US Business Credit Building
Market Express coordinates US business credit building for foreign-owned LLCs. Build credit history separate from your personal credit to access financing, trade credit, and lower interest rates.
What is US Business Credit?
Business credit is a credit history and score assigned to your LLC (not you personally). It's separate from your personal credit and is used by lenders, suppliers, and creditors to evaluate your business's creditworthiness.
Unlike personal credit (FICO score 300-850), business credit is tracked by:
- Dun & Bradstreet (D&B): PAYDEX score 0-100 (80+ is excellent)
- Experian Business: Intelliscore Plus 0-100
- Equifax Business: Business Credit Risk Score 101-992
For foreign-owned LLCs, building US business credit is essential for accessing capital and supplier terms without relying on personal guarantees.
Why Foreign Vendors Need US Business Credit
- Access financing without personal guarantees or collateral
- Get approved for business credit cards with higher limits
- Qualify for net-30 or net-60 payment terms with US suppliers
- Lower interest rates on business loans and lines of credit
- Separate business debt from personal finances
- Build credibility with US banks and lenders
- Lease equipment or commercial real estate
- Protect personal credit from business liabilities
How to Build US Business Credit (Step-by-Step)
Establish Business Identity
Form Nevada LLC, obtain EIN from IRS, open US business bank account, get US business phone number
Get a DUNS Number
Apply for free Dun & Bradstreet DUNS number (9-digit business ID used by creditors)
Open Starter Credit Accounts
Apply for "net-30" vendor accounts that report to credit bureaus (Uline, Grainger, Quill, etc.)
Make On-Time Payments
Use credit accounts and pay invoices on or before due date (builds payment history)
Apply for Business Credit Cards
Once you have 3-6 months of trade credit history, apply for business credit cards (Amex, Chase Ink, etc.)
Establish Strong Credit Profile (6-12 months)
With consistent payment history, qualify for larger credit lines, loans, and favorable terms
Credit Building Service Partners
Market Express coordinates with business credit specialists to help you build credit faster:
Dun & Bradstreet (D&B)
- • Free DUNS number application
- • Business credit monitoring
- • CreditBuilder Plus (optional paid service)
- • PAYDEX score tracking
Nav / Credit Monitoring
- • Free business credit monitoring
- • Credit score tracking (all 3 bureaus)
- • Credit-building recommendations
- • Loan and credit card matching
Starter Vendor Accounts
- • Uline (industrial supplies)
- • Grainger (MRO supplies)
- • Quill (office supplies)
- • Fleet credit cards (gas stations)
Business Credit Cards
- • American Express Business Cards
- • Chase Ink Business Cards
- • Capital One Spark Business
- • Bank of America Business Advantage
Business Credit Building Timeline
- Month 0-1: Form LLC, get EIN, open bank account, apply for DUNS number
- Month 1-3: Open 3-5 starter vendor accounts (Uline, Grainger, etc.), make small purchases
- Month 3-6: Pay invoices on time, build payment history, monitor credit reports
- Month 6-9: Apply for business credit cards, expand credit mix
- Month 9-12: Qualify for larger credit lines, business loans, and favorable supplier terms
Total: 6-12 months to establish strong business credit profile
Benefits of Strong Business Credit
Lower Interest Rates
Strong business credit (PAYDEX 80+) qualifies you for prime interest rates on loans and credit cards, saving thousands in interest.
Higher Credit Limits
Access $50K+ credit lines without personal guarantees. Scale your business without tying up personal credit.
Net-30/60 Terms
Qualify for extended payment terms with suppliers. Improve cash flow by delaying payment 30-60 days.
No Personal Guarantee
Protect personal assets. Strong business credit eliminates need for personal guarantees on most credit.
Important Information
- Coordination Service: Market Express coordinates with credit-building partners but does not provide credit directly
- Prerequisites Required: Must have Nevada LLC, EIN, US bank account, and US business phone before starting credit building
- Takes Time: Building strong business credit takes 6-12 months of consistent payment history
- Personal Guarantee May Be Required Initially: First business credit cards may require personal guarantee until business credit is established
- Monitor Regularly: Check business credit reports quarterly to identify and correct errors
Ready to Build US Business Credit?
Market Express coordinates business credit building services for foreign vendors. Access financing and supplier terms without personal guarantees.