Where your credit stands shapes the funding options open to you. Here is how lenders look at it, how to check yours, and where to get help if it needs work.
Credit is one of the first things a lender reviews. It helps them judge how you have handled borrowing before.
Tied to you as the owner. For newer businesses, it is often the main credit lenders review, and many options ask for a personal guarantee.
Tied to your company and its EIN. It builds as your business pays vendors, cards and loans on time, and it matters more as you grow.
Payment history, how much of your available credit you use, recent inquiries, any collections or public records, and how long your accounts have been open.
Every lender sets its own standards. These groups are general, not a promise of any outcome.
Start with your own report. Checking your own credit does not affect your score.
Our IdentityIQ link offers a $1, 7-day trial with your reports and scores, so you can see what lenders will see. You stay in control and can share it with us when you are ready.
Trial terms are set by IdentityIQ. Review them before you sign up.
How credit building works and how it connects to funding.
Short definitions for words like utilization, hard inquiry and personal guarantee.
Free download. What lenders commonly ask for, so you can prepare.
Free download. Red flags to watch for, including in credit repair pitches.
A free walkthrough for reading your report line by line and spotting possible errors.
A free guide to filing a dispute yourself with the credit bureaus.
Want to hear when new guides go live? Join our list on The Grove page.
If your report needs work, our partner ASAP Credit Repair can help you manage the process.
A credit repair service typically reviews your reports with you, helps you identify items that may be inaccurate or unverifiable, prepares and tracks disputes with the bureaus and creditors, and offers guidance on habits that support healthy credit. Results vary, and you decide whether to use the service and which items to dispute.
You also have the right to dispute errors yourself, directly with the credit bureaus, at no cost. No one can legally remove accurate, timely negative information.
We may earn a referral fee if you sign up. It does not change what you pay or how we treat your funding request.
When your credit is ready, me and my team are here to look at funding options with you.
Deeper, paid credit learning is on the way.
Step-by-step lessons on personal and business credit for owners getting ready for funding. Join the waitlist to hear first.
It depends on the lender and the type of funding. Some options lean heavily on personal credit, while others weigh business revenue, collateral or invoices more. There is no single number that works everywhere, which is why we look at your whole picture before suggesting a path.
Personal credit follows you as an individual and is tied to your Social Security number. Business credit is tied to your company and its EIN and is reported by business credit bureaus. Newer businesses are often judged mostly on the owner's personal credit, and business credit grows in importance over time.
No. Checking your own credit is a soft inquiry and does not affect your score. A hard inquiry happens when a lender reviews your credit for a decision, and there are no hard credit pulls to start with us.
Yes. You have the right to dispute inaccurate or incomplete information directly with the credit bureaus and the companies that reported it, for free. A credit repair service is optional and can help you organize and manage that process if you prefer.
No one can legally remove accurate, timely information from a credit report. A legitimate service can help you dispute errors, understand your report and build better habits. Be cautious of anyone who promises specific results.
That is common, and it is a good place to start. Check where you stand, work on the items that matter most, and stay in touch. Me and my team are happy to look again whenever you feel ready.
No pressure and no hard credit pulls to start. Tell us where your business stands, and we'll walk the options together.
