To get a DUNS number, submit a free request through Dun & Bradstreet’s website with your legal business name, address, and formation details, then wait up to 30 business days for standard processing or pay for expedited service that delivers the number in about eight business days.1Dun & Bradstreet. Get a D-U-N-S Number The nine-digit identifier is assigned to a single business location, never expires, and once issued ties your business to a credit profile that lenders, vendors, and platforms like the Apple Developer Program can check.2Dun & Bradstreet. D-U-N-S Number Still Used by Companies
Check Whether Your Business Already Has One
Before you apply, run your business through the D-U-N-S Number Lookup tool on Dun & Bradstreet’s website. Enter your legal business name and location. A number may already exist in the system, sometimes created by a vendor or a credit reporting source without your knowledge. Submitting a fresh request when a record already exists creates duplicate entries that are a nuisance to untangle later.
Confirm You Actually Need One
A DUNS number is no longer required for federal contracts, grants, or SAM.gov registration. As of April 4, 2022, the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) generated by SAM.gov replaced the DUNS number for all federal awards, and DUNS numbers are no longer searchable in SAM.gov.3U.S. General Services Administration. Unique Entity ID is Here If you’re applying for a federal grant through Grants.gov, you need a UEI, not a DUNS.4Grants.gov. Planned UEI Updates
The DUNS number still matters in other places. Apple requires it to enroll an organization (not an individual) in the Apple Developer Program, and the legal entity must be something like a corporation or LLC; trade names and DBAs won’t qualify.5Apple Developer. D-U-N-S Number Google Play Console has the same requirement for organization accounts, and the legal name and address on your Google payments profile must match your D&B listing exactly or your account can be restricted.6Google Play Console Help. Required Information to Create a Play Console Developer Account U.S. Customs and Border Protection accepts DUNS as a valid identifier in its Global Business Identifier pilot,7U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Global Business Identifier – How to Obtain Identifier Factsheets the FDA recognizes it for importer identification,8U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA Recognizes DUNS Number as Acceptable for Importer Identification and large retailers routinely ask for one during vendor onboarding. For most small businesses, though, the everyday reason is building a business credit profile that’s separate from the owner’s personal credit.
Gather Your Information Before You Start
The application asks for details that need to match your formation documents. Have these ready:1Dun & Bradstreet. Get a D-U-N-S Number
- Legal business name, exactly as it appears on your formation documents. Sole proprietors should use their full legal given name, not a trade name.9U.S. Department of Agriculture. Required Documents for a New D-U-N-S Request
- Physical business address. Each location gets its own DUNS number, so use the address of the specific location you’re registering.
- Business phone number.
- Name of the owner, president, or CEO.
- Legal structure (corporation, LLC, partnership, sole proprietorship).
- Year the business started.
- Primary industry.
- Total number of employees, counting both full-time and part-time.
D&B may also ask you to upload two supporting documents that confirm your legal business name and physical address. Articles of incorporation and a Secretary of State filing receipt both work.9U.S. Department of Agriculture. Required Documents for a New D-U-N-S Request
Submit the Application
Go to Dun & Bradstreet’s “Get a D-U-N-S Number” page and pick the pathway that matches your situation. D&B routes applicants differently depending on whether you’re a U.S.-based business, a Canada-based business, an Apple developer, a Google developer, or registering with the FDA.1Dun & Bradstreet. Get a D-U-N-S Number Fill in your business details, check every field against your formation documents, and submit.
After you submit, a D&B representative may reach out to verify your information, so keep your formation paperwork within reach. Once your details are authenticated, D&B emails you the number.1Dun & Bradstreet. Get a D-U-N-S Number
How Long It Takes
Standard processing is free and takes up to 30 business days.1Dun & Bradstreet. Get a D-U-N-S Number At checkout you’ll see an expedited option that returns the number in about eight business days for a fee. D&B calls this a “small fee” without publishing an exact amount; third-party sources report it in the range of $229 to $349. The expedited service is optional. If you’re not on a deadline, the free option gets you the same number.
If your reason for applying is enrollment in the Apple Developer Program, plan for extra time. Apple advises allowing up to five business days to receive the number from D&B, then another two business days for Apple to pull the information from D&B before you can finish enrollment.5Apple Developer. D-U-N-S Number
Watch for Common Mistakes
Two problems slow applications more than any other. The first is a name mismatch: the legal name on the D&B application has to match what’s on your formation documents, and any variation (an added “LLC,” a missing comma, a trade name instead of the legal name) can trigger verification back-and-forth or, later, block a platform enrollment. Google Play Console explicitly restricts accounts when the D&B listing doesn’t match the Google payments profile.6Google Play Console Help. Required Information to Create a Play Console Developer Account
The second is using a trade name or DBA when the platform you’re targeting requires a legal entity. Apple’s rules on this are strict: the DUNS number must be tied to a recognized legal entity like a corporation or LLC.5Apple Developer. D-U-N-S Number If your business isn’t formally organized yet, you’ll want to handle that first.
Keep the Profile Current After You Receive the Number
A DUNS number never expires and is never reassigned, even if the business closes.2Dun & Bradstreet. D-U-N-S Number Still Used by Companies The information attached to it, though, can drift out of date, and stale information causes verification failures with lenders and platforms. Use the Company Update section on Dun & Bradstreet’s website to report a change of address, a new employee count, or a change in ownership or executive leadership. Keeping the profile accurate is what prevents mismatches later, when you’re trying to onboard with a vendor or complete a developer enrollment and can’t afford a delay.