What is a Company DUNS Number and How to Get One?

Ryan Patrick

• 7 min read
What is a Company DUNS Number and How to Get One

A Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) is a nine-digit number facilitated by the Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) credit bureau. The number is unique and is used to profile a company’s creditworthiness, history, and reliability.

DUNS doesn’t provide any company data or financial standing. However, it can provide reports that lenders, potential business customers, or consumers can use to research your business.

A DUNS number is how your business establishes a business credit.

Getting a DUNS number isn’t a legal requirement, but you need to apply in some situations. These situations include getting specific grants and government contracts to build business credit, better payment terms and more financial options.

How do I get a DUNS number, and is it free? You get a DUNS number by applying for it free of charge. If you want to learn more about a company’s DUNS number, you can’t miss this guide, which will answer all your questions.

Why a Company Needs a DUNS Number

The DUNS number is used globally to identify and access information on a business. The number identifies a company’s D&B business credit file, which may include firmographic data:

  • Company name
  • Phone number
  • Address
  • Corporate family relationships (headquarters, subsidiaries, or branches)
  • Scores and ratings assessing different financial health indicators
  • Getting a DUNS number builds your business profile and business credit with D&B

Any business can apply for a DUNS number from anywhere worldwide, regardless of how long you’ve been trading.

It’s a rule of thumb for any business to apply for a DUNS number, as you might work with an organization that needs it. A DUNS number is helpful if you obtain financing from a lender or apply for specific government contracts or government-backed funding.

A DUNS number makes your business credible and helps it grow the business credit report.

Once your creditworthiness is established, the company is better positioned to negotiate payments from suppliers or when getting loans for a small business.

A DUNS number opens up new opportunities for a business. Here are more benefits as to why you need a DUNS number:

Build a Robust Credit History

Small companies that need to gain credibility and the interest of better investors need a DUNS number.

Anyone associated with a business, from suppliers, investors, vendors, lenders to other business contacts, will use a DUNS number to monitor your business credit reports.

The data they find by searching this number helps them decide whether to work with you.

Similar to personal credit, business credit also builds over time. The earlier you register for a DUNS number, the faster your business will establish creditworthiness.

With a strong credit history, your business can get long-term contracts with suppliers and vendors since the history proves its creditworthiness.

Conduct Business with Government Entities

Many government contract opportunities require businesses to submit their DUNS number to qualify for a bid.

Before funding a business, State and Federal grants frequently ask for a DUNS number. Some government agencies include FEMA, DoD, and other federal bodies.

Work with Private Companies Overseas

A DUNS number can prove to companies overseas that your business is legitimate. Besides, you might be required to produce a DUNS number when setting up a branch in a foreign country. However, the requirements in different countries may vary from one to another.

Separate Personal and Business Finances

Obtaining a DUNS number for your business reduces the stress on your credit to fund your company.

Without a credit profile for your business, relying on your personal credit history to secure business funds may be your only option. As a result, you increase your liability and complicate taxes. Here are other things you can accomplish with a DUNS number:

  • Hasten the application process for an SSL certificate, which makes your business website more secure.
  • When developing iOS apps for the App Store, Apple requires businesses to use their DUNS number for registration.
  • Most companies require suppliers to have a DUNS number in the supply business.

How to Get a DUNS Number

For UK and Ireland-based companies, getting a DUNS number is easy. Why? Because all newly registered companies in both countries are automatically issued with individual DUNS numbers for free by Dun & Bradstreet.

Check if You Have a DUNS Number

Anyone can request a DUNS number, including vendors, suppliers, other business owners, and financial institutions, before working with your business.

Once a third party requests your business’s credit information, check if you already have one, especially if your business is new.

To check your company’s DUNS number, visit the D&B website and use the D&B lookup tool to get it. Enter your business’s details: name, address, and phone number. You must confirm your identity to access your credit report and determine if your company has an existing DUNS number. Once you find your DUNS number, update your financial records for anyone interested in accessing them.

For Companies Without a DUNS Number

  1. If your business has no DUNS number, go to Dun & Bradstreet’s website and apply for one.
  2. You’ll be asked to provide your business information, which may include the following (may depend on the type of venture you’re into:
  • Business owner’s name, CEO, or president.
  • The company’s name, phone number and official address.
  • The legal business structure and formation date.
  • Industry and number of employees (Permanent and casual).
  1. Your application will take up to five business days to process. However, you can pay a small fee to expedite the process and get your number within eight working days.
  2. To validate the information you remit to Dun & Bradstreet, we may contact you to authenticate the information you provided.
  3. Check the email address you provided in five business days for your DUNS number.
  4. If you have business in various locations, repeat the process for each.

Report Past Transactions

Once you have a DUNS number, D&B will automatically gather your company’s data which becomes public information. The information might include legal judgments and bankruptcies.

Most vendors and suppliers don’t report directly to D&B. Thus, if you wish to include your past business transactions in your credit report, you must submit them personally at a fee.

Requirements to Get a DUNS Number for Companies Outside the UK or Ireland

Getting a DUNS Number is a straightforward process for businesses registered outside the UK. All you have to do is visit the D&B website, provide your company’s legal details and wait for your DUNS number for about five working days.

When applying for a DUNS number outside the UK or Ireland, you must provide the following details:

  • Company’s legal name
  • The headquarters name for your business and address
  • Any other names your company is commonly known as or Doing Business As (DBA)
  • All details of a physical address (city, state and ZIP or Post Code)
  • Mailing address (if separate from headquarters and physical address)
  • Business telephone number
  • Contact name and title
  • Employees at the physical location
  • Declare if you’re a Home-Based Business.

Managing Your DUNS Number After Resolution or Sale

If your business is shut down or purchased, your DUNS number will remain the same and never be altered. Partially, your DUNS number doesn’t expire.

However, anytime you need to make changes to your company profile, like updating your address or contact information, request updates through the D&B’s DUNS Manager form.

The DUNS number doesn’t require maintenance if it’s involved in services and product purchases of products or services, and it exists throughout your business lifetime.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a company’s DUNS number?

A Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) is a unique nine-digit number that identifies and tracks millions of companies worldwide. The number provides data on creditworthiness, reliability, and trading history.

2. Does every business need a DUNS number?

Suppliers, vendors, and other businesses globally use DUNS or D-U-N-S numbers to check a company’s credit history and assess its financial health.

3. How can Dun $ Bradstreet (D&B) help my business?

D&B provides your business with a nine-digit unique number that anyone worldwide can search to find the financial health of your business. The agency improves the performance of your business by providing data which reduces credit risk, helps you get new customers, and qualifies financing terms.

4. How does Dun and Bradstreet amass information?

Dun & Bradstreet uses over 700 business lines to gather trade data; some 99.5 per cent comes from companies and independent third parties in the cloud. No data comes from self-references or from within the corporate family.

5. Who are D&B customers?

Dun and Bradstreet serves clients in government and industries like communications, strategic financial services, technology, retail, manufacturing markets, and telecommunications. Commonly referred to as D&B, the company’s database has records worldwide.

6. Who can access a business’s credit report?

A business’ D&B credit report is accessible to the general public which includes customers, landlords, insurers, lenders and potential partners.

7. Are SAM and DUNS numbers the same?

To do business with the federal government, you need a DUNS number and register with the System for Award Management (SAM). Obtaining a SAM number opens an opportunity for a business to receive payments. You can register for SAM on their website and use the details you used when applying for your DUNS number.

Conclusion

A D-U-N-S number connects your business credit report to D&B. It is publicly accessible to lenders, business partners, or suppliers who wish to assess the creditworthiness of your business. A DUNS number is necessary for startups that need to get business loans. The process of obtaining a DUNS number is free, and after application, it takes five business days to authenticate the information and process the unique nine-digit number. A DUNS number promotes business growth and credibility.

As other businesses or third parties request your D‑U‑N‑S number, ensure they have the right picture of your company’s credit report. The data contains your company’s D&B credit scores and ratings, including suits or judgments, payment history and any other information that can help gauge a company’s creditworthiness. Do you have more questions on DUNS number? kindly contact one of our Incorpuk experts here.