The Importance of Personal Credit When Obtaining a Business LOC
Unlike a business investment from a private investor, obtaining a business LOC requires that you have a good personal credit score. If you do not have a great personal credit score then it is still possible to obtain a business line of credit, but it will be more difficult. In the event that you credit is not “up-to-par” then there are a number of lenders available that can provide you with alternative forms of debt financing that are not wholly dependant on personal credit. However, these lines of credit often have very difficult terms and high interest rates.
As any good accountant will tell you, it is imperative that you have a good credit before applying for a business line of credit, business LOC, or any other type of credit facility. Contrary to popular belief, your credit score is not directly tied to your income. Your credit score is based on the number of accounts that you have open, your outstanding balances, and your history of making payments to your creditors in a timely manner. As such, any bank or finance company that may be providing you with a credit facility will want to know this type of information. If you have large outstanding balances, delinquencies, or if the amount of debt you owe is far above normal than a bank or finance company will be less inclined to provide you with a business LOC.
As was discussed in our of our main articles, it is important that you are well aware of your credit profile among the three major credit bureaus that monitor personal credit profiles (Experian, Equifax, and Trans Union). Each of these companies can provide you with a full credit report that showcases your entire credit history over the past seven years. If there are any errors on your credit report, you have the right to have them fixed or reviewed by the credit bureau. Additionally, you have the right to obtain a free credit report once a year.