When you’re running a business, making smart decisions about who you work with is key. Whether you’re bringing on a new customer, vetting a supplier, or expanding internationally, it’s important to know who you’re dealing with. That’s where a business credit report comes in.And the good news is, you can get one for free.
In this step-by-step guide, we’ll show you how to get a free business credit report from Creditsafe, what’s included in it and how to read the report so you can confidently protect your business.
What is a business credit report?
A business credit report gives you a snapshot of a company’s financial health and payment behavior. It usually includes a credit score, credit limit, payment trends, financial performance and more. This information helps you assess risk and make informed decisions before extending credit or signing contracts.
Why you should get a free business credit report
- Avoid bad debt by working only with companies that can meet their credit obligations.
- Improve cashflow by predicting when you’llactually get paid based on past behavior.
- Verify customers and suppliers to avoid falling victim to fraud.
- Perform due diligence to meet compliance requirements and avoid unnecessary risk.
How to get a free business credit report from Creditsafe
Getting your hands on a report is quick and easy. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Visit the Creditsafe website
Head over to the Creditsafe website and look for the free business credit report search bar.
Step 2: Enter the company name
Type in the name of the business you want to check. Creditsafe’s global database covers over 430 million companies in more than 200 countries, so you’lllikely find who you’re looking for, whether they’re local or international.
Step 3: Select the right company
From the search results, choose the company you want to investigate. You’ll be taken to a full credit report with a snapshot of their creditworthiness.
Step 4: View the report
You’ll now have access to a free overview of the company’s credit score, payment history, legal filings and more. All within one simple, easy-to-read report.
Step 5: Set a reminder to monitorreports regularly
Checking a company once is a great startbut business conditions can change quickly. That’s why regular monitoring is best practice.By keeping an eye on changes in credit scores, payment behavior, or legal filings, you can act early if a partner or customer shows signs of financial stress. It helps you protect your cash flow, reduce risk and stay one step ahead. With Creditsafe, you can even set up company monitoring alerts, so you’re notified the moment something changes.
What’s included in a Creditsafe business credit report?
Creditsafe’s reports give you all the information you need to make smart decisions:
- Credit scores and limits – Know whether a company can take on credit safely.
- Payment trends and days beyond terms (DBT) – See how quickly they pay their bills.
- Group structures and UBOs – Understand who really owns the business.
- Legal filings – Check for bankruptcies, tax liens, or judgments.
- Trade payment data – View payment history from actual suppliers.
- Small business financial data – Gain insight into commercial credit cards and loans.
- Compliance screening – Identify sanctions or watchlist flags automatically.
How to read a business credit report
Not sure how to make sense of all that data? Here’s what to focus on:
- Credit score: This is a quick indicator of how risky the company is. Lower scores mean higher risk.
- Credit limit: A recommended amount you can safely extend in credit.
- DBT (Days Beyond Terms): How late the company usually pays compared to agreed terms.
- Legal notices: If there are recent liens, bankruptcies, or judgments, that’s a red flag.
- Group structure: See if the company is backed by a larger parent or if it’s part of a risky group.
- Compliance flags: These indicate if the company is connected to sanctions lists or other watchlists.
When should you use a free business credit report?
There are plenty of times when checking a company’s credit makes good business sense:
- Before onboarding a new customer or supplier.
- When renewing contracts or extending credit terms.
- If you’re concerned about late payments or financial instability.
- When expanding into new markets and trading internationally.
- During customer due diligence for compliance purposes.
But it’s not just about checking once. Regularly monitoring business credit reports is a smart way to stay ahead of risk. A company that looks financially stable today could start showing warning signs tomorrow. By tracking changes in credit scores, payment behavior, or legal filings over time, you can take action before issues impact your business.Creditsafe’sCompany Monitoring feature makes this even easier, automatically alerting you when something changes in the credit profile of a customer, supplier, or partner.
Why use Creditsafe for business credit reports?
Creditsafe is trusted by over 120,000 businesses worldwide. Their reports are simple to access, easy to understand, and rich in real-time data. They’re also:
- Internationally trusted – with reports on companies in over 200 countries.
- Fast and easy to use – no complex setup required.
- Highly rated – one of the highest-rated credit bureaus on Trustpilot in the US.
Whether you’re protecting your business from bad debt or staying compliant, Creditsafe makes it easy to get started.
