DUNS Number: What It Is and How to Get One

A DUNS number is a way for your company to establish business credit. While getting a DUNS number usually isn’t a requirement — except for certain grants and government contracts — it’s a good idea to apply for one, since building business credit may help your business access better payment terms and additional financing options down the road.

Getting a DUNS number is free. Here's what else you need to know about DUNS numbers and how to apply for one.

What is a DUNS number?

A DUNS number is a unique nine-digit identifier assigned by Dun & Bradstreet, one of the three major business credit bureaus. It is sometimes styled as a “D-U-N-S” number, which refers to its formal name: Data Universal Numbering System number.

DUNS numbers are used by creditors, vendors and suppliers worldwide to check your business credit history and assess your company’s financial health. Your DUNS number will be linked to your Dun & Bradstreet business credit profile, which includes multiple business credit scores that assess how risky you might be for other companies to work with.

Who needs a DUNS number?

All businesses — regardless of age, size or business structure — can apply for a DUNS number. And there’s little downside to doing so.

Applying for a DUNS number is free. It helps establish and build your business credit, which is a record of your business's payment history available to potential lenders, business partners and investors. A strong business credit profile can lead to better terms on small business loans, insurance and trade credit agreements.

Businesses that intend to bid on certain government contracts should apply for a DUNS number well in advance. Many state and local governments require a DUNS number to receive state funding, whether through contract, grant or loan. It can take up to 30 days to get your DUNS number, so apply early to avoid the stress and expense of expedited processing (more on that below).

Some nongovernmental loans and small-business grants also require a DUNS number to apply.

DUNS numbers were previously required to apply for federal contracts or grants but were phased out in April 2022 in favor of a Unique Entity Identifier, or UEI, issued through the U.S. General Services Administration’s System for Award Management, or SAM.gov.

How to get a DUNS number

Follow these steps to get a DUNS number:

1. Use the DUNS lookup tool to find out whether your business already has a DUNS number. Even if you haven’t requested one, your business may have been assigned a DUNS number if a supplier or financial institution has requested information about your company. 

2. If you don’t have a DUNS number, visit Dun & Bradstreet’s website to begin the application process.

3. Provide the requested information about your business. Depending on your business type, this may include: 

   • Your business’s legal name, phone number and address.

   • The name of the business owner, president or CEO. 

   • Your company’s legal business structure and date of formation.

   • Your primary industry and the total number of employees (full- and part-time).

4. Prepare to wait up to 30 business days for your application to be processed. You can pay $229 for expedited processing to get your number within eight business days.

5. Validate the information you provided, if necessary. A representative from Dun & Bradstreet may contact you to authenticate your information.

6. Look for your DUNS number in your email.

7. Repeat this process for each of your business location, if you have more than one. 

DUNS number vs. EIN: What’s the difference?

A DUNS number and an EIN are two distinct business identifiers used for different purposes. Most businesses need both.

An employer identification number is assigned by the IRS. You'll use it to file your business tax return or issue tax forms to your employees. Certain types of businesses are legally required to get an EIN for tax purposes, and you can do so for free on IRS.gov.

No business is legally required to have a DUNS number. But it's used by other businesses and potential creditors to assess your company’s financial health — which means having one is still necessary for most businesses.