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Let’s start with the truth:

You can have the drive, the vision, and the grind… and still be broke in business.

Not because you’re not worthy.
Not because you’re not smart.
But because no one handed you the rulebook to the real funding game.

I’m not here to sugarcoat anything. I’m here to say what your lenders won’t. If your business isn’t getting funded, it’s not always because you’re unqualified—it’s because you’re unknowingly making mistakes that disqualify you before you even apply.

And I say this with love: You deserve better. But better starts with knowing better.

So let’s get all the way real.

These are the top five business credit mistakes that keep women, especially Black and Brown women, underfunded and underestimated. But you’re not here to be counted out. You’re here to build like a boss.

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1. Mixing Personal and Business Like It’s All One Bag

If I see one more business owner swiping their personal debit card for a business expense and calling it “investing in myself,” I’m going to throw my laptop.

Here’s the problem: When you run your business through your personal name, your personal accounts, and your personal credit, you erase the very thing lenders look for: separation.

Why it hurts you:

• Lenders and vendors want to see that your business is its own legal entity.
• You look like a side hustler, not a CEO.
• You create accounting chaos and open yourself up to IRS issues down the line.

What to do instead:

• Register your business as an LLC, S-Corp, or other appropriate structure.
• Get an EIN (free from the IRS website).
• Open a business checking account and commit to only using it for biz.
• Set up a virtual business address (not your house).

Alexcia’s Real Talk: If you want to get funded, you have to look fundable. That starts with drawing the line between who you are and what you run.

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2. Looking Invisible Online

Let’s say you’re a lender. You Google the business name on the application and… nothing. No website. No business listings. Just a Gmail address and a whole lot of silence.

You’ve already lost.

Why it hurts you:

• Lack of digital presence screams unprofessionalism.
• Lenders use online research to verify legitimacy.
• It affects your “fundability” score—yes, that’s a real thing.

What to do instead:

• Create a one-page website (Showit, Squarespace, or WordPress)
• Use a business email (not Gmail—think hello@yourbrand.com)
• Set up Google Business and Yelp listings with your business info
• Maintain consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) across the internet

Alexcia’s Real Talk: If lenders can’t find you online, they’re not calling you back. And if they are? It’s a polite rejection.

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3. Skipping the Business Credit Building Tiers

I see it all the time.
Someone gets an LLC on Monday and applies for a $50K Amex Business Gold on Tuesday.

You skipped the entire foundation.

Business credit doesn’t work like personal credit. You can’t just show up and start swiping.

Why it hurts you:

• You need a credit trail to build your score.
• No vendors = no Paydex score = no approvals.
• Lenders need to see behavior, not just structure.

What to do instead:

1. Apply for starter Net 30 accounts that report to business credit bureaus:
   • Uline
   • Quill
   • Summa Office Supplies
   • Grainger
2. Order products or supplies, pay on time (early, if possible).
3. After 3-6 months, move up to store cards (Staples, Amazon, Lowe’s).
4. Then graduate to fleet cards, then cash credit cards (Amex, Divvy).

Alexcia’s Real Talk: You’re not being denied because you’re a risk. You’re being denied because you have no history. Build it.

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4. Ignoring Your Personal Credit Like It Doesn’t Matter

I get it. You started a business because you didn’t want to rely on your personal credit.
But here’s the gag: Your personal credit still follows you in the beginning.

Why it hurts you:

• Most small business lenders still check your personal credit.
• A low FICO (under 640) = higher denial rates.
• You may be asked to personally guarantee loans, especially in year one.

What to do instead:

• Check your personal credit reports monthly (Credit Karma, Experian, etc.)
• Dispute inaccurate items
• Pay down revolving debt to below 30% utilization
• Build on-time history with secured cards if needed

Alexcia’s Real Talk: Your personal credit is your co-signer until your business can stand on its own. Protect it.

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5. Not Understanding Fundability Factors

This one’s deeper than it looks.
Because you can look like you have it all together and still get rejected if you’re not hitting key fundability markers.

What are fundability factors?

These are the hidden metrics that lenders, banks, and bureaus look at to decide whether you’re a credible borrower.

Common fundability fails:

• Business name contains risky words (“investments,” “credit repair”)
• Phone number is a cell, not a listed business line
• No DUNS number or thin Paydex profile
• Business not in good standing with your state
• EIN address doesn’t match Google listing

What to do instead:

• Run a fundability audit (I include this in all my Profit Way consultations)
• Use Nav or CreditStrong to monitor and build your business credit
• Keep your info consistent across:
  • Secretary of State filing
  • EIN registration
  • Bank accounts
  • Business licenses
  • Website and listings

Alexcia’s Real Talk: Fundability isn’t about looking perfect. It’s about looking prepared.

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What to Do Right Now if You’ve Made These Mistakes

First of all, grace.

We weren’t taught this. Most of us started businesses from the grit of survival or the pull of passion, not because we had formal training in credit and compliance.

But now you know better.

So here’s your plan:

1. Download the Fix-Your-Fundability Checklist on The Profit Way.
2. Clean up your foundation:
   • Register the business
   • Get your EIN and business address in order
   • Set up a website and branded email
3. Open vendor accounts this week and make your first purchases.
4. Pay on time, every time. Let your history speak for you.
5. Monitor your scores and build intentionally over the next 90 days.

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The Profit Way Commandments:

1. Structure before strategy. If the setup is sloppy, the money won’t come.
2. You don’t have a funding problem, you have a visibility problem. Fix it.
3. You are your lender’s first impression. Show up like money.
4. Business credit isn’t about shortcuts. It’s about systems.
5. We don’t beg. We build.

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Need Help? I Got You.

Grab the Fundability Checklist: a free tool that walks you through every mistake in this post with action steps.

Join The Profit Society: our weekly newsletter packed with tips, templates, and funding hacks.

Book a 1:1 Consult: Let’s audit your fundability and build your credit strategy together.

This isn’t just about getting money. It’s about building a business that can stand, scale, and succeed. The Profit Way isn’t just a brand. It’s the blueprint.

Let’s get funded.

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About the Author
Alexcia is the founder of The Profit Way, a financial wellness brand for women in business. With nearly two decades in federal tax and deep expertise in fundability and business strategy, she helps women move from underfunded to unstoppable. Connect with her and start building your business the right way.