Business credit scores explained: PAYDEX, Experian and Equifax
Edited by Moe Ameen · Published
The three business credit bureaus score differently. Dun & Bradstreet's PAYDEX runs from 1 to 100, and D&B calls 80 to 100 low risk of late payment. Experian's Intelliscore Plus also runs from 1 to 100, where 100 is the lowest risk. Equifax groups businesses into risk classes 1 to 5, and its Business Failure Score runs about 1,000 to 1,610.
Key takeaways
- PAYDEX runs 1 to 100, and Dun & Bradstreet calls 80 and up low risk.
- Experian's Intelliscore Plus runs 1 to 100, and higher means lower risk.
- Equifax uses risk classes 1 to 5; its Business Failure Score runs about 1,000 to 1,610.
- Business scores are separate from your personal FICO Score, which runs 300 to 850.
What is a PAYDEX score?
PAYDEX is Dun & Bradstreet's payment score, from 1 to 100. D&B calls 80 and above low risk of late payment.
| PAYDEX | Dun & Bradstreet's category |
|---|---|
| 80 to 100 | Low risk of late payment |
| 50 to 79 | Moderate risk |
| 0 to 49 | High risk of late payment |
To have a PAYDEX at all, your business needs a D-U-N-S Number. Dun & Bradstreet issues one free, and the free process usually takes up to 30 business days [6].
What is Experian's business credit score?
Experian's Intelliscore Plus runs from 1 to 100, where 1 is high risk and 100 is low risk.
Experian says scores on business entities range from 1 to 100, with 1 representing high risk and 100 low risk [2]. It runs the same direction as PAYDEX, so higher is better on both.
Does Equifax have a business credit score?
Yes. Equifax's US business scores include a Business Delinquency Score and a Business Failure Score, each grouped into risk classes 1 to 5.
Equifax describes risk classes 1 through 5 for both scores [3]. Equifax's own US pages we read don't list numeric ranges, but NerdWallet and Credit Karma both put the Business Failure Score at about 1,000 to 1,610 [7][8]. Their figures for Equifax's other business scores differ, so we don't repeat those.
How is a business credit score different from a personal one?
Business scores track your company's file at the business bureaus. Your personal FICO Score runs from 300 to 850 and weighs payment history most.
| FICO factor | Weight |
|---|---|
| Payment history | 35% |
| Amounts owed | 30% |
| Length of credit history | 15% |
| New credit | 10% |
| Credit mix | 10% |
FICO Scores themselves range from 300 to 850 [4]. For the amounts-owed part, see credit utilization.
How do I start building business credit scores?
Get a D-U-N-S Number, then use accounts that say on their own sites that they report to the bureaus, and pay them on time.
Not every account helps. When we checked 14 vendors' own websites, only 5 named the bureaus they report to. The full list is in vendor accounts that report.
Glisten check
What each bureau publishes about its own score
| Bureau | Score | Published range | Higher means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dun & Bradstreet | PAYDEX | 1 to 100 [1] | Lower risk of late payment |
| Experian | Intelliscore Plus | 1 to 100 [2] | Lower risk |
| Equifax | Business Delinquency and Business Failure Scores | Failure score about 1,000 to 1,610 [7][8]; risk classes 1 to 5 [3] | Not stated |
Equifax's own US pages don't list a numeric range. NerdWallet and Credit Karma agree on the Business Failure Score range, so we show theirs [7][8].
Is this right for you?
Best for
- Owners reading their first business credit report.
- Anyone comparing what each bureau's number means.
Not ideal for
- Predicting what a specific lender will decide. Lenders set their own criteria.
- Personal credit questions. Start with the personal credit guides.
Frequently asked questions
Is a PAYDEX of 80 good?
Dun & Bradstreet puts 80 to 100 in its low-risk category for late payment [1].
Is 100 the best Experian business score?
Yes. Experian says 100 represents the lowest risk on its 1 to 100 scale [2].
What range does the Equifax business score use?
Equifax groups businesses into risk classes 1 to 5 [3]. NerdWallet and Credit Karma put its Business Failure Score at about 1,000 to 1,610 [7][8].
How much does a D-U-N-S Number cost?
Nothing. Dun & Bradstreet says there's no cost, and the free process usually takes up to 30 business days [6].
How we know this
On October 28, 2026 we read each bureau's own pages describing its business scores, plus myFICO for the personal FICO Score. Where a bureau didn't publish a figure for the US, we say so instead of borrowing one from another country's documents.
- D&B credit scores and ratings, Dun & Bradstreet. Checked October 28, 2026.
- Business credit glossary, Experian. Checked October 28, 2026.
- Commercial scoring contributors (PDF), Equifax. Checked October 28, 2026.
- What is a FICO Score?, myFICO. Checked October 28, 2026.
- What's in my FICO Scores?, myFICO. Checked October 28, 2026.
- Get a D-U-N-S Number, Dun & Bradstreet. Checked October 28, 2026.
- Equifax business credit report, NerdWallet. Checked October 28, 2026.
- What are the business credit bureaus?, Credit Karma. Checked October 28, 2026.