There is no single "good" business credit score in Australia, because each credit bureau uses its own scale and bands. Equifax's commercial score runs from −200 to 1,200, and CreditorWatch's commercial RiskScore runs from 0 to 850 with ratings from A1 to F. illion and Experian do not publish their commercial score scales or bands on their public websites. Personal scores run from 0 to 1,200 at Equifax and 0 to 1,000 at Experian and illion. For most small businesses, lenders look at both the company's commercial file and each director's personal file.
Last checked: 11 October 2026. Commercial bureau scales re-checked 12 October 2026.
A business credit score estimates how likely a business is to have a credit problem over a set period. Equifax's commercial score predicts the likelihood of an adverse credit event, such as a default, external administration or court action, in the next 12 months (Equifax).
Lenders use it to decide whether to lend and at what rate. Suppliers use it to set trade credit terms. Landlords may use it to set bonds and guarantees.
For most SMEs the two are assessed together, so a director's personal history can affect how a lender views the business.
Each bureau builds its commercial score from the information on its own file, so the inputs vary. They can include:
Equifax says its commercial score estimates the likelihood of an adverse event in the next 12 months (Equifax). Recent events usually weigh more than old ones, which is why a clean recent history helps.
The Equifax "good" band of roughly 661–734 is a personal score band. It applies to an individual, such as a director or sole trader, and is approximate because Equifax can change its bands. It is not a guide to the Equifax commercial score for a company, which uses a different scale (−200 to 1,200) and has no published "good" band.
CreditorWatch also publishes the average rating by entity type. In its August 2024 guide, the average was C1 for GST-registered private companies and partnerships, C2 for GST-registered sole traders, and D2 for sole traders not registered for GST. CreditorWatch updated its scoring model in October 2025, so treat those averages as a guide rather than a target, and ask the bureau for current figures.
Each bureau sets its own bands, and each lender sets its own approval thresholds. A score that is "good" at one bureau may be "average" at another. Always compare a score with the bands published by the bureau that produced it.
See preparing financials for a business loan application and loan approval rates and lending statistics.
A bureau score is one input. Most lenders also run their own credit assessment, which weighs the score alongside the application, the financials, any security offered and their own policies. Two lenders can look at the same score and reach different decisions, and a lender may decline a business with a strong score if serviceability is weak. That's why the financials and the cashflow forecast often matter as much as the number.
Trade suppliers who offer credit terms often run a commercial credit check when you open an account, and some check again before raising your limit. They may also ask for trade references and, for a company, a director's guarantee. A history of paying on time helps when you ask for longer terms or a higher limit later. If a supplier report shows late payments, it's worth asking which accounts they relate to and fixing the cause.
The Privacy Act sets maximum retention periods for consumer credit information. According to the OAIC:
These periods apply to personal files. For a sole trader or a director, they can affect a business loan application for years after the event (OAIC).
The ATO can disclose a business's tax debt information to credit reporting bureaus when all of these apply:
Debts covered by a payment plan that is being met, and certain debts under dispute, are not counted toward the $100,000 (ATO).
Assumptions: a company owes the ATO $130,000, all overdue for more than 90 days. $40,000 of it is under a payment plan that is being met. No other exclusion applies.
For commercial files, ask the bureau about its own correction process.
Illustrative only. The rates below are assumptions, not current market rates.
Assumptions: a $300,000 loan over 5 years (60 monthly repayments), comparing 9.5% a year for a strong profile with 13.5% a year for a weaker profile.
Ask what drove the decision, fix that first, and wait before reapplying so new enquiries don't add up. See what to do when the bank rejects your loan application and business loans for bad credit.
What is a good business credit score in Australia?
It depends on the bureau. Equifax's commercial score runs from −200 to 1,200, and higher scores indicate lower predicted risk. Lenders also check directors' personal scores. For an Equifax personal score, "good" is approximately 661–734 on its 0 to 1,200 scale. That band applies to individuals, not to the company's commercial score. CreditorWatch's commercial RiskScore runs from 0 to 850 and rates C2 as average risk for an Australian business. illion and Experian do not publish commercial bands publicly.
How do I check my business credit file?
Request a commercial credit report from a commercial credit bureau such as Equifax or CreditorWatch, and check each director's personal file.
How long does a default stay on a personal credit file?
5 years. A serious credit infringement stays for 7 years (OAIC).
Does checking my own credit report hurt my score?
Getting your own report is not a credit application. Individuals can get a free personal report every 3 months from each bureau.
Can the ATO affect my business credit file?
Yes. The ATO can report business tax debts of at least $100,000, overdue for more than 90 days, when the business is not effectively engaging with it and the other criteria are met.
Is the Equifax "good" band the same for personal and commercial scores?
No. The approximate 661–734 "good" band is for Equifax personal scores. Equifax's commercial score uses a different scale and has no published "good" band.
Do illion and Experian publish commercial score bands?
Not on their public websites, as at 12 October 2026. illion describes its commercial Failure Risk Score and Late Payment Score, and Experian offers commercial reports, but neither publishes a scale or a "good" band. If a lender or supplier quotes one of these scores, ask which scale it uses.
Scale Suite prepares lender-ready financials and cashflow forecasts for Australian SMEs. Visit Scale Suite | Finance services | Loan application financials
General information only, current as at October 2026. Scale Suite is a registered BAS Agent, not a licensed credit, financial or legal adviser.
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