ENHANCE YOUR BUSINESS PLAN
Corporate Credit Score.
CORPORATE CREDIT SCORE FOR SMALL BUSINESS, HOW DOES IT WORK?
The preparation and maintenance of a corporate credit profile enables the business owner to build corporate credit. Since businesses are ranked and rated in different ways by a variety of organizations, it’s helpful to know the basics and the differences between them.
registering for a D&B Paydex score
When registering for a D&B Paydex score, make certain that the registration information matches with the Secretary of State in the state in which the company was filed. For example, if your company was filed in Wyoming, and also filed in Florida, then make certain that both states report the same information as what you place on the registration. That applies to all information, such as your name as Director, all officer positions, address of the company, etc.
Since there are many companies filed with similar names, DNB doesn’t like inconsistent or confusing information. Your first step to make certain all data reflecting your company is the same from the Secretary of State to the local business license. You must receive mail at that address. And the Director and officers must truly be involved in the day-to-day operations of the business.
Dun and Bradstreet (DNB.com) grants a score to a business that represents how prompt payments are made to creditors. Paydex defines this for business in terms of a number, such as a credit score. 0 is the lowest score and 100 is the highest. By looking up the Paydex score, a supplier or vendor consider in establishing a trade line with any business. A score of 75 is a reasonably good score. So, there you have it, Paydex is a credit score for business.
Issues Involving a Paydex Score
D&B Credit Report
Creditors run a D&B Business Credit Report to check your Paydex score and history. This is to confirm your business, you and what you're doing. The D&B Business Credit Report is not used to approve the credit line. It's used as means to confirm identity.
Tracking
Paydex is calculated and monitored daily whereas your personal credit history is tracked monthly. This means that if you pay a business line of credit a day late, this will negatively impact your Paydex score.
Paydex Score Over 80
A Paydex score of over 80 means that your business pays early. This is a plus, but not necessary because no one requires a score of over 80. Striving for a score of over 80 won't help your business.
Paydex Score Of 80
A Paydex score of 80 means that your business pays everything on time and you're not one day late.
Paydex Score Of 70
75 is a good Paydex score. Some lenders require at least a 70 Paydex score. Anything less than 65 seldom results in any lines of credit.
Below is a table of payment behavior and a corresponding Paydex score:
- Score: 100 = Pay every business credit bill as anticipated.
- Score: 90 = Pay every business credit bill at discount
- Score: 80 = Pay every business credit bill on time, "prompt"
- Score: 77 = Pay every business credit bill 5 days late.
- Score: 74 = Pay every business credit bill 9 days late.
- Score: 70 = Pay every business credit bill 15 days late.
- Any score below 70 is a "no-no"
- As you see from the above, choose your score by choosing how you pay every business credit bill. If you pay everything promptly, then you'll obtain a business credit score of 80. Don't be late, even for one day. The first few accounts establish this Paydex score. Other will follow as you maintain this score of 80 by paying everything promptly.
Create Paydex Scores
You need to create a few Paydex scores. So, let's pick a few vendors known for fast reporting. This means you need to buy something from them over $50 to create the debt, and then pay it on time. And don't be one day late! The following vendors report your Paydex score immediately. When ordering, ask for a Net 30 account. This means you must pay within 30 days. A couple of cash orders may be necessary prior to them providing a Net 30 account. If that's the case, then pay cash for the items, and then follow up on more orders and then request a Net 30 account. This is what you need to prepare:
- Ask for a Net 30 account (business account).
- The business address and mailing address of your business. Yes, that means that by the time you reached this point, your business address and phone number for the business was established. The billing address of the phone service matches up with the business address. And the business address matches up with the local business license, if any, and the information reflected with the Secretary of State.
- Decide if the shipping address is the same as the billing address of the company.
- Your name as contact for the company.
- The items you're ordering.
- If they say no, this means that a few cash orders are necessary before they consider a Net 30 account (pay within 30 days).
- If approved, ask for the account number. Keep a folder on your relationship with each vendor in paper or on your computer.
- Provide identification if they require it. This takes the form of a driver's license for yourself. Forms of identification for a business may be a business card, a local business license, articles of incorporation, company check, or credit card with the name of the business.
- Order at least $50 from each supplier so the transaction is reportable to Dun & Bradstreet.
- If the sales person asks if you would like to pay by credit card, decline and then ask for a NET 30 account. Since they ask you how this will be paid, always ask for a NET 30 account. When they say no, this means a few orders may be necessary (paying cash or credit card) prior to establishing the NET 30 account.
- Once these accounts are established, continue to order from them so you can continue to build your Paydex score of 80 as you pay everything on time. Remember, you can't be one day late!
- Here are the providers:
D&B Rating, PAYDEX®, and Score Tables* - United States
* NOTE:
D&B Rating Interpretation Table
The US 5A to HH ratings reflect company size based on net worth or equity as computed by D&B. These ratings are assigned to businesses that have supplied D&B with current financial information.
The 1R and 2R ratings categories reflect company size based on the total number of employees for the business. They are assigned to business files that do not contain a current financial statement. For 5A to HH Ratings, the Composite Credit Appraisal is a number between 1 and 4 that makes up the second half of the company’s Rating and reflects an overall assessment of creditworthiness. Our creditworthiness assessment is based on both payments and financial stability. In 1R and 2R Ratings, the 2, 3, or 4 creditworthiness indicator is based on analysis by D&B of public filings, trade payments, business age and other important factors. 2 is the highest Composite Credit Appraisal a company not supplying D&B with current financial information can receive.
Financial Strength
Composite Credit Appraisal
| Rating | US$ | High | Good | Fair | Limited |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5A |
50,000,000 and over |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
|
4A |
10,000,000 to 49,999,999 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
|
3A |
1,000,000 to 9,999,999 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
|
2A |
750,000 to 999,999 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
|
1A |
500,000 to 749,999 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
|
BA |
300,000 to 499,999 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
|
BB |
200,000 to 299,999 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
|
CB |
125,000 to 199,999 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
|
CC |
75,000 to 124,999 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
|
DC |
50,000 to 74,999 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
|
DD |
35,000 to 49,999 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
|
EE |
20,000 to 34,999 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
|
FF |
10,000 to 19,999 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
|
GG |
5,000 to 9,999 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
|
HH |
Up to 4,999 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Rating Classification
Composite Credit Appraisal
| Rating | Number of Employees | High | Good | Fair | Limited |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1R |
10 employees and over |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
|
2R |
1 to 9 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Alternative Ratings Used
| Limited | |
|---|---|
|
INV |
Indicates that D&B is currently conducting an investigation to gather information for a new report. |
|
DS |
Indicates that the information available does not permit D&B to classify the company within our rating key. |
|
-- (blank) |
The blank symbol should not be interpreted as indicating that credit should be denied. It simply means that the information available to D&B does not permit us to classify the company within our rating key and that further enquiry should be made before reaching a decision. Some reasons for using a "-" symbol include: deficit net worth, bankruptcy proceedings, lack of insufficient payment information, or incomplete history information. |
|
ER |
Certain lines of business, primarily banks, insurance companies and government entities do not lend themselves to classification under the D&B Rating system. Instead, we assign these types of businesses an Employee range symbol based on the number of people employed. No other significance should be attached to this symbol. ERN should not be interpreted negatively. It simply means we do not have information indicating how many people are employed at this firm. |
|
NQ |
Not Quoted. This is generally assigned when a business has been confirmed as no longer active at the location, or when D & B is unable to confirm active operations. It may also appear on some branch reports, when the branch is located in the same city as the headquarters. |
| US Employee | Range Designation |
|---|---|
|
ER1 |
1000 or more employees |
|
ER2 |
500 to 999 employees |
|
ER3 |
100 to 499 employees |
|
ER4 |
50 to 99 employees |
|
ER5 |
20 to 49 employees |
|
ER6 |
10 to 19 employees |
|
ER7 |
5 to 9 employees |
|
ER8 |
1 to 4 employees |
|
ERN |
Not Available |
D&B Score Interpretation Table
| D&B PAYDEX Score | Payment Habit |
|---|---|
|
100 |
Anticipate |
|
90 |
Discount |
|
80 |
Prompt |
|
70 |
15 days beyond terms |
|
60 |
22 days beyond terms |
|
50 |
30 days beyond terms |
|
40 |
60 days beyond terms |
|
30 |
90 days beyond terms |
|
20 |
120 days beyond terms |
|
UN |
Unavailable |
D&B PAYDEX Value Table
| PAYDEX | Average Days to Pay |
|---|---|
|
100 |
30 days sooner than terms |
|
99 |
29 days sooner than terms |
|
98 |
28 days sooner than terms |
|
97 |
27 days sooner than terms |
|
96 |
26 days sooner than terms |
|
95 |
25 days sooner than terms |
|
94 |
24 days sooner than terms |
|
93 |
23 days sooner than terms |
|
92 |
22 days sooner than terms |
|
91 |
21 days sooner than terms |
|
90 |
20 days sooner than terms |
|
89 |
18 days sooner than terms |
|
88 |
16 days sooner than terms |
|
87 |
14 days sooner than terms |
|
86 |
12 days sooner than terms |
|
85 |
10 days sooner than terms |
|
84 |
8 days sooner than terms |
|
83 |
6 days sooner than terms |
|
82 |
4 days sooner than terms |
|
81 |
2 days sooner than terms |
|
80 |
ON TERMS |
|
79 |
2 days beyond terms |
|
78 |
3 days beyond terms |
|
77 |
5 days beyond terms |
|
76 |
6 days beyond terms |
|
75 |
8 days beyond terms |
|
74 |
9 days beyond terms |
|
73 |
11 days beyond terms |
|
72 |
12 days beyond terms |
|
71 |
14 days beyond terms |
|
70 |
15 days beyond terms |
|
69 |
16 days beyond terms |
|
68 |
17 days beyond terms |
|
67 |
18 days beyond terms |
|
66 |
19 days beyond terms |
|
65 |
19 days beyond terms |
|
64 |
19 days beyond terms |
|
63 |
20 days beyond terms |
|
62 |
21 days beyond terms |
|
61 |
22 days beyond terms |
|
60 |
22 days beyond terms |
|
59 |
23 days beyond terms |
|
58 |
24 days beyond terms |
|
57 |
25 days beyond terms |
|
56 |
26 days beyond terms |
|
55 |
26 days beyond terms |
|
54 |
27 days beyond terms |
|
53 |
28 days beyond terms |
|
52 |
29 days beyond terms |
|
51 |
29 days beyond terms |
|
50 |
30 days beyond terms |
|
49 |
33 days beyond terms |
|
48 |
36 days beyond terms |
|
47 |
39 days beyond terms |
|
46 |
42 days beyond terms |
|
45 |
45 days beyond terms |
|
44 |
48 days beyond terms |
|
43 |
51 days beyond terms |
|
42 |
54 days beyond terms |
|
41 |
57 days beyond terms |
|
40 |
60 days beyond terms |
|
39 |
63 days beyond terms |
|
38 |
66 days beyond terms |
|
37 |
69 days beyond terms |
|
36 |
72 days beyond terms |
|
35 |
75 days beyond terms |
|
34 |
78 days beyond terms |
|
33 |
81 days beyond terms |
|
32 |
84 days beyond terms |
|
31 |
87 days beyond terms |
|
30 |
90 days beyond terms |
|
29 |
93 days beyond terms |
|
28 |
96 days beyond terms |
|
27 |
99 days beyond terms |
|
26 |
102 days beyond terms |
|
25 |
105 days beyond terms |
|
24 |
108 days beyond terms |
|
23 |
111 days beyond terms |
|
22 |
114 days beyond terms |
|
21 |
117 days beyond terms |
|
20 |
120 days beyond terms |
|
1 to 19 |
Over 120 days beyond terms |
Financial Stress Score
Financial Stress Score
| Financial Stress Class | Financial Stress Score Range | Percentile Score Range | Incidence of Financial Stress |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
1377-1875 |
21-100 |
0.49% |
|
2 |
1353-1376 |
11-20 |
1.37% |
|
3 |
1303-1352 |
5-10 |
3.73% |
|
4 |
1225-1302 |
2-4 |
8.30% |
|
5 |
1001-1224 |
1 |
35.80% |
“0” generally denotes indication of open bankruptcy or out of business at the location. “0”may also denote higher risk situations.
The Incidence of Financial Stress -National Average for all firms in the United States in D&B’s file is 1.4%.
The Incidence of Financial Stress shows the percentage of firms in a given Class that discontinued operations over the past year with loss to creditors. The Incidence of Financial Stress-National Average represents the national failure rate and is provided for comparative purposes. All Financial Stress Class, Percentile, Score and Incidence statistics are based on 2001.
Commercial Credit Score
Commercial Credit Score
| Commercial Credit Score | Credit Score Percentile | Credit Score Class | Incidence of Delinquency |
|---|---|---|---|
|
536-670 |
91-100 |
1 |
2.5% |
|
493-535 |
71-90 |
2 |
4.8% |
|
423-492 |
31-70 |
3 |
12.9% |
|
376-422 |
11-30 |
4 |
24.2% |
|
101-375 |
1-10 |
5 |
58.8% |
Incidence of Delinquent Payment Assignment Table
| Minimum Score | Maximum Score | Incidence of Delinquent Payment |
|---|---|---|
|
96 |
100 |
2.1% |
|
91 |
95 |
2.9% |
|
86 |
90 |
3.6% |
|
81 |
85 |
4.4% |
|
76 |
80 |
5.2% |
|
71 |
75 |
6.1% |
|
66 |
70 |
7.3% |
|
61 |
65 |
8.7% |
|
56 |
60 |
10.5% |
|
51 |
55 |
12.2% |
|
46 |
50 |
13.9% |
|
41 |
45 |
15.5% |
|
36 |
40 |
17.2% |
|
31 |
35 |
18.4% |
|
26 |
30 |
20.2% |
|
21 |
25 |
22.5%
|
|
16 |
20 |
24.6% |
|
11 |
15 |
29.6% |
|
6 |
10 |
44.9% |
|
1 |
5 |
72.7% |
Delinquent Payment
The Incidence of Delinquent Payment for all firms in the United States in D&B’s file is 17.3%.
The Incidence of Delinquent Payment shows the percentage of firms in a given percentile range that paid in a delinquent manner (90 + days past terms) over the past year. The Incidence of Delinquent Payment among all firms in D&B’s files represents the national delinquency rate and is provided for comparative purposes. All Commercial Credit Class, Percentile, Score and Incidence statistics are based on 2001.
