Walmart Requires a DUNS Number for Most Suppliers — Here's Exactly Why
If you're trying to become a Walmart supplier or vendor, here's the direct answer: Walmart requires Dun & Bradstreet registration — a DUNS number — for most suppliers as part of its Retail Link onboarding process.
This isn't a vague best practice; it's stated plainly in Walmart's own official supplier requirements, and your registration genuinely cannot proceed without it unless you fall into a specific exception.
Who Actually Needs a DUNS Number — and Who Doesn't
Walmart's requirement isn't completely universal. Here's how it actually breaks down:
Domestic GFR & Direct Import Suppliers
A DUNS number is required for registration, with no way to proceed past this step without one.
Local Suppliers
Defined specifically as a business providing a product or service to a single local store — are not required to provide a DUNS number under Walmart's documented exception.
Indian Exporters
You'll almost always fall into the Direct Import supplier category, since you're supplying from outside the US — this is the category where the DUNS requirement applies in full.
If you're a small, single-location supplier serving one specific Walmart store, it's worth confirming with Walmart directly whether the Local Supplier exception applies. For most Indian businesses pursuing Walmart as an export market, though, this exception generally won't apply.
Why Walmart's System Actually Uses Your DUNS Number
This is worth understanding clearly, since it changes how much accuracy matters: in Walmart's Retail Link onboarding system, your company legal name and address actually populate directly from your DUNS number. This isn't just a reference field you fill in alongside everything else — it's the source data Walmart's own system pulls from.
The practical consequence: if your DUNS profile has an outdated address, a slightly different company name format, or any inconsistency, that inaccurate information will populate directly into your Walmart supplier profile — not something you can simply correct on Walmart's side without first correcting it at the source, with D&B.
For Direct Import suppliers specifically, Walmart's documentation is explicit that your Company Legal Name must match the name on your W-8 tax form and your Business Registration Certificate as accredited by your local government — for Indian suppliers, this means your DUNS-listed legal name needs to match your Certificate of Incorporation, GST registration, or equivalent registration document exactly.
Documents Required for Walmart Supplier Registration
Specifically for Direct Import / Indian Suppliers.
DUNS Number
Required for registration — your company name and address auto-populate from this record.
Business Registration
Required by your local government, confirming legal entity status (e.g., Certificate of Incorporation or GST).
W-8 Tax Form
Required for non-US (Direct Import) suppliers, in place of the W-9 used by domestic US suppliers.
Product Identifier
Each product needs its own unique ID — GTIN, UPC, ISBN, or EAN.
Export Office Location
Country where your export business offices are located.
Factory Location
Country/countries where your manufacturing facilities are located.
Annual Gross Revenue
A revenue range selection, used as part of your supplier profile.
Banking Details
Direct Import suppliers on Open Account terms need a Trade Bank; Letter of Credit suppliers need an Advising Bank.
How the Walmart Supplier Registration Process Actually Works
Get your DUNS number ready first
If you don't already have one — see our complete DUNS registration guide. Make sure your legal name and address exactly match your Certificate of Incorporation or GST registration.
Visit Walmart's Supplier Application page
Review the Supplier Checklist, which lists the specific materials needed for your supplier type.
Create your Retail Link account
Under Account Creation, begin entering your company information — your name and address will populate based on your DUNS number.
Complete the Onboarding Tiles
Complete the Company Information, Tax Information, and Product Submission tiles on your onboarding dashboard.
Review and accept the MSA
Review and accept the Master Supplier Agreement (MSA) once it becomes available, after the prior tiles are completed.
Wait for Merchant Review
Wait for a Walmart Merchant to review your submission. Self-registering is not a guarantee of business — your profile enters a queue for buyers to review, and they'll reach out only if interested in your product.
Accept the BTA
If invited, accept the Business Terms Agreement (BTA) and complete item setup to finish onboarding.
Fully Onboarded
Once you have a 6-digit supplier number and at least one item set up, you're considered fully onboarded.
Common DUNS-Related Errors During Walmart Onboarding
"The DUNS number you have selected is already registered to a Walmart Supplier."
This typically means a registration was previously submitted using this DUNS number, possibly by a different individual at your company, or in some cases requires Walmart's internal team to investigate further.
The Fix: Call the Retail Link Help Desk with your registration details so their team can assist directly — this generally isn't something you can resolve by simply re-entering the number again.
Company name or address mismatch between your DUNS profile and registration documents.
Since your Walmart profile pulls directly from your DUNS record, any inconsistency between that and your actual business registration documents can cause delays.
The Fix: Before registering, confirm your DUNS-listed legal name matches your Certificate of Incorporation or GST certificate exactly.
Needing to update your corporate address after registration.
Walmart's own support documentation is specific here: you cannot update this directly through Retail Link.
The Fix: You need to contact Dun & Bradstreet directly to update the information tied to your DUNS number — Walmart's system will then reflect the corrected information from D&B.
Not knowing your company's correct DUNS number.
If you're unsure or have lost track of your number, Walmart's documentation directs suppliers to contact Dun & Bradstreet directly rather than guessing or creating a new one.
The Fix: See our guide on checking for an existing DUNS number for the lookup process.
Be Clear-Eyed About What You're Actually Paying For
Some guides describe an approximate cost (commonly cited around $125) for "initial DUNS registration" specifically in the context of becoming a Walmart supplier. It's worth being precise here: the DUNS number itself is free through D&B's standard process.
Any cost associated with this step is either D&B's own optional paid expedited service (see our Free vs Expedited guide), or a third-party service fee for handling the application on your behalf — not a mandatory fee charged by D&B or Walmart for the number itself.
Need to apply?
We can guide you through the free standard application process to avoid unnecessary fees.
Get Started →Frequently Asked Questions
Does Walmart require a DUNS number for all suppliers?
Is the DUNS number free, or does Walmart charge for it?
Why does my company name look wrong on my Walmart supplier profile?
What's different for Indian suppliers compared to US domestic suppliers?
What do I do if I get an error saying my DUNS number is already registered?
How do I update my company's address after I've already registered with Walmart?
Ready to Get Your DUNS Number Sorted for Walmart Onboarding?
Getting your documentation accurate before you start the Retail Link registration process can save you from the exact name-mismatch and address issues that most commonly delay Walmart supplier onboarding.
Direct Contact
Scalix Tech is an independent consulting service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or authorized by Dun & Bradstreet or Walmart Inc. The D-U-N-S Number is always free and issued solely by D&B. Our role is limited to documentation guidance for DUNS number applications.
DUNS Registration Guidance Form
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For the full registration process, see our complete guide to DUNS number registration in India.