Home DUNS numbers Is a DUNS Number Free? What D&B Says About Cost

Is a DUNS Number Free? What D&B Says About Cost

Business owners hear mixed things about what a D-U-N-S Number costs. D&B's own answer is plain: it is free, and no purchase is ever required.

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Business owners hear all kinds of answers when they ask about the D-U-N-S Number. Some say it is free. D&B's own page says getting a D-U-N-S Number is free.

What a DUNS number is

According to D&B, the D-U-N-S Number is a nine-digit ID that is unique and used for businesses only. It establishes a business in the Dun & Bradstreet database so others can confirm it is an active business. Businesses of many types can get one, from S-Corps to partnerships and LLCs.

A business gets the number one time only. The number stays the same forever, even after a sale or a shutdown. Have several business sites? D&B says each location should get its own number.

Is a DUNS number really free?

Yes. According to D&B, a D-U-N-S Number costs nothing to get. It also says there is never a requirement to purchase any product or service to obtain, use, or maintain one. That covers the whole life of the number. Not just the start.

So the answer to "how much does it cost to get a DUNS number" is nothing. Any charge tied to the number itself is a charge for something else.

How to get a DUNS number at no cost

You request it from D&B directly. For a fuller walkthrough, see how to get a DUNS number for my business.

Before you apply, check whether you already have one. D&B says you can check whether your business already has a D-U-N-S Number using its lookup tool. Our guide to check DUNS number records shows how to use it.

Do you even need one?

D&B says there is no requirement for a company to have a D-U-N-S Number. D&B also says no U.S. federal government contract requires a D-U-N-S Number.

So what is the number for? D&B says organizations may use it to evaluate a business credit profile. It makes your business findable in the database. For more on that, see D-U-N-S number for business.

What you can do for free after you have one

The free part does not end at issuance. D&B says U.S.-based non-public companies can view and request updates to their business information for free through the D-U-N-S Manager. You submit updates there, and D&B reviews, verifies, and possibly accepts them. All at no cost.

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