About the D‑U‑N‑S Number

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What Is a D-U-N-S Number and Why Do I Need It?

The Dun & Bradstreet D-U-N-S^® Number is a unique nine-digit identifier for businesses that is associated with a business’s Live Business Identity which may help evaluate potential partners, seek new contracts, apply for loans, and so much more.

Get a D-U-N-S Number

Obtaining a Dun & Bradstreet D-U-N-S^® Number is simple and free. Short for Data Universal Numbering System, a D-U-N-S Number is a unique nine-digit identifier for businesses. It can open many doors for your company, giving you the opportunity to partner with other businesses, receive submit contract bids, and more.

How to Get a D-U-N-S Number

If you want to apply for a D-U-N-S Number, you are in the right place. Before you start the D-U-N-S Number registration process, make sure you don’t already have one. Use our D-U-N-S Number lookup tool to see if you are already in the Dun & Bradstreet database.

Step 1

Choose the option that best fits your company:

I have a U.S.-based business
I have a Canada-based business
I’m an Apple developer
I’m a U.S. Government Contractor or Grantee
I need a UFI to register with the FDA
I’m a Google Developer

Step 2

Fill out the information requested. Based on your choice, you may need to provide the following information:

The legal name of your business
Your business address (Note: if you have multiple locations, apply for a separate D-U-N-S Number for each location)
Business phone number
The name of the business owner, president, or CEO
The legal structure of the business
The year the business was created
The primary business industry
The total number of full- and part-time employees

Step 3

During the checkout process, you will be asked whether you want to expedite* your D-U-N-S Number request. This is not required. There is no charge to receive a D-U-N-S Number. Normal processing can take up to 30 business days. If you purchase an expedited* D-U-N-S Number you can get your D-U-N-S Number within eight business days*.

Step 4

You may be contacted by a representative of Dun & Bradstreet to validate your information. Once your information has been authenticated, the process is complete. You will receive your D-U-N-S Number in an email from Dun & Bradstreet.

D-U-N-S Number Timeline

How long will it take for you to receive your number after you complete your D-U-N-S Number application? In most cases, you’ll receive your number within 30 business days.

Need your D-U-N-S Number more quickly? For a small fee, you can request expedited service. With the purchase of an expedited* D-U-N-S Number you can get your D-U-N-S Number within eight business days*.

Learn more about how to get an expedited D-U-N-S Number

D-U-N-S Number Cost

There is no cost to request and receive a D-U-N-S Number. However, you can pay a small fee to speed up the process and receive your number more quickly. If you purchased expedited* D-U-N-S service you can get your D-U-N-S Number within eight business days. Businesses big and small can get a D-U-N-S Number. That includes nearly all business types, from S-Corps to partnerships, LLCs, and more.

Why Do I Need a D-U-N-S Number?

There is no requirement for your company to have a D-U-N-S Number, but the number may help you grow your business in a variety of ways. Here are just some of the benefits of getting a D-U-N-S Number:

It establishes your business in the Dun & Bradstreet database and allows other companies, government agencies, and financial institutions to confirm that your company is an active business
It automatically starts a Live Business Identity file on your business, which may include your Dun & Bradstreet credit scores and credit ratings if there is sufficient data to create such scores.
Many of the world’s largest companies will ask for a D-U-N-S Number on applications to become a supplier or to obtain credit
Many government agencies require D-U-N-S Numbers from their contractors
A D-U-N-S Number connected to your business credit file may help expedite the loan approval process with some financial institutions

Even if you don’t need a D-U-N-S Number at this moment, it may still be a good idea to get a D-U-N-S Number. You never know when you might have the opportunity to do business with a company that requires it. Fill out your D-U-N-S Number application now so that you can start building your credit history and be ready for when opportunity strikes.