Certn lists the lowest starting price here at $13.99 per check, while GCheck starts at $18.95 per check with a county search included. Checkr, GoodHire, BackgroundChecks.com and Verified First all start at $29.99, so package contents matter more than the headline price. Accurate Background, Cisive, First Advantage and HireRight do not publish a starting price, so they are quote only.
We compared 10 options for best background check companies for small businesses. Each profile below lists the price, free plan, pros and cons as published by the company.
On this page
Best background check companies for small businesses: comparison table
Swipe the table sideways on a phone to see every column.
| # | Name | Best for | Starting price | Free plan / trial | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Certn | Lowest starting price | $13.99 per check | Not applicable | Visit |
| 2 | GCheck | County search at a low price | $18.95 per check | Not applicable | Visit |
| 3 | Checkr | Self-serve ordering and integrations | $29.99 per report | Not applicable | Visit |
| 4 | GoodHire | Simple packages for occasional hiring | $29.99 per check | Not applicable | Visit |
| 5 | BackgroundChecks.com | No contracts and no minimums | $29.99 per check | Not applicable | Visit |
| 6 | Verified First | Published packages with no minimums | $29.99 per check | Not applicable | Visit |
| 7 | Accurate Background | Custom screening for growing teams | quote only | Not applicable | Visit |
| 8 | Cisive | Regulated industries and healthcare | quote only | Not applicable | Visit |
| 9 | First Advantage | Small business pay as you go screening | quote only | Not applicable | Visit |
| 10 | HireRight | Global screening and large hiring plans | quote only | Not applicable | Visit |
The 10 best best background check companies for small businesses, in detail
Certn
Best for: Lowest starting price
Certn lists its US Core package at $13.99 per check on its United States pricing page. That package includes a Social Security Number trace, a national criminal database search, a sex offender registry search, a global watchlist and sanctions search, and a contingent county criminal search. The low starting price needs careful reading.
- County searches add $9.99 where applicable, and other third party fees may apply.
- A motor vehicle record check is listed at $25.99 per check and reference checks at $29.99 per check, so price the exact searches each role needs.
Pros
- Low entry price for a US criminal package
- pay per check with no setup fees or minimums stated on its pricing page
- identity verification available from $3.50 per check
Cons
- County searches add $9.99 where applicable, and other third party access fees may apply on top of the package price
GCheck
Best for: County search at a low price
GCheck lists three packages on its pricing page. Basic costs $18.95 per background check and includes a Social Security Number trace and address history, a national criminal database search, a nationwide sex offender registry search, OIG and OFAC lists, global watchlists, and a county criminal search for the current county of residence. Standard costs $39.95 per check and adds biometric identity verification and unlimited counties of residence.
- Advanced costs $49.95 per check and adds federal searches.
- Basic stands out because many entry packages at a similar price do not include a county search.
- Other counties found by the national search are searched automatically at $9.95 each, so a candidate with a long address history will cost more than $
Pros
- Basic package includes a county criminal search for the current county of residence
- no setup fees, minimums or long term contracts stated on its pricing page
- Standard and Advanced packages add wider county and federal coverage
Cons
- Other counties found by the national search are charged at $9.95 each, and third party fees may apply on top of the package price
Checkr
Best for: Self-serve ordering and integrations
Checkr lists Basic from $29.99 per report, Essential from $59.99 per report and Complete from $94.99 per report on its pricing page. Basic includes a Social Security Number trace, a sex offender registry search, a global watchlist search and a national criminal search. Essential adds identity verification and unlimited county criminal search.
- Complete adds unlimited state criminal search and federal criminal search.
- Checkr suits a small business that wants to order online.
- Its pricing page notes more than 200 pre-built integrations, with identity verification at $4.99 per check and employment verification from $12.50 per
- Court and database fees are passed through at cost, so the final invoice in a state with high court fees will be higher than $29.99.
Pros
- Published prices for three packages
- wide range of add-ons with listed prices, including motor vehicle records from $9.50 per check
- many pre-built integrations with hiring tools
Cons
- Standard third party court and database access fees may apply on top of package prices, passed through at cost
GoodHire
Best for: Simple packages for occasional hiring
GoodHire lists Basic from $29.99 per check, Essential from $59.99 per check and Complete from $94.99 per check. Basic includes a Social Security Number trace, a sex offender registry search, a global watchlist search and a national criminal search. Essential adds identity verification and unlimited county criminal search.
- Complete adds unlimited state criminal search and federal criminal search.
- GoodHire suits a small employer that hires only a few people a year.
- The prices match Checkr exactly, because GoodHire is a Checkr company.
- Compare the dashboard and ordering flow rather than price alone.
Pros
- Same clear three package structure as Checkr, with prices shown on the page
- no monthly subscription for the listed packages
- more than 100 screening options stated on its pricing page
Cons
- GoodHire is a Checkr company, so it is not an independent alternative to Checkr, and court and database fees may apply on top
BackgroundChecks.com
Best for: No contracts and no minimums
BackgroundChecks.com states on its homepage that pricing starts at $29.99 per check, with no contracts and no minimums. Its listed packages are Basic at $29.99 per check, Complete at $44.99 per check and Professional at $76.99 per check. Complete adds unlimited counties over a 7 year address history, while Professional adds federal criminal search and education and employment verification.
- The company covers Social Security Number verification, national criminal database searches, sex offender registries, county and statewide criminal ch
Pros
- Pricing starts at $29.99 per check with no contracts and no minimums stated on its homepage
- most reports return in under 48 hours according to the company
- drug testing through Quest Labs and LabCorp partners
Cons
- The entry Basic package lists no county search, so deeper criminal coverage requires the Complete package at $44.99 per check or the Professional package at $76.99 per check
Verified First
Best for: Published packages with no minimums
Verified First lists Basic at $29.99 per check, Essential at $54.99 per check and Premium at $79.99 per check. Basic includes a nationwide criminal search, a national sex offender registry search, a Social Security address trace and a global security watch list. Essential adds unlimited county criminal searches.
- Premium adds employment and education verification.
- Verified First is a privately owned provider based in Meridian, Idaho, with a connector that runs checks inside more than 100 HR platforms.
- Basic has no county search, so a buyer who needs county coverage should price Essential at $54.99 per check.
- Ask which court fees apply in the states where candidates live.
Pros
- Three published packages from $29.99 to $79.99 per check
- no long term contracts, no minimum screens and no annual commitments stated on its site
- integrations that run checks inside hiring platforms
Cons
- The pricing page does not list court or verification fees that may be billed on top, and the Basic package lists no county search
Accurate Background
Best for: Custom screening for growing teams
Accurate Background does not publish a starting price for its United States employment screening packages, so its starting price here is quote only. Its company facts page states that its packages are typically custom configured based on each client industry, role type and compliance requirements. Accurate suits a buyer that has outgrown a simple three package menu and needs a program shaped around several role types and locations.
- The limit is transparency, so ask for a written per-check price for the exact searches you need, plus court fees, before you compare it with a publish
Pros
- Custom packages built around industry, role type and compliance needs
- more than 60 integration solutions stated on its company facts page
- PBSA accredited screening provider
Cons
- No published starting price on its site, so a small business cannot budget from the page alone and must request a quote
Cisive
Best for: Regulated industries and healthcare
Cisive does not publish a starting price, so its starting price here is quote only. Its own guide to background check costs states that Cisive offers custom pricing, and that this structure ensures a buyer pays only for the information needed to make a hiring decision. Its services include criminal background checks, employment and education verification, fingerprinting, sanctions checks, motor vehicle record checks, drug testing and health screening.
- Cisive suits a small business in a regulated field, such as healthcare, where a standard package may miss a license check or a health screening.
- Ask for a quote that names each search and any court or verification fees, then compare that written quote with the published packages in this list.
Pros
- Custom pricing so buyers pay only for the searches they select
- PreCheck brand for healthcare employers and students
- self-service option built for small to midsize organizations
Cons
- No published starting price, so budgeting requires a sales conversation and a free assessment, which adds time for a small team
First Advantage
Best for: Small business pay as you go screening
First Advantage does not publish a starting price on its public pages, so its starting price here is quote only. Its small business page states pay as you go pricing, with no account setup fees and no minimum screening volume, and says a buyer can order checks when needed. That model suits a small business that hires irregularly.
- The company also states that it has more than 100 integration options, including Workday, iCIMS and Bullhorn.
- First Advantage completed its acquisition of Sterling on October 31, 2024, making it one of the largest screening providers by volume.
- That scale brings broad coverage across criminal checks, drug testing, verifications, motor vehicle records and international screening.
- The limit is price visibility, so ask for the price of one complete check for your most common role, including court and DMV fees.
Pros
- Small business page states pay as you go pricing with no account setup fees and no minimum screening volume
- global coverage and more than 100 integration options stated on its site
- SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 stated on its trust page
Cons
- No prices are shown before sign in, so the per-check cost is only visible after creating an account or talking to sales
HireRight
Best for: Global screening and large hiring plans
HireRight does not publish prices for employers, so its starting price here is quote only. Its pricing page invites buyers to get a customized pricing quote, and states that its solutions are shaped around industry, regulatory and budget requirements. Its platform covers criminal checks, employment and education verification, drug screening, motor vehicle records, I-9 eligibility and international screening.
- HireRight suits a business that hires across several countries or needs a program built around a contract and volume.
- For a small business that hires a handful of people a year, that structure is often more than it needs.
- Ask for a quote for the same searches as a Checkr Essential or Complete package, then compare the total cost per candidate, including court fees, befo
Pros
- Global screening coverage and more than 70 applicant tracking system integrations
- criminal, employment, education, drug and driving checks in one platform
- custom packages shaped around volume and industry
Cons
- No published prices for employers and a contract is required, which makes it a slow fit for a business that needs a few checks this week
How we chose
We checked each provider pricing page or small business page on 12 November 2026 and used the price shown there, or quote only where no price was shown. We favoured providers with a clear starting price, a package that fits a common small business role, and FCRA compliance support. We did not claim hands-on testing, and we did not use third party review scores to rank the providers.
What to check before you buy
Check that the provider supports the FCRA workflow you need, including candidate consent, disclosure forms, a copy of the report for the candidate, and pre-adverse and adverse action notices. Check which searches are in the package and which are add-ons, because a national database search is not the same as a county criminal search. Check court, DMV and database fees for the states where your candidates live, because those fees are often passed through at cost. Check turnaround time and who handles candidate disputes.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a background check cost for a small business?
A basic published package starts at $13.99 per check with Certn, $18.95 per check with GCheck, and $29.99 per check or per report with Checkr, GoodHire, BackgroundChecks.com and Verified First. Court, DMV and database fees are often charged on top, so the final cost can be higher than the headline price.
Do I need candidate consent before a background check?
Yes. Under the FCRA, an employer needs written consent from the candidate before ordering a consumer report for employment, and must give the candidate a disclosure that the report will be used for employment purposes. The provider should supply the disclosure forms, but the employer remains responsible for following the law in its state and city.
What is the difference between a national criminal search and a county criminal search?
A national criminal database search checks a multi-source database that covers many jurisdictions, but it may miss recent or local records. A county criminal search checks the court records in a specific county, which is often more current and more complete for that county. Many entry packages include only the national search.
Which background check company is best for a business that hires only a few people a year?
A provider with published pay per check pricing and no minimums is usually the best fit, because you can order one check at a time. Certn, GCheck, Checkr, GoodHire, BackgroundChecks.com and Verified First all fit that pattern. Choose the package by the searches each role needs, not by the lowest headline price.
Can I use a personal background check site for employment screening?
No, not for hiring. A personal people search site is not built for FCRA employment use, and it does not provide the consent, disclosure and adverse action workflow that employment screening requires. Use a consumer reporting agency that states FCRA compliance and gives the candidate a copy of the report and a chance to dispute it.
How long does a background check take?
A database search can return in hours, while county searches and verifications can take several days, because they depend on court staff and past employers or schools. BackgroundChecks.com states that most reports return in under 48 hours, while GCheck states a 12 to 24 hour average turnaround on its site.
Sources
- https://certn.co/
- https://certn.co/us/pricing
- https://gcheck.com/
- https://gcheck.com/pricing-packages/
- https://checkr.com/
- https://checkr.com/pricing
- https://www.goodhire.com/
- https://www.goodhire.com/pricing/
- https://www.backgroundchecks.com/
- https://verifiedfirst.com/
- https://verifiedfirst.com/pricing
- https://accurate.com/
- https://www.cisive.com/
- https://www.cisive.com/blog/how-much-do-background-checks-cost
- https://fadv.com/
- https://fadv.com/solutions/small-business-background-checks
- https://www.hireright.com/
- https://hireright.com/pricing
Prices and features were read on each company’s own website in November 2026. They change often, so confirm the current offer on the official site before you sign up or buy.