Paydex is a term used by
Dun and Bradstreet
The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation is an American company that provides commercial data, analytics, and insights for businesses. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, the company offers a wide range of products and services for risk and financia ...
, for a numerical score granted to businesses as a
credit score
A credit score is a numerical expression based on a level analysis of a person's credit files, to represent the creditworthiness of an individual. A credit score is primarily based on a credit report, information typically sourced from credit bu ...
for the promptness of their payments to creditors. The Paydex score is used for commercial organizations in a manner similar to the way the
FICO score
A credit score is a number that provides a comparative estimate of an individual's creditworthiness based on an analysis of their credit report. It is an inexpensive and main alternative to other forms of consumer loan underwriting.
Lenders, s ...
is used for individuals.
Calculation
While credit scores for individuals or non-business entities take a number of factors into consideration, Paydex is calculated based on one single factor. Essentially, the factor is contingent upon whether the business makes payments to its respective suppliers and creditors either "as agreed" or "better than agreed" (i.e., pays prior to the agreed upon due date or pays more than the agreed upon amount; in other words, the payment exceeds the minimum balance).
Interpretation
The Paydex Score ranges from 0 (worst) to 100 (best). A Paydex of 80 or higher is considered healthy for a company - that is, a company is paying its suppliers and vendors on time and before the scheduled payment due date. It is also important to note that payments received after they are due, or in other words, late, will negatively affect the organization's Paydex score. Today, most lenders and suppliers are looking for a score of 75 and higher.
See also
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Data Universal Numbering System
The Data Universal Numbering System, abbreviated as DUNS or D-U-N-S, is a proprietary system developed and managed by Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) that assigns a unique numeric identifier, referred to as a "DUNS number" to a single business entity. It ...
(D.U.N.S.)
References
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Credit
Dun & Bradstreet