LONDON: Online credit information provider, Equifax, believes many small business owners are unaware of the significance of their own personal credit record when starting a new venture.  

Said external affairs director, Neil Munroe: "It is no longer just about how good you are at repaying a debt; lenders are looking at the overall picture and signs of possible future difficulty.

"In the absence of any historical information about the new business, this is exactly where lenders will turn to make a credit risk assessment.

"That is why we believe the new generation of entrepreneurs should be aware of exactly what information on their credit file will impact on their ability to obtain credit and how to ensure they have the best possible credit rating.

"The Equifax Credit Report, with the facility to access credit information for the first 30 days free, can be accessed by logging onto the website