Equifax®, Experian® and TransUnion® are the three major credit reporting agencies. The companies are also referred to as credit bureaus and consumer reporting agencies. They compile credit reports. They’re different from credit-scoring companies, such as FICO® and VantageScore®.

It’s weird to think you might need credit to build credit. True. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t options. Things such as secured credit cards and credit-builder loans might help if you’re trying to establish credit. But only if you use them responsibly.

Credit scores are complicated, but having no credit doesn’t mean your credit score is zero—or that it will be near zero when you start to build credit. There’s a difference between having no credit and having bad credit.

There are no quick fixes or shortcuts when it comes to boosting your credit score. But if you’re using credit responsibly, you’re on the right track. If you want an idea where you stand, you can use a tool like CreditWise from Capital One. It’s free to all—whether you’re a Capital One customer or not. And using it to check your credit won’t hurt your score. So it’s perfect for tracking your progress.

The short answer is no. Building credit takes time. And while there may be trustworthy credit counselors who can help you, beware of credit repair scams and companies that promise to boost your credit overnight.