{"id":5358,"date":"2025-05-07T00:23:59","date_gmt":"2025-05-07T04:23:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/miwf.org\/?p=5358"},"modified":"2025-05-07T13:07:13","modified_gmt":"2025-05-07T17:07:13","slug":"improve-credit-score","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/miwf.org\/business-insights-trends\/improve-credit-score\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Improve Your Credit Score Before You Apply for a Loan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"520\" src=\"https:\/\/miwf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Blog-Photo-\u2013-800x520-18.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5359\" srcset=\"https:\/\/miwf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Blog-Photo-\u2013-800x520-18.png 800w, https:\/\/miwf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Blog-Photo-\u2013-800x520-18-300x195.png 300w, https:\/\/miwf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Blog-Photo-\u2013-800x520-18-768x499.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you\u2019re applying for your first small business loan or gearing up for a major expansion, your credit score can make or break your approval. For many entrepreneurs, that three-digit number is a source of stress, especially if they\u2019ve been turned down in the past or don\u2019t fully understand what lenders are looking for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s not just about the score \u2014 it\u2019s about understanding how that score is built and what impacts it,\u201d says Ebony Cochran, credit restoration expert and founder of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedebtsurvivor.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Debt Survivor<\/a> and Blackwood Credit Services, who sits on Michigan Women Forward\u2019s loan committee. \u201cI\u2019ve seen people miss out on funding because of simple credit mistakes that could\u2019ve been avoided.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To help entrepreneurs position themselves for loan success, Cochran breaks down what actually affects your credit score \u2014 and how to improve it before you apply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-know-what-score-you-re-looking-at\">1. Know What Score You&#8217;re Looking At<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Before you make any moves, Cochran says it\u2019s essential to understand what kind of credit score you\u2019re viewing. \u201cA lot of people look at Credit Karma and say, \u2018I have a 700,\u2019 but then apply for a loan and hear, \u2018Sorry, you\u2019re at 626.\u2019 That\u2019s because they\u2019re using two different models.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All lenders use your FICO score, while many free tools like Credit Karma use the VantageScore model. The numbers aren\u2019t interchangeable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What to do:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Use Credit Karma or similar apps to monitor your credit report, but don\u2019t rely on the score.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>When preparing to apply for a loan, pull your actual FICO score to know where you stand.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Visit<a href=\"https:\/\/www.annualcreditreport.com\"> annualcreditreport.com<\/a> for free weekly credit reports from all three major bureaus \u2014 but remember, these don\u2019t include your score unless you pay extra.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-understand-the-5-key-components-of-your-score\">2. Understand the 5 Key Components of Your Score<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you know your score, it helps to understand what affects it. According to Cochran, FICO scores are built from five main factors:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>35%: Payment History \u2014 Late payments are the No. 1 score-killer. \u201cThree late payments on one account can drop your score as much as a bankruptcy does,\u201d Cochran warns.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>30%: Credit Utilization \u2014 This refers to how much of your available credit you\u2019re using on revolving accounts like credit cards. \u201cMaxed-out cards hurt your score month after month,\u201d she says.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>15%: Credit History Length \u2014 The longer your accounts have been open, the better. This is why becoming an authorized user on someone else\u2019s older account can be a smart move.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>10%: New Credit\u00a0 \u2014 This takes into account the new accounts you open, but keep in mind that every time someone pulls your credit, your score can dip slightly and cause a hard inquiry on your report.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>10%: Credit Mix \u2014 Having a variety of credit types (credit cards, auto loans, etc.) helps, but only when they\u2019re managed well.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-use-strategic-fixes-for-a-quick-score-boost\">3. Use Strategic Fixes for a Quick Score Boost<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re preparing to apply for a loan in the next 30 to 90 days, some targeted actions can give your score a lift:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Reduce your credit card balances as much as possible, especially those near their limits.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ask for a late payment to be removed. Cochran recommends calling your creditor and requesting a \u201ccourtesy adjustment\u201d if you have a strong payment history.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Become an authorized user on a trusted person\u2019s older, well-managed account. \u201cIt\u2019s not co-signing. You don\u2019t even need the card \u2014 you just need the account to show up on your report,\u201d she says.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Send professional appeals directly to decision-makers at major credit companies.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-avoid-these-common-credit-mistakes\">4. Avoid These Common Credit Mistakes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Cochran sees clients unintentionally hurt their credit all the time by following bad advice. Some of the most frequent missteps include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Paying collections instead of reducing revolving debt. <\/strong>Collections are usually old and only impacted your score once. \u201cPaying down a maxed-out card can boost your score far more,\u201d she explains.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Disputing errors online.<\/strong> It may seem convenient, but \u201cclicking that box waives many of your consumer rights,\u201d she warns. Dispute errors by mail so you have a paper trail.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Filing bankruptcy too quickly. <\/strong>Cochran has seen people file for as little as $3,000 in debt. \u201cBankruptcy stays on your report for 7 to 10 years. Often, there\u2019s another way.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-don-t-let-hard-inquiries-pile-up\">5. Don&#8217;t Let Hard Inquiries Pile Up<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Every time a lender checks your credit, it creates a \u201chard inquiry,\u201d which drops your score slightly. That\u2019s why shopping around without a plan can be risky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI had a client who went to a dealership and ended up with 27 inquiries for a car loan she never got,\u201d Cochran says. \u201cIt tanked her score.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What to do:<\/strong><br>Pull your credit report first and clean it up before applying for loans or credit cards. That way, you&#8217;re only applying when you have a real shot at approval.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-6-check-your-report-and-your-budget-monthly\">6. Check Your Report and Your Budget Monthly<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Credit scores are often a reflection of financial habits. \u201cIf you don\u2019t have a budget, your credit will suffer,\u201d Cochran says. She recommends reviewing your credit report and personal finances at least once a month. Even free tools like Credit Karma can be helpful for spotting errors or fraud \u2014 just don\u2019t focus on the score alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-7-build-credit-the-smart-way\">7. Build Credit the Smart Way<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have a thin credit file, Cochran says the solution isn\u2019t to open a bunch of new accounts. \u201cIt\u2019s better to have a few well-managed accounts than 20 new ones,\u201d she explains. In fact, too many accounts can dilute your average credit history length and hurt your score.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-michigan-women-forward-can-help\">How Michigan Women Forward Can Help<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>MWF doesn\u2019t expect perfection, but we do want to set you up for success. If your credit isn\u2019t where it needs to be yet, there are options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Connect with a Business Development Officer to review your financial picture before applying.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reach out to experts like Cochran,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/operationhope.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Operation HOPE &#8211; Accelerating Financial Opportunity for All<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpath.com\/?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=gmb\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">GreenPath Financial Wellness,\u00a0<\/a>or other credit restoration services for help managing and improving your score.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Find out if you qualify for an MWF small business loan by filling out a<a href=\"https:\/\/miwf.org\/business-loans\/apply-for-a-loan\/\"> simple pre-qualifying form<\/a>. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>As Cochran says, \u201cYour credit doesn\u2019t define you, but it does open doors. Let\u2019s get yours unlocked.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Whether you\u2019re applying for your first small business loan or gearing up for a major expansion, your credit score can make or break your approval. For many entrepreneurs, that three-digit [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5359,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"ghostkit_customizer_options":"","ghostkit_custom_css":"","ghostkit_custom_js_head":"","ghostkit_custom_js_foot":"","ghostkit_typography":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[56,47],"class_list":["post-5358","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business-insights-trends","tag-credit-score","tag-entrepreneurship"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.2 (Yoast SEO v26.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to Improve Your Credit Score Before You Apply for a Loan - Michigan Women Forward<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Your credit score can make or break your approval. 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