Most people are familiar with the consumer FICO score. Entrepreneurs also need to understand how their business ratings are maintained and calculated by business credit reporting agencies, including Dun & Bradstreet, Experian Business, and Equifax Small Business.

According to Marco Carbajo, a business credit blogger for Dun and Bradstreet Credibility Corp., the SBA.gov Community, About.com and All Business.com, there are five reasons small business owners should start building business credit today:

Business financing: When business credit ratings are high, lenders and suppliers will give favorable terms to purchase on credit. Without a business credit rating, a supplier may require cash on delivery or ask for a personal guarantee.
Supplier contracts: If your company wants to do business with government agencies or Fortune 500 companies, chances are they will review your business credit reports.
Business separation: A business credit report enables a complete separation between the personal credit reports of the small business owner to the reports established by the company itself.
Credit protection: With favorable business credit ratings, a business can obtain financing from companies willing to grant credit without a personal credit check or guarantor. This allows a business to acquire products and services it needs on credit without putting the business owner’s personal credit at risk.
Business partners: Business credit reports are frequently being pulled by potential business partners so they can find out about a company’s credit history and decide if the business is capable of being a sound business partner. Unlike personal credit reports, business credit reports are available to the public.