Kelsey Sheehy is a senior writer and NerdWallet authority on small business. She started at NerdWallet in 2015 and spent six years as a personal finance writer and spokesperson before switching gears to cover the financial decisions and challenges faced by small-business owners. Kelsey’s work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Nasdaq and MarketWatch, among other publications. Kelsey has appeared on the "Today" show, NBC News and ABC’s "World News Tonight" and has been quoted by the Los Angeles Times, CNBC, American Banker, NPR and Vice, among other publications. Prior to joining NerdWallet, Kelsey covered college (and how to pay for it) for U.S. News & World Report. She is based in Washington, D.C.
Assigning Editor Ryan Lane
Assigning Editor | Small business, student loans
Ryan Lane is an editor on NerdWallet’s small-business team. He joined NerdWallet in 2019 as a student loans writer, serving as an authority on that topic after spending more than a decade at student loan guarantor American Student Assistance. In that role, Ryan co-authored the Student Loan Ranger blog in partnership with U.S. News & World Report, as well as wrote and edited content about education financing and financial literacy for multiple online properties, e-courses and more. Ryan also previously oversaw the production of life science journals as a managing editor for publisher Cell Press. Ryan is located in Rochester, New York.
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A DUNS number is a way for your company to establish business credit. While getting a DUNS number usually isn’t a requirement — except for certain grants and government contracts — it’s a good idea to apply for one, since building business credit may help your business access better payment terms and additional financing options down the road.
Getting a DUNS number is free. Here's what else you need to know about DUNS numbers and how to apply for one.
Featured card placement may be affected by compensation agreements with our partners, but these partnerships in no way affect our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. Here is a list of our partners.
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
NerdWallet RatingNerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card's rates, fees, rewards and other features.
Bonus Amount Read ReviewA DUNS number is a unique nine-digit identifier assigned by Dun & Bradstreet, one of the three major business credit bureaus. It is sometimes styled as a “D-U-N-S” number, which refers to its formal name: Data Universal Numbering System number.
DUNS numbers are used by creditors, vendors and suppliers worldwide to check your business credit history and assess your company’s financial health. Your DUNS number will be linked to your Dun & Bradstreet business credit profile, which includes multiple business credit scores that assess how risky you might be for other companies to work with.
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NerdWallet ratingNerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet ratingNerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet ratingNerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
18.49%-24.49% Variable APR
18.49%-24.49% Variable APR
18.49%-26.49% Variable APR
0% intro APR on Purchases for 12 months
0% intro APR on Purchases for 12 months
0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening
Recommended credit score
(Good - Excellent)Recommended credit score
(Good - Excellent)Recommended credit score
(Good - Excellent)All businesses — regardless of age, size or business structure — can apply for a DUNS number. And there’s little downside to doing so.
Applying for a DUNS number is free. It 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 small business loans , insurance and trade credit agreements.
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. It can take up to 30 days to get your DUNS number, so apply early to avoid the stress and expense of expedited processing (more on that below).
Some nongovernmental loans and small-business grants also 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.
Follow these steps to get a DUNS number:
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 have a DUNS number, visit Dun & Bradstreet’s website to begin the application process.Provide the requested information about your business. Depending on your business type, this may include:
Your business’s legal name, phone number and address. The name of the business owner, president or CEO. Your company’s legal business structure and date of formation. Your primary industry and the 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 location, if you have more than one.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.
Frequently asked questions How long does it take to get a DUNS number?It can take up to 30 business days after you apply to get your DUNS number. Quicker processing — within eight business days — is available for a $229 fee.
How much is a DUNS number?There is no cost to apply for a DUNS number, provided you don’t need your number in a hurry. Business owners who need expedited processing can pay $229 to get their DUNS number within eight business days.
Do I need a DUNS number for my LLC?It’s a good idea to apply for a DUNS number for your LLC. Certain grants and government contracts require you to have this ID number, and other businesses will likely want to use your DUNS number to understand your company’s creditworthiness.
What is Dun & Bradstreet?It’s a good idea to apply for a DUNS number for your LLC. Certain grants and government contracts require you to have this ID number, and other businesses will likely want to use your DUNS number to understand your company’s creditworthiness.
Does a DUNS number expire?Dun & Bradstreet is one of the three main business credit bureaus and the originator of the DUNS number. It was created in 1962 and is used globally to identify individual businesses. Dun & Bradstreet scores a business’s financial health using multiple indicators and assigns each company a Paydex score, delinquency score and failure score, along with several other ratings and predictors.
How long does it take to get a DUNS number?It can take up to 30 business days after you apply to get your DUNS number. Quicker processing — within eight business days — is available for a $229 fee.
How much is a DUNS number?There is no cost to apply for a DUNS number, provided you don’t need your number in a hurry. Business owners who need expedited processing can pay $229 to get their DUNS number within eight business days.
Do I need a DUNS number for my LLC?It’s a good idea to apply for a DUNS number for your LLC. Certain grants and government contracts require you to have this ID number, and other businesses will likely want to use your DUNS number to understand your company’s creditworthiness.
What is Dun & Bradstreet?It’s a good idea to apply for a DUNS number for your LLC. Certain grants and government contracts require you to have this ID number, and other businesses will likely want to use your DUNS number to understand your company’s creditworthiness.
Does a DUNS number expire?Dun & Bradstreet is one of the three main business credit bureaus and the originator of the DUNS number. It was created in 1962 and is used globally to identify individual businesses. Dun & Bradstreet scores a business’s financial health using multiple indicators and assigns each company a Paydex score, delinquency score and failure score, along with several other ratings and predictors.
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Kelsey Sheehy is a senior writer and NerdWallet authority on small business. She has appeared on the "Today" show and NBC News, and her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Nasdaq and MarketWatch, among other publications. See full bio.
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on Chase's website
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card NerdWallet RatingNerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card's rates, fees, rewards and other features.
Rewards rate Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business Intro offerEarn $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
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NerdWallet RatingNerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card's rates, fees, rewards and other features.
on Chase's website
Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year, Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year, Earn 1% cash back on all other card purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn
Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening.
on Chase's website
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
NerdWallet RatingNerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card's rates, fees, rewards and other features.
on Chase's website
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your businessEarn $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
on Chase's website
Capital One Spark Cash Plus
NerdWallet RatingNerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card's rates, fees, rewards and other features.
on Capital One's website
Earn unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions. Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
Earn a one-time cash bonus of $2,000 once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months and an additional $2,000 cash bonus for every $500K spent during the first year.
on Capital One's website
Compare Best Business Credit cards MORE LIKE THIS Small Business Small-Business Credit CardsAlthough some lenders offer business loans for startups, you may need alternative solutions to finance a new business.
Federal and state agencies, as well as private companies, offer small-business grants. Here's a list of resources.
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