“How much business credit can I get?”

This is the first question every business owner asks—and the answer is: It depends on which tier you’re at.

Business credit isn’t a single limit. It’s a ladder with multiple levels, each requiring specific qualifications. Let me show you the real numbers and what it takes to reach each tier.

TIER 1: $10,000 - $25,000

Timeline: 0-6 monthsFocus: Foundation Building

What You Can Access:

•Vendor net-30 accounts: $500-$5,000 each

•Store credit cards (Home Depot, Lowe’s): $2,000-$5,000

•Fleet cards (Shell, BP): $1,000-$3,000

•Starter business credit cards: $5,000-$10,000

Total Available: $10,000-$25,000

Requirements:

✅ Business entity (LLC, Corp)✅ EIN from IRS✅ Business bank account✅ D-U-N-S number from Dun & Bradstreet✅ Business phone number✅ Professional online presence

Credit Requirements:

•Personal credit: 600-650+ (for some cards)

•Business credit: None yet (you’re building it)

•Time in business: 0-6 months

Purpose at This Tier:

You’re not accessing huge credit here—you’re building the FOUNDATION. These accounts report to business credit bureaus and establish your payment history.

TIER 2: $25,000 - $75,000

Timeline: 6-12 monthsFocus: Credit Profile Development

What You Can Access:

•Major store cards (larger limits): $5,000-$10,000

•Grainger, Quill (established vendors): $5,000-$15,000

•Gas/fleet cards (upgraded): $5,000-$10,000

•Small business credit cards (Chase Ink, Amex Blue): $10,000-$25,000

•Small business line of credit: $10,000-$25,000

Total Available: $25,000-$75,000

Requirements:

✅ Everything from Tier 1, plus:✅ 3-5 tradelines reporting to business credit bureaus✅ PAYDEX score 70+ (Dun & Bradstreet)✅ 6+ months in business✅ Consistent revenue ($5,000-$10,000/month minimum)✅ Business bank account with positive balance history

Credit Requirements:

•Personal credit: 650-680+

•Business credit: PAYDEX 70-80

•Time in business: 6-12 months

•Revenue: $60,000-$120,000 annually

Purpose at This Tier:

You’re transitioning from “starter” accounts to real business credit that can fund operations, inventory, and growth.

TIER 3: $75,000 - $150,000

Timeline: 12-18 monthsFocus: Established Business Credit

What You Can Access:

•Premium business credit cards (Chase Ink Preferred, Amex Gold): $15,000-$50,000

•Business lines of credit: $25,000-$100,000

•Equipment financing: $25,000-$100,000

•Larger vendor accounts: $10,000-$25,000 each

•SBA microloans: $50,000

Total Available: $75,000-$150,000

Requirements:

✅ Everything from Tier 2, plus:✅ 5-10 tradelines with excellent payment history✅ PAYDEX score 80+✅ 12+ months in business✅ Strong cash flow ($15,000-$25,000/month revenue)✅ Business credit utilization under 30%✅ Professional financial statements

Credit Requirements:

•Personal credit: 680-700+

•Business credit: PAYDEX 80+, Experian 75+

•Time in business: 12-18 months

•Revenue: $180,000-$300,000 annually

Purpose at This Tier:

This is where business credit becomes powerful. You can fund significant inventory purchases, hire employees, expand locations, or invest in major equipment.

TIER 4: $150,000 - $250,000

Timeline: 18-24 monthsFocus: Mature Business Financing

What You Can Access:

•Premium business credit cards (multiple): $25,000-$75,000 each

•Revolving business lines of credit: $50,000-$150,000

•Term loans: $50,000-$250,000

•SBA 7(a) loans: Up to $5 million (but realistically $100K-$250K at this stage)

•Equipment financing: $100,000-$250,000

•Commercial real estate (down payment): $50,000-$100,000

Total Available: $150,000-$250,000

Requirements:

✅ Everything from Tier 3, plus:✅ 10+ tradelines with perfect payment history✅ PAYDEX 80+, Experian 80+, Equifax 140+✅ 18+ months in business✅ Strong profitability (not just revenue)✅ Clean tax returns (filed and paid)✅ Professional business plan (for larger asks)

Credit Requirements:

•Personal credit: 700+

•Business credit: PAYDEX 85+, Experian 80+

•Time in business: 18-24 months

•Revenue: $300,000-$600,000 annually

•Profitability: 15-20%+ net margin

Purpose at This Tier:

You’re now accessing institutional-level funding. This finances major expansion, multiple locations, significant equipment, or acquisition of other businesses.

TIER 5: $250,000 - $1,000,000+

Timeline: 24+ monthsFocus: Enterprise-Level Financing

What You Can Access:

•Large business lines of credit: $250,000-$500,000+

•SBA 7(a) loans: $500,000-$5,000,000

•Commercial real estate loans: $500,000-$2,000,000+

•Equipment financing: $500,000+

•Acquisition financing: $500,000-$5,000,000

•Corporate credit: Unlimited (for qualified corporations)

Total Available: $250,000-$1,000,000+ (sometimes unlimited)

Requirements:

✅ Everything from Tier 4, plus:✅ 15+ tradelines with 2+ years of perfect history✅ PAYDEX 90+, Experian 85+, Equifax 160+✅ 2+ years in business (preferably 3-5)✅ Multi-million dollar annual revenue✅ Strong balance sheet and cash reserves✅ Collateral (for largest amounts)✅ Professional relationships with banks

Credit Requirements:

•Personal credit: 720+

•Business credit: PAYDEX 90+, Experian 85+, Equifax 160+

•Time in business: 24+ months

•Revenue: $1,000,000-$5,000,000+ annually

•Profitability: 20%+ net margin

•Assets: Significant

Purpose at This Tier:

This is “make it rain” territory. Commercial real estate, multiple locations, major acquisitions, franchising, or scaling to enterprise level.

Reality Check: What Most Businesses Actually Get

After 12 Months of Strategic Building:

•Average total available: $50,000-$100,000

•Realistic usable amount: $30,000-$50,000

•Mix of: credit cards, vendor accounts, small line of credit

After 24 Months:

•Average total available: $100,000-$250,000

•Realistic usable amount: $75,000-$150,000

•Mix of: multiple credit cards, large line of credit, term loan option

The key: Don’t just chase limits. Chase usable, affordable credit that serves your actual business needs.

How to Move Through Tiers Faster

Strategy 1: Perfect Payment History

Every. Single. Payment. On. Time. One late payment can set you back 6 months.

Strategy 2: Multiple Tradelines

Don’t just open one account—open 3-5 at Tier 1, then add more at each tier.

Strategy 3: Increase Revenue

Lenders care about revenue. Growing from $50K to $150K annually unlocks new tiers.

Strategy 4: Keep Utilization Low

Use less than 30% of available credit. Shows you don’t need it desperately.

Strategy 5: Mix of Credit Types

Vendor accounts + credit cards + line of credit = stronger profile than just one type.

Strategy 6: Separate Personal and Business

Never mix them. Keep business credit completely independent.

Timeline Expectations

Most Realistic Path:

•Month 0-6: Build foundation, reach $10K-$25K

•Month 6-12: Establish profile, reach $50K-$75K

•Month 12-18: Mature credit, reach $100K-$150K

•Month 18-24: Strong profile, reach $150K-$250K

•Month 24+: Enterprise options, $250K-$1M+

Can you go faster? Yes, with:

•Higher revenue

•Perfect execution

•Strong personal credit as backup

•Strategic guidance

Most businesses take 18-24 months to hit $100K+ in total business credit.

Ready to start building business credit strategically? Our coaching program provides the exact path, vendor list, application timeline, and support to move through these tiers as fast as possible.

[Apply for Business Credit Coaching →] https://copecart.com/us/products/58488ee2/checkout