Business credit scores run on different scales depending on who is grading you: Dun & Bradstreet's PAYDEX runs 1–100, Experian's Intelliscore Plus and Equifax's business risk scores run roughly 1–100 as well, and the FICO Small Business Scoring Service (SBSS) runs 0–300. There is no single "good number" the way there is with a personal FICO score. What matters is which score a given lender pulls and where you land inside that scale. This guide breaks down every major range, what each band signals to a lender, the score you actually need for common types of financing, and—critically—what to do when your score is not where you want it yet.
Key takeaways
- Business credit uses multiple scales: PAYDEX and the Experian/Equifax risk scores run about 1–100, while FICO SBSS runs 0–300.
- A PAYDEX of 80 means you pay on time; above 80 means you pay early — it measures payment timing, not debt.
- FICO SBSS is the score most banks and the SBA use, and it blends your business data with your personal FICO.
- SBA 7(a) small loans are often prescreened around an SBSS in the low 140s; many banks set a higher bar.
- Revenue-based financing and MCA marketplaces weigh bank deposits and monthly revenue more than credit score.
- A revenue-based marketplace can typically consider FICO 500+, minimums near $10,000, and funding often in 24–48 hours (never guaranteed).
- Trade-line and payment improvements usually appear within one to three reporting cycles — months, not years.
The Four Business Credit Scores and Their Ranges
Unlike personal credit, where nearly everyone talks about the same 300–850 FICO scale, business credit is fragmented across several bureaus and models. A lender may pull one, two, or all of them. Knowing which scale you are being judged on is the first step to reading your own file correctly.
| Score | Provider | Range | Higher number means | What it primarily measures |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PAYDEX | Dun & Bradstreet | 1–100 | Better (pays early) | How promptly you pay vendors and suppliers |
| Intelliscore Plus | Experian | 1–100 | Lower risk | Overall likelihood of serious delinquency |
| Business Credit Risk / Delinquency Score | Equifax | Roughly 1–100 (risk) and 101–992 (failure) | Lower risk | Delinquency and business-failure probability |
| FICO SBSS | FICO | 0–300 | Lower risk | Blended business + owner personal credit, used heavily by banks and the SBA |
Two things trip people up. First, direction is not universal: on PAYDEX a high number is simply prompt payment, while on the risk models a high number means low risk—different logic, same “higher is better” outcome. Second, the SBSS score blends your business data with your personal credit, which is why a strong-revenue business with a thin file can still score low if the owner's personal FICO is weak.
Dun & Bradstreet PAYDEX Score Ranges
PAYDEX is the score most vendors and suppliers check, and it is unusual because it is driven almost entirely by payment timing rather than by debt levels or credit utilization. A PAYDEX of 80 means you pay on the due date; scores above 80 mean you pay early. To even have a PAYDEX you generally need a D-U-N-S Number and at least a few trade lines reporting to D&B.
| PAYDEX range | Risk signal | What it says about payment behavior |
|---|---|---|
| 80–100 | Low risk | Paying on time to early (0 to 30 days ahead of terms) |
| 50–79 | Moderate risk | Paying up to roughly 30 days past terms |
| 1–49 | High risk | Paying 30 to 120+ days past terms |
The practical takeaway: to build a strong PAYDEX, you do not need to carry debt—you need active vendor accounts that report, paid on or before the due date. Many owners raise a PAYDEX faster than any other score simply by opening a few net-30 supplier accounts and paying them a little early.
Experian and Equifax Business Score Ranges
Experian's Intelliscore Plus and Equifax's business scores are risk models: they estimate the probability that your business becomes seriously delinquent or fails. Both lean on a wider set of inputs than PAYDEX—trade lines, public records, company size and age, and industry risk.
| Range | Experian Intelliscore Plus tier | Rough interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 76–100 | Low risk | Strong file; approvals and better terms are likely |
| 51–75 | Low-to-medium risk | Generally fundable, sometimes with conditions |
| 26–50 | Medium-to-high risk | Approvals tighten; expect higher cost of capital |
| 1–25 | High risk | Many traditional lenders decline |
Equifax reports two related figures: a Business Credit Risk Score (about 1–100, predicting delinquency) and a Business Failure Score (about 101–992, predicting closure within a year). Because each bureau weights inputs differently, it is normal to look “good” on one and “fair” on another in the same month. Lenders know this, which is why many pull more than one.
FICO SBSS: The Score Banks and the SBA Actually Use
If you plan to apply for a bank term loan, a business line of credit, or an SBA 7(a) loan, the FICO Small Business Scoring Service (SBSS) is the score that most often decides your fate. It runs 0–300 and blends your business credit data with the owner's personal credit and business financials into one number.
| SBSS range | Typical outcome |
|---|---|
| Roughly 160–300 | Above the common bank/SBA prescreen cutoff; strongest approval odds |
| Roughly 140–159 | Often the SBA 7(a) small-loan prescreen threshold; borderline for banks |
| Below ~140 | Frequently screened out before a human ever reviews the file |
The SBA has historically used a minimum SBSS around the low 140s to prescreen 7(a) small loans, and individual banks often set their own cutoff higher. Because SBSS pulls in personal credit, a strong personal FICO can carry a young business over the line—and a weak personal FICO can sink an otherwise healthy one. Treat your personal and business credit as one connected system.
What Score Do You Actually Need? Requirements by Funding Type
The honest answer is that the score you need depends entirely on the product. Bank and SBA loans are score-driven and slow; revenue-based products care far more about your deposits and cash flow. The table below shows realistic, for-example expectations rather than promises—every lender sets its own bar.
| Funding type | Score emphasis | Typical personal FICO floor (for example) | Speed to funding (for example) |
|---|---|---|---|
| SBA 7(a) loan | SBSS + personal FICO heavily weighted | ~650–680+ | 3–8 weeks |
| Bank term loan / line of credit | Business + personal credit, financials | ~660+ | 2–6 weeks |
| Equipment financing | Credit plus the equipment as collateral | ~600+ | 2–10 days |
| Revenue-based financing / MCA marketplace | Bank deposits and monthly revenue first; credit is secondary | ~500+ | Often 24–48 hours |
This is why a business owner with a mid-500s personal score and a thin business file can be declined by a bank yet approved through a revenue-based lender the same week: the two are grading fundamentally different things.
When Revenue Matters More Than the Score
Revenue-based financing and merchant cash advance (MCA) marketplaces flip the usual order of importance. Instead of leading with your credit score, they lead with your bank-deposit history and monthly revenue—how consistently money moves through your business account. A revenue-based marketplace can typically consider businesses with a personal FICO around 500 or higher, minimum funding amounts near $10,000, and turnaround often in 24–48 hours once documentation is in.
What underwriters focus on in this model:
- Average monthly revenue and deposit frequency — steady daily or weekly deposits signal stable cash flow.
- Time in business — several months of operating history is often enough, versus years for a bank.
- Negative days and overdrafts — frequent negative balances weigh more heavily than a middling credit score.
- Existing advances or positions — already carrying an advance does not automatically disqualify you.
No responsible funder can promise approval, and no offer is ever guaranteed—terms depend on your actual numbers. But for owners whose credit score does not yet reflect a healthy, revenue-generating business, this route often turns a “no” from the score models into a workable “yes.” A marketplace approach also lets one application reach multiple funders, so you can compare rather than accept the first offer.
How to Check and Build Each Score
You cannot improve a range you cannot see. Business scores, unlike personal ones, are not free by federal law, but you can access them directly from each bureau or through paid monitoring. Here is the practical build order most owners can follow.
- Get a D-U-N-S Number. It is free from Dun & Bradstreet and is the foundation for a PAYDEX file.
- Separate business and personal finances. Form an LLC or corporation, get an EIN, and open a dedicated business bank account—this also strengthens the deposit history revenue-based lenders review.
- Open reporting trade lines. Net-30 vendor accounts that report to the bureaus build PAYDEX quickly when paid early.
- Pay early, not just on time. On PAYDEX, early payment is the only way to score above 80.
- Keep utilization sensible and public records clean. Liens, judgments, and collections drag Experian and Equifax risk scores hardest.
- Protect your personal FICO. Because SBSS blends it in, personal credit is effectively part of your business credit for bank and SBA purposes.
Most trade-line and payment improvements show up within one to three reporting cycles, so building business credit is measured in months, not years—faster than most owners expect.
Common Myths About Business Credit Score Ranges
- “There's one business credit score.” There are several, on different scales, and lenders choose which to pull.
- “A high number always means low risk.” On PAYDEX a high number just means prompt payment; the risk interpretation belongs to the Experian, Equifax, and FICO models.
- “My personal credit doesn't matter once I have an EIN.” It matters a great deal—SBSS and most small-business lenders still weigh the owner's personal FICO.
- “I need years of history to get funded.” Bank and SBA loans favor history, but revenue-based options can work with months of steady deposits.
- “Carrying debt builds business credit.” Reporting trade lines paid on time build it; unnecessary debt does not.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good business credit score?
It depends on the scale. On Dun & Bradstreet's PAYDEX (1–100), 80 or above is strong. On Experian's Intelliscore Plus and Equifax's risk scores (roughly 1–100), the mid-70s and up signal low risk. On FICO SBSS (0–300), roughly 160+ clears most bank and SBA prescreens. There is no single universal 'good number.'
What business credit score do I need for an SBA loan?
SBA 7(a) small loans are commonly prescreened with a FICO SBSS score in the low 140s, and individual banks often want higher. Because SBSS blends in your personal credit, a personal FICO around 650–680 or better meaningfully improves your odds. These are typical examples, not guarantees.
Can I get business funding with a low credit score?
Yes, through revenue-based financing or an MCA marketplace, which weigh your bank-deposit history and monthly revenue more than your score. These lenders can often consider a personal FICO around 500 or higher, with minimum funding near $10,000 and turnaround frequently in 24–48 hours. No funder can guarantee approval—terms depend on your actual numbers.
Why are my Experian, Equifax, and Dun & Bradstreet scores different?
Each bureau uses its own model, scale, and data. PAYDEX measures payment timing, while Experian and Equifax estimate delinquency and failure risk from a broader set of inputs. It is normal to look strong on one and only fair on another in the same month, which is why lenders often pull more than one.
Does my personal credit affect my business credit score?
For several key purposes, yes. The FICO SBSS score—used by many banks and the SBA—blends your business data with your personal FICO. Most small-business lenders also check the owner's personal credit, so the two behave as one connected system rather than fully separate files.
How long does it take to build business credit?
Faster than most owners assume. After you have a D-U-N-S Number and reporting trade lines, payment improvements typically appear within one to three reporting cycles—months, not years. Revenue-based lenders can also work with just several months of steady bank deposits.
How do I check my business credit scores?
Business scores are not free by federal law, but you can buy them directly from Dun & Bradstreet, Experian, and Equifax, or through paid monitoring services. Start by claiming or requesting a free D-U-N-S Number, which anchors your Dun & Bradstreet file and your PAYDEX score.
Is a merchant cash advance the same as a loan?
No. A merchant cash advance or revenue-based financing is a purchase of future receivables or revenue, not a traditional term loan, so underwriting centers on cash flow and deposits rather than credit score. A marketplace lets one application reach multiple funders so you can compare offers instead of accepting the first one.
