Is business credit the same as personal credit?

No. Business credit is tied to your business’s EIN and tracked by the business credit bureaus, while personal credit is tied to your Social Security number and tracked by the consumer bureaus. They are separate systems with different scores, different data, and different rules.

Does my personal credit affect my business credit?

They are separate scores, so your personal credit doesn’t directly become your business credit. However, at some levels of business funding, lenders may still check your personal credit. Early business credit building often doesn’t rely on personal credit at all.

Can I have good personal credit but no business credit?

Yes, and it’s extremely common. If you’ve never deliberately built business credit, your business credit file may be thin or empty regardless of how strong your personal credit is. Business credit must be built on purpose.

Why should I keep business and personal credit separate?

Separation protects you. When your business borrows on its own credit and reputation, your personal finances and personal risk stay distinct from the business. Blending the two makes your business’s risk your personal risk.

Business Credit vs. Personal Credit: What’s the Difference and Why It Matters

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