What is a D-U-N-S number? How to get one for free

A D-U-N-S number is a unique nine-digit identifier issued by Dun & Bradstreet that identifies your business in commercial and government databases. It’s used to establish business credit, verify your company with vendors and lenders, and meet requirements for certain contracts and applications.

If you’re trying to separate your business finances from your personal credit or work with larger organizations, this number often becomes a requirement.

What is a D-U-N-S number?

A D-U-N-S number is a unique nine-digit ID that Dun & Bradstreet creates and manages for your business, separate from your personal identity. You'll also hear it called a Dun and Bradstreet number or a D&B number.

D-U-N-S stands for Data Universal Numbering System, and Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) uses it worldwide to identify businesses and track commercial activity.

Each D-U-N-S number is tied to a specific business location and stays associated with that entity over time. It works much like a Social Security number for a company, giving lenders, vendors, and government agencies a consistent way to verify that a business exists and assess its financial reliability.

D&B introduced the D-U-N-S system in 1963, and it's now used by governments and companies around the world. Today, hundreds of millions of businesses use it.

How D-U-N-S numbers work

Once a D-U-N-S number is assigned, it becomes the primary reference point for the business information Dun & Bradstreet maintains about your company. That information updates over time as D&B verifies and collects new data.

Key characteristics of the D-U-N-S system:

• It anchors your business profile: The profile links your credit history, scores and ratings, and public filings like liens or judgments. It also holds the employee count and primary industry you report when you apply.
• Each location gets its own number: Every physical business location receives its own D-U-N-S number, even if multiple locations operate under the same legal entity
• It's permanent: The number never expires or changes, even if your business closes or is purchased by another company
• The number isn't a score: The nine digits carry no credit information. They link to a profile that holds your D&B PAYDEX, Delinquency Predictor Score, and Financial Stress Score, which you can check for free.

Why you need a D-U-N-S number

A D-U-N-S number is the foundation for your business’s commercial identity. It lets lenders, vendors, and other organizations evaluate your company separately from your personal credit and verify that your business is legitimate and established.

In practice, the number becomes the gateway to building business credit, qualifying for certain contracts, and working with large organizations that require standardized business verification. Without one, you can't complete the supplier and credit applications that ask for it.

Who needs a D-U-N-S number?

You aren't required to have a D-U-N-S number to run your business, but getting one early prevents delays when a lender, supplier, or agency asks for it. Nearly all business types can get one, including limited liability companies (LLCs), C corporations and S corporations, and general and limited partnerships.

In practice, you'll most often need a D-U-N-S number when a specific operational or financial requirement comes up. Those situations commonly include:

• Applying for state or local government contracts
• Registering as a supplier with large corporations
• Enrolling in company-only programs such as the Apple Developer Program
• Setting up a Google developer account or registering a facility with the FDA
• Building business credit to separate personal and company finances
• Applying for business loans or lines of credit

How to get a D-U-N-S number

You can apply for a D-U-N-S number directly through Dun & Bradstreet, and the application only takes a few minutes. Before applying, it’s worth checking whether your business already has one, since D&B won't issue a duplicate.

To get started, follow these steps:

1. Check if your business already has a D-U-N-S number by using Dun & Bradstreet’s free lookup tool.
2. If no record exists, apply through the Dun & Bradstreet website and pick the option that fits your situation: U.S.-based business, Canada-based business, Apple developer, Google developer, or FDA UFI registration.
3. Submit your business information exactly as it appears on official records to avoid processing delays.
4. Wait for Dun & Bradstreet to verify your details, which may include a call from a D&B representative, and watch for your number by email once it's authenticated.

Required information for your application

Having accurate information ready helps prevent delays during verification. Dun & Bradstreet uses these application details to confirm your business identity and build your profile.

You'll need to provide:

• Legal business name
• Business address—each business location needs its own D-U-N-S number
• Business phone number
• Name of the owner, president, or CEO
• Legal structure
• Year the business started
• Primary industry
• Total full- and part-time employees

How long does it take to get a D-U-N-S number?

Standard processing for a D-U-N-S number can take up to 30 business days when you apply through Dun & Bradstreet’s free application process. This timeline includes verification of your business details and the creation of your business profile. If you need a D-U-N-S number more quickly, Dun & Bradstreet offers an expedited option that delivers your number within 8 business days.

How much does a D-U-N-S number cost?

Getting a D-U-N-S number is free for all businesses through Dun & Bradstreet’s standard application process. If you need it quickly, D&B also offers an expedited option for a $229 fee.

How to look up a D-U-N-S number

You can look up a D-U-N-S number for your own business or for another company using publicly available tools. A DUNS number lookup is often the fastest way to confirm whether a number already exists before starting a new application.

The most reliable place to check a DUNS number is Dun & Bradstreet’s free D-U-N-S number lookup tool, which lets you search by business name, address, or phone number. Checking first saves you from submitting a duplicate request.

You may also find a company’s D-U-N-S number in the following places:

• Vendor onboarding documents, invoices, or contracts
• A company’s website, often in the footer or About section

Can't find your number? Either the address or phone number on file with D&B doesn't match what you entered, or your business doesn't have a number yet. If it's a mismatch, update your D&B profile; if you don't have a number, apply for one.

How to update your D&B business profile

If you run a U.S.-based, non-public company, you can view and request updates to your business information for free through D&B's D-U-N-S Manager. Keeping it current matters because lenders and suppliers see this profile, and it's where your PAYDEX and other D&B scores live.

There's no charge to renew or maintain a D-U-N-S number, and you never have to buy a D&B product to get, use, or keep one. When you review your profile, check these details first:

1. Legal name: Confirm it matches your state registration exactly.
2. Address: Make sure each location's address is correct, since every location has its own number.
3. Ph1 number: Use the number lenders and suppliers will actually reach you at.
4. Employee count: Update your total full- and part-time headcount as your team grows.

D-U-N-S number vs. EIN

A D-U-N-S number isn't the same as an EIN: one is your tax ID from the IRS, and the other is your commercial and credit ID from Dun & Bradstreet. A D-U-N-S number and an employer identification number (EIN) are both nine-digit identifiers, but they serve different roles in how your business is identified and evaluated.

Most businesses need both, depending on their tax, credit, and operational requirements. Your EIN is issued by the IRS and is used for tax reporting, payroll, and hiring. A D-U-N-S number, by contrast, is issued by Dun & Bradstreet and is used to establish your business’s commercial identity and credit profile.

For example, a two-person LLC that hires its first employee needs an EIN for payroll. If that same LLC applies to become a supplier to a national retailer, it may be asked for its D-U-N-S number.

D-U-N-S number vs. UEI

The U.S. federal government required D-U-N-S numbers from contractors for decades, but in April 2022 it switched to the Unique Entity ID (UEI), which SAM.gov issues. If you only bid on federal contracts, the UEI is the identifier you need.

The D-U-N-S number still matters outside federal work. Many state and local agencies still require it for contract bids, loans, and grants, and many large companies and foreign governments still use it.

Control business spending with the Ramp Corporate Card

A D-U-N-S number is a key step in building your company’s credit profile, but it’s only part of the picture. To strengthen business credit, you need a steady record of on-time payments to lenders and suppliers.

With the Ramp Corporate Card, you get up to 20x higher credit limits than traditional business credit cards while keeping complete control over your company's spending.

Unlike traditional business credit cards, Ramp has no personal credit checks and no personal guarantees. You’ll also get access to perks like unlimited physical and virtual cards, smart spend controls, automated expense management, and $350k+ in partner offers.

Spend controls by merchant, category, and amount are built into every card, so out-of-policy purchases get blocked at the swipe instead of flagged after the fact.

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