DUNS Number: What It Is and How to Get One
Business owners can get a DUNS number for free through the business credit bureau Dun & Bradstreet.
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A DUNS number is a unique nine-digit ID assigned by the business credit bureau Dun & Bradstreet. Creditors, vendors and suppliers can look up your company by its number. This lets them assess your business's financial health before working with you.
Strong business credit may improve your terms on products like small-business loans. Getting a DUNS number is a step toward establishing that credit. You can apply for one for free on the Dun & Bradstreet website.
Financing options while you're building business credit
If you have strong personal credit, start by seeing if you can qualify for a startup business loan or open a business credit card.
If your personal credit score needs improvement, check out available startup loans for bad credit.
If you’re curious about debt-free financing, explore the many options for a small-business grant.
How much do you need?
We’ll start with a brief questionnaire to better understand the unique needs of your business.
Once we uncover your personalized matches, our team will consult you on the process moving forward.
Why businesses use a DUNS number
All businesses — regardless of age, size or business structure — can apply for a DUNS number free of charge. There are a few reasons why a business may want or need to use a DUNS number:
Establish creditworthiness. A DUNS number helps establish and build your business credit, which is a record of your business's payment history available to potential lenders, business partners and investors. A strong business credit profile can lead to better terms on loans, insurance and trade credit agreements.
Receive state funding. Businesses that intend to bid on certain government contracts should apply for a DUNS number well in advance. Many state and local governments require a DUNS number to receive state funding, whether through contract, grant or loan.
Apply for a grant. Some small-business grants and nongovernmental loans require a DUNS number to apply.
DUNS numbers were previously required to apply for federal contracts or grants but were phased out in April 2022 in favor of a Unique Entity Identifier, or UEI, issued through the U.S. General Services Administration’s System for Award Management, or SAM.gov.
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How to get a DUNS number
First, use the DUNS lookup tool to find out whether your business already has a DUNS number. Even if you haven’t requested one, your business may have been assigned a DUNS number if a supplier or financial institution has requested information about your company.
If you don’t yet have a DUNS number, follow these steps to get one:
Visit Dun & Bradstreet’s website to begin the application process.
Provide the requested information about your business, which may include:
Legal business name, phone number and address.
Name of business owner, president or CEO.
Legal business structure and date of formation.
Primary industry and total number of employees (full and part time).
Prepare to wait up to 30 business days for your application to be processed. You can pay $229 for expedited processing to get your number within eight business days.
Validate the information you provided, if necessary. A representative from Dun & Bradstreet may contact you to authenticate your information.
Look for your DUNS number in your email.
Repeat this process for each of your business locations, if you have more than one.
DUNS number vs. EIN: What’s the difference?
A DUNS number and an EIN are two distinct business identifiers used for different purposes. Most businesses need both.
An employer identification number is assigned by the IRS. You'll use it to file your business tax return or issue tax forms to your employees. Certain types of businesses are legally required to get an EIN for tax purposes, and you can do so for free on IRS.gov.
No business is legally required to have a DUNS number. But it's used by other businesses and potential creditors to assess your company’s financial health — which means having one is still necessary for most businesses.
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