A business credit file records company credit activity. Lenders and suppliers may use it to assess creditworthiness. The Small Business Administration says reports can include payment history and public records. Owners can weigh this information alongside small-business cash flow.

Talk with a Lyft Capital financing specialist about your options.

To interpret a score fairly, first separate what belongs to the business from what may still be considered about its owner. Those records can overlap in a financing review, but they are not the same file, and different providers may use different scoring models.

What Is a Business Credit Score, and How Is It Different from Personal Credit?

A business credit score is a signal of how a company has handled credit and financial obligations. Lenders, suppliers, and other credit grantors may use business credit reports to assess a company’s creditworthiness. Those reports can draw on payment history, public records, company details, and information about accounts that report activity. The Small Business Administration explains what a small-business credit report can show.

A company credit profile is distinct from its owner’s consumer credit file. Personal credit applications generally identify an individual through a Social Security number. Business applications may use company identifiers such as an Employer Identification Number (EIN) or D-U-N-S number. A business may develop its own credit identity, so its credit record can provide information about the company rather than relying only on an owner’s personal history. The SBA describes these differences in its guide to business and personal credit.

That separation does not mean the owner’s credit is irrelevant. For a new business with limited company history, financing decisions may also draw on the owner’s personal credit. The SBA notes that loan eligibility for a new business is typically based on its owner’s personal credit score. As the business builds its own track record, lenders can consider company-level information too. Which records matter, and how much weight each receives, depends on the lender and financing product.

Credit is only one part of understanding a company’s financial position. Payment records can offer clues about how obligations are managed, while business cash flow helps show how money moves through daily operations. Owners looking at the broader picture can learn more about managing small-business cash flow.

This article focuses on what business scores represent and how they may be used, not a step-by-step credit-building plan. For practical guidance on building a separate business credit profile when personal credit is a concern, see our dedicated guide.

Which Business Credit Bureaus and Score Models Should Owners Know?

There is no single business credit score that every lender or supplier uses. The U.S. Small Business Administration explains that creditors may rely on different reports and scoring models depending on the reporting agency. Two scores for the same company may measure risk differently. A number from one bureau should not be treated as equivalent to another bureau’s score.

The major business reporting agencies owners commonly encounter include Dun & Bradstreet (D&B), Experian, and Equifax. They gather and verify company information through their own processes, so a report or score can differ across providers. The table summarizes what can be said about each without assuming that their models share a scale.

Business credit reporting providers and score interpretation

Provider	What owners should know	How to interpret a score
Dun & Bradstreet	D&B offers PAYDEX, a score focused on payment performance.	PAYDEX runs from 1 to 100; D&B describes 80 or higher as low risk. This interpretation applies to PAYDEX, not to other bureaus’ scores.
Experian	The SBA identifies Experian as a business credit reporting agency.	Do not assume a score uses the PAYDEX scale. Check the specific Experian report or model guidance.
Equifax	The SBA identifies Equifax as a business credit reporting agency.	Do not assume a score uses the PAYDEX scale. Check the specific Equifax report or model guidance.

The SBA notes that business scoring models are not standardized and that lenders, suppliers, and other creditors use different reports and models. It also explains that reporting agencies have their own data collection and verification processes. D&B describes PAYDEX as a measure of payment performance, with its own 1-to-100 scale and risk interpretation. These are provider-specific details, not a universal definition of a strong business credit score.

When reviewing a report, note the provider and model alongside the score. Comparing that score with another provider’s number without checking the underlying scale can be misleading. Focus on the report details and how a particular lender or supplier says it uses them.

What Factors Can Affect a Business Credit Score?

A business credit score reflects information in a company’s credit file, not only whether bills were paid on time. The file may include payment activity, account details, company information, history, and public records. The Small Business Administration (SBA) says payment history and public records help describe how a company meets obligations. The SBA notes that agencies collect and verify information differently. (SBA)

Common information in a business credit file may include:

• Payment history: Invoice activity, late payments, collections, and account age. Payment terms and credit limits may also appear.
• Balances and accounts: Outstanding balances and reporting accounts can show how the company uses credit. Not every supplier or lender may report.
• Company profile: Registration details, ownership, sales, employee information, industry classification, and business history may identify the company.
• Public records: A file may include liens, judgments, bankruptcies, UCC filings, or other legal filings.

These details are not necessarily present in every report. A supplier may not report payment activity, and a bureau may collect or verify data differently from another. As a result, a thin file can reflect limited reporting coverage rather than a complete picture of how the business manages its obligations.

There is no single business-credit formula. Lenders and suppliers use different agencies and models, so the same company’s information may be weighted differently. The SBA explains that no standard business scoring model exists. Creditors select reports and models based on their needs. (SBA) A score is one interpretation of a file, not a universal verdict. Review the underlying report for missing accounts or incorrect company details.

How Is a Business Credit Score Explained in a Financing Review?

There is no single business credit score that every lender requires. Lenders and suppliers use different reporting agencies and scoring models. A score that matters to one financing provider may not translate directly to another provider’s scale or cutoff. The U.S. Small Business Administration confirms that there is no standard business credit scoring model. It also notes that a new business’s loan eligibility is typically based on its owner’s personal credit score, while an established company can have its own financial history.

Lyft Capital’s criteria vary by product. Check the requirements for the option you are considering:

• Business Loans: Lyft Capital lists a 600 credit score, at least two hundred fifty thousand dollars in annual revenue, and two years in business.
• Revenue-Based Financing: Lyft Capital lists no minimum credit score, while requiring at least two hundred thousand dollars in annual revenue and six months in business, subject to review.
• Equipment Financing: Lyft Capital lists a 600 credit score and two years in business.

These are product-specific criteria, not universal benchmarks or guarantees of approval. Meeting a listed minimum does not ensure financing. Falling short of one product’s score does not mean every option is unavailable. Revenue-Based Financing has no listed minimum score, but applicants are still reviewed against the stated product criteria and their business circumstances.

A published score threshold does not tell you which credit file or model a provider will use. Ask which credit information matters for the product you are considering. This may include business revenue or time in operation. Lyft Capital’s business loan requirements provide more context. The SBA also explains why credit models vary.

How Do Lenders Use Business Credit Alongside Cash Flow?

Lenders may use a business credit report to understand how a company has handled obligations, but a score is only one part of a financing review. Depending on the lender and product, evaluation can also include repayment capacity, cash flow, bank history, payment record, owner credit, capital invested, assets, liabilities, and financing purpose. There is no single checklist used by every lender.

The U.S. Small Business Administration describes repayment capacity in terms that can include positive cash flow, bank history, payment history, and additional cash sources or reserves. It also notes that lenders may look at both the owner’s personal credit report and the company’s business report. These details help put a score in context. A report can signal past payment patterns, while current financial information can show whether a proposed payment fits the business today. See the SBA’s overview of factors lenders may consider.

Other parts of the request can matter too. A lender may consider the amount the owner has invested, the business’s debt relative to its equity, or collateral, depending on the financing structure. A business credit report may also inform the amount of credit or funding offered and the repayment terms, but methods vary by provider. For a broader look at the application picture, review these business loan requirements lenders review.

Talk with a financing specialist about options for your business.

Product fit also changes which factors carry weight. Lyft Capital’s Revenue-Based Financing is revenue-focused and has no minimum credit score requirement. Applicants still need to meet the stated revenue and time-in-business minimums, and all applications are subject to review. That is different from saying credit is irrelevant or that funding is guaranteed. Learn more about revenue-based financing options, or compare alternative lenders and banks to understand how approaches can differ. Rather than focusing only on whether a score is high or low, consider how the lender assesses the whole business and whether the product’s repayment structure fits its cash flow.

How Can You Check and Build Business Credit Responsibly?

Start with a clear picture of what is actually in your company’s files. The SBA recommends monitoring business reports and notes that copies may be available from Experian, Equifax, Dun & Bradstreet, and smaller reporting services. Because agencies use different data and scoring models, reviewing more than one report can help you spot differences rather than treating one score as the whole story. A report can include company details, account information, payment history, and public filings, so review the underlying entries as well as the score.

1. Request and review company reports. Check the major business reporting agencies for a report under your company’s name. The SBA recommends monitoring both personal and business reports; a new business may have limited company history, so keep the owner’s credit file in view as well. See the SBA’s guidance on establishing and monitoring business credit.
2. Verify the profile and address inaccuracies. Compare the legal business name, address, registration details, accounts, balances, and payment history against your records. If information is wrong or outdated, contact the reporting agency and ask how to submit a correction with supporting documentation. Keep copies of your request and any response for your records.
3. Ask vendors whether they report. Before relying on a supplier account to appear in a business credit file, ask which reporting agencies receive its payment data, if any. Reporting practices differ, and opening an account alone does not ensure that a payment history will show up in every report.
4. Pay obligations as agreed and keep monitoring. Make payments by their due dates when possible, and review reports periodically for new errors or unfamiliar activity. The SBA notes that reports can include payment history and account details, but no single action guarantees a score increase or a particular timeline.

For more on creating a distinct company profile, read our guide to building a separate business credit profile. Keep expectations practical: steady, accurate records are more useful than chasing a promised score change.

Talk with Lyft Capital about funding options for your business.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good score for business credit?

There is no universal business-credit score range because bureaus and lenders use different models. For example, Dun & Bradstreet’s PAYDEX score runs from 1 to 100, and D&B describes scores of 80 or higher as low risk for payment performance. That interpretation applies to PAYDEX, not every bureau’s score. Dun & Bradstreet explains its credit scores.

How does my LLC get a credit score?

An LLC can build a business credit file by establishing its business identity and having relevant account and payment information reported to business credit bureaus. A separate file is not automatic just because the company is registered, and the information available can differ by bureau. The SBA explains how a business can establish its own credit identity in its business credit guide.

Do credit scores alone determine if I get credit?

No. A lender may consider business and owner credit histories alongside repayment capacity, cash flow, bank history, capital, collateral, and other application details. The SBA describes these as factors lenders can evaluate, so a score by itself does not establish approval or denial. See the SBA’s overview of business credit factors.

Can I get a business loan with a 400 credit score?

It depends on what kind of score you mean, the lender’s model, and the rest of your application. Business scoring systems are not standardized, and some financing options weigh business revenue and repayment capacity differently from a traditional loan. Ask a financing specialist which criteria apply to the specific product; no score by itself guarantees approval.

Ready to Discuss Your Financing Options?

A business credit score is one part of the picture, and understanding which funding options fit your circumstances can help you plan a practical next step. To discuss financing options and request pre-approval, get started with Lyft Capital’s online application.