08/29/2025
START HERE! If you're new to business credit, the most important thing to learn is YOUR FOUNDATION MATTERS! No matter what kind of funding you’re looking for, your foundation can literally be the difference between APPROVED ✅ & DENIED! 🛑 Do not skip steps! They ALL matter! If you need help, reach out!🙌🙌🙌
Step 1: Business Name – When establishing your business, you want to be sure the name is available, and not in use by an existing company. This can be done by simply conducting a “Business Name Search,” at your local Secretary of State website. It is important to complete this step before moving to Step 2. If not, extra time and expenses will be incurred if the name is not available with your Secretary of State.
Step 2: Business Address- A virtual address or brick & mortar address is SO important to your business! It will be very hard to get funding without this. This address should be specific to your business, and easy to find for potential lenders. Do NOT use the following for business addresses:
• Home, or other residential addresses
• PO Boxes
• FedEx
• UPS
• IPostal
If you do not have a brick & mortar business address, make sure you get a virtual OFFICE & NOT a virtual ADDRESS! I recommend Opus because you get the most bang for your buck with them! Sign up here https://www.opusvirtualoffices.com/aff/ccr-enterprise/
Be sure to have a dedicated business address BEFORE you apply for your legal entity (LLC etc.) Remeber, you do not have to have a location near you unless you want to use it for an actual office space. You will only be using this as your primary address for the business on applications. Use your home address as your mailing & shipping address on everything.
Make sure that when looking for a virtual office, you Google it to make sure it pulls up as an office building. No stripmalls or mailbox offices. Also, make sure that it is not connected to anybody else. You should have your own suite number. A co-working space that is designated for commercial property is also a good option.
Step 3: Business Phone & Fax Number- It is ESSENTIAL that your company has a separate business phone. It can be a wireless number or a landline but it needs to be a phone number registered to your business!
Step 4: Business Email Address- Every business should create a business email address. Do NOT use gmail, Hotmail, yahoo, etc for your business email address, as some lenders may deny your application due to this. It should be under your domain, as it makes your brand appear more professional, instilling confidence in customers and, by extension, increasing customer loyalty. Getting a domain is pretty easy to do. You can obtain one with GoDaddy or with any company you may use to create a website.
Example: [email protected] or [email protected]
Step 5: Website- Establish a website for your company, even if it is just an information site. It can be a simple one-page website. Just make sure it contains the following:
• Your services listed
• Your business address (matching what is listed with the secretary of state)
• Your business toll free number
• Your business email address.
Step 6: Legal Entity – LLC or Corporation – You will need to establish a Corporation or LLC with your local Secretary of State. It is key to separate yourself personally from your business. Sole Proprietorships will hold you personally responsible and liable for the business. You can establish your legal entity online. Just search for your states (or the state you want to open a business in) secretary of state website. If you want CCR Enterprise to file for you, reach out about our business formation services!
Step 7: Business License - Most industries require a Business License to be in place. Contact the city to find out if your specific industry requires you to have a Business License in place for you to operate legally.
Step 8: EIN – Your company will be required to obtain an EIN (Employer Identification Number) from the IRS for tax purposes. Some may refer to this 9 Digit Number as a Tax ID Number. Be sure to download the pdf document when you apply and store for your records. You can obtain your business Tax ID Number/EIN Number for free at https://www.irs.gov
Step 9: Business Bank Account - The day you open a Business Bank Account is the date you officially start business in the finance world. It is recommended to obtain an Operating & Expense Account, Income or Revenue Account and a Savings Account. This is to ensure to keep your finances organized for tax purposes.
Step 10: List your business- Register with 411 National Directories & list your business on all the following:
http://listyourself.net/
https://www.yext.com/pl/yahoo-listings/index.html
https://biz.yelp.com/https://www.google.com/business/
https://help.mapquest.com/hc/en-us/requests/new?ticket_form_id=99678
https://www.yellowpages.com/
https://mapfeedback.here.com/ #/report
https://www.att.com/gen/general?pid=3912
https://www.merchantcircle.com/root
https://www.verizon.com/business/
https://corporate.thryv.com/tools/
https://www.google.com/business/
https://www.bingplaces.com/
Step 10: Obtain Your DUNS Number - Dun & Bradstreet is one of the main business credit bureaus, and it’s one of the biggest credit reporting Agency. A PAYDEX score is used by several lenders to determine the credit-worthiness of your business. You will need a DUNS number assigned to your business. You can do that for free online https://www.dnb.com/duns-number/get-a-duns.html You will need to provide the following information:
• Legal Name
• Headquarters name and address for your organization
• Doing business as (DBA) or other name by which your organization is commonly known or recognized
• Physical Address, City, State and Zip Code
• Mailing Address (if separate from Headquarters and/or physical address)
• Business Toll-Free Number
• Contact Name and Title
• Number of Employees at your physical location
DISCLAIMER: IT IS CRITICAL TO NOT MOVE ON TO BUILDING BUSINESS CREDIT WITHOUT HAVING ALL OF THESE FOUNDATION STEPS COMPLETED!
Your company’s D-U-N-S Number is the key to your D&B credit file and all the info other companies use to evaluate you. Here’s where you get your D-U-N-S.