One of the biggest myths about business credit is that it takes forever to build. It doesn’t. You can go from zero to fundable in under two years if you execute correctly. Here’s the exact timeline and what happens at each stage.

The 90-Day Foundation (Months 1-3)

By day 90, you’ll have:

• Business registration and EIN
• DUNS number from Dun & Bradstreet
• Business bank account with first transactions
• Initial credit profile established (50-100 range)

Lenders won’t fund yet, but you’ve laid the foundation.

The 6-Month Mark (Months 4-6)

You now have:

• 3+ months of documented business transactions
• Initial trade credit relationships established
• First business credit card (possibly)
• Credit profile in 100-200 range

Still not enough for major lending, but lenders are taking notice.

The 12-Month Sweet Spot (Months 7-12)

You now have:

• One full year of documented business history
• Multiple trade credit relationships (3-5 vendors)
• Proven on-time payment history
• Credit profile in 200-400 range
• Eligibility for some alternative and SBA-type lending

The 18-Month Turning Point (Months 13-18)

You now have:

• 18 months of consistent operation and payments
• Established relationships with multiple creditors
• Credit profile in 400-600 range
• Access to better-rate business loans
• Reduced personal guarantee requirements on some loans

The 24-Month Milestone (Months 19-24)

You now have:

• Two full years of business history
• Strong payment history with multiple vendors
• Credit profile in 600-750+ range (depending on execution)
• Access to most traditional business lending
• Negotiating power with lenders and vendors

The Real Timeline Versus the Myth

Many believe business credit takes 3-5 years to build. In reality, you can reach fundable status in 12 months and strong status in 18-24 months. The difference? Intentional, disciplined execution from day one.