D-U-N-S® Number: What is it and does your business need one?
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), that can be used to identify a single business entity and help establish business credit.
But you might be wondering, does your business need a D-U-N-S Number? If so, how do you get one? Keep reading to learn more.
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 or vendors may access your D-U-N-S Number to understand 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.
What is a D-U-N-S Number?
A D-U-N-S Number for a business is akin to a Social Security number (SSN) for a person—a unique identifier. D-U-N-S Numbers are nine digits long and assigned by D&B—one of the three major business credit bureaus.
A D-U-N-S Number is linked to a D&B business credit report and profile, which can give an accurate picture of a business’s financial health. Different parties may access a business’s D-U-N-S Number, such as:
- Lenders
- Potential business partners
- Vendors
- Suppliers
What information does a D-U-N-S Number provide?
Once D&B assigns a D-U-N-S Number, a business profile is created in the database. This profile includes some of the following business information:
- Company name
- Company address
- Company phone number
- Type of business
- Number of employees
- Payment history
This information shows companies that are considering working with you how creditworthy your business is.
Who needs a D-U-N-S Number?
Typically, businesses aren’t required to have a D-U-N-S Number. But if you’re bidding on federal, state or local contracts, you may need one to secure a contract. This identifier can help you establish and build your business credit score. This is because once you have a D-U-N-S Number, payment activities are reported to the business credit bureaus, generating a PAYDEX business credit score. And having a good business credit score can be helpful when you’re trying to obtain funding or insurance because it generally leads to lower rates.
How to get a D-U-N-S Number?
Getting a D-U-N-S Number is free, unless you choose to expedite your request. Nonexpedited requests typically take up to 30 business days to process, while expedited requests—which cost $229—usually take up to eight business days. The process typically entails:
- Make sure your business doesn’t already have a D-U-N-S Number by using the D-U-N-S Number Lookup tool to verify that your business isn’t in the database.
- If your business isn’t in the database, you can follow the prompts on the D&B website. Or you can apply over the phone by calling 1-866-705-5711.
- Some information that may be required is your business’s legal name, address and contact phone number, type of industry, legal structure, number of employees and the name of the business owner, president or CEO.
- Once you have entered all of the required information, you can check out. If you don’t choose the expedited request, there’s no charge.
- If there are any further questions, a representative from D&B may contact you to finish processing your request. Otherwise, you can expect to receive your D-U-N-S Number via email.
D-U-N-S Number FAQ
Here’s more information about D-U-N-S Numbers:
How do I get my D-U-N-S Number?
You can apply for a D-U-N-S Number using Dun & Bradstreet’s online application request. If you need to find an existing D-U-N-S Number, you can use D&B’s D-U-N-S Number Lookup tool by providing your business’s legal name or phone number.
Is a D-U-N-S Number the same as an EIN?
While they’re both nine-digit identification numbers, an EIN—employer identification number—is different from a D-U-N-S Number. Unlike a D-U-N-S Number, an EIN is issued by the IRS to identify a business for tax purposes. On the other hand, D-U-N-S Numbers are issued by D&B and are attached to a business’s credit profile.
What is a D-U-N-S Number used for?
A D-U-N-S Number can be used by parties such as lenders, suppliers, vendors and potential business partners to better understand the overall financial health of a business.
What is a D-U-N-S Number for an LLC?
Most business structures, including LLCs, can get a D-U-N-S Number, and the application process is the same. Other business structures that can obtain a D-U-N-S Number include large corporations, partnerships, sole proprietors and S-Corps.
And if you’re looking to establish and build credit for your LLC, obtaining a D-U-N-S Number is a good starting point. You might also consider looking into credit cards for your LLC to build your business’s credit scores.
Key takeaways: D-U-N-S Numbers
Having a D-U-N-S Number is a way business partners, lenders, suppliers and vendors can learn more about your business and make decisions based on the information 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.
And having a creditworthy business can potentially open up more opportunities and lead to more favorable lending terms. If you’re looking to improve your business’s credit, you might also consider a business credit card. Check out Capital One’s business credit cards to find one that meets your needs.
