Your business credit report can influence how lenders, suppliers and other businesses assess your company. Checking it regularly can help you understand your credit profile, identify incorrect information and spot potential issues before applying for finance.
The good news is that there are ways to check your business credit report for free. This guide explains where to look, what to check and what to do if you find an error.
How to get your free business credit report
Several providers let you access business credit information without paying for a full report. Some offer a free ongoing service, while others provide a limited report or a free trial.
| Provider | Credit reference agency | What you get for free | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| iwoca Credit Compass | Equifax | Business credit score, credit history, financial insights and improvement guidance | Free ongoing |
| D&B Credit Insights Free | Dun & Bradstreet | Overall business risk indicator and alerts for certain changes | Free ongoing |
| Creditsafe | Creditsafe | Business credit report and score, subject to available free access | Free trial |
| Experian My Business Profile | Experian | Business credit score and report during the free trial | 2-month trial, then £24.99 + VAT/month |
Availability and eligibility requirements vary. iwoca Credit Compass uses Equifax data; D&B Credit Insights uses Dun & Bradstreet data. Companies House provides public company information rather than a commercial credit report. Check each provider's current terms before signing up.
1. Check your score with iwoca Credit Compass
iwoca Credit Compass is a free tool that lets eligible UK limited companies check their business credit score using data from Equifax.
It highlights factors affecting your business credit profile and offers suggestions for improving it. Your information is updated monthly, helping you track changes over time.
2. Check your credit profile with Dun & Bradstreet Credit Insights Free
Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) Credit Insights Free is a free service that provides an overview of your company's business credit profile using Dun & Bradstreet data.
It provides an overall business risk indicator and alerts for certain changes to scores, ratings and other information. However, detailed score and rating information, along with additional reporting and monitoring features, may require a paid subscription.
3. Check your report with Creditsafe
Creditsafe provides business credit reports and company credit information, including credit scores and risk indicators.
You can search for your company to review the information available about its credit profile. More detailed reports and ongoing credit monitoring may require a paid service, so check the current terms for free access.
4. Check your report with Experian
Experian My Business Profile allows eligible business owners and directors to access their company's commercial credit report and score.
The service offers a two-month free trial, followed by a subscription costing £24.99 plus VAT per month. It provides information about your business credit score and the factors affecting it. Check the terms and cancel before the trial ends if you don't want to pay.
5. Check your company's public records
Companies House provides free access to registered company details, filed accounts, confirmation statements and other public records.
Although it doesn't provide a commercial credit report or business credit score, you can use it to check that key company information is accurate and up to date. Correcting errors in your public records may help ensure credit reference agencies have the right information about your business.
What is a business credit report?
A business credit report provides an overview of your company's financial history and creditworthiness. Credit reference agencies compile information from various sources to help lenders, suppliers and other organisations assess the potential risk of doing business with your company.
Depending on the provider, your report may include:
- Business credit score or rating: An indication of how a credit reference agency assesses your company's credit risk.
- Payment history: Information about how promptly your business pays its debts, where available.
- Outstanding debts: Details of reported financial commitments and liabilities.
- Public records: Information about County Court Judgments (CCJs), insolvencies and other relevant legal records.
- Company information: Registered details, directors, filed accounts and other financial indicators.
The information available varies between credit reference agencies, and each lender or supplier uses its own criteria when assessing your business.
Credit report vs credit score
A business credit report contains information about your company's financial history and creditworthiness, while a business credit score summarises how a credit reference agency assesses your company's credit risk.
💡 Be aware
Your business credit score can vary between credit reference agencies because each may use different data and scoring methods.
Why should you check your business credit report?
Regularly reviewing your business credit report can help you:
Understand your funding options
Lenders may use your business credit history when assessing a finance application. A stronger credit profile can help, but approval also depends on factors such as affordability, trading history and the lender's eligibility criteria.
Maintain good supplier relationships
Suppliers may check your company's credit profile before offering trade credit or payment terms. Understanding what they could see can help you address potential concerns.
Identify errors and potential fraud
Incorrect company details, unfamiliar financial information or unexpected changes could indicate an error or possible fraudulent activity. Checking your report can help you investigate these issues early.
Identify areas for improvement
Your report may highlight issues such as missed payments, CCJs or outdated information that could affect how other organisations assess your business.
What should you do if you find an error?
If your business credit report contains incorrect or outdated information, follow these steps to get it investigated:
- Contact the credit reference agency – Explain what information you believe is incorrect or out of date.
- Gather supporting evidence – Provide relevant documents, such as payment confirmations, account statements or correspondence, to support your case.
- Contact the original information provider – If the error relates to a debt or payment, raise the issue with the creditor as well as the credit reference agency, where appropriate.
- Keep records and follow up – Save copies of your correspondence and check your report again once the issue has been investigated.
💡 TIP
If the information is accurate but relates to an older financial problem, contact the relevant organisation to discuss your options for resolving the underlying issue.
How often should you check your business credit report?
It's sensible to check your report periodically and before making important financial decisions, such as applying for a business loan or requesting new supplier credit.
You may also want to review it after resolving a debt, correcting a company record or discovering potentially fraudulent activity.
If your business relies heavily on trade credit or regularly applies for finance, more frequent monitoring may be useful. Some providers offer paid alerts to notify you when information changes.
Can you get a business loan with a poor credit score?
Yes, it may still be possible to obtain business finance if your company has a poor credit history, although your options could be more limited.
Lenders assess applications differently. Some place greater emphasis on credit history, while others also consider factors such as turnover, cash flow, time trading and affordability. Depending on the circumstances, you may face higher borrowing costs, lower funding amounts or a requirement to provide security or a personal guarantee.
Checking your business credit report before applying can help you identify potential concerns and correct inaccuracies that could affect a lender's decision. However, improving your credit profile doesn't guarantee approval. For more information, read our guide to common reasons for business loan application rejections and how to avoid common pitfalls.
💡 Good to know
If you're exploring your options, find out more about business loans for bad credit and the types of finance that may be available to your business.
Take the next step towards improving your business credit
Checking your business credit report is a useful first step towards understanding how lenders and suppliers may assess your company.
Review your information, challenge any inaccuracies and address outstanding issues where possible. Over time, maintaining accurate records and managing financial commitments responsibly can help support your business credit profile.
For more practical tips, read our guide on how to improve your business credit score.
