Unlike personal credit, which is reported by three bureaus that largely track the same information, the three major business credit bureaus each collect data a little differently — and sometimes from different sources entirely. That means a business can look strong on one bureau's report and thin or unfamiliar on another. Knowing what each bureau tracks is the first step to managing your business credit profile intentionally.
Dun & Bradstreet
Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) is generally considered the largest and most widely referenced business credit bureau. It assigns every registered business a D-U-N-S Number — a unique nine-digit identifier used to track that business's credit file. D&B's headline score is the PAYDEX Score, which ranges from 1–100 and reflects how promptly a business pays its bills based on reported trade experiences. Many vendors, especially those offering net-30 tradelines, report payment activity directly to D&B, which is why getting a D-U-N-S Number early is one of the first recommended steps in building business credit.
Experian Business
Experian Business (formerly Experian Business Credit) maintains its own file, called the Intelliscore Plus, which factors in payment history, credit utilization, company size, industry risk, and public records like liens or judgments. Experian pulls data from a wide range of trade creditors, financial institutions, and public sources, so a business's Experian file can look different from its D&B file depending on which vendors and lenders report where.
Equifax Business
Equifax Business tracks payment history along with business-specific risk indicators, and it's often used by lenders alongside personal credit data when a business owner has personally guaranteed a loan. Equifax's business scoring models also weigh factors like industry risk and the business's credit utilization on reported accounts. Because Equifax has more limited vendor reporting relationships than D&B, some smaller businesses find their Equifax file develops more slowly.
Why Monitoring All Three Matters
Because reporting relationships differ across bureaus, it's common for a business to have a well-established D&B file with a strong PAYDEX score while its Experian or Equifax file remains thin. Lenders and vendors don't all pull from the same bureau, so a gap on one file can quietly limit financing options even when the business is otherwise creditworthy. Regularly checking all three — and following up when a reporting vendor doesn't show up where expected — helps ensure the full picture is accurate.
- Dun & Bradstreet: D-U-N-S Number, PAYDEX Score, widest vendor reporting network
- Experian Business: Intelliscore Plus, factors in industry risk and public records
- Equifax Business: payment history plus risk indicators, often used alongside personal credit
If you're not sure where your business currently stands across these three bureaus, our free business credit assessment is a good place to start, and understanding this profile can also help when you eventually explore funding options.
This article is for general educational purposes only and is not financial, legal, or tax advice. Building business credit and qualifying for funding depend on many factors specific to your business, and results vary — nothing here guarantees approval, a specific credit score, or a specific funding amount or rate.