Business credit scores measure a business's creditworthiness separately from the owner's personal credit — the three major bureaus are Dun & Bradstreet (PAYDEX), Experian Business (Intelliscore Plus), and Equifax Business (Business Credit Risk Score) — and they matter for loan approvals, vendor terms, and insurance rates.
Business credit scores exist to evaluate the creditworthiness of a business entity independent of its owners' personal finances. This separation is important because: (1) personal credit limits (FICO) of 850 cap potential risk differentiation; (2) business credit files capture trade-credit relationships that personal credit never reflects; (3) separating business and personal credit protects the owner from business credit events affecting personal credit and vice versa. The three major business credit bureaus operate differently from personal credit: D&B's PAYDEX (0-100, payment timing), Experian Business's Intelliscore Plus (1-100, delinquency prediction), and Equifax Business Credit Risk Score (101-992 for the risk score; 0-300 for the payment index). Each has different data contributors — a vendor might report only to D&B, another only to Experian. Monitoring all three is necessary for a complete picture. Building business credit is a deliberate process: (1) incorporate the business and get an EIN, (2) open a business bank account in the business name, (3) get a D&B DUNS number, (4) establish trade lines with suppliers that report to business bureaus, (5) get a business credit card, (6) pay everything on time. Unlike personal credit, there are no automatic or passive ways to build business credit — it requires intentional steps.
Generally no, provided you've properly separated business and personal finances (EIN, business bank account, business credit cards used only for business). Business credit events (delinquencies, liens) typically stay on business credit files. However, personal guarantees on business loans may appear on personal credit when the loan is originated, and if you personally guarantee and default, the collection can appear on your personal credit.
With deliberate action: 6-12 months to establish a meaningful score across all three bureaus. First 30-90 days: get EIN, DUNS, business bank account. Days 30-120: establish 3-5 trade lines with D&B-reporting vendors. Month 6+: consistent on-time payments produce visible PAYDEX and Intelliscore. SBA-quality business credit scores (strong enough to influence underwriting) typically take 2-3 years of consistent history.
Most lenders check both. Personal credit (FICO) is checked for owner(s) providing personal guarantees. Business credit (D&B, Experian Business, Equifax Business) is checked to evaluate the business entity's credit history. SBA loans require personal FICO 650+ for most programs. Strong business credit with weaker personal credit may still qualify for some alternative lenders that emphasize business performance.