Lesson 1, Topic 1
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Tier 1 Checklist

Tier 1 Checklist

Step 1: Business Credit Application

Apply to the following vendors:

Reports To: Equifax Business, PayNet

Instructions: Click Start Building button. Enter your email address, first name and last name. Fill out the rest of the information needed. Once approved, the loan funds are locked in a business savings account to secure the loan. You can make small monthly loan payments and build up to 120 months of payment history. Credit Strong reports your payments to the business credit bureaus, building your company’s credit profile each month.

NET Term: NET-30

Reports To: D&B, Experian

Instructions: Enter your email in the new customer box and choose a
password. Now place an order and at checkout choose “Bill Me
(Net 30 Account)” as your payment method. Uline reports the
fastest of all companies on the list, and best of all they report to
Experian too.

NET Term: NET-30

Reports To: D&B, Experian

Instructions: Talk to a representative and ask how to apply for a NET-30 account as a new business. Let them know it’s ok if they require a prepay for the first order, but to at least put it on the NET-30 account’s billing.

Net Term: NET-22 & NET-30

Reports To: D&B, Equifax

Instructions: Very friendly to start-up companies by reporting business credit lines to D&B. A $500 deposit (preferred) or personal guarantee may be required but is worth it as they report to all 3 major business credit bureaus.

Net Term: NET-30

Reports To: Experian, Equifax, Credit Safe, SBFE, Ansonia, and NACM

Instructions: Click on “APPLY FOR NET 30”. Fill out the application. Receive an email, call, and text letting you know you’ve been approved. Login to your account and pay for the $99 annual membership. Make a purchase, and be sure to click on “net-30” at checkout.

Note: Your business must operate in the United States, be at least 90 days old, have no derogatory credit or delinquencies, have EIN (Tax ID for business).

Net Term: NET-30

Reports To: D&B, Experian, Equifax, Credit Safe, SBFE and NACM

Instructions: Click on “APPLY FOR BUSINESS NET30”. Fill out the application. Receive an email, call, and text letting you know you’ve been approved. Login to your account and pay for the $99 annual membership. It’s ok because even this annual membership fee will be reported to all the business credit bureaus. It may be waived if you have an excellent business credit score. Make a purchase, and be sure to click on “net-30” at checkout.

Net Term: NET-30

Reports To: D&B, Experian, Equifax

Instructions: If you register your business through Laughlin you can get a trade account right from the start. You’ll need to call them at (800) 648-0966 for further information or to apply for a Net30 account.

Net Term: NET-30

Reports To: D&B, Experian, Equifax

Instructions: Grainger is pleased to offer Open Account billing to qualified customers upon Credit Approval. Please call 800-GRAINGER(472-4643) for further information or to apply for an open line of credit.

Net Term: NET-30

Reports To: D&B (quarterly)

Instructions: Place an order and at checkout choose “Bill Me (Net 30 Account)” as your payment method.

Net Term: NET-30

Instructions: The client must register

Step 2: Update the Business Credit Mastery Tracker

The Tier Tracking sheet must be updated every time you are submitting an application. Indicate the status, and update the login details in the login sheet. 

Download Here

Step 3: Get 3 Trade References

You’ll find that most business credit applications will require 2-3 trade references. So one of the first things you’ll need to do is obtain 3 trade references.

Trade reference: name and contact-particulars of one or more businesses with which a firm does regular business, used as a means of verifying the creditworthiness of the firm. If your company is just starting out, ask some friends if you can cite them and their businesses as trade references on your company’s credit applications. This will get you started. Once you get 5 vendors reporting, you will list them on future credit applications. Vendors that don’t report to the bureaus can still be used as trade references.

Step 4: Create your Trade Reference Sheet

Typically each vendor will have their own Trade Reference Sheet for you to fill out; however, if they are missing this document but are requesting it – you may use the Trade Reference Sample for submission to a vendor.

Download the Trade Reference Sample Here

Step 5: Shortcut “Time In Business” & Revolving Credit

If you or a friend has good personal credit or good business credit already, you can add your business as an additional cardholder on an existing personal or business credit card that has good credit history already.

Step 6: Check Your Credit Reports

At the 30, 60 & 90 day marks check your business credit scores through NAV and confirm if any new tradelines are reporting. It may take up to 90 days for a new tradeline to appear. The vendors and bureaus (especially Equifax & Experian) are slow to catch up. If a tradeline doesn’t appear after two credit cycles (60 days from first payment), call the vendor and request that they report to all three bureaus

Step 7: Attend Live Q&A Sessions

You can attend every second Tuesday of the month from 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM and every fourth Thursday from 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM EST.

Additional Vendor List

COMPANY NAMEREPORTING TOTERMSAPPLICATION LINK
Interstate BatteriesD&BClick Here to Apply
Medex supplyD&BNET-30 Click Here to Apply
People Ready
SetonNET-10 Click Here to Apply
76D&B, ExperianNET-15 Click Here to Apply
Murphy USAD&B, ExperianNET-15 Click Here to Apply
Kum&GoD&B, ExperianNET-15 Click Here to Apply
MarathonD&B, ExperianNET-15 Click Here to Apply
Amsterdam PrintingD&B NET-10
4 Imprint Click Here to Apply
NebsD&B NET-10 Click Here to Apply
BP Gas (Business Solutions Fuel Card)D&BNET-14 Click Here to Apply
Franklin CoveyNET-30 Click Here to Apply
SycomNET-30
Mouser ElectronicsNET-30 Click Here to Apply
DigikeyNET-30 Click Here to Apply
VikingNET-30 Click Here to Apply
National PenNET-30 Click Here to Apply
Bags and BowsNET-30 Click Here to Apply
GraybarNET-30 Click Here to Apply

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