# Small Business Credit Analytics
source: https://developer.mastercard.com/small-business-credit-analytics/documentation/index.md

## Overview {#overview}

Small Business Credit Analytics provides underwriters with access to near real-time transaction-based insights to build a more complete view of business performance and creditworthiness, helping them underwrite more businesses and reduce risk.

Mastercard has rich transaction data from Mastercard-accepting merchant locations. These transactions are enriched and anonymized to generate transaction-based metrics at the location level. For merchants who have provided their consent, underwriters can request these metrics through the API.

## Key Insights {#key-insights}

Small Business Credit Analytics provides access to 45 weekly and monthly Retail Sales Analytics metrics for the last 12 months and 14 monthly Retail Sales Benchmarks metrics for up to 12 latest months (depending on the region) across key business performance indicators which can be incorporated into credit decision models. Shown below are some sample metrics to illustrate the power of the API and the full comprehensive set of metrics can be unlocked by accessing the API.
<br />

|     Category      |                 Retail Sales Analytics                  |                 Retail Sales Benchmarks                 |
|-------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|
| Business Metadata | Last seen transaction date, First seen transaction date | Last seen transaction date, First seen transaction date |
| Merchant Sales    | Trend on average card spend                             | Average spend per card index                            |
| Channel Sales     | % Spend from online channels                            | % of e-Commerce transactions index                      |
| Customer Loyalty  | % of repeat customers                                   | Cards repeated in 6 months index                        |
| Returns           | % of returned transactions                              | Returned transactions index                             |
| Business Risk     | Historical weekly or monthly card spend                 | Fraud chargeback index                                  |

<br />

## How It Works {#how-it-works}

The Small Business Credit Analytics API can be used in few simple steps to obtain performance insights for small businesses. Merchant search can be performed by using either a Business ID, or its Name and Address.
![how-it-works1](https://static.developer.mastercard.com/content/small-business-credit-analytics/uploads/tech_docs_how_it_works_1.svg)

###### 1. Search merchant {#1-search-merchant}

Enter merchant details such as
Acquirer Merchant ID, or Name
and Address
![how-it-works2](https://static.developer.mastercard.com/content/small-business-credit-analytics/uploads/tech_docs_how_it_works_2.svg)

###### 2. Review matches {#2-review-matches}

API returns possible merchant match(es)
![how-it-works3](https://static.developer.mastercard.com/content/small-business-credit-analytics/uploads/tech_docs_how_it_works_3.svg)

###### 3. Select merchant {#3-select-merchant}

Enter merchant location ID and metrics type; verify consent
![how-it-works4](https://static.developer.mastercard.com/content/small-business-credit-analytics/uploads/tech_docs_how_it_works_4.svg)

###### 4. Review metrics {#4-review-metrics}

The API returns Retail Sales Analytics or Retail Sales Benchmarks metrics

## Getting Started {#getting-started}

We have made it easier for you to start calling the Small Business Credit Analytics API within few weeks time.
![getting-started1](https://static.developer.mastercard.com/content/small-business-credit-analytics/uploads/tech_docs_getting_started_1.svg)

###### 1. Onboarding {#1-onboarding}

* Signup for an account on Mastercard Developers
* Create a new Small Business Credit Analytics project
![getting-started2](https://static.developer.mastercard.com/content/small-business-credit-analytics/uploads/tech_docs_getting_started_2.svg)

###### 2. Integration and Testing {#2-integration-and-testing}

* Integrate the Small Business Credit Analytics API by choosing from a range of tools we support
* Test the API in Sandbox
![getting-started3](https://static.developer.mastercard.com/content/small-business-credit-analytics/uploads/tech_docs_getting_started_3.svg)

###### 3. Go-live {#3-go-live}

* Request access to production keys
* Receive approval from Mastercard
* Go-live by connecting your application with production credentials

###### Useful Resources {#useful-resources}

* We have created a [Reference Application](https://developer.mastercard.com/small-business-credit-analytics/documentation/reference-app/index.md) to get you started
* Refer to the [Use Cases](https://developer.mastercard.com/small-business-credit-analytics/documentation/use-cases/index.md) for additional details on how the API works
* Refer to the [Tutorials and Guides](https://developer.mastercard.com/small-business-credit-analytics/documentation/tutorials-and-guides/index.md) for additional guidance

Tip: If you don't have a Mastercard representative, reach out for help from our [support page](https://developer.mastercard.com/small-business-credit-analytics/documentation/support/index.md#get-help).