UK business credit score: how it works and how to improve yours
How the UK commercial bureaus score businesses, what actually moves the number, and the practical steps to strengthen a file before applying.
The three UK bureaus and what they see
Experian, Creditsafe and Equifax each run a UK commercial file on your business. They ingest filed accounts from Companies House, CCJs from the courts, trade payment behaviour reported by suppliers, and, where you have consented, data from your bank via Open Banking.
Commercial credit agencies use different scores, bands, data and risk definitions. A number from one agency is not directly interchangeable with another, and finance providers apply their own criteria rather than a universal pass mark.
What actually moves your score
Filed accounts on time and to the correct format. Late filings are the single most common cause of a sudden score drop.
Trade payment behaviour. Every day past terms that a supplier reports drags the score; every early or on-time payment lifts it. If your key suppliers do not report to a bureau, ask them to.
CCJs and satisfactions. A live CCJ is the sharpest negative. Satisfying a CCJ within 30 days marks the record as 'satisfied' and softens the impact.
Practical steps that lift the file
File accounts on time, set a Companies House reminder 30 days before the deadline.
Register the business's true trading address, not a virtual office. Bureaus flag mismatched addresses.
Add director data, full name, DOB and address at Companies House matter. Missing or inconsistent director records suppress the score.
Open trade credit accounts with reporting suppliers and pay them slightly early for six months.
Improve the underlying file, not only the number
Compare source data
Check registered office, directors, filing dates, accounts, CCJs and payment information. Raise disputes with the organisation supplying incorrect data.
Stabilise conduct
Pay suppliers and finance on agreed dates, avoid repeated returned items and file accounts and confirmations on time.
Add context for funding
A score is one input. Prepare current management accounts, bank evidence and an explanation of any old event that no longer reflects trading.
Application checklist
- Reports from relevant commercial bureaus
- Companies House record
- CCJ register details
- Trade-payment history
- Filed accounts and confirmation statement
- Director address consistency
Useful primary and industry references
These references support further research. Product terms and official guidance can change.
Frequently asked
Can I check my business credit score for free?
Yes. Experian offers a free monthly view via My Business Profile; Creditsafe offers a free basic view. Full reports are paid.
How long do CCJs stay on the file?
Six years from the date of judgment, whether satisfied or not. Satisfied CCJs are marked as such but remain visible.
Does personal credit affect business credit?
For sole traders and micro-companies with a single director, yes, bureaus often blend the two. For larger structures, less so.
