How to Get Your DUNS Number for Free: A Quick Guide
If you're an international business owner, you might find yourself needing a DUNS number. Here's a quick and easy guide to help you get one for free, based on my recent experience.
What is a D-U-N-S Number?
A DUNS number (Data Universal Numbering System) is a unique, nine-digit identifier for business entities. Dun & Bradstreet created it in 1963 to streamline business credit reporting.
When Would You Need It?
I recently needed a DUNS number to update a payout profile for selling on the Microsoft Azure Marketplace.
The Catch
Microsoft states that you can get it for free and points to a website. However, this site is managed by Google and redirects international users to local partners. For those of us in the Netherlands 🇳🇱, that means Altares.
The Dutch Dilemma
As a frugal Dutch founder, I don’t like paying for something I was told would be free—especially when it's just a number Microsoft wants for some vague reason.
The Response from Altares
After reaching out to Altares, here's the gist of their response:
- Google offers free DUNS numbers for US companies.
- International users are redirected to local partners.
- Altares charges a small fee (EUR 15 excl. TAX) for the DUNS number to cover database maintenance costs.
Microsoft's Stance
When I contacted Microsoft, they insisted that I needed the DUNS number, even though it appears optional in their portal.
The Solution
The Google-managed site wasn’t helpful. But a quick Google search revealed that Apple has a site for developers where you can get your DUNS number for free!
Steps to Get Your Free DUNS Number from Apple:
- Sign in with your Apple ID.
- Check your email for your DUNS number.
Thanks, Apple! 🍏
Why I Wrote This
Figuring this out cost me a lot of time—probably more than €15 worth 🤣. I hope sharing it here saves the next person some time and money.
Links:
- ❌ Doesn’t Work: Get DUNS for free: link
- âś… Works: Apple's Free DUNS Number Lookup
