Business Credit Building Steps
Are you a small business owner? Have you been dreaming of expanding your empire, but struggle to finance new investments due to a lack of credit history? Having established business credit can open the doors to more competitive financing options and lower interest rates. The good news is that there are steps that you can take to build your business credit profile — no matter how established (or not!) your business may be. In this post, I’ll walk through exactly what you need to do in order to get started on creating a healthy financial foundation for your company.
Establish a business entity, such as an LLC or corporation
Establishing a business entity can provide a range of benefits for entrepreneurs, from asset protection to tax savings. There are several different types of entities available that can suit the specific needs of any business; LLCs, S-Corporations, and C-Corporations are all popular choices. Depending on the size and scope of a business, each type of entity offers important advantages for founders to consider. As such, it is important for entrepreneurs to think carefully about their particular goals and circumstances before choosing an entity type to ensure they receive the most benefits legally possible.
Open a business bank account with a reputable financial institution
Opening a business bank account with a reputable financial institution is an important step for any small business owner. Doing so provides numerous benefits such as security, convenience, and professional representation when managing finances. Not to mention that it can give you peace of mind knowing that your funds are secure in an account separate from your personal one. Delving into the world of finance and money management can be overwhelming for many people, but having the support of an expert in the banking sector will undoubtedly make the process easier and more efficient. Therefore, if you own a small business or are starting one up, opening a business bank account with a reputable financial institution is essential if you want to ensure the success of your venture.
Apply for a business credit card and make sure to pay the bill on time and in full each month
Having a business credit card is an important part of running a successful business. Applying for a business credit card is easier than ever and can help you keep up with expenses, build your credit, and take advantage of rewards like cash back. Although it could be important to take advantage of the benefits these cards offer, it’s even more important to remember to make payments on time and in full each month. This could potentially help protect your business credit score and ensure that you don’t fall behind on business credit card payments, assuming the card reports to the business credit bureaus. Plus, most business credit cards offer late fee waivers if you’re responsible enough to pay off the balance every month.
Get vendor lines of credit to purchase items needed for your business operations
Purchasing items needed for business operations can be expensive and often must be done quickly. With a vendor line of credit, you can take advantage of more attractive terms, like reduced setup costs and lower rates than those available to individuals. Unlike traditional loans, there is no collateral needed. This makes it easier to obtain additional funds fast when times are tough. Keeping a buffer of access to capital gives businesses the financial flexibility they need to grow their operations and remain competitive in today’s market. Apply for a vendor line of credit as soon as possible and give your business the edge it needs.
Using services like Dun & Bradstreet to track your credit score/report
Keeping track of your credit score is essential to maintaining a healthy financial portfolio. Doing so not only helps you keep an eye on potential breaches, but it also makes sure that your credit report accurately reflects your financial status. To ensure this, it is important to use services such as Dun & Bradstreet which provide easy and straightforward access to view your current credit score and run any needed reports. This can help you identify and address any discrepancies quickly. Utilizing these tools could also potentially enable you to capitalize on loans or accounts offering advantageous rates for those with good business credit ratings. All in all, staying up-to-date with the services provided by Dun & Bradstreet are key elements to maintaining a healthy financial profile.
Work with other businesses that provide goods or services that you need – build relationships and negotiate payment plans
Connecting with other businesses to expand your services or obtain goods is an excellent way to grow and optimize your own business. The process of building relationships and having conversations that end with a payment plan in place should be taken seriously. When forming new connections with other organizations, you can determine the terms, products purchased, quantity of items, delivery date and scheduled payments for those goods or services. All these details are essential for both companies to benefit from the agreement. Additionally, ensuring quality control of any products being exchanged is also critical for a successful relationship between two businesses. A well-negotiated deal will provide satisfaction to both parties as it sets up an organized system and creates trust.
Starting a business is exciting and daunting, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Understanding the importance of establishing a business entity, opening a bank account, using credit cards and lines of credit responsibly, and leveraging relationships are all key steps to achieving your goals. Taking the time to research and set up these items may seem onerous in the short-term, but they will pay off in ways you never anticipated in the long run. Through proper planning and diligence, you can ensure success for yourself, your business partners, and your customers. So take the time now to plan ahead — create systems that will protect you and help propel your ideas into reality!
If you’d like to compare business credit services, feel free to check out our business credit services comparison page today!
