How To Build Business Credit I | Easy Step-by-Step Guide

It’s easier than you think to discover how to create business credit quickly. It necessitates some research into how to quickly create business credit, followed by the development of business credit-building tactics that have been proven to work.

In the end, developing business credit quickly is all about avoiding the basic blunders that most firms make — and, more crucially, sticking to a tried-and-true business credit-building plan that works.

Learn how to develop business credit quickly by avoiding the common blunders made by other business owners and sticking to the business credit blueprint we’ve laid out for you.

What Is Business Credit and How Does It Work?

Business credit is a company’s ability to buy something now and pay for it later. By establishing a good business credit rating, you may make it easier to borrow money when your company needs it.

Essentially, you establish company credit based on your business’s financial history—that is, how you handle any credit that has been provided to your organization, such as credit cards, loans, lines of credit, trade lines from suppliers, and more.

Business credit, on the other hand, is related to your employer identification number, or EIN, rather than your social security number.

Finally, just as your personal credit demonstrates your creditworthiness as a borrower, your business credit demonstrates whether or not your company is a reliable borrower.

READ ALSO: How To Build Credit Fast In 2022

Why You Need To Establish Business Credit Quickly?

The fundamental reason for the importance of quickly establishing business financing is cash flow. Did you know that cash flow difficulties cause over 80% of firms to fail?

This single issue might be easily avoided if a company built business credit quickly and thereby resolved its cash flow issues. This isn’t the only reason to create business credit quickly, but it’s the most crucial.

Other advantages of quickly establishing business finance include:

1. Accelerate the growth of your company

You can leverage the debt (i.e., other people’s money ([OPM]) faster when you create business credit quickly, which is how to grow your firm quickly.

SEE ALSO: 15 Best Metal Credit Cards In 2022

2. Obtain funding more quickly

When you have excellent company credit, you will be authorized for new loans much more quickly.

3. Increase your business credit lines

Lenders like to give credit to creditworthy firms.

4. Improve your borrowing terms

The better your credit score and the more credit you have, the better the interest rates and other terms will be, just like with personal credit.

5. Separate your business and personal finances

This safeguards your personal assets and credit in the event that your company encounters difficulties.

6. Keeping track of costs has never been easier

A company credit card, like a business bank account, may help you monitor and track expenditures.

7. Make tax season a little less taxing

Borrowing money to expand your business comes with a slew of tax benefits. Interest on short-term loans and lines of credit can be deducted.

You may give all of this information to a certified public accountant, who will be able to make sense of it all and obtain you the best tax advantages possible.

READ ALSO: The Best Tax Software For 2022

Strategies For Building Business Credit

There is a straightforward method for quickly establishing business credit. You must follow two steps in this strategy: When studying how to build business credit, avoid making the common mistakes that most firms do.

Establish rapid business credit by forming contacts with vendors and lenders who will offer credit to you quickly.

Here’s what you should remember:

  • Ascertain if your company is a separate legal entity. To keep the corporate veil, you’ll need to form a corporation or learn how to start a limited liability company (LLC).
  • Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) (EIN). To open a business bank account, you’ll need an EIN. Our tutorial will show you how to get an EIN in no time.
  • Learn about the net 30 vendors and how they work. This list of net 30 starting merchants is a good place to start.
  • Learn the differences between secured and unsecured business credit cards. These will assist you in establishing credit for your LLC.
  • Make a commitment to paying your payments on time, every time. If you skip a payment, your corporate credit score will suffer the same fate as personal credit. However, if you pay your invoices on time, your company’s credit score will improve.
  • Understand the many types of corporate credit bureaus. Dun & Bradstreet, Experian Business, and Equifax Small Business are the three most major business credit bureaus.
  • Understand the basics of business credit. You can study how to develop business credit from the ground up when you’re ready. This will assist you in quickly establishing business credit.

Read Also: Small Business Management Effective Tips For Success

How to Quickly Establish Business Credit

The first step in keeping your business and personal money separate is to establish credit in your company’s name. Here are five easy ways to help you acquire company credit quickly.

Step 1: Select the Appropriate Business Structure

You must choose a business structure, such as an LLC, LLP, or corporation, to make your company a separate legal entity. Remember that a sole proprietorship is not a separate legal entity.

After you’ve created your business entity, the next step is to register it. This phase is based on the structure of your company and where it is located.

Check out the SBA’s Business Guide for more information on choosing the correct structure for your business and registering it.

Step 2: Obtain a Federal Tax Identification Number (ITIN) (EIN)

Using the IRS support tool, you can apply for a federal tax ID for free. This is a nine-digit number that is assigned to your business and that you will use to file company tax returns, create a business bank account, apply for licenses and permits, and apply for business credit.

Related Post: Business Acquisition Loans

Step 3: Open a Bank Account for Your Business

You’ll need to open a business bank account for your firm once you obtain your federal tax ID. This is a necessary step in establishing a clear distinction between business and personal costs.

Your banking contacts are critical to your company’s ability to raise funds. Your business bank account not only serves as a bank reference on credit applications but also supplies vital information that lenders utilize during the funding approval process.

Step 4 – Establish Credit with Reporting Vendors/Suppliers

Applying for net terms with vendors and suppliers is one of the simplest ways to develop business credit.

Credit purchases and payments are reported to company credit reporting agencies when you buy supplies, inventory, or other goods on credit.

Your company’s credit profile and business credit report are created as a result of this activity. A business credit rating (score) is generated after many trade lines have been reported.

Remember to choose vendors and suppliers who are registered with a business credit reporting bureau. Each of your business relationships can potentially be utilized as a trade reference on future loan applications.

Step 5: Keep an eye on your company’s credit reports

Because there are three primary business credit reporting agencies, keeping track of each of your company’s credit files is critical. Each agency gathers information from a variety of sources and may have different details about your business.

The good news is that each business credit agency offers a method for you to update basic information about your company. If you find any obsolete or erroneous information, you should contact the agency to have it corrected.

You may be able to secure better credit approvals, interest rates, and payback conditions on loans and lines of credit if you have a good business credit record.

Establishing a diverse set of accounts with different sorts of business credit, such as a business credit card or line of credit, is just as crucial. Allow these five basic measures to act as a starting point for establishing your company’s credit.

Companies That Help Build Business Credit

If you want to begin or expand your company’s credit profile, you must have business accounts reported to at least one business credit bureau. Because business lenders are not required to report credit to business credit bureaus, you must seek out lenders who do.

Here are companies and services that can help you build business credit for your company. 

1. Credit Strong

Credit Strong Business offers a credit-builder account. The credit builder account is a cash-secured installment loan you can take out to build your business credit profile. The account has no upfront deposit requirement and comes with five- and 10-year plans available. You can close the account early at any time without any fees or penalties. 

2. eCredable

eCredable Lift is a paid service you can use to add your company’s bill payments to its business credit reports. 

Once you sign up, you can link up to eight types of utility accounts, including your electric, gas, mobile phone, and internet accounts. They can be automatically connected and reported to the business credit bureaus. 

You can also manually add other types of common business expenses, such as vendor accounts, rent, insurance, leases, and legal services. eCredable will manually review the accounts before reporting them.

FAQs On How To Build Business Credit

What amount of business credit do you begin with?

Personal credit scores range from 300 to 850, with most lenders requiring a score of at least 600 to qualify for a personal loan. Most small business loan institutions require a minimum business credit score of 75. Business credit scores range from zero to 100.

How long does it take to build business credit?

Building corporate credit can take three years or more, according to experts, while certain creditors may just demand one year. These procedures will help you get started if you’re looking to create a credit for a new business.

How long does it take for business credit to show up on your credit report?

Reportable purchases can take up to 30 days to appear on a business credit report. This is true regardless of whether they had a good or bad payment experience.

How long does it take to have a credit score of 700?

To develop enough credit history for a FICO credit score, which is used in 90% of loan decisions, it will require around six months of credit activity. 1 FICO credit ratings range from 300 to 850, with a score of 700 or more being considered good. A score of 800 or more is considered exceptional.

Conclusion

Your business credit is just as crucial as your personal credit. Although establishing business credit has no bearing on your personal life, it can make or ruin your business.

As a result, you’ll find it easier to make informed and confident judgments if you examine our 10 credit-building tactics and learn the basics of what business credit is, how it works, and why it’s vital.

Although establishing and building credit takes time, it is well worth the effort. When you have a good credit history, it will always work to your advantage.

References

We Also Recommend

Leave a Reply
You May Also Like