How commercial credit scores work
Different bureaus, different scales, different inputs.
Different bureaus, different scales
There is no single "business credit score". Each commercial bureau maintains its own file and its own scale, and a number from one tells you very little about another.
| Bureau | Typical scale | Weighted toward |
|---|---|---|
| Creditsafe | 0–100 | Payment behaviour, company age, financial strength |
| Equifax Business | 0–650 | Payment history, credit utilisation, public records |
| Dun & Bradstreet | 0–100 (PAYDEX) | Supplier payment timing |
Because the scales differ, we always show the scale next to the number and chart each bureau as its own line. Comparing a 78 on one scale to a 78 on another is meaningless.
What moves the number
- Payment timing. The dominant input. Paying before the due date scores better than paying on it.
- Number of reporting tradelines. A file with one account is thin and scores conservatively.
- Utilisation. High balances against limits read as strain.
- Public records. Liens, judgments, and filings weigh heavily and persist.
- Company age and size. Not something you can act on, but it is in the model.
What does not move it
Checking your own report does not affect your score. Neither does paying a subscription to any service, including this one.