FAQs

When you request a guideline, this initiates a complete credit assessment on your customer by our analysts. This report is what was formerly called a Credit Limit Advisory. Once the process is completed, you will receive an email with your recommended guideline and you can view the fresh credit profile online. This is often a starting point and part of our client’s credit policy or process for setting credit limits, periodic reviews, identifying risk items, new business, etc. More than just information, it is a recommendation on how to address a customer's request for trade credit.

We make our analyst team available to you should you have questions on a customer or their credit profile. This is a great way to address any questions you have on certain risks where you are not sure, where information may be limited, or where you want to get a second opinion on your credit decision.

The Credit Alert Service is a risk monitoring service where a PG analyst is assigned to monitor your customer during your contract period. We refer to this as active risk monitoring.  You will be alerted when our analysts and/or credit committee either upgrades, downgrades, or affirms a company’s credit profile and scores. You also receive other risk related news and information as it becomes available on the customer. Typical reasons you might receive an alert include but are not limited to, a periodic review, PG secured updated financial information, or we learn of a risk situation that impacted the company’s risk profile.

The PG Score is a predictive score that indicates the probability of the customer defaulting within the next 12 months. The scores range from 1 to 100, with 100 being the best (or least likely to default, file bankruptcy, etc.). Additional default risk characteristics can be found on our credit scoring table.  Our Business Viability Score is similar and predicts long term business viability, how likely is it a customer will go out of business.  The score is derived from AI machine learning predictive scoring.  Together, these scores provide a full view into customer default risk.

Our new PQS Score predicts the likelihood of being paid within terms based on historical trade data. PQS is based purely on supplier trade and is weighted based on many factors including past dues, past due aging, and payments over a period. PQS is measured on a scale of 0 to 100, where the timelier payers trend in the low 80's or higher. PQS can be used as one factor in evaluating the risk of non-payment, prioritizing collections efforts, or benchmarking trends. 

The primary reason is because most of our credit assessments are completed by an analyst, not an algorithm. Our information is offered at very competitive prices and remains the highest quality being offered in the market today, which means it has tremendous value. For these reasons, we don’t just give it away. Our subscriptions are based on what you need and structured around how you plan to use the information.

In today's increasingly volatile and unpredictable climate, you need expert guidance and decision support to protect your business. ProfitGuard not only provides you with the information you need to make informed decisions, it also provides recommendations and true decision support. Using the program to capture additional sales or avoid a loss provides substantial returns over the nominal subscription price.

PG’s strong reputation and industry trust allows us to secure financial data on thousands of privately held companies, one of our biggest strengths. PG also collects and compiles its own trade payment data. ProfitGuard's analysts also utilize a variety of paid 3rd party information resources and publicly available information. Our financial analysts study the industry, visit debtors, and analyze individual company financials and recent events every day. A comprehensive range of trade publications and general information subscriptions are maintained to round out the information sources behind our credit ratings and limit recommendations. We process all of this information and provide you with an objective business credit report.

Unlike other reporting companies, PG’s sole focus is on the industrial sector, including metals, plastics, paper, manufacturing, and more.  This allows us to specialize in each sector's unique credit characteristics. Secondly, all reports and analysis provided by PG are reviewed by a live analyst and our advised credit limits and ratings are devised from a rigorous rating framework and set by an objective credit committee with 100 years of combined credit experience in this segment. Lastly, PG provides an unparalleled level of customer service and credit support. Whether you are a one-man show or a corporate credit department, PG adds tremendous value.

While there's nothing like the peace of mind that comes with knowing your accounts are insured, there are a few reasons below why you still want to be very prudent and proactive in managing your open credit risk. We liken the dynamics to having a car. You buy car insurance to cover an unexpected loss, but you still drive carefully. To do that you need the tools that help you - turn indicators, anti-lock brakes, lights, horn, etc. PG is one of those essential tools to help you safely navigate the roads.

Avoiding Claims: You still have dollars in play with the risk retention in your policy. The price you pay for your policy is dependent on your loss history. The carriers expect to pay claims and underwrite to a certain loss ratio. Using PG, you can stay on top of the risk and avoid losses. This will assure you the best consideration in terms of renewal rates. For this reason alone, over 50% of our clients use PG along with their credit insurance policies.

Account Coverage: Just because the underwriters approve a limit doesn't mean there's no default potential. The opposite is true if they don’t approve or limit coverage, it could be a capacity issue or they don’t have financial data versus the account being a known risk.

Whether you are intentionally overselling insured limits or want to sell into a situation where you have limited or no cover, PG’s information can help you make more informed decisions regarding appropriate sales terms and credit limits.

Account Monitoring: The underwriters do track and monitor your covered accounts, but you can't rely on them for comprehensive monitoring like PG provides. The carrier is structured to take risk, so they may not notify you on all risk developments like PG would. Many of our clients use the Alert service as a way to stay one step ahead. If risk is deteriorating, they use the information to start reducing their exposures before other suppliers are aware of the increasing risk. The same is true when risk improves; they are often first in line for increases or new coverage on a previously uninsurable risk. View PDF.

Our sister company Global Commercial Credit (GCC) is the leading credit insurance broker in the industrial segment. Through our affiliation, we can put you in touch with an agent at GCC to custom tailor a program to your needs. Over 50% of PG clients use credit insurance and many enjoy unique benefits by having a combined PG and GCC program in place. Request more info – mail to gcc@eprofitguard.com

Yes. We have partnered with two collection agencies and we have arranged for our clients to get their service at a discounted rate. Learn more 

Each ProfitGuard subscription is units based, meaning that depending on what level subscription you purchased, you receive a certain number of units to use in your contract year to view reports or place a customer on the Credit Alert Service. For example, a standard subscription would include 100 units for a set price. Subscribers can use their units how they choose to purchase Credit Services below.

Once you log into the PG website platform, you can easily search for your customer and view the credit profile on hand. Should you require additional or more updated information, you can request a guideline, which will result in a full credit review. Once the review is complete, you will be notified so you can view the updated report profile within the next 7 days without further charge.

Yes. Please contact our sales team for details at sales@eprofitguard.com.

You can only pay by company check at this time.

To become a ProfitGuard subscriber, simply open an account on this web site and you will be contacted by an account representative to finalize your order. We will initiate your subscription and provide the instructions for logging in and ordering our decision support products. The annual subscription fee renews automatically each year.