How to Update or Change Your DUNS Number Information

Business information changes. You move offices, rebrand, bring on a new owner, or grow your workforce. When any of this happens, the data attached to your DUNS number needs to reflect reality. Outdated information can hurt your business credit, delay government registrations, and create confusion with partners and vendors.

This guide walks you through exactly when and how to update your DUNS number information with Dun & Bradstreet.

When You Need to Update Your DUNS Information

You should update your D&B record whenever any of the following changes:

Business Name Change

If your company legally changes its name --- whether through a rebrand, restructuring, or conversion (e.g., from an LLC to a corporation) --- you need to update D&B's records. Your DUNS number stays the same, but the name associated with it must reflect your current legal name.

This matters because government agencies, lenders, and business partners cross-reference your DUNS record against other filings. A name mismatch between your DUNS record and your SAM.gov registration, for instance, can cause your registration to be rejected or suspended.

Address Change

Whether you have moved to a new office, relocated your warehouse, or simply changed your mailing address, your D&B record needs to reflect the correct location. Remember that DUNS numbers are location-specific: if you are opening an additional location (not moving), you may actually need a new DUNS number for the new site rather than updating the existing one.

Phone Number Change

An outdated phone number can prevent D&B from reaching you for verification purposes. It also looks unprofessional to partners or lenders who pull your D&B report and see a disconnected number.

Ownership Change

If the business changes hands --- through a sale, a transfer, or the addition or departure of a principal --- the ownership information on your DUNS record needs to be updated. This is particularly important for business credit purposes, as D&B tracks principals and their business affiliations.

Employee Count or Revenue Changes

While D&B does estimate these figures from public data, significant changes (such as growing from 5 employees to 50, or a major revenue increase) should be reported to ensure your D&B profile accurately represents your company. Accurate figures can positively influence your business credit profile.

Industry or SIC/NAICS Code Change

If your business has pivoted or expanded into a new industry, the classification codes on your D&B record should be updated. Incorrect codes can cause you to miss out on relevant contract opportunities or be included in the wrong competitive benchmarks.

Step-by-Step Update Process via D&B

There are several ways to update your DUNS information. Here is each method:

Method 1: D&B's Online Update Portal

This is the most common and straightforward approach.

Visit D&B's website and navigate to their DUNS number management or update section. Look for options like "Update My Business Information" or "Manage My DUNS Number."
Search for your business. Enter your DUNS number or business name and location to pull up your existing record. If you do not know your DUNS number, use our free lookup tool to find it first.
Review your current information. D&B will display the data currently on file. Review each field carefully.
Submit your changes. Update the fields that need correction or modification. Common editable fields include:
- Legal business name
- Trade name / DBA
- Physical address
- Mailing address
- Phone number
- Number of employees
- Annual revenue
- Business owner / principal name
- SIC and NAICS codes
Provide supporting documentation if prompted. For significant changes (especially name changes and ownership changes), D&B may require documentation such as:
- Articles of amendment (for name changes)
- Bill of sale or transfer agreement (for ownership changes)
- New business license or registration certificate
- Utility bill or lease agreement (for address changes)
Submit and wait for confirmation. D&B will process the update and send you a confirmation once the changes are live.

Method 2: Call D&B Directly

For complex changes or if you encounter issues with the online portal:

Call D&B's customer service line. Have your DUNS number, business name, and the specific changes you need to make ready before calling.
Verify your identity. D&B will ask you to confirm details about the business to ensure you are authorized to make changes.
Describe the changes needed. The representative will guide you through the update process and may request documentation via email.
Follow up in writing if requested. For major changes, D&B may ask you to send supporting documents by email or fax.

Method 3: Email or Written Request

D&B also accepts update requests via email. This can be useful if you have multiple changes to make or need to attach documentation:

Compose an email including your DUNS number, business name, and a clear description of each change you are requesting.
Attach supporting documents (scanned copies of registration certificates, articles of amendment, etc.).
Send to D&B's customer service email. Check D&B's website for the current contact email, as it changes periodically.
Expect a response within 5--10 business days for email-based requests.

How Long Do Updates Take?

Update processing times vary depending on the type and complexity of the change:

Type of Change	Typical Processing Time
Phone number	1--5 business days
Mailing address	1--5 business days
Physical address	5--10 business days
Employee count / revenue	5--10 business days
Business name	10--30 business days
Ownership change	10--30+ business days
SIC/NAICS codes	5--15 business days

Name and ownership changes take the longest because D&B verifies these against public records and may request documentation. Simple contact information updates are usually processed within a week.

Tips for Faster Processing

Submit all changes at once. If you have multiple updates (for example, a name change and an address change from a relocation), submit them together rather than separately.
Include documentation upfront. Do not wait for D&B to ask. Attach supporting documents with your initial request to avoid back-and-forth delays.
Follow up proactively. If you have not received confirmation within the expected timeframe, call D&B to check on the status. Sometimes requests get stuck in a queue.

What You Cannot Change: The Number Itself

One critical point: you cannot change your actual DUNS number. The nine-digit number assigned to your business entity at a specific location is permanent. It cannot be swapped, replaced, or transferred to another entity.

If you want a "new" DUNS number, the only legitimate scenario is when you are establishing a genuinely new business entity or opening a new physical location. In that case, you would apply for a separate DUNS number for the new entity or location.

Common Misconceptions

"My DUNS number has bad credit history --- can I get a new one?" No. D&B does not allow businesses to reset their credit file by obtaining a new number. Your credit history follows your business entity, not just the number.
"I bought a business --- can I transfer their DUNS number to my name?" Not exactly. The DUNS number stays with the business entity. If you acquired the business (and it continues to operate), you update the ownership information on the existing DUNS record. If you dissolved the acquired business and folded it into your own, you would use your own DUNS number going forward.
"I want to disassociate from my current DUNS number." If your business entity still exists and operates, the DUNS number is permanently attached to it. You cannot delete or deactivate it voluntarily.

Impact on Business Credit

Keeping your DUNS information accurate is directly tied to your D&B credit profile. Here is how updates can affect your business credit:

Positive Impacts

Accurate employee and revenue data can improve your D&B rating, as these factors contribute to financial stability assessments.
A correct address ensures that trade references and payment data are properly matched to your record. If your address is wrong, supplier payment reports might not get linked to your file.
Updated industry codes ensure your business is benchmarked against the right peer group for credit scoring purposes.

Potential Risks

Frequent name changes can sometimes look suspicious in credit assessments. While legitimate name changes are fine, a pattern of frequent changes may raise flags.
Ownership changes can temporarily affect credit reports. When a new owner takes over, the credit file reflects the transition, and some lenders view this as a period of increased uncertainty.
Address changes to a residential address (from a commercial one) can negatively affect how your business is perceived in credit reports. If you are moving to a home office, be aware of this perception.

For a deeper dive into how your DUNS number connects to business credit, read our guide on DUNS numbers and business credit.

Mergers, Acquisitions, and Transfers

Corporate changes like mergers and acquisitions involve special DUNS considerations:

Mergers (Two Companies Become One)

When two companies merge, one entity typically survives while the other is dissolved. The surviving entity keeps its DUNS number. The dissolved entity's DUNS number becomes inactive but remains in D&B's historical records. D&B may link the two records to show the merger history.

What to do: Contact D&B before or immediately after the merger is finalized. Provide merger documentation (articles of merger, certificates from the secretary of state) and specify which entity is the surviving one. D&B will:

Keep the surviving entity's DUNS number active
Deactivate the dissolved entity's number
Update corporate linkage data to reflect the new structure

Acquisitions (One Company Buys Another)

In an acquisition where the acquired company continues to operate as a subsidiary or division:

The acquired company keeps its existing DUNS number
The parent-subsidiary relationship is updated in D&B's corporate family tree
Ownership information on the acquired company's DUNS record is updated to reflect the new parent

If the acquired company is fully absorbed (dissolved and integrated into the buyer), its DUNS number is deactivated and the buyer's DUNS number covers the combined entity going forward.

What to do: Contact D&B with acquisition documentation and specify whether the acquired entity will continue operating separately or be dissolved.

DBA / Trade Name Changes

If you are adding or changing a trade name (DBA) without changing your legal entity name, this is a simpler update. D&B records can include both a legal name and one or more trade names. Submit the DBA change through D&B's online portal or customer service.

Franchise Locations

Each franchise location typically has its own DUNS number, linked to the franchisor as a parent entity. If a franchise changes hands (one franchisee sells to another), the DUNS number for that location stays the same --- only the ownership data is updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my DUNS information is out of date?

Use our free DUNS lookup tool to search for your business and review the information on file. If anything does not match your current details, it is time to update.

Can I update my DUNS information online?

Yes. D&B offers an online portal where you can submit updates. For complex changes like ownership transfers, you may also need to call or email D&B.

Is there a fee to update DUNS information?

Basic updates (name, address, phone number) are free. D&B does not charge for standard data corrections.

How often should I review my DUNS information?

At minimum, review your D&B record annually. Additionally, update it whenever you make a significant business change (move, rebrand, ownership change, major growth).

Will updating my information affect my D&B credit score?

Updating factual information (correcting an address or phone number) will not negatively affect your credit score. However, changes that reflect actual business events (like a significant revenue drop or ownership change) will be reflected in your credit profile because they represent real changes in your business circumstances.

Can I update someone else's DUNS information?

No. Only authorized representatives of the business can update a DUNS record. D&B verifies the identity of the person making changes. If you notice that a vendor or partner has incorrect DUNS information, let them know so they can update it themselves.

Not sure what is currently on file for your business? Look up your DUNS number to review your information. For more about how DUNS numbers work, visit our what is a DUNS number guide. And if you are still waiting on your initial DUNS number, see how long it takes to get one.