The exact sequence — entity setup, D-U-N-S registration, vendor tradelines, and revolving lines — for building business credit that lenders actually recognize.
Business credit is a separate file
Business credit lives at three bureaus that most consumers never see: Dun & Bradstreet (D-U-N-S / Paydex), Experian Business (Intelliscore), and Equifax Business (Business Credit Risk Score). Nothing on your personal report carries over — you build the business file from scratch.
Done right, this means your company can borrow on its own file without personal guarantees, and your personal credit stays untouched by the business.
Step 1 — Make the entity fundable
Before a lender or bureau will treat your business as real, everything must match across every record: the exact legal name, address, phone, EIN, and NAICS code have to be identical on the Arizona Corporation Commission filing, the IRS EIN letter, your bank account, your utility bill, your business phone listing, and your website.
- Formal entity (LLC or Corp) registered with the Arizona Corporation Commission
- EIN from the IRS in the exact legal name
- Physical business address (not a residence, not a PO box; a virtual office is acceptable)
- Dedicated business phone line, listed with 411 directory assistance
- Business email at your own domain and a real website
- Business bank account matching the entity name
Step 2 — Register with the bureaus
Register for a free D-U-N-S number at Dun & Bradstreet. Open a monitored file at Experian Business and Equifax Business. This puts your business on their radar; they will not report tradelines to a file that does not exist.
Step 3 — Build tradelines in tiers
Tier 1: net-30 vendor accounts that report to the business bureaus without a personal credit check (Uline, Grainger, Quill, Summa Office Supplies). Order, pay early, repeat. Aim for 5 reporting accounts before moving up.
Tier 2: store business credit cards (Amazon Business, Home Depot Commercial, Lowe's Business, Staples). These typically require your first tier of accounts to already be reporting.
Tier 3: revolving business credit cards and lines of credit in the business name (Chase Ink, Amex Business, business lines from your bank). This is the point at which the business is truly borrowing on its own file.
Common mistakes to avoid
Skipping the fundability step and applying anyway (guaranteed denials). Using your home address without a dedicated business phone. Paying invoices late — Paydex is entirely based on payment timing, and 'on time' is not enough (early is what earns an 80+ Paydex). Personally guaranteeing accounts you did not need to.