Paydex Score Explained: What It Is and How to Get 80+
Everything about the Paydex score: how D&B calculates it, factors that affect your rating, and proven strategies to reach 80+ fast for better vendor terms.

Paydex Score Explained: What It Is and How to Get 80+
Your Paydex score is the business equivalent of a personal credit score—except it works completely differently.
While personal credit scores factor in utilization, credit mix, and history length, Paydex cares about one thing: how fast you pay your bills. That's it. Pay early, get a high score. Pay late, get a low score.
This simplicity is good news. It means you can build a strong Paydex score faster than you can build personal credit—if you understand the rules.
What Is a Paydex Score?
Paydex is Dun & Bradstreet's proprietary payment performance score. It measures how promptly your business pays its vendors compared to the payment terms agreed upon.
Score range: 1-100
What it represents: The weighted average of your payment performance across all reporting trade experiences.
| Paydex Score | Rating | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | Excellent | Pays 30 days before due date |
| 90 | Excellent | Pays 20 days early |
| 80 | Good | Pays on time |
| 70 | Fair | Pays 15 days late |
| 50 | Poor | Pays 30 days late |
| 30 | Very Poor | Pays 60 days late |
The target: 80+ is considered good. 90+ is excellent. Most lenders and vendors want to see at least 75-80.
How Paydex Is Calculated
The formula is straightforward: It's a dollar-weighted average of your payment timing across all trade experiences.
The Calculation
Each vendor that reports to D&B provides:
- Invoice amount
- Payment terms (Net-30, Net-60, etc.)
- Actual payment date
D&B converts this into a score based on how you paid relative to terms:
| Payment Behavior | Points |
|---|---|
| 30+ days early | 100 |
| 22-29 days early | 95 |
| 15-21 days early | 90 |
| 8-14 days early | 85 |
| 1-7 days early | 80 |
| On time (0 days) | 80 |
| 1-14 days late | 70 |
| 15-29 days late | 60 |
| 30-59 days late | 50 |
| 60-89 days late | 40 |
| 90+ days late | 30 or lower |
Dollar Weighting
Larger invoices count more than smaller ones. A $10,000 invoice paid early impacts your score more than a $100 invoice paid early.
Example:
- Vendor A: $5,000 invoice paid 20 days early (95 points)
- Vendor B: $500 invoice paid 5 days late (70 points)
Weighted average: ($5,000 × 95 + $500 × 70) ÷ $5,500 = 92.7
The larger invoice dominates the calculation.
What You Need for a Paydex Score
You can't get a Paydex score without:
1. A D-U-N-S Number
Your unique D&B identifier. Free to obtain at dnb.com.
2. Trade Experiences Reporting
At least 2-3 vendors must report payment experiences to D&B. Not all vendors report—you need to use ones that do.
3. Payment History
D&B needs actual payment data. Opening accounts isn't enough; you need to make purchases and payments.
Minimum for a score: Usually 3 trade experiences over a few months.
Why Paydex Matters
Vendor Credit Decisions
When you apply for Net-30 terms with a new vendor, they often check your D&B profile. A low Paydex means:
- Denied credit terms
- Lower credit limits
- Cash-on-delivery requirements
Lender Evaluations
Banks and alternative lenders check business credit. Paydex is one of the first things they see. Sub-80 scores raise red flags.
Business Partnerships
Enterprise companies vet vendors before signing contracts. A strong Paydex signals financial stability.
Contract Requirements
Some government and corporate contracts require minimum Paydex scores (often 75-80+).
How to Build Paydex from Zero
Step 1: Get Your D-U-N-S Number
Apply at dnb.com. It's free but takes up to 30 days (or pay ~$229 to expedite).
Step 2: Open Reporting Vendor Accounts
These vendors report to D&B and approve new businesses:
Tier 1 (Easy Approval):
- Uline (shipping supplies)
- Quill (office supplies)
- Grainger (industrial supplies)
- Summa Office Supplies
Tier 2 (2-3 trades required):
- Strategic Network Solutions
- The CEO Creative
- Crown Office Supplies
Step 3: Make Purchases
Small purchases work. $50-$100 per vendor is enough to establish the trade line.
Step 4: Pay Early
This is where most people fail. They pay "on time" and wonder why their Paydex is only 80.
To maximize Paydex:
- Pay invoices within 1 week of receiving them
- Don't wait until the due date
- Set up early payment reminders
Step 5: Repeat and Expand
Continue making purchases and paying early. Add more vendors over time. More trade experiences = more stable score.
Strategies to Reach Paydex 80+
Strategy 1: Pay Within 10 Days
Regardless of Net-30 terms, pay every invoice within 10 days of receipt. This puts you in the 85-95+ range consistently.
Automate it: Set up your accounting system to flag new invoices for immediate payment.
Strategy 2: Prioritize Larger Invoices
Since Paydex is dollar-weighted, early payment on large invoices matters more. If you can only pay one invoice early this week, pick the largest one.
Strategy 3: Increase Purchase Frequency
More transactions = more data points = more stable score. Instead of one $500 order, consider two $250 orders paid separately.
Strategy 4: Verify Reporting
Some vendors claim to report but don't consistently. After 60 days, check your D&B profile to confirm trades are appearing. If not, contact the vendor.
Strategy 5: Add High-Limit Accounts
As your profile strengthens, apply for accounts with higher limits. Larger credit lines mean larger potential invoices, which carry more weight.
Common Paydex Mistakes
Mistake 1: Paying on the Due Date
"On time" payment only gets you 80. To score 90+, you need to pay early. Most business owners don't realize this.
Mistake 2: Using Non-Reporting Vendors
That Amazon Business account? Probably not reporting to D&B. Local suppliers? Probably not reporting. Stick to confirmed reporting vendors.
Mistake 3: Inconsistent Payment Timing
One early payment followed by one late payment averages out poorly. Consistency matters.
Mistake 4: Ignoring Small Invoices
While large invoices matter more, consistently late small payments still hurt. Pay everything early.
Mistake 5: Not Checking Your Profile
Errors happen. Payments get misreported. Check your D&B profile quarterly to catch issues.
Paydex vs. Other Business Credit Scores
Paydex (D&B)
- Range: 1-100
- Based on: Payment timing only
- Target: 80+
Intelliscore Plus (Experian Business)
- Range: 1-100
- Based on: Payment history, credit utilization, company info, public records
- Target: 76+
Business Credit Risk Score (Equifax)
- Range: 101-992
- Based on: Payment history, credit utilization, length of history, public records
- Target: 700+
Key difference: Paydex only considers payment timing. Other scores factor in more variables. This makes Paydex easier to improve quickly.
Timeline: Zero to 80+ Paydex
Month 1
- Get D-U-N-S Number
- Open 3 vendor accounts
- Make first purchases
Month 2
- Pay first invoices early (within 10 days)
- Add 2-3 more vendors
- Verify first accounts are reporting
Month 3
- Continue early payments
- Check D&B for Paydex score
- Score should be 75-85+
Month 4+
- Maintain early payment habit
- Add higher-limit accounts
- Target 90+ with consistent behavior
Realistic timeline: 80+ Paydex is achievable within 90-120 days with disciplined early payments.
Monitoring Your Paydex
Free Option: D&B CreditSignal
Basic alerts when your profile is accessed. Shows Paydex score. Limited detail.
Sign up at: dnb.com/products/small-business/creditsignal.html
Paid Options
D&B offers various monitoring packages ($15-$150+/month). Only necessary if you need detailed reporting or are actively building credit.
DIY Monitoring
Request your D&B report annually. Check for:
- Accurate trade experiences
- Correct payment history
- No fraudulent accounts
Paydex FAQ
How long does it take to get a Paydex score?
Usually 2-3 months after opening reporting vendor accounts and making payments.
Can one late payment ruin my Paydex?
One late payment will lower your score, but not destroy it. The dollar-weighted average means one small late payment among many early payments has limited impact.
Does Paydex affect personal credit?
No. Paydex is business credit only. It doesn't appear on personal credit reports.
Can I improve Paydex without spending money?
No. You need actual transactions with reporting vendors. But the purchases can be small ($50-$100) and for items you'd buy anyway.
What if a vendor reported incorrectly?
Contact D&B to dispute. Provide payment documentation (bank statements, receipts). D&B investigates and corrects confirmed errors.
Next Steps
Paydex is one of the easiest business credit scores to improve—if you know the rules. Pay early, use reporting vendors, and stay consistent.
Start with one vendor account today. Make a small purchase. Pay the invoice within a week. Repeat with more vendors. Within 90 days, you'll have a Paydex score that opens doors.
Need help building your Paydex score? Freedom Consulting creates customized business credit strategies. Book a free consultation to accelerate your business credit journey.
Related: D-U-N-S Number Guide | Net-30 Vendor Accounts | Business Credit Complete Guide
Disclaimer: D&B scoring and processes may change. Verify current information at dnb.com.
Continue Learning
This article is part of our Business Credit: The Complete 2025 Guide to Building Corporate Credit guide series.
Related articles in this series:
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