Business Lending Information

What Is Business Credit?

Business credit is a separate credit profile for your company tied to your business EIN rather than your personal Social Security Number. Strong business credit allows you to access funding without personal guarantees, protects your personal finances, and opens doors to higher credit limits and better terms.

Alternative Lending Protections

Alternative lending—including merchant cash advances, invoice factoring, and equipment financing—offers faster access to capital with more flexible requirements than traditional banks. While these products are regulated differently than consumer credit, you still have important protections:

• Truth in Lending: Lenders must disclose all terms, fees, and repayment structures clearly
• Fair Dealing: Lenders cannot engage in deceptive or unfair business practices
• Contract Rights: Review all agreements before signing and understand your obligations
• Business Credit Reporting: Business credit bureaus must follow accuracy standards similar to FCRA

How Personal Credit Laws Apply to Business Funding

Many business funding sources—especially for newer businesses or smaller loans—review your personal credit as part of the application. This means FCRA protections apply to your personal credit reports even when seeking business funding. Key protections include:

• Accurate personal credit reporting that reflects true payment history
• Right to dispute inaccuracies that harm your business funding eligibility
• Protection from discriminatory lending practices under ECOA
• Adverse action notices explaining why funding was denied