How to Build Credit for Your Small Business

Building and maintaining strong business credit is essential for securing funding, lowering borrowing costs, and positioning your company for long-term success. In this session, we’ll break down how personal credit influences early-stage financing - how business credit works - what lenders evaluate - and the practical steps small business owners can take to strengthen their credit profile.

You’ll learn:

• The key similarities and differences between personal and business credit reporting practices
• How personal creditworthiness connects to business credit, and how to navigate the transition
• How to verify that the data on your credit report is accurate and up to date
• What lenders look for when assessing creditworthiness and financing applications
• Key credit reporting regulations and industry standards
• How personal and business credit scores are calculated and used
• Business credit products and practical steps for establishing credit in your company’s name
• What to prepare and present when applying for credit

This session is ideal for business owners who want to understand their current credit standing, move confidently from personal to business credit, and create a clear roadmap for long-term financial health.

By registering for this seminar, you grant Virginia SBDC permission to share your name, phone number, email and county with the speaker - for reporting purposes only; they do not sell or distribute the information.

A confirmation email with the Zoom login information will be sent the day before the event—keep an eye out!

This event is part of Capital Pathways, a no-cost program from the Virginia SBDC that helps small businesses get the funding they need to grow. The program is designed for very small (fewer than 10 employees), emerging, and growth-ready businesses that face challenges accessing traditional financing. It offers hands-on group learning, guided implementation, and extended one-on-one support focused on strengthening your finances, loan applications, and legal setup.

Register now to save your spot!

Speaker: Justin Lewis, Operations & Program Manager of Community Economic Development, People Incorporated Financial Services