Russ: This is the BusinessMakers Show heard on the radio and seen online at TheBusinessMakers.com. Its guest time and I'm at another one of those business matchmaking events I've been to them all over the country. Today I'm at one in Houston Texas our hometown and with me now my guest is Phyllis Myers small business director of Dun and Bradstreet. Phyllis welcome to the BusineesMaker Show.

Phyllis: Thank you.

Russ: Well here we are and you are a partner with Business Matchmaking. Tell us about that partnership?

Phyllis: Well it's important for us to be with a small business community. Obviously we all know that the small business is the fuel to our economy.

Russ: Right.

Phyllis: And Dun and Bradstreet feels it's a natural fit for us to make sure that we're providing the services and the solutions that help our small businesses be competitive and more profitable and that's why it's important to partner with Business Matchmaking.

Russ: Real cool. These Business Matchmaking events involve exposing small businesses to government business as well as large corporation and so they are very dependent on those that partner with them. And I know that Business Matchmaking people and they appreciate your support for sure. So Dun and Bradstreet's had this long colorful history. Just share a little background with us about that.

Phyllis: Okay, we are 170 years old

Russ: Okay.

Phyllis: So that probably is what you're alluding to.

Russ: Yes.

Phyllis: We've had four presidents work for us and we have the world's largest database we're in over 200 countries.

Russ: Okay.

Phyllis: Close to 195 million businesses.

Russ: Okay.

Phyllis: Globally in our database. So given all of that and we support the functions of the federal government, procurement with the federal government and around the globe. So I think that's 170 years' worth of business.

Russ: Okay now for me when you say you had four presidents do you mean there's been four presidents of Dun and Bradstreet over the years?

Phyllis: Four U.S. Presidents.

Russ: That's what I thought you meant which ones?

Phyllis: Four presidents. So we have Grover Cleveland.

Russ: Okay

Phyllis: We have Abe Lincoln.

Russ: Wow.

Phyllis: Ulysses Grant and McKinley.

Russ: Wow.

Phyllis: You just tested my knowledge.

Russ: Yes I did. Okay that's really cool. That is a colorful history for sure. Now I've heard before that in order to be on the federal registry to do business with the federal government one needs a Dun's number from you guys is that right?

Phyllis: That is correct.

Russ: Okay.

Phyllis: That is the first start to the federal procurement process.

Russ: Okay.

Phyllis: So in order to get registered on the CCR you have to have a Dun's number.

Russ: Okay.

Phyllis: So the CCR is actually how you're gonna get paid from the government for the work and services that you provide. So in order to get on the CCR registry you have to have a Dun's number.

Russ: Okay.

Phyllis: So it is the first step.

Russ: And how hard is that to get and how much does it cost?

Phyllis: Well it's very easy.

Russ: Okay.

Phyllis: You can go right up on our website at dnb.com.

Russ: Okay.

Phyllis: And apply for the Dun's number it will ask you a series of questions and within I'd say 30 days or less you will be able to - providing that we can validate the information -

Russ: Okay, okay.

Phyllis: That you're a business, a legitimate business you'll get a Dun's number.

Russ: And how much would that cost me?

Phyllis: That's a free service.1

Russ: Wow that's a good deal right there for sure.

Phyllis: It's a free service to get a Dun's number.

Russ: Okay now we do have small business people that are in our audience many that aspire to be large business people as well but share with our audience what some of the services are that Dun and Bradstreet can do to help them.

Phyllis: Sure. Well we have three things that I would recommend that we can help small businesses. Having the world's largest database we actually provide information to help you know who you're doing business with, who you're buying and selling from.

Russ: Okay.

Phyllis: So as a small business if you are wanting to partner with a company, to go and bid and expand your bandwidth to bid on a contract or an RFP.

Russ: Okay.

Phyllis: You need to know who they are.

Russ: Okay.

Phyllis: So where would you go you'd go to D & B. So we can actually help you understand who you're doing business with, selling and buying to. In addition we can help you with finding companies. So the world's largest database we can actually help you find companies customers to sell your goods and services to and we can help you find the ones that are paying their bills on time.

Russ: Okay.

Phyllis: So that's very helpful for your cash flow.

Russ: Right absolutely.

Phyllis: And then the last thing I would suggest is companies need to bring legitimacy to them on the web. There's so many websites out there so how do they do that? Well we have a service that enables you to actually put our logo up on your website that can help you bring instant credibility if you qualify for that particular product.

Russ: Okay now I know Dun and Bradstreet is in the business they're a regular business you have to have income to make the business continue on so I assume I have to pay for those sorts of services?

Phyllis: Correct those are services that you would have to pay and just as an example.

Russ: Right.

Phyllis: The seal up on your website.

Russ: Right.

Phyllis: Is 24.99 a month.

Russ: Okay.

Phyllis: So again I think that there's a price to value equation for small businesses.

Russ: Okay, okay. Well I particularly liked what you talked about on the database services are those categorized or is there just - do you join it and you can use it however you wish?

Phyllis: Absolutely.

Russ: Okay.

Phyllis: So once you - there's um, you can start out at $399 it really depends on your needs. $399 a year.

Russ: Okay.

Phyllis: And it can go up depending on your needs. Some businesses need more information than others.

Russ: Absolutely.

Phyllis: And so we have flexible pricing that allows small businesses to work within their budgets and the needs that they have.

Russ: Okay well Phyllis I really appreciate you being with us in the BusinessMaker show.

Phyllis: Great thank you so much for having me.

Russ: You bet that's Phyllis Myers small business director of Dun and Bradstreet. This is the BusinessMaker show heard on the radio and seen online at TheBusinessMakers.com.