The ladder The bureaus Vendors that report What is fraud Check an offer

2. Get an EIN from the IRS

Obtain a free Employer Identification Number for the entity.

Why it matters

The EIN is the business's tax ID — the "SSN of the business" that bureaus and banks key to.

How

Apply free directly at irs.gov. Never pay a third party for an EIN.

Source: IRS (irs.gov)

What it costs

FREE, directly from the IRS

What gets sold here: ⚠️ Sites that charge $75–$300 to "obtain your EIN." The IRS issues it free at irs.gov in about fifteen minutes. Never pay for an EIN.

Do these first

1. Form an active state-registered entity

Then

3. Open a business bank account

Separates business and personal money — required for clean books and for many tradelines/cards.

← the whole ladder

This is general business-credit education, not financial, legal, or tax advice. Confirm specifics with a licensed professional and the official sources directly.