Business Credit Reporting Services

Business credit reporting agencies often wait years to add a new business listing.

Unlike consumer credit reporting agencies, business credit reporting services include information about the business along with an analysis of its commercial credit worthiness. This information comes from the business itself and from outside sources. There are four major business credit reporting agencies: Dun and Bradstreet, Experian Business, Equifax Business, and Credit USA, also known as InfogroupCredit.net, according to "Entrepreneur." An up-and-coming business reporting agency is Kroll Factual Data, formerly known as FDInsights.

Dun and Bradstreet

Dun and Bradstreet, also known as D&B, has registered more than 100 million businesses worldwide, according to the company website. D&B issues the Data Universal Numbering System, or D-U-N-S Number, a unique, nine-digit number assigned to each business registered with its service. D&B uses the D-U-N-S number much like consumer credit reporting agencies use Social Security numbers. D&B issues two business credit reports, the PAYDEX score based on the payment patterns of the business, and the D-U-N-S Rating based on business financial statements, according to Business Credit Services.

Experian Business

Experian Business is the business division of the credit reporting agency Experian, one of the "big three" consumer credit reporting agencies. Experian has registered more than 27 million businesses, according to the company website. Experian bases its credit reports on information reported by vendors, and issues an Intelliscore based on payment performance, according to Business Credit Services. Experian provides individual businesses with their own credit reports upon request.

Equifax Business

Equifax Business operates as the business division of Equifax credit reporting agency. Equifax Business contains more than 24 million business records, according to the company website. Equifax produces several business credit reports based on data collected from the Small Business Financial Exchange, Inc., trade payment histories, personal credit data on the principals of the business, and public record data, according to Business Credit Services. Equifax makes business credit reports available for sale on its company website.

Business Credit USA

Business Credit USA, also known as InfogroupCredit.net, has more than 14 million business credit records in its database, according to the company website. Business Credit USA obtains its information from the business owner, but verifies all information before including it in its reports, according to Business Credit services. Business Credit USA sells its business credit reports through the company website.

Kroll Factual Data

Kroll Factual Data began its life as a specialty credit reporting service for the mortgage brokerage industry, according to Business Credit Services. The company serves more than 25,000 clients, according to the company website. Kroll Factual Data bases its credit reports on third-party information verified in-house by staff members, according to Business Credit Services. Kroll offers its credit reports and related services through its company website.

References

• SM SmallBiz: Five Things To Know About Small Business Plastic; Aleksandra Todorova; July 2007
• Business Credit Services: Business Credit Reporting Agencies and Bureaus
• Entrepreneur: The ABCs of Business Credit; David Gass; March 2005
• Dun and Bradstreet: About the D-U-N-S Number
• IRS.gov: Employer ID Numbers -- EINs
• The Federal Reserve Board: A Guide to Small Credit for Women, Minorities and Small Businesses

Resources

• Experian: Smart Business Reports
• Dun and Bradstreet: Home
• Equifax: Welcome to Equifax Small Business
• Infogroup Credit.net: Home
• Kroll Factual Data: About Us
• Kroll Factual Data: Services
• The Federal Reserve Board: Federal Enforcement Agencies
• Infogroup Credit Net: Sample Business Credit Report
• Grants.gov: Request a D-U-N-S Number
• Massachusetts High Tech: Factual Data's New . . . Campaign; Tony Monterastelli; Sept. 2002
• Business:com: Factual Data Corporation -- FDCC Profile