Form a legal business entity
Obtain an EIN from the IRS
Open a business bank account
Set up a dedicated business phone number and address
Register with business credit bureaus
Get a D-U-N-S number
Apply for vendor accounts that report to credit bureaus
Use trade credit and pay invoices early
Obtain a business credit card
Keep personal and business finances separate
Maintain good payment history
Keep credit utilization low
Monitor business credit reports regularly
Update business information consistently across records
Build relationships with lenders and suppliers
Avoid late payments, defaults, and collections