Business credit scores offer a snapshot of your business’s financial health. Each Credit Reference Agency (CRA) uses its own scoring system. For example:
Experian (used by Capitalise) scores from 0 to 100, with ratings from A to F
Equifax uses a scale of 300 to 850
Scores are calculated using a mix of publicly available data (like Companies House filings) and shared data from banks, lenders, and suppliers.
Your business credit score reflects how financially reliable your company appears to lenders, suppliers, and other partners. It’s based on key factors such as:
Your financial performance in annual accounts
Public record filings (e.g. director changes, company structure)
Adverse events like County Court Judgments (CCJs)
Your payment history with suppliers and creditors
The length of your credit history
Monitoring these areas and maintaining strong financial habits can help improve your score over time.
Experian Business Credit Score scoring model explained
Key factors influencing your business credit score and their level of impact
1. Financial performance: the strength of your accounts [High impact]
Your annual accounts filed at Companies House are often the most significant influencing factors. These provide a detailed overview of your company's financial health, including profitability, assets, and liabilities.
2. Adverse events: negative indicators [High impact]
Significant negative events, such as County Court Judgements (CCJs) and records of winding-up petitions, severely and negatively impact your business credit score.
3. Public records: key business events [Medium impact]
Your business credit score also takes into account public records from Companies House, such as changes to directors, shareholders, or company structure. Frequent changes or signs of instability can affect how creditworthy your business appears.
4. Credit history length: Demonstrating stability [Medium impact]
The longer your business has been trading and using credit, the more data credit agencies have to assess your financial behaviour. A long, consistent credit history helps show stability and can improve your credit score.
5. Payment performance: meeting your obligations [Low impact]
Your history of settling trade and supplier debts and consistently paying on time positively impacts your score, while late payments have a detrimental effect.
Want to know more about business credit scores? Read our Ultimate guide to business credit scores.