PAYDEX Score
PAYDEX is the Dun & Bradstreet business credit score — a 0–100 number that reflects how reliably your business pays its bills.
What you actually need to know
PAYDEX is the most widely cited business credit score in the U.S. Vendors, fuel card programs, equipment leasing companies, and freight brokers all check it when deciding whether to extend credit or net terms.
The scoring band:
- 80–100: Pays on or before due date. The default threshold for "good business credit."
- 50–79: Pays late but not severely.
- 0–49: Significantly delinquent.
Most new businesses start at 0 because they have no payment history. You build PAYDEX by:
- Getting a DUNS number
- Opening tradelines with vendors that report to D&B (net-30 vendors, fuel cards)
- Paying every invoice on or before the due date — early is what pushes you above 80
Three to five reporting tradelines paid on time for 90+ days is usually enough to reach a PAYDEX of 80.
Common mistakes / confusions
- PAYDEX is for the business, not the owner. Personal FICO is a separate score.
- Late but not delinquent payments still hurt PAYDEX. "On time" means by the due date, not within the grace period.
- Not every vendor reports to D&B. Verify a vendor reports before opening a tradeline if your goal is credit-building.
Related terms
Where to go next
TruckStart is an educational tool, not a law firm, accounting firm, insurance agency, freight broker, or filing service. Always verify current requirements directly with FMCSA, your state, the IRS, and qualified professionals before making business decisions.