Establishing business credit and separating it from your personal credit is crucial for maintaining financial health and growing your business. Here’s how you can do it:
Steps to Establish Business Credit
- Incorporate Your Business
- Forming an LLC, corporation, or partnership helps separate your personal and business finances. Sole proprietorships do not provide this separation.
- Obtain an EIN (Employer Identification Number)
- An EIN is like a Social Security number for your business, allowing you to open a business bank account and apply for business licenses.
- Open a Business Bank Account
- Use this account for all business-related transactions to avoid mixing personal and business finances.
- Register with the Business Credit Bureaus
- Ensure your business is registered with major credit bureaus like Dun & Bradstreet, Experian Business, and Equifax Business.
- Establish Net 30 Accounts
- Net 30 accounts are essential for building your credit profile. These vendors report your payment history to the credit bureaus.
Net 30 Accounts
Establishing Net 30 accounts with vendors is a great way to build business credit.
- NAMYNOT
- Offers a variety of products and reports to credit bureaus[1].
- Office Garner
- Specializes in office supplies, electronics, apparel, etc., requiring at least a 30-day business history[1].
- Summa Office Supplies
- Provides office supplies and reports to various credit bureaus[1].
Tier 1 Business Credit Accounts
Tier 1 accounts are easier to obtain and are suitable for businesses just starting to build credit.
- CEO Creative
- Offers Net 30 terms to newly established businesses[2].
Tier 2 Business Credit Accounts
Tier 2 accounts usually require more robust business credit profiles and offer higher credit limits.
- Digital Honey
- Provides a thorough list of Tier 1 and Tier 2 vendors that can boost your business credit[2].
Additional Resources
For further reading, you can explore the following sources:
- Nav: Net 30 Vendors[1]
- Startup Savant: Easy-Approval Net 30 Accounts for Startups[1]
- Nav: Vendors That Can Help You Build Business Credit[1]
- Digital Honey: Tier 1 Business Credit Vendors[2]
By following these steps and utilizing these resources, you can effectively build and separate your business credit from your personal credit, helping pave the way for a financially healthy business.