What factors impact D&B scores and ratings?

For those who think all you need to do to qualify for business funding is an 80 Paydex score... think again! An 80 Paydex score is easy to achieve — requiring just three on-time payments to three different suppliers that will report to D&B. But the Paydex is just one of six scores and ratings in your company's credit profile, and there are a lot more factors impacting the other five.

There are six D&B scores and ratings presented in your commercial credit report:

• Paydex Score

• Delinquency Predictor Score

• Financial Stress Score

• Supplier Evaluation Risk Rating

• D&B Rating

• D&B Viability Rating

The above scores and ratings will impact many things, such as:

• whether you'll get approved for commercial credit cards and loans

• what interest rates you'll pay if you are approved

• whether you'll be required to act as a personal guarantor

• whether you'll qualify for contracts, grants, or public projects

• whether suppliers will extend new or increase existing credit lines

• whether creditors will come knocking on your door with offers

It's important to know what specific factors impact those D&B scores and ratings.

As an example, while the Paydex score is generated by just three payments — did you know that the Paydex is more impacted by Net term payments that by CODs or those auto-drafted from your bank or credit card? Or that payments flagged as being 60 or 90 days past due will carry a heavier weight than those paid on time? Or that D&B may not add payments if they don't meet a specific criteria?

Some scores are impacted by factors you can manipulate by providing accurate information to D&B about your business, such as your start date, since most businesses become less prone to risk as they age. An accurate SIC code is incredibly important, as well, since some industries are riskier than others. (I once had a florist who was identified as a nuclear facility because she had the word "atomic" in her business name.)

There are other factors that you'll have no control over, such as whether your company is located in a region that has been impacted by outside forces, such as weather, violence, or economic hardship, but you CAN make sure D&B knows your business hasn't been negatively impacted by those hardships, or that the impact was minimal.

You also can't control whether your suppliers are in higher risk industries or regions, or whether using a specific group of vendors may make your company look more risky that others — but you can reverse the impact by providing additional vendors and suppliers to D&B who can verify a more well-rounded payment history.

I'm not going to provide the full list of all 75 factors that impact your D&B scores and ratings, but can certainly reach out if you have any questions or need assistance. Consultations and initial assessments are always provided free of charge.