The importance of registering with Dun & Bradstreet
The importance of registering with Dun & Bradstreet cannot be overstated when you are building a business that aspires to compete globally. In the modern marketplace, your reputation is not just what people say about you. It is what verified data says about you. A DUNS number and Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) profile provide a credible, internationally recognised record that tells investors, lenders, and corporate partners that your business is real, stable, and trustworthy.
This guide explains what DUNS and D&B are, why they matter for any small business, and why registration is especially important for Nigerian startups and tech companies looking to compete on a global stage.
What Is a DUNS Number and What Is Dun & Bradstreet?
DUNS stands for Data Universal Numbering System. It is a unique nine-digit identifier assigned to your business by Dun & Bradstreet, one of the world’s most trusted business data and analytics companies, founded in 1841. Think of your DUNS number as your business’s commercial fingerprint: a globally recognised identifier that allows lenders, corporations, government agencies, and international partners to verify who you are.
Your DUNS number powers your D&B business credit profile, which tracks your payment history, financial standing, company size, and industry. Unlike your tax identification number, your DUNS number is designed to be shared. It is how the commercial world looks you up.
Importance of registering with Duns
Why Every Small Business Should Register with DUNS
Across the globe, the DUNS number is a standard requirement for accessing significant business opportunities. Here is why registering is important for any small business:
Business Credit and Access to Financing
Your D&B profile feeds your PAYDEX score, a business credit rating from 0 to 100. Lenders, banks, and financial institutions around the world use this score to assess your creditworthiness before extending loans or credit lines. A strong PAYDEX score signals that your business pays its obligations reliably, making it easier to access the financing you need to grow.
Vendor Registration and Supply Chain Access
Large corporations frequently require a DUNS number before onboarding new suppliers or service providers. Without one, your business may be disqualified from vendor programs before anyone even reviews your proposal. Registration removes that barrier and signals that your business is organised and verifiable.
Government and International Procurement
Many state, local, and international government bodies use DUNS numbers as part of their vendor registration and procurement processes. International agencies including the United Nations and the European Commission also reference D&B data when vetting partner organisations. A DUNS registration keeps those opportunities within reach.
Global Credibility and Business Visibility
D&B’s database covers over 500 million businesses worldwide. A verified profile in that database means that when an international client, investor, or partner searches for your company, they find a trusted, third-party source confirming your legitimacy. That visibility is a credibility asset that money alone cannot buy.
Why DUNS Registration Is Especially Important for Nigerian Startups
Nigeria has one of the fastest-growing startup ecosystems in Africa. With a young, innovative workforce and increasing access to global markets, Nigerian entrepreneurs are building companies with genuine international ambition. But ambition alone is not enough. To compete on the world stage, Nigerian startups must be able to prove their legitimacy to foreign partners, investors, and platforms that have no prior knowledge of them.
This is where a DUNS number becomes a strategic asset. When a Nigerian startup registers with D&B, it joins a globally recognised database that investors and corporations in the United States, Europe, and Asia actively use for due diligence. A DUNS number communicates that your business is structured, verifiable, and serious, regardless of where it is based.
Nigerian startups seeking foreign investment, international partnerships, or access to global funding programmes frequently encounter DUNS as a prerequisite. Without it, doors close before conversations can begin. With it, your business enters those conversations with a recognised credential that speaks a universal commercial language.
Additionally, as Nigerian businesses increasingly access diaspora networks, apply for international grants, or pitch to global accelerators, having a DUNS number demonstrates the kind of institutional readiness that builds investor confidence from the very first interaction.
DUNS Registration for Nigerian Tech Startups
For technology companies, the stakes of credibility are even higher. Tech startups often seek partnerships, integrations, and vendor relationships with global technology platforms and enterprises. Those platforms require due diligence before granting access, and a DUNS number is one of the primary tools they use.
Nigerian tech startups that are building SaaS products, fintech solutions, healthtech platforms, or enterprise software need to be positioned as credible business entities, not just as individual developers or informal teams. A D&B profile establishes that identity clearly and formally.
When pitching to international clients or applying to global technology accelerator programmes, a DUNS number demonstrates that your startup operates with the same level of commercial rigour expected of businesses in more established markets. It removes a common objection before it is raised.
Tech companies also frequently need to establish credit relationships with international software vendors, cloud service providers, and infrastructure partners. A strong D&B profile and PAYDEX score supports those relationships and can unlock more favourable payment and service terms.
Why You Need a DUNS Number to Launch on the Apple App Store and Google Play
If you are building a mobile application and plan to distribute it through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store as a business or organisation, a DUNS number is not optional. It is a direct requirement.
The Apple App Store: DUNS Is Mandatory for Organisation Accounts
Apple store requires a DUNS number for all businesses and organisations enrolling in the Apple Developer Program. Apple uses the DUNS number to verify that your organisation is a legitimate, registered legal entity. Without a valid DUNS number, you cannot enrol as an organisation, which means you cannot publish apps under your company name, access enterprise distribution features, or use Apple’s business-facing developer tools.
For Nigerian startups building iOS applications, this is a critical step. Apple verifies your DUNS number against D&B’s database, so your registration must be accurate and your business information must match your official records. A missing or unverifiable DUNS number will delay or block your App Store enrollment entirely.
Google Play Store: Organisation Verification and Business Identity
Google Play requires businesses to verify their identity when setting up a developer account. While Google uses multiple verification methods, a DUNS number is one of the recognised identifiers for confirming that an account belongs to a legitimate organisation. For startups publishing apps on behalf of a company rather than as an individual, having a DUNS number simplifies and strengthens the verification process.
Beyond verification, a registered business identity on Google Play builds user trust. Consumers are more likely to download and pay for applications published by a verified organisation than an unverified account. Your DUNS registration contributes directly to that perception.
The Broader Benefit for App Developers
App developers who register with DUNS also gain the ability to establish business credit histories relevant to software distribution and digital commerce. As your app grows and you seek partnerships with payment processors, advertising networks, or enterprise clients, your D&B profile becomes a supporting credential that confirms your business is real, active, and financially responsible.
Conclusion: DUNS Registration Is a Foundation, Not a Formality
A DUNS number is more than an administrative requirement. It is a foundational business credential that opens doors, builds trust, and signals to the global commercial world that your organisation is legitimate and ready to do business.
For Nigerian startups, the importance is amplified. In a global market where credibility must be established quickly and clearly, a DUNS registration is one of the most accessible and impactful steps a founder can take. Whether you are seeking financing, pursuing international partnerships, competing for government contracts, or launching your app on the world’s biggest mobile platforms, registering with DUNS and Dun & Bradstreet is a step you should not skip.
This article was prepared by our consulting team for general informational purposes. For tailored advice specific to your business situation, please contact us directly.
