Credit for small business owners

How personal and business credit differ, and why your personal credit still matters.

Two kinds of credit

Your personal credit is tracked by Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Business credit is tracked separately, by companies such as Dun & Bradstreet and the business divisions of Experian and Equifax.

Personal credit still counts

Many small business loans and cards require a personal guarantee, so lenders review your personal credit. Some business cards also report to your personal credit reports.

Build business credit

Get an EIN, open a business bank account, and pay vendors and suppliers that report to business credit bureaus on time.

Keep them separate

Using separate accounts for business and personal spending makes records cleaner and protects your personal credit from business ups and downs.