D-U-N-S Numbers for Businesses: How to Get One and When You Need It
If you’ve ever tried to register for certain business services and hit a wall asking for a D-U-N-S number, you’re not alone. While it sounds technical (and a bit mysterious), a D-U-N-S number is simply a standard way to identify your business globally.
Here’s what it is, how to get one, how to look one up, and which services require it.
What Is a D-U-N-S Number?
A D-U-N-S number (Data Universal Numbering System) is a unique 9-digit identifier assigned to businesses by Dun & Bradstreet (D&B). It’s used worldwide to verify the existence of a business and track basic information such as:
- Legal business name
- Business address
- Ownership structure
- Industry classification
Think of it as a business equivalent to a government-issued ID, but used primarily by corporations, platforms, and financial institutions rather than governments.
Why D-U-N-S Numbers Matter
Many large organizations rely on D-U-N-S numbers to:
- Verify that a business is legitimate
- Reduce fraud
- Standardize business records across countries
- Assess credit worthiness and risk
For small and medium-sized businesses, a D-U-N-S number often becomes necessary when accessing:
- Enterprise-level tools
- Developer platforms
- Advertising services
How to Look Up a D-U-N-S Number
You can look up a D-U-N-S number if you know the business name and location using the public Lookup Tool provided by Dun & Bradstreet where you can search by business name and address.. This could be to look up your own information or another business.
Common reasons to look one up:
- Checking if your business already has one
- Verifying a vendor or partner
- Completing platform registration forms
Many businesses already have a D-U-N-S number without realizing it, especially if they’ve been operating for several years.
How to Get a D-U-N-S Number
Getting a D-U-N-S number is free for most standard business uses.
Steps to apply:
- Visit the Dun & Bradstreet website
- Use the D-U-N-S Number Lookup Tool to search to see if your business already has a D-U-N-S number
- If not, submit an application, depending on the options you choose you may be required to provide:
- The legal name of your business
- Your business address (Note: if you have multiple locations, apply for a separate D‑U‑N‑S Number for each location)
- Business phone number
- The name of the business owner, president, or CEO
- The legal structure of the business
- The year the business was created
- The primary business industry
- The total number of full- and part-time employees
- Wait for confirmation (usually a few days, though expedited options may be offered for a fee)
You may be contacted by a representative of Dun & Bradstreet to validate your information. Once your information has been authenticated, the process is complete. You will receive your D‑U‑N‑S Number in an email from Dun & Bradstreet.
Services That Require a D-U-N-S Number
Not every business will need a D-U-N-S number, but many major platforms require one for verification.
Apple Developer Program
Apple requires a D-U-N-S number to verify organizations enrolling in the Apple Developer Program. This helps confirm the legal existence of your business before allowing you to publish apps under a company name.
Apple Business Manager
Apple Business Manager uses the D-U-N-S number to validate businesses setting up device management, app distribution, and managed Apple IDs.
If you plan to use Apple Business Manager, make sure you allow enough time to obtain your D-U-N-S number and for it to sync to Apple’s system before creating managed Apple IDs. Business verification cannot be completed without it, and until verification is approved, devices signed in with managed IDs will have limited functionality and permissions.
Google Ads (Certain Accounts)
While not all advertisers are asked for a D-U-N-S number, Google Ads may require one for business verification, agency or enterprise-level accounts, or compliance with advertiser identity policies.
Other Platforms
Government procurement systems, corporate vendor onboarding portals, financial and credit applications, and global supply chain and logistics platforms may end up requiring your to have a D-U-N-S number.
Do Small Businesses and Sole Proprietors Need One?
Not always, but it’s becoming more common.
If you are ever planning on developing or distributing apps, managing company-owned Apple devices, advertising at scale, work with large corporations or government entities, you might as well just incorporate it into the business setup and registration process.
Even if you don’t need one today, having a D-U-N-S number can reduce friction when new opportunities arise.
Worth Having, Even If You’re Not Asked Yet
A D-U-N-S number is one of those behind-the-scenes business essentials that often only shows up when you’re trying to grow, advertise, or integrate with larger platforms. The good news? It’s free, relatively easy to obtain, and increasingly useful in a digital-first business world.
If your business plans include app development, enterprise tools, or advanced advertising, securing a D-U-N-S number early can save you time, and headaches later.