It’s no secret that the volatile economic recession that we’re currently immersed in has forced nearly every consumers to rethink how they use - and abuse - their credit.  From credit cards to personal loans and mortgages, many people are now struggling to deal with immense amounts of debt, all at the expense of their credit scores.

Yet what about that of your business?  While coverage of the credit crisis tends to focus on more personal stories, many businesses are not exactly smoothly sailing through the recession.  However, having a healthy credit score can drastically improve the willingness of lenders, suppliers, insurance providers and even financial institutions to work with you and your company.  Additionally, an excellent credit score will further increase your access to any funds should your business encounter a rough patch down the road.

So if you’re a business owner looking to protect the credit rating of your business, here’s a few tips that will keep you in the good graces of your most important business partners - and help you weather the recession storm!

1.       Run through your company’s credit report with a fine-tooth comb.  Order your company’s reports from credit agencies and check to make sure that any information isn’t outdated or a mistake.  Remember, these are the same credit reports that lenders and other institutions have access to, so you’ll want to make sure that  all of the information is accurate.  If you do notice any inconsistencies, immediately report the errors to your credit-reporting agency. 

2.       Pay all bills on time. Like with personal credit ratings, many factors enter into determining a credit score - but none are more important than your company’s ability to pay all of your bills and vendors on time.  Many institutions and venders who are looking to potentially work with your business want to see your fiscal responsibility - if you frequently pay your bills late, you risk losing key business relationships.

3.       Free up funds in your business.  Credit ratings often drop when individuals or businesses have to high of a debt to open credit ratio.  Prevent yourself from relying too heavily on credit by making small changes that will free up funds within your business.  Look at expense reduction, or reduce unnecessary costs that your business could do without for a time.

Protecting the credit rating of your business doesn’t have to be difficult - rather, by looking for creative solutions to solve your financial problems, your business will preserve its credit no matter what condition the global economy is in.

If you want more information on how to help your business strive and thrive towards financial security, visit www.kenhimmler.com, the IRA and 401-K experts!