How to Build Credit as a Small Business in 3 Steps

Whether you're just starting your business, or you've been in operation for years, developing a business line of credit could be the most critical step in taking your business to the next level. While many business owners finance their businesses using their personal credit, business lines of credit can be vastly larger and superior to those offered to individuals.

The big question that many small business owners ask is: How do I establish credit for my business? Below you'll find the three steps you need to take to establish business credit.

Step 1: Ditch the Sole Proprietorship Status

Many small business owners never bother with making their businesses official business entities. Experienced entrepreneurs know, however, that operating your business as a sole proprietorship is much riskier than operating an incorporated business.

While many small business owners neglect getting a local or state business license, even more small businesses never bother to incorporate. However, establishing credit for your business means that you need to set your business up as an independent entity. Each state has different rules about how to do this, but for the most part it involves getting a federal Employer Identification Number (EIN), completing some other paperwork, and paying a few fees.

Step 2: Start With Credit From Suppliers and Vendors

Just like establishing credit as an individual, when you incorporate, your business will have no credit history. In order to qualify for substantial, and non-loan-sharky, lines of credit, you need to establish a good credit history. To do so, you should consider asking your suppliers and vendors to set up lines of credit. If you have a good history with the vendors, they will likely be willing to work with you. However, you can always offer to temporarily provide them with a form of security deposit on your line of credit.

Step 3: Pay Every Bill on Time, Every Time

Paying all bills on time from vendors, suppliers, creditors, service providers, or anyone that does business with your business, is absolutely essential to developing good credit for your business. Making late payments, missing payments, or worse, defaulting, just like for a regular person, will cause your business's credit to suffer.

Lastly, if you are trying to establish your business's credit, you can monitor your business's credit report monthly or quarterly for inconsistencies, inaccuracies, and negative marks. Oftentimes, if a negative report appears on your credit history, you can contact the creditor to resolve the report, or you can dispute the report with the credit reporting agency.

Related Resources:

• Find Business and Commercial Lawyers Near You (FindLaw's Lawyer Directory)
• What's Your FICO Small Business Credit Score? (FindLaw's Free Enterprise)
• Do You Need a Business Credit Card? (FindLaw's Free Enterprise)
• 5 Credit Card Mistakes for Small Biz to Avoid (FindLaw's Free Enterprise)