What is a DUNS number and how do you get one for a business?

A DUNS (Data Universal Numbering System) number is a unique, nine-digit identifier assigned by Dun & Bradstreet that functions like a Social Security number for your business, helping lenders, partners, and government agencies verify your company's existence, assess creditworthiness, and track financial relationships. D&B maintains over 300 million business records worldwide using this system, making it the global standard for business identification.

Each DUNS number is tied to a specific company at a specific location. Think of it as your business's commercial fingerprint. It doesn't contain sensitive personal data, but it gives banks, vendors, and government agencies a consistent way to look up your company across financial and regulatory databases.

Once you have a DUNS number, it becomes the anchor for your business's credit profile in D&B's system. D&B uses it to track your payment history, trade references, and other credit-related information over time. The number is permanent. Even if you change your business name or move to a new address, your DUNS number stays the same. And if your company operates from multiple physical locations, each one can receive its own DUNS number for more precise identification.

Getting a DUNS number isn't a legal requirement, but it's a practical necessity for most businesses. Here's why it should be near the top of your to-do list as a startup or small business owner.

Build business credit

A DUNS number is the first step to establishing a business credit file with D&B. Lenders and creditors use your D&B credit profile to evaluate your company's creditworthiness separately from your personal credit. A strong business credit score, like a good PAYDEX score, can help you qualify for loans, better interest rates, and business credit cards with no personal guarantee. In short, a DUNS number helps unlock financing opportunities by proving your business has its own credit identity..

Establish vendor and supplier credibility

Many large companies and suppliers require partners to have a DUNS number before doing business together. It's a standardized way for them to verify your company's legitimacy and financial health. An established D&B profile can determine whether a supplier offers you favorable payment terms like net-30 invoicing or demands upfront payment. Without a DUNS number, vendor onboarding can stall since this is a common verification step.

Win contracts and grants

If you plan to bid on government contracts or apply for grants, a DUNS number is often required. While U.S. federal agencies now use a different identifier called the UEI for federal grants, many state and local government programs, as well as private sector procurement portals, still require a DUNS number as part of their application or vendor registration. Having one in advance prevents last-minute delays when these opportunities come up.

Meet industry requirements

Certain industries and scenarios specifically call for a DUNS number. For example, the FDA requires facilities that handle food or medical products to provide a DUNS number during registration. Some corporate programs, like developer programs or supplier networks, also ask for one to ensure your business is properly registered and vetted. Not having a DUNS number could exclude you from these partnerships entirely.

Most businesses, regardless of size or type, should consider getting a DUNS number early on. There's no strict limitation on who can apply. Companies of any size or structure, from one-person sole proprietorships to large corporations, are eligible.

In practice, if you run a formally registered business in the U.S. such as an LLC, corporation, partnership, or nonprofit, you'll likely need a DUNS number at some point. Even sole proprietors using a DBA (Doing Business As) name can and should get one if they plan to apply for a business credit card or sign major contracts.

The best time to apply is as soon as your business is established, ideally after you've registered your company and obtained any necessary tax IDs like an EIN. Doing it early prevents delays later when a lender or partner asks for your DUNS number during an application. If your business wants to build business credit or work with larger organizations, there's really no reason to wait.

Getting a DUNS number is a straightforward process. Dun & Bradstreet offers a free application that can be completed online in about 10 minutes. Here's how to do it, along with tips to make sure everything goes smoothly.

Step 1. Check if your business already has a DUNS number

Before starting a new application, see if D&B has already assigned your company a DUNS number. Many businesses are automatically given one without realizing it. If a vendor or bank ever pulled a credit report on your company, D&B may have already created a record for you. Use D&B's free DUNS lookup tool on their website to search your business name and location. If you find that your company already has a number, you can use it and skip the rest of these steps. If not, move on to Step 2.

Step 2. Go to Dun & Bradstreet's website to apply

Visit the official Dun & Bradstreet site and find the "Get a D-U-N-S Number" section. You'll be prompted to begin a new request. Make sure you're on the official D&B website, because getting a DUNS number is free. Be cautious of any third-party sites that charge a fee just to submit an application on your behalf.

Step 3. Enter your basic business details

The online application will ask for identifying information about your business. Provide the legal name of your business exactly as it's registered, along with your business address, phone number, and other basic details. D&B will use this information to search their records in case a profile already exists for you. If no existing record is found, you'll move on to create a new one. Accuracy matters here. Enter information exactly as it appears on official documents like your articles of incorporation or business bank accounts to avoid verification delays.

Step 4. Provide additional company information

After the basics, D&B will collect further details to build your business profile. Be prepared to supply the following information during the application.

• Ownership and management. The name of the business owner, CEO, or principal officer.
• Business structure. Your legal entity type such as LLC, corporation, or partnership, and the year the business was founded.
• Industry and operations. Your primary industry or line of business. You may need to select a category or provide an SIC or NAICS industry code.
• Size of business. The number of employees, both full-time and part-time, and your estimated annual revenue.

Make sure all of this information is current and matches your public records like state registrations. D&B uses these details to verify your business's identity.

Step 5. Submit your application and wait for verification

Once you've entered all the required information, submit the application. The standard processing time for a new DUNS number is up to 30 business days, as D&B needs to verify your details and create your business credit file. In many cases it can be faster, and some business owners report getting their number via email in just a week or two. D&B may contact you by phone or email during this period if they need to confirm any information. If a representative reaches out, respond promptly to avoid delays.

Step 6. Receive your DUNS number

Once processing is complete and your information is verified, Dun & Bradstreet will send you an email with your new DUNS number. The nine-digit number will be attached to your business's credit profile in D&B's database. Save this email and number in your records. You can now provide your DUNS number on credit applications, vendor forms, or any other documents that request it.

Step 7. Repeat for additional business locations if needed

If your company has multiple distinct locations or branches, you may need to obtain separate DUNS numbers for each physical address. D&B issues unique numbers per location so that credit information can be tied to the correct branch. The application process for additional locations is the same. Just make sure each location's details like address, phone number, and manager are entered accurately for its own DUNS profile.

The standard processing time for a free DUNS number application is up to 30 business days, which works out to roughly four to six weeks. This gives D&B enough time to verify your business information and set up your credit file. That said, many business owners find the process moves faster than the maximum window. Some applicants report getting their DUNS number in just a week or two, especially if their information is easy to verify. Others do experience the full 30-day wait. Because of this variability, it's smart to apply well in advance of any deadlines like a loan application, contract bid, or grant submission that require a DUNS number.

If you need your DUNS number sooner, Dun & Bradstreet offers an expedited service for $229. Paying this fee guarantees a much faster turnaround, typically within five to eight business days. This option is useful when an immediate opportunity is on the line. For example, if you're registering as a supplier with a large company on a tight timeline, the expedite fee can get you the number in about a week. The free process and the expedited process both give you the same DUNS number. The only difference is speed. If your business can afford to wait, the standard free option works just fine.

Applying for a DUNS number through Dun & Bradstreet's standard online process is completely free. There is no charge to receive the number itself or to be listed in D&B's database. Many small business owners successfully obtain their DUNS number at no cost by using the normal application and waiting for the email. Be cautious of any third-party services offering to "get you a DUNS number" for a fee. In almost all cases, you can do it yourself for free directly through D&B. When you're managing startup costs carefully, it's good to know that applying for a DUNS number won't add to the list. The DUNS number is a public identifier and doesn't require any subscription or purchase to obtain.

Having all the required information ready before you start the application will make the process faster and help you avoid unnecessary delays. Here's what you should prepare.

Legal business name

This is the exact name registered with your state or on official documents. Don't use nicknames or abbreviations. It needs to match what's on your articles of incorporation or business registration.

Business address

Provide the physical address of your company's headquarters or principal place of business. P.O. boxes won't count as a primary address. This should match the address on your state registration.

Mailing address

If you receive mail at a different location than your business address, have that ready as well. This is optional and only needed if your mailing address differs from your physical business address.

Business phone number

Provide a primary telephone number for your company. This should be a number where D&B can reach you if they need to verify any information during the application process.

Owner or principal name

This is the full name and title of the business owner, CEO, or highest-ranking executive. Make sure the spelling matches what's on your other official business documents.

Business structure

Provide your legal entity type such as LLC, S-corp, C-corp, partnership, or sole proprietorship. You'll also need to include the year the business was established.

Industry classification

This is the industry or sector your business operates in. If you know your SIC or NAICS code you can provide that, but a general industry description will also work.

Employee count

Provide the total number of employees in your business, including both full-time and part-time workers. Even if you're a solo operator, you'll still need to indicate that.

Annual sales or revenue (optional)

D&B often asks for an estimate of your annual revenues. You can provide a recent figure or a reasonable estimate if you're a new startup that hasn't generated significant revenue yet.

It's possible your business already has a DUNS number, especially if it's not brand new. Dun & Bradstreet's database includes many companies that never explicitly applied for a number but were added when someone pulled a credit file on them. To check, use D&B's free online lookup tool where you can search by business name, address, or phone number. If your company appears in the results, note the DUNS number listed and verify that the profile details match your business. This is the fastest way to find your DUNS number without going through the full application.

There are a few other places you might find a previously assigned DUNS number.

• SAM.gov or government registrations. If your business has registered on any government contractor databases or grant systems in the past, the DUNS number might be on those profiles. It's worth logging in and checking your records before starting a new application.
• Contracts and invoices. Check past vendor onboarding forms, contracts, or invoices from larger companies you've worked with. These organizations sometimes list your DUNS number on official paperwork once you're in their system.
• Company website. Some businesses publish their DUNS number on their website, often in the "About Us" page or the footer section. This is especially common for companies that regularly work with partners who need to verify their credentials.

If you do locate an existing DUNS number for your business, you won't need to create a new one. Just use that number going forward. If the lookup confirms that no DUNS number exists yet for your company, proceed with the application steps outlined above to get one.

It's easy to confuse a DUNS number with an EIN (Employer Identification Number) since both are nine-digit identifiers for businesses. But they serve very different purposes.

EIN (Employer Identification Number)

An EIN is issued by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service for tax purposes. It's essentially your business's Social Security number for tax filings. You use an EIN to file federal taxes, open a business bank account, handle payroll, and meet other IRS-related requirements. Most businesses that have employees or operate as an LLC or corporation are required by law to obtain an EIN. A common question founders ask is how long does it take to get an EIN, and the answer is usually just a few minutes if you apply online through the IRS website for free.

DUNS number

A DUNS number is issued by Dun & Bradstreet for credit reporting and business identification. It's used in the context of business credit, financing, and credibility with third parties. Unlike an EIN, a DUNS number is not required by law for most businesses. Instead, it's often required by lenders, vendors, or contracting partners as a matter of policy. You obtain a DUNS number to establish a credit profile, whereas you obtain an EIN to comply with tax laws.

The simplest way to think about it is that an EIN is your tax ID for government use, while a DUNS number is your credit ID for market and commercial use. Most U.S. businesses will end up having both numbers eventually, as they serve different but complementary aspects of running a company. You give your EIN to the IRS and your bank. You give your DUNS number to potential creditors, partners, or clients who want to vet your business's creditworthiness.

If you're looking into government contracts or grants, you may have come across the term UEI, which stands for Unique Entity Identifier. As of 2022, the UEI has replaced the DUNS number in federal systems. Here's how the two relate.

UEI (Unique Entity Identifier)

The U.S. federal government stopped using DUNS numbers for federal awards and now issues its own identifier through the System for Award Management at SAM.gov. The UEI is a 12-character alphanumeric ID that gets assigned when you register your business on SAM.gov. If you plan to apply for federal contracts or federal grants, you'll need to obtain a UEI through that registration process, which is free. The UEI has essentially replaced the DUNS number for all federal government purposes.

DUNS number

Despite the change at the federal level, DUNS numbers are still very relevant. Many state and local government agencies, as well as private companies and subcontractors, continue to require a DUNS number during their registration and procurement processes. In these non-federal contexts, the DUNS number remains a trusted way to verify a business's identity and credit history. D&B's commercial credit system, including PAYDEX scores, still uses the DUNS number as the key identifier. So if you're seeking loans or vendor credit, your DUNS number is still essential.

The UEI serves as the government's ID for your business while the DUNS number serves as your commercial credit ID. They exist in parallel. If you engage with federal agencies, get your UEI on SAM.gov. But you should still maintain your DUNS number for everything else. Dun & Bradstreet continues to issue DUNS numbers globally, and they remain widely used for business credit reporting, vendor vetting, and other non-federal applications. One isn't replacing the other in the broader business world.

Securing a DUNS number is just the first step in establishing your business credit profile. Once you have it, you'll want to actively build a positive credit history for your company. Here are some practical ways to make that happen.

Open accounts that report to D&B

To generate a credit history, your business needs credit relationships that actually get reported. Consider opening a business credit card or vendor credit line that reports payments to the major business credit bureaus, including D&B. For example, Brex offers corporate cards that report to business credit bureaus and don't require a personal credit check. These are sometimes referred to as EIN only credit cards because they use your business's tax ID and credit profile for approval rather than your personal credit history. By using a solution like Brex for routine business expenses, every payment can help establish your company's creditworthiness.

Use net-30 vendor accounts

Work with suppliers that extend short-term credit like net-30 payment terms, and ask if they report your payments to D&B. Paying these invoices on time or early will contribute data to your D&B file. Over time, this can improve your PAYDEX score, which is D&B's key credit score based on payment history. A PAYDEX of 80 or higher means you're paying on time or ahead, and that sends a strong signal to lenders.

Maintain good payment habits

Consistency matters more than anything else here. Now that transactions under your DUNS number are being tracked, always pay your bills by their due dates. Set up reminders or automatic payments to avoid any missed payments. Even one late payment can negatively impact your business credit profile. On the flip side, a pattern of early or on-time payments can lead to a solid credit score within 6 to 12 months.

Monitor your D&B credit file

After a few months of activity, start checking your business credit report. D&B offers free alerts through D&B credit insights, which notifies you of changes in your score. Reviewing your DUNS-linked credit report periodically will help you spot any errors or areas for improvement. Keep in mind that unlike personal credit, business credit reports are public. Potential partners or creditors can pull your report anytime. By monitoring it yourself, you can make sure it accurately reflects your business and address any issues like outdated information by contacting D&B to update your record.

Getting a DUNS number is one of the smartest early moves you can make for your business. It's a simple, free process that sets the foundation for everything from securing financing to landing contracts with larger organizations. In this article, we covered how to check if you already have a DUNS number, how to apply through D&B's website, what information you'll need, and how to start building credit once you have your number in hand.

For startup founders and small business owners, a DUNS number unlocks access to financing, partnerships, and opportunities that would otherwise be out of reach. By following the steps above and staying disciplined about building your credit profile, you'll position your company for financial growth without putting your personal credit on the line. Apply early, stay on top of your D&B profile, and make every payment count. These are the kinds of startup tips that don't sound flashy but end up making a real difference in your company's financial future.

Brex makes building business credit easy. Our corporate card reports directly to business credit bureaus, helping you build credit with every purchase you make. But we go further than just cards. We also offer startup business banking with no fees, expense management software that simplifies how your team spends, and AP automation software that saves you hours of manual work each month. It's a full financial stack designed for growing businesses.

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