3 Things People Get Wrong About Business Credit

It's terrifying to see how many people have no idea how credit works, even business owners. According to a recent survey, it has been estimated that about 72% of small business owners do not know what their business credit score is. They then wonder why they can't get approved for a loan. The truth is that business credit and personal credit have very significant differences, and you must know what these are if you want to get a chance at building it. Let's take a look at some of the things people don't understand about business credit.

Personal and Business Credit Are Different, but Not Completely Separate

Yes, it is true that your personal and business credit are different and are measured based on different criteria. However, that doesn’t mean that your personal credit is completely irrelevant to you as a business owner. For instance, if you're a sole proprietor, chances are lenders will look at your personal credit to see how well you handle your personal finances. Many lenders will look at your personal credit no matter what, so you will have to think about improving your personal credit before improving business credit.

Lenders Only Care About Established Businesses

That is not true. While it's true that you will need to be able to show some signs of activity, you don't need to be in business for years to get business financing. You don't need to have a perfect credit score either. Many lenders understand the needs of the current market and will look beyond credit history to see if you're eligible.

Some, for instance, will pay more attention to signs of growth and health. They might look at your cash flow, for instance, and see in which direction your business is going. Also, the reason for which you decide to take out a loan will make a difference. Anything that contributes to the growth of the business will be seen more favorably. So, don’t expect a lender to lend you money for fancy office renovation if you’re not established yet. 

Business Loans Are the Only Way

That is another thing many business owners aren't aware of, but there are options outside of business loans, and some of them work even if you have bad or no credit. One of these is invoice factoring. 

If you have lots of accounts receivables, you could borrow against them. A lender will give you a portion of the money owed and will collect the invoice for the full amount. This could be a great option if you don't have great credit as it's the client's credit that will count the most. 

Another option would be to offer collateral. If you have any equipment you think holds value, then it could be used as collateral, even things like inventory or vehicles. So, make sure that you speak with a lender that offers these types of loans and see which type of assets they would accept.

These are just some of the things people don’t quite understand about business credit. By knowing these, you’ll already be ahead of a lot of your competitors and may be able to take advantage of opportunities they are oblivious to.