Building Small Business Credit Properly

A lot of business owners need financial support. However, most of them want access to loans that do not require collateral. If you intend to apply for a business loan, one basic requirement that you need to prepare for is good credit, especially if you want to acquire an unsecured business loan.

If you are an established business, it's crucial to have a solid business credit to back up your loan application. Due to the absence of collateral, most lenders will only extend an unsecured business loan if you have an impressive business credit.

For those who own a new business or start up business that have yet to build business credit history, acquiring loans can prove to be more difficult. This is why business owners are advised to start building their business credit as soon as they begin operations.

Unfortunately, there are still businesses that have been in operations for more than two years, but still without business credit. As a result, their options of getting financial help are limited compared to those with solid business credit.

Building business credit is different from building your personal credit. The credit bureaus that keep track of consumer credit history are separate from the bureaus that monitor credit history of businesses.

How to Build Small Business Credit

So how do you build small business credit? The first step in building business credit is to register with a major business credit tracker like Dun & Bradstreet and Experian for Business. Be sure to do this important step as soon as you begin business operations.

Of course, proof that you are running a legitimate business is a prerequisite. Legally incorporating your business is important in building solid business credit. In addition, choosing the right business structure can protect your personal assets against business debts and losses.

After registering with a business credit tracker, the next important step in building small business credit is to open credit accounts. You must apply for business loans or business lines of credit to show that you are capable of managing debt and repayment.

If you get approved for a business loan or a business line of credit, make sure that you will be able to submit your payments on time. Timeliness of payment is a major factor in reaching a high credit score. Of course, you must choose creditors that will report your payments to the business credit bureaus. Keep in mind that not all lending companies provide credit reporting service to the major credit bureaus.

One way to start building business credit is to apply for a small business credit card. It is generally easier to apply for a business credit card than a loan, even without business credit. Once approved, business credit cards can be used to pay for business expenses. As you pay with your business credit card, you are also building business credit history at the same time.

Can good business credit cover your personal bad credit? The answer is not. Although business credit history is separate from your personal credit, creditors will make sure that both your personal credit and business credit are in good standing.