7 Vendors that Help Build Business Credit 2023

We scoured the internet to find every vendor that explicitly reports to business credit bureaus.
Best for marketing
creative analytics logo
Creative Analytics
Starting at
$79.00/yr.
  • pro
    Up to $12,000 credit
  • pro
    30 days to pay
Best for office supplies
Crown Office Supplies Logo
Crown Office Supplies
Starting from
$99.00/yr.
  • pro
    Up to $5,000 credit
  • pro
    30 days to pay
Best industrial supplies
grainger logo
Grainger
No annual fee listed
  • pro
    Max. credit unlisted
  • pro
    30 days to pay
Best for merch
shirtsy logo
Shirtsy
Starting from
$99.00/yr.
  • pro
    Max. credit unlisted
  • pro
    30 days to pay
Best for IT
strategic network solutions logo
Strategic Network Solutions
No annual fee listed
  • pro
    Up to $2,000 credit
  • pro
    30 days to pay

Data as of 12/6/2022. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

We are committed to sharing unbiased reviews. Some of the links on our site are from our partners who compensate us. Read our editorial guidelines and advertising disclosure.

Your business credit profile takes quite a few things into account, including your credit relationships and payment history. That doesn’t mean you have to rely on business loans and credit cards to build your business credit though.

We’ve rounded up seven business vendors that offer short-term credit (a.k.a. trade credit or corporate credit) for customers―and they report your payment habits to a business credit bureau (like Dun & Bradstreet, Equifax, and Experian).

Creative Analytics offers the most flexibility, with annual and monthly account options, but all our vendors let you buy goods and services your business needs while also improving your business credit score.

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Compare the best vendor accounts for building business credit

Company
Product type
Fee
Online application
Get an account
Marketing services$79.00/yr.(refundable) or $49.00–$149.00/mo.
Icon Check  DarkYes
Office supplies$99.00/yr.
Icon Check  DarkYes
Industrial suppliesUnlisted
Icon Close  DarkNo
Personalized merch$99.00/yr.
Icon Check  DarkYes
IT supportUnlisted
Icon Check  DarkYes

Data as of 12/6/2022. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

​

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Using vendors to build business credit

We’ll tell you more about the companies above in just a second. But first, let’s talk about how you can use them to build business credit.

1. Sign up with credit bureaus

First things first, you’ll want to make sure you have an active business credit file with each major business credit reporting agency:

  • Dun & Bradstreet
  • Equifax
  • Experian

Experian and Equifax often create a credit profile for you (once you’ve legally formed your business), but Dun & Bradstreet usually requires you to manually apply for a D-U-N-S number (the ID number for your Dun & Bradstreet credit file).

2. Sign up for vendor accounts

Once you’ve got an active business credit profile, you’re ready to start building business credit. So go ahead and sign up with vendors that offer NET 30 terms (or look at getting a business loan, credit line, or credit card).

It’s always a good idea to check with your vendor of choice to make sure they actively report to bureaus. After all, their practices can change over time.

3. Maintain a good credit history

Remember, the whole point of getting credit with these vendors is to establish a good payment history―so always, always pay on time. Otherwise, you might end up hurting your business credit score instead of helping it.

You can also check your business credit score from time to time to make sure things look good. With any luck, you’ll see that credit score going up and up―until you have the good credit you’ve been working toward.

Info
What is NET 30?

Most of the companies here offer NET 30 vendor credit. That just means that you get 30 days to pay for your purchases (with no interest), giving you a sort of short-term credit solution.

Creative Analytics: Best for marketing services

Creative Analytics
creative analytics logo
Creative Analytics
  • con
    $79.00 annual fee or $49.00–$149.00 monthly fee
  • pro
    Online application
  • pro
    Marketing services, beauty tools, office supplies, and more

Data as of 12/6/2022. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Creative Analytics offers a variety of marketing services for small businesses. For example, you can get a new business off the ground with its logo design, branding, and website design services.

And of course, no matter which marketing service you use, you can also enjoy NET 30 business credit from Creative Analytics. You will have to pay a $79 annual fee with your application, but Creative Analytics will refund your fee if your application gets turned down.

For an even bigger (potential) bump to your business credit, you can sign up for a monthly Founder's Circle Community plan. When you do, Creative Analytics gives you a trade line increase of up to $12,000. A bigger credit line can help build business credit faster. Your monthly plan gets you membership to a digital business library and networking community.

So if your business could benefit from better marketing, Creative Analytics can give you that and a boost to your business credit file.

Yes
pro You want website or marketing services
pro You don't want a personal credit check
pro You want your annual fee refundable if you don't qualify
No
con You don’t need any marketing (or products in Creative Analytics’s store)
con Your business hasn't been around for at least one month

Crown Office Supplies: Best for office supplies

Crown Office Supplies
Crown Office Supplies Logo
Crown Office Supplies
  • con
    $99.00 annual fee
  • pro
    Online application
  • pro
    Office supplies, school supplies, home goods, and more

Data as of 12/6/2022. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Need office supplies? Crown Office Supplies (as you can probably guess from the name) has what you need. It carries all your office essentials, from stationary to pens to scissors and more. Plus, Crown Office Supplies carries quite a few not-quite-office-supplies goods as well, including wall art, T-shirts, and even kitschy gifts you can give to clients.

As for its credit terms, Crown Office Supplies offer NET 30 terms. Its vendor accounts give you a small credit line between $800 and $5,000, letting you make purchases and pay for them 30 days later. Note that Crown does charge a $99 annual fee to businesses using its vendor credit solution.

Yes
pro You need office or school supplies
pro Your business is at least three months old
pro You're fine with as little as $800 in credit
No
con You want more than $5,000 in credit
con You don't own at least 25% of the business

Grainger: Best for industrial supplies

Grainger
grainger logo
Grainger
  • con
    No annual fee listed
  • pro
    Phone application only
  • pro
    Industrial supplies and shipping supplies

Data as of 12/6/2022. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Grainger sells industrial goods, which includes everything from HVAC system components to shipping supplies to lightbulbs. You’ll also find things like janitorial supplies, screws and other fasteners, eye protection, and duct tape. In other words, Grainger covers quite a lot of ground.

If you have a decent credit history, Grainger also offers a credit line. Unfortunately, Grainger doesn’t offer too many details about the credit line. In fact, it’s one of the few vendors on this list that doesn’t have an online credit application. You’ll have to call Grainger to apply for its vendor credit.

Of course, if you need a regular stream of industrial supplies for your building, then it’s worth making a phone call to Granger―and taking the first step to establishing a solid payment history.

Yes
pro You need industrial supplies for your business
pro You don't mind calling to apply
pro You have a Grainger branch nearby (or like catalog shopping)
No
con You prefer an online application
con You want all the details before you apply

Shirtsy: Best for branded merchandise

Shirtsy
shirtsy logo
Shirtsy
  • con
    $99.00 annual fee
  • pro
    Online application
  • pro
    Shirts and other branded swag

Data as of 12/6/2022. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

You can probably guess what Shirtsy sells. Yep, it’s shirts―but also face masks, decorative license plates, wall signage, mugs, and more. Put simply, Shirtsy has all kinds of merch just waiting for your business logo. So whether you want to hand out branded swag to customers or keep your team in matching face masks, Shirtsy has you covered.

Just like other businesses listed here, Shirtsy has NET 30 credit for customers. It does charge an $99 annual fee on its business accounts, and account approval is based on “creditworthiness” (so assume that Shirtsy will look at your personal credit score).

With all sorts of swag, Shirtsy could provide a perfect way to improve your branding and your business credit report at the same time.

Yes
pro You want custom gear for your business or customers
pro You own at least 25% of your business
pro You plan to always make on-time payments
No
con You don't want to design the products you buy
con You're worried about late payment fees

Strategic Network Solutions: Best for IT support

Strategic Network Solutions
strategic network solutions logo
Strategic Network Solutions
  • con
    No annual fee listed
  • pro
    Online application
  • pro
    Disaster recovery, hardware removal, security services, and more

Data as of 12/6/2022. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Got IT support? With Strategic Network Solutions, you can. Strategic Network Solutions offers a handful of technology-related services. For example, it offers disaster recovery, which can help your business avoid huge data losses. It also has security services to keep your network safe and updated. Strategic Network Solutions can even help you take care of old, outdated hardware.

And yes, Strategic Network Solutions offers NET 30 accounts. You get a $2,000 credit line to use on Strategic Network Solutions costs. To sign up, start by purchasing a $80 downloadable product. When you check out, you can sign up for NET 30 credit. As an added bonus, Strategic Network Solutions provides trade references for its customers (in addition to reporting to a business credit bureau).

For IT support and a small line of credit, give Strategic Network Solutions a look.

Yes
pro You need IT services
pro You need computer or office supplies
pro You can make an initial $80 purchase
No
con Your business doesn't need computer help or supplies
con You want more than $2,000 in credit

Honorable mention companies that help build business credit

In the words of infomercials everywhere, “but wait―there’s more!” So if you haven’t found the right vendor just yet, check out these additional options.

Compare more vendor accounts for building business credit

Company
Product type
Annual fee
Online application
Get an account
Office supplies$75.00
Icon Check  DarkYes
Shipping & packing suppliesUnlisted
Icon Close  DarkNo

Data as of 12/6/2022. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Summa Office Supplies: Another source for office supplies

Summa Office Supplies
Summa Logo
Summa
  • con
    $75.00 annual fee
  • pro
    Online application
  • pro
    Office supplies

Data as of 12/6/2022. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Summa Office Supplies offers another place to get office supplies. It’s got all your basic needs, like writing utensils, folders, notebooks, tape, and more.

You can fill out an online application to get NET 30 terms with Summa. Once you’re approved, you can use your NET 30 account on any online purchase from Summa. And like Strategic Network Solutions, Summa Office Supplies notes that it’s happy to serve as a trade reference for you.

Uline: Best for shipping and packing supplies

Uline
Uline Logo
Uline
  • con
    No annual fee listed
  • pro
    Online or phone application
  • pro
    Shipping supplies, packing supplies, and janitorial supplies

Data as of 12/6/2022. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Uline has everything you need to package and ship. Think boxes, boxes, and more boxes―plus tape, labels, packing peanuts, bubble wrap, and stuff like that. It’s even got some janitorial supplies and safety products.

To sign up for Uline’s NET 30 terms, you can call Uline directly. You can also choose NET 30 billing when you check out as a new customer―but you won’t know right away if you’re approved, so calling ahead offers the safer bet.

The takeaway

The vendors above can help you improve your credit limit and credit utilization―and ultimately help you get the strong business credit you want.

For businesses that need marketing services, Creative Analytics offers a great place to work on your credit. But if you need office supplies or industrial supplies, Crown Office Supplies or Grainger may offer the better options, respectively. And for businesses that need branded merch, Shirtsy has all the products you’d want. Or if you need IT services, Strategic Network Solutions and its NET30 terms has you covered.

So go ahead and apply, and watch your credit score rise.

Now that you’ve got a plan to improve your credit rating, keep an eye on your improving business credit score with the best business credit monitoring services.

Related reading

Small-business credit FAQ

You can improve your business credit report by getting business credit (through vendor accounts or business loans) and creating a good payment history―but it won’t happen overnight.

Just as with your personal credit score, building business credit takes time. Your payment history makes up a big part of your business credit profile. And, well, it takes time to create credit history.

So you can start creating good business credit by opening accounts today. Just don’t expect to have a perfect business credit report next week.

There’s no one answer for how long building business credit takes. Your business credit score depends on so many factors, like the number of credit sources you have, how much credit you have with each of those sources, how regularly you make payments, and more.

That means that a company with lots of credit sources (and big ones at that) might be able to establish a good business credit history faster than a business with just one or two small credit sources.

Either way, expect it to take months to build a decent business credit profile―and years to solidify it.

While you can’t simply pay a set amount to improve your business credit score, you will need to have and spend money to build small-business credit.

Again, a big part of your credit profile comes down to how you’ve used credit in the past. That means that you need to actually get credit accounts, use them, and make payments on them. And yes, that takes money.

Methodology

We rounded up all the business vendors that we could confirm report to business credit bureaus. We then used factors such as their annual fee, application type, and maximum credit line to review them.

Disclaimer

At Business.org, our research is meant to offer general product and service recommendations. We don't guarantee that our suggestions will work best for each individual or business, so consider your unique needs when choosing products and services.

Chloe Goodshore
Written by
Chloe Goodshore
Chloe covers business financing and loans for Business.org. She has worked with many small businesses over the past 10 years, from video game stores to law firms. Those years watching frustrated business owners try to sift through their many options gave her a passion for breaking down complex business topics. She wants to help business owners spend less time agonizing over their businesses so they can spend more time running them.
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