How to Update Business Name/Address on a DUNS Record

Updating Your Business Name — Step by Step

1. Confirm your legal name change is finalized. Make sure the government or registration authority has fully processed the name change before contacting D&B — updating too early can create a fresh mismatch.
2. Gather your proof document. An amended incorporation certificate or equivalent official filing showing the new legal name is usually required.
3. Submit the update through D&B's business profile update channel. This is typically done directly through D&B rather than by reapplying for a new DUNS number.
4. Provide your existing DUNS number. This tells D&B exactly which record to update rather than treating it as a new business.
5. Wait for confirmation. D&B will verify the new name against your submitted document before updating the record.

📎 KEY DOCUMENT

An official, government-recognized filing showing your new legal name — not just a brand refresh, trademark filing, or marketing rename, which D&B won't treat as a legal name change on its own.

Updating Your Business Address — Step by Step

1. Decide which address changed. Your registered address (used for legal/verification purposes) and your operating address (where you actually do business) can be different — know which one you're updating.
2. Gather proof of the new address. A lease agreement, utility bill, or updated registration filing showing the new address is typically sufficient.
3. Submit the update with your DUNS number. As with a name change, this goes through D&B directly, tied to your existing DUNS record.
4. Format the new address exactly as it appears on your documents. Avoid abbreviating or restructuring it yourself — inconsistent formatting is a common cause of a rejected update.
5. Confirm the update reflects across your D&B profile. Once processed, check that your full business profile (not just one field) shows the corrected address.

📎 KEY DOCUMENT

Anything official and dated that clearly shows your business name paired with the new address — a lease, utility bill, or government filing all typically work.

Does Your DUNS Number Change When You Update It?

No — and this is worth repeating because it's one of the most common points of confusion. Your DUNS number is a fixed 9-digit identifier assigned once to your business. Updating your name or address changes the information attached to that number, not the number itself.

• Think of it like updating your name on a driver's license — the license number generally stays fixed even though the name printed on it changes.
• This is also why you should never apply for a brand-new DUNS number just because your business renamed or moved — that creates a duplicate-record situation instead of a clean update.
• For more on what stays fixed vs. what changes across D&B's products, see the Dun & Bradstreet Explained pillar guide.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Applying for a new DUNS number instead of updating the existing one. This creates a duplicate record and can complicate your credit history rather than simply reflecting your new details.
• Reformatting your address yourself. Abbreviating or "cleaning up" an address instead of copying it exactly from your official document is a frequent cause of a rejected update.
• Updating only your marketing materials. A rebrand that isn't backed by an actual legal name change won't be accepted as a name update by D&B.
• Paying a third-party agency for a simple update. Name and address updates go directly through D&B and typically don't require paid help — see our Myths & Scams guide for more on inflated third-party services.
• Forgetting to update after a merger or acquisition. Ownership and structure changes should be reflected too, not just the name and address.