How Do I Start My Own Credit Repair Business?

A

alex 008

Member
Starting my own credit repair business, and I’m trying to figure out the best way to get it off the ground the right way. I’ve helped friends and family clean up their credit reports before removing inaccuracies, sending dispute letters and guiding them through rebuilding and I’ve had some solid results. Now I’m ready to turn it into something more official, even if it starts small as a side hustle.
That said I want to make sure I’m fully legit and compliant. I’ve been reading about things like bonding, registration, and CROA regulations, but it’s still a bit overwhelming.
So I’m asking:
What steps did you take to start your credit repair business?
 
I started with registering my LLC and then immediately looked into my state’s bonding requirements. CROA compliance was tricky at first, but there are templates for disclosures and contracts. Biggest tip? Get E&O insurance early saved my butt once.
 
Legit respect for trying to do it right from day one. I made the mistake of skipping the Surety Bond step and got flagged during a licensing app. Each state has different regs too.....Texas was a minefield. Do your due diligence early!
 
If you’re overwhelmed, start with Client Dispute Manager or DisputeBee. They handle a lot of back-end stuff and are CRA-compliant. Doesn’t make you an expert, but it’s a huge leg up when starting small and solo.
 
Same boat last year! I offered free credit reviews in Facebook groups to build testimonials. Once I had 10–15 success stories, i launched a simple Wix site, got a business PayPal, and boom side hustle turned LLC in 6 months.
 
Please, please get familiar with CROA inside and out. I used to work at a firm that got hit with a cease and desist for violating CROA just by not giving the right disclosures. They don't play around.
 
I just used ZenBusiness to form my LLC, then got bonded through SuretyBonds.com. After that, I created a service agreement based on templates from other pros. It’s not cheap, but way cheaper than a lawsuit
 
Honestly i’d start with personal branding. You’ve got the experience...start posting credit tips on TikTok and Insta. People will DM you before you even have a full site live. Worked like a charm for me!
 
Form your business entity, register with your state, get your EIN, then look at compliance. Also: NEVER charge upfront for services unless your state explicitly allows it. CROA will body slam you if you do.
 
Honestly, I’d start with personal branding. You’ve got the experience..start posting credit tips on TikTok and Insta. People will DM you before you even have a full site live. Worked like a charm for me!
 
Form your business entity, register with your state, get your EIN, then look at compliance. Also: NEVER charge upfront for services unless your state explicitly allows it. CROA will body slam you if you do.
 
Been in this game for 5+ years. Focus on education, not just disputes. If your clients don’t understand credit utilization or payment history, they’ll be back in the gutter in 6 months. Offer coaching = extra revenue.
 
Your first 3 moves: Register LLC, get business insurance, open a biz checking account. Then study CROA line-by-line. Compliance is your best friend if you ever get investigated (and you might).
 
the fastest way i got traction was through referrals from realtors and mortgage brokers. They want clients to qualify. Offer them a free audit for a client and they’ll send more your way.
 
Make sure to document EVERYTHING. Each letter, call log, dispute status. If you ever get sued or reported, your paper trail is your defense. I use Trello to track all client actions.
 
Start with just friends and family and get real results you can screenshot (with permission). Use those to build trust online. Word-of-mouth in this business is GOLD.
 
Don’t forget about your state attorney general’s site...they usually have a checklist for starting a credit repair company. That and the FTC site are clutch.
 
I messed up early by using the same dispute letter template for everyone. Bad idea. Now i customize based on each report item...got way better results and fewer verifications from bureaus.
 
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