D-U-N-S Number: Everything you need to know

You may have heard the term D-U-N-S^® Number and wondered whether your business needs one, and if so, when you should get one.

In this article, we’ll explain what a Dun & Bradstreet D-U-N-S Number is, the importance of a D-U-N-S Number for your business, and how to use it to build business credit.

What Is a D-U-N-S Number?

The Dun & Bradstreet D-U-N-S Number is a unique nine-digit identifier for a business created by credit bureau Dun & Bradstreet. The Data Universal Numbering System — or D-U-N-S Number — was created and copyrighted in 1962 by Dun & Bradstreet. Dun & Bradstreet is one of the three major business credit bureaus. D-U-N-S Number have become the standard numbering system to identify business entities across the globe. 

Just as your Social Security number is often tied to your bank account, tax returns, personal credit score, residences, etc., your D-U-N-S Number and business credit scores are tied to your business within Dun & Bradstreet’s system.

Your D-U-N-S Number is linked to your D&B PAYDEX^® score, which is one of Dun & Bradstreet’s credit scoring models for businesses. The D&B PAYDEX score ranges between 1 and 100 and is based on suppliers’ reports of your payment history as a business. This information is used by lenders to help assess whether your business is likely to pay small business loans or other business debts on time.

The D&B Paydex score is just one of a number of business credit scores that Dun & Bradstreet sells.

Why would your business need a D-U-N-S Number?

Here are three ways a D-U-N-S Number can help you:

1. Establish business creditworthiness. Your D-U-N-S Number is directly tied to the credit profile D&B builds on your business. In fact, before D&B can calculate a D&B PAYDEX score, you’ll need a D-U-N-S Number. When vendors or suppliers request your business credit profile to decide whether to offer your business net-30 terms or other types of trade credit, they’ll want to see a credit history. The same is true with financial institutions like banks that are evaluating applications for small business loans, business credit cards, or other other types of business financing.
2. Separate personal credit. If a lender checks business credit and does not find a credit file on your business, it may require a personal credit check. (Of course, some lenders will check personal credit, regardless of your business credit rating.)
3. Get better terms with your suppliers. If your business credit is strong, you may be eligible for trade credit. This allows you to buy supplies your business needs and pay for them later–hopefully out of cash flow. Some suppliers offer net-30 terms, and the better your credit, the better the terms you may be able to negotiate.

In the past, a D-U-N-S Number was required to register with the US government for federal contracts or grants. However, that is no longer the case. It has been replaced with a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) in the SAM registration process.

Who is Dun & Bradstreet?

Originally known as the Mercantile Agency, Dun & Bradstreet is one of America’s oldest companies. Its founder, Lewis Tappan, created it in 1841 for the purpose of helping merchants establish the creditworthiness of potential customers.

Is a D-U-N-S number the same as a federal tax ID number?

A D-U-N-S number is different from your federal tax ID number or employer identification number (EIN). A D-U-N-S Number is used for business credit reporting purposes, whereas an EIN is issued by the IRS and used for tax identification purposes. An EIN is like a Social Security number for your business, and is included on any tax documents. You may also be required to provide your EIN number for business purposes, like opening a business bank account.

How do I look up my D-U-N-S Number?

Before you apply for a D-U-N-S Number, check to see if your business already has one. You can check D&B’s website using the D&B D-U-N-S number lookup page. Here, you’ll be connected to a lookup tool that searches for your company using business information, such as company name and address, or your company’s telephone number.

How to get a D-U-N-S Number

In most cases, D-U-N-S Number are automatically created for your business after you set up business tradelines, like a vendor accounts, business credit cards, or even some small business loans.

Nav Prime can help with that: You’ll get up to two business tradelines built into your Nav Prime membership — one with your monthly Nav Prime payment and another with regular use of your Nav Prime Card.¹ These tradelines can help you both establish and build your business credit history.

You can also apply for a free D-U-N-S number proactively. Applying for a D-U-N-S Number is a simple process. Simply visit D&B’s site and follow the instructions.

It helps if you first establish your business as a legal entity (LLC, C corp, S corp, etc) with your state. When you do, you’ll provide company information, including your business legal name and those of any other business owners, your business name, the name of your business’s headquarters and address of your business, your telephone number, whether you’re a home-based business, and the number of employees at your physical location.

This information then can become part of your business credit file.

Your business doesn’t have to operate with a formal legal structure to get a D-U-N-S number. However, if you plan to form an LLC or corporation, you may want to do so before you start to begin the credit building process. That way, any accounts you get will be reported under your business name.

D-U-N-S Number is critical for credit building

Since a D-U-N-S Number is no longer required to register for federal government contracts or grants, the main reason you’ll want to apply for a D-U-N-S Number is to help your business establish business credit. 

While this is a step that you don’t want to overlook, keep in mind it’s just the first step toward establishing business credit. 

You’ll also need to get tradelines. 

In other words, you’ll need accounts that report to business credit reporting agencies like D&B. You can pay your bills on time, but if they don’t appear on your business credit reports, they won’t help you establish business credit.

Also keep in mind that Dun and Bradstreet is just one of several business credit bureaus. Many lenders and vendors report selectively to various bureaus, or to the SBFE. You’ll want to check and monitor your business credit with multiple bureaus. 

Lenders have their choice of credit bureaus; you’ll want to make sure you see what they will see.

Frequently asked questions