missed.

Does Chase Report to Dun and Bradstreet?

We could not determine this from information provided online by Chase. Is this business credit card still useful? Yes—for the same reason all cards have value—to give you more spending power.

Does Bank of America Report to Dun and Bradstreet?

They do not appear to. On their website, they specifically mention that they report to Equifax Business. If they are now reporting to D&B, it’s highly likely they would update their site.

Does American Express Report to Dun and Bradstreet? 

Apparently, they will only report negative information to Dun & Bradstreet. The Amex website does not specify if they report to any other business credit bureaus.

Does Capital One Spark Report to Dun and Bradstreet? 

While Capital One does say on their website that they report to business credit bureaus, they give no specifics, either on which bureau they report to, or whether they report anything but negative data.