What is a Dun & Bradstreet Number?

Question

My brother is opening a general contracting business and I am just helping him with the paperwork during my pregnancy. Someone said he may be required to obtain this. Does anyone know what this is?

Answer 1

Here is the web site for Dun & Bradstreet. http://www.dnb.com/us/

They are like a credit bureau for businesses.
If you are an individual & you want to get a credit card, use a checking account, buy a car, house, whatever ... the seller may seek out info on your age, job, money in bank, information about your history of paying bills & so forth.

With business to business it is the same kind of thing, but since often because a lot more money is involved, they want to know things about the business that might not be relevant about an individual person ... like
* How long have they been in business?
* Who owns this outfit & what are their records?
* When they pay their bills, do they do so on time & if not how far behind do they get on the average?
* List some credit references.

You are not required to have Dun & Bradstreet account, and you are not required to give it out to any other company.

However, if you don't have one, then no other business will want to extend you any credit.

So most new businesses will register with Dun & Bradstreet, establish an account, then give that information out when other companies might ask for it.

Now be careful ... you need to ask Dun & Bradstreet if this is a con game, like some outfit wants your social security #.

In addition to registering with Dun & Bradstreet, any new business will also need to get incorporated in the State of HQ, get a government tax # (which is like a social security # except it is for the business), register with the Better Business Bureau, and join the Chamber of Commerce.

Someone else said it is related to the stock market.
Well that is only true if it is a public company.
If you are helping him fill out the forms, no way is it a public company ... it is probably a privately owned single proprietorship where your brother and a small # of other people own all the shares, so the stock market does not enter into it for your brother, either the general public able to buy shares of the company, or buy its bonds, or any investments independent of the company.

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
What is a Dun & Bradstreet Number?

Answer 3

If he has investments this would be there number, kind of like the NASDAQ but ovisouly for the market of Dun & Brad.

He would know the number if he had one.

Answer 4

Check here ...

http://www.dnb.com/us/duns_update/index.html