What is a D-U-N-S® Number for business?

The Data Universal Numbering System—or D-U-N-S Number for short—is a unique nine-digit number provided by Dun & Bradstreet (D&B). It’s widely used to help establish and build business credit, verify a company’s legitimacy and qualify for loans, partnerships or government contracts. It also enables lenders and partners to assess a business’s reliability.

Keep reading to learn whether it’s time for your business to acquire a D-U-N-S Number.

What you’ll learn:

• A D-U-N-S Number is a nine-digit number assigned by D&B as a way to identify businesses. 

• Lenders, business partners, suppliers and vendors may use your D-U-N-S Number to access information about your business’s credit history and financial health.

• You can get a D-U-N-S Number for your business by using D&B’s online application or via phone.

A D-U-N-S Number is nine digits long and is like a fingerprint for your business—it’s used to identify and track companies worldwide. 

D-U-N-S Numbers are assigned by D&B—a major business credit bureau—and are linked to a D&B business credit report and profile, which can give an accurate picture of a business’s financial health. 

Information tied to a business’s D-U-N-S Number may be accessed by different parties, such as:

• Potential lenders

• Prospective business partners

• Vendors

• Suppliers

Once D&B assigns a D-U-N-S Number, a business profile is created in its database. This profile includes some of the following business information:

• Business name, address and phone number

• Business type and number of employees

• Business payment history

This information shows companies considering working with you how creditworthy your business may be.

A D-U-N-S Number can be essential for establishing business credibility. It can help you secure loans, build business credit and access better business terms.

Below are reasons why a business may need a D-U-N-S Number:

• To help others assess your business’s financial strength: Prospective lenders, suppliers, vendors and business partners often use D-U-N-S Numbers to get a clearer picture of a business’s financial strength.

• To qualify for certain contracts: Though businesses aren’t required to have a D-U-N-S Number, it’s often required when bidding on federal, state or local contracts.

• To build your business’s credit score: A D-U-N-S Number can help you establish and build your business credit score. That’s because once your number is assigned, your payment activity is reported to business credit bureaus. This helps establish your PAYDEX® business credit score.

• To improve creditworthiness and qualify for better rates: Creditworthiness plays a key role for businesses seeking a line of credit or insurance, as it can lead to lower rates.

• To secure better vendor terms: A good business credit score may also lead to more favorable payment terms with vendors. It may give you additional time to pay invoices after receiving goods and services, which can go a long way toward improving cash flow management.

• To keep your business and personal credit separate: Beyond establishing business credit, a D-U-N-S Number also helps keep your business and personal credit profiles separate. So you won’t have to rely on your personal credit when applying for a business credit card or seeking funding. And, if you plan to deduct business expenses during tax season, you’ll need to keep your business and personal finances clearly separated, as mandated by the IRS.

The D-U-N-S Number application process is the same for all businesses, regardless of size, and it takes a few simple steps:

1. Check whether your business already has a D-U-N-S Number: Use the D-U-N-S Number Lookup tool to see whether your business is already in the database.

2. Apply if your business isn’t listed: If your business isn’t in the database, you can follow the prompts on the D&B website. Alternatively, you can apply by phone at 866-705-5711.

3. Provide your business information: You’ll need to share details such as your business’s legal name, address, contact phone number, industry type, legal structure, number of employees and the name of the business owner, president or CEO.

4. Submit your application: Once you have entered all the required information, you can submit your application. If you don’t choose expedited processing, there’s no charge.

5. Receive your D-U-N-S Number: If D&B requires additional information, a representative may contact you. Otherwise, you can expect to receive your D-U-N-S Number via email.

No, a D-U-N-S Number and an EIN—employer identification number—aren’t the same; each serves a different purpose. Here’s how they compare:

Almost any legally registered business can apply for a D-U-N-S Number, but it’s commonly needed to establish credit for:

• LLCs

• Large corporations

• Partnerships

• Sole proprietors

• S corporations

Still wondering about a D-U-N-S Number for your business? Below are some frequently asked questions.

Having a D-U-N-S Number enables business partners, lenders, suppliers and vendors to learn more about your business and make more-informed decisions based on what’s shown in your D&B credit profile. Obtaining a D-U-N-S Number is also a way to build your business’s credit score and prove your creditworthiness.

If you’re looking to build or improve your business’s credit, a business credit card may be the right tool. With Capital One Business cards, you can see whether you’re pre-approved before applying, with no impact on your personal credit score.