... / 90 Day Blueprint... / Personal vs. Business Credit

Both credit files matter, but they run on different rules and scales. Understanding the split helps you plan which score to strengthen first.

• Personal credit tracks consumer debts on the 300-850 FICO scale.
• Business credit tracks vendor invoices, leases, and loans on scales such as D-&-B PAYDEX (0-100) and Experian Intelliscore (1-100).
• A business file can’t start until the company has an EIN and—for Dun & Bradstreet—a free D-U-N-S number.

Fast personal-credit fixes appear in Module – Quick-Win Fixes.

As the business matures, lenders start blending data, but the personal score never disappears completely.

• Banks pull personal FICO first for firms under 24 months; later they add business scores such as FICO SBSS.
• Card issuers soft-pull personal credit at application; limits and intro rates hang on that number.
• SBA 7(a) Small Loans now auto-decline if the business’s FICO SBSS is below 165 (raised from 155 on 1 June 2025). — Investopedia

Product-by-score maps live in Module – Leverage Good Credit.

Before a company turns two, it’s almost invisible to the business-credit bureaus, so lenders lean on the founder’s personal record to judge risk.

• Thin-file problem: Bureaus need at least 3–6 months of trade payments to calculate any score.
• Time-in-business hurdle: “Many lenders require a minimum time in business of two years or more.” — LendingTree
• Personal guarantees: “Most lenders require a personal guarantee on business loans.” — NerdWallet

Need help pulling reports? Module – How to Check Your Credit Scores for Free will walk you through the exact links.

You can start a business credit file the same week you incorporate—long before you need a loan—by following a simple checklist.

1. Apply for an EIN and D-U-N-S number (both free).
2. Open a business checking account in the company name.
3. Establish at least three Net-30 vendor lines that report (e.g., Uline, Grainger, Quill).
4. Use a starter business credit card that reports to Experian Business.
5. Pay every invoice early; Dun & Bradstreet rewards payments made 15 days before due.

Vendor application links and a 90-day payment calendar appear in Module – Build Positive History.

Bad information slows founders down. Here are the facts.

• Myth: Forming an LLC instantly separates business and personal credit.
  Fact: Separation starts only after trade lines post under your EIN.
• Myth: A personal credit freeze hurts business credit.
  Fact: They live in different databases.
• Myth: You must borrow large amounts to build business credit.
  Fact: Even a $50 office-supply invoice paid early boosts PAYDEX.

Free score-monitoring tools are covered in Module – Keep the Momentum.

Until your company builds at least two years of spotless payments, lenders will lean on your personal credit. Keep that score healthy, start vendor lines now, and you’ll graduate to business-only underwriting much sooner.