Easy Ways to Validate Your Business

Did you know that many of your current suppliers could be reporting positive payment history about your business but the information is not reaching your report? Did you know that a mismatch or lack of business information could be standing between your company and financial success? There are many easy ways to validate your business, but most business owners don't realize what's blocking their path.

We see it happen all the time. Perhaps you originally registered your company at a home address or using a registered agent's address. Without your knowledge, a corporate credit file may have been created using that address. If you open retail or credit accounts using your actual address, whether an office location or a mailing address, that information won't match what is in the credit profile. For whatever reason, your payment history will not be recognized by D&B or other credit bureaus.

 COMMOM FAQS

1. What does it mean to “validate” a business?

   Validating a business means confirming it’s legitimate and properly set up (registration, address, phone, online presence, and records) so lenders, vendors, and credit bureaus can trust it.

2. Why is business validation important for building corporate credit?

   Because many creditors and reporting agencies look for consistent, verifiable business details before they approve accounts or report payment history that helps build your business credit profile.

3. What are the easiest ways to validate my business quickly?

   Common quick wins include aligning your business name/address/phone everywhere, using a professional email/domain, ensuring your business is registered and in good standing, and confirming your listings are accurate.

4. Which business details must match across all platforms?

   Your legal/trade name, physical address, phone number, website, email, and business category should be consistent across your website, filings, directories, and any applications.

5. How can inconsistent information hurt my business credit progress?

   Mismatched details can trigger verification delays, denials, or incomplete reporting—making it harder to establish a clean, credible business identity and build strong scores.

6. How do I know if my business is fully validated?

   A good sign is when your business information is consistently found and verified across key sources, and you’re able to open vendor/credit accounts without repeated “verification” issues or documentation requests.

Oftentimes, a business may have two or more corporate credit files under different addresses, with part of the payment history flowing into one file and part into another. More often than not, the information doesn't get put into any file at all.

You can think of your credit profile like a puzzle that is missing a piece. It won't matter if you have several extra pieces (payments) to put into that spot, but if the shapes and sizes are not an exact match, they just won't fit.

When information flows into the bureaus from various auto-reporting companies, it has to be exact.  If information doesn't fit perfectly into that slot, it won't get added to your file. If the bureaus receive enough information for that other address, they may actually create a separate file instead of letting the information flow to the correct file. This is why it is so important that you insure everything matches in all your files -- not just with the bureaus, but with all your vendors, as well.

The best way to make sure all your payment history is reflecting correctly to your file is to follow a few easy steps to validate your business. That way, when the bureaus receive information about your company, the pieces will fit perfectly into the slot automatically and help to boost your credit potential.

And the best part is... most of them are free!

The most common reason why payment history does not reach your corporate file is because the data does not match what is being represented in the file. Consistency is key. If there is any question about whether "this" information should (or should not) be associated with "that" company, eliminate the question. Make everything match by validating your business.

BUSINESS VALIDATION TIPS

Check the 411 status of your company

          ~ Even if you are using a personal cellphone as your business line

          ~ Even if you are operating your business from a residential address

          ~ Don't use virtual addresses since they are not accepted as a physical location

Make sure your website is up to date

         ~ Update your "Contact us" information on your website

         ~ List all address possibilities, such as mailing address and physical locations

         ~ Update your site ownership info for your domain at www.whois.com

         ~ Use a domain-driven email address rather than Gmail, Hotmail, AOL etc.

Make sure your Secretary of State registration is up to date and accurate

         ~ Your physical location should be listed

         ~ Even if you have a registered agent, the corporate address should be listed

Use business listing offers from companies such as Yelp, YP, and BBB

         ~ Never pass up a free listing service or free advertising

         ~ Check with your local Chamber of Commerce for suggestions

         ~ Get involved with mentoring or apprentice programs

Use identical business address with all your vendors and suppliers 

         ~ Check invoices to make sure the shipping and billing addresses match

         ~ Contact your vendors or update your information online

         ~ Even something as simple as a zip code or abbreviation can make a difference

Your bank account information should match everything else

         ~ You will need to check your statements and update as needed

         ~ Banks may pull the business credit file when deciding whether to make offers

Update your social media sites

          ~ Such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Bizapedia

          ~ Search for your company, address, phone number to see what others see

Update the address on your corporate credit profile

          ~ Only your current physical location should have a credit profile

~ Branch locations need their own DUNS number, linked to the parent

          ~ Check for duplicate DUNS numbers for the same company or address 

~ Request duplicate files be merged into one corrected profile

Need help or have questions? Just give me a call. I would be happy to review your current business credit profile to see what can be done to boost your scores and ratings. I can even walk you through the process of submitting updates.

TIP: Request a free consultation and business credit assessment to see if we can help you get to the finish line faster.