Now that we have determined the need for business credit scores, let's take a look at who reports those scores;
Experian Business Information Services - Experian is the leader in personal credit reporting and has ventured into business credit reporting. A trade line is any company that sends payment histories to a business credit reporting agency. If you have a business credit card, equipment or vehicle lease, or a corporate account with any large supplier or retailer they are most likely reporting to Experian Business.
Equifax Business - Equifax has been in business credit reporting for a long time. They used to be called the "Small Business Financial Exchange" and only gathered credit information from member banks. While they have branched out from this practice, their major reporters are still banks. Therefore, anything your bank knows about you so does Equifax.
Dun & Bradstreet - Dun & Bradstreet is the oldest player of the business credit reporting agencies. Dun & Bradstreet reporters are primarily vendor credit lines. These are businesses that extend credit to other businesses on "Net 30" credit terms. That means if you have vendor credit lines for products or services that give you 30 days to pay, then they most likely report your payment history to Dun & Bradstreet.
Now that we have determined the need for business credit scores, let's take a look at who reports those scores;
Experian Business Information Services Experian is the leader in personal credit reporting and has ventured into business credit reporting. A trade line is any company that sends payment histories into a business credit reporting agency. If you have a business credit card, equipment or vehicle lease, or a corporate account with any large supplier or retailer they are most likely reporting to Experian Business.
Equifax Business - Equifax has been in business credit reporting for a long time. They used to be called the "Small Business Financial Exchange" and only gathered credit information from member banks. While they have branched out from this practice, their major reporters are still banks. Therefore, anything your bank knows about you so does Equifax.
Dun & Bradstreet - Dun & Bradstreet is the oldest player of the business credit reporting agencies. Dun & Bradstreet reporters are primarily vendor credit lines. These are businesses that extend credit to other businesses on "Net 30" credit terms. That means if you have vendor credit lines for products or services that give you 30 days to pay, then they most likely report your payment history to Dun & Bradstreet.