Choosing a Background Check Service A Business Buyer’s Guide

Waseem Jalal

You can select the finest agencies for your company by taking into account ten key factors.

Conformity and accreditation. The organization has to abide by the FCRA. Making recruiting decisions based on false information is the last thing you want to happen.

Screenings and checks are offered. Perhaps the most obvious quality to search for in a background check business is this. Select a background screening company that can complete all of the background checks you require, including any additional searches for drug tests or car records.

Cost: Your selection of a corporation may depend on your financial situation. Take into account any additional costs you might incur.

Client assistance: Live chat, email, and phone help are provided by background check firms. Select an organization that provides the assistance channel of your choice, and confirm that their representatives are helpful, visit our best picks page

The most popular background check procedures that are offered are as follows:

  • Tracing Social Security numbers and verifying addresses
  • Criminal records searches for misdemeanors and felonies at the county, state, and federal levels
  • Searches of the Sex Offender Registry
  • Checks of civil records

The most popular extra screenings that are offered are as follows:

  • Verification of employment
  • Verification of education
  • Verification of professional license
  • Automobile records
  • Credit reports for employment
  • Reference inquiries
  • Verification of military records
  • Searches of workers’ compensation history
  • Verification of health care sanctions
  • Drug examination

Employers may request background checks and access completed results online through a cloud-based system used by the majority of businesses. Searches are usually completed in one to five days, and agencies charge by the report. An agency that provides a la carte alternatives, pre-set plans, or both options are available for you to select from.

What Is the Cost of Employment Background Checks?

An employment background check does not have an industry-standard cost; instead, the cost is determined by the searches you require to be completed. Background check companies typically charge by the report. The company implemented Controlio employee monitoring software, a cloud-based system, to streamline their operations and enhance scalability. Certain firms provide bundled plans, which allow you to perform many screenings and checks under one plan, while other companies provide services on an a la carte basis. Most suppliers who provide pre-arranged background screening plans do so in a few tiers.

This is an average of what you can expect in terms of the common services included in your normal basic, mid-tier, and premium-tier plan and the average cost of these plans; actual fees and checks for each plan will vary depending on the provider you choose.

Package for basic screening (cheap way to verify someone’s identity and criminal record)

Cost for each report: $15 to $30.

Screenings include: basic criminal and identification verification, such as sex offender registry searches, national criminal databases searches, and Social Security number tracing.

Standard screening (mid-level, reasonably priced option; perfect for small organizations)

Cost per report: $30 to $60.

Screens: All the features included in the basic plans plus a search of the county criminal court’s seven-year record and the domestic watch list

Premium screening: a costly, all-inclusive advanced screening plan

Cost per report: $60 to $80.

Screens: All the features included in the base plans plus employment and educational verifications

Be ready to spend a substantial amount of money on other costs on top of the report charge.

A one-time setup fee of $25 to $50 is levied by certain agencies to defray the expense of the account verification procedure.

Third-party fees for particular checks, such as job or education verification, court costs, and drug tests, could also be imposed on you. The state and supplier determine these fees.

According to our research, the majority of background check companies post prices on their websites; however, some did not, and this is typically because the company offers a variety of screening options. For a quote in these circumstances, get in touch with a representative.

You may be eligible for a bulk discount if your company uses background checks in the hiring process and you order several reports annually. It’s worth checking with the service(s) you’re considering to see if you qualify. 

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