If you're hiring new employees, running a background check can to verify a candidates identity and credentials, and ensure there is no history of criminal activity or other black marks that could negatively affect your business.
Background checks aren't only for businesses, though — property owners frequently review potential tenants to make sure they're creditworthy applicants with clean tenant records.
If you're looking to add background checks as an extra safeguard, CNBC Select has chosen the best services in a variety of categories. For more on how we made our selections, read our methodology.
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3.09% with a daily balance of $5,000,000 or below; 3.90% with a daily balance above $5,000,000
$100 to open account
2.75%
None
Best for fast results: GoodHire
Who's this for? According to GoodHire's website, the background check service can provide results in under one minute for 90% of criminal checks. It also boasts the ability to get started quickly, which can be a huge draw if you need to run a background check in a pinch and don't want to wait days or even weeks for results.
Standout features: GoodHire's website offers a wealth of resources to support businesses, including infographics, blog posts and state-by-state guides for record-checking.
GoodHire
Cost
$29.99/check for Basic+ plan; $54.99/check for Essential plan; $89.99/check for Complete plan
Background check services
Criminal record, driving records, civil court checks, drug screening, employment verification, education verification, county criminal checks, state criminal checks, global watchlist search, SSN trace, sex offender registry search and more
Pros
- Pricing can vary depending on volume of checks you need. If you perform fewer than 50 checks per year, you can choose between the Basic+, Essential and Complete plans. If you need more than 50 checks per year, you'll need a custom quote
- Offers over 100 background check services
- Allows job candidates to run a background check on themselves
- Received high ratings from the Society for Human Resource Management
Cons
- Personal background checks start at $49.99, which is a bit expensive
Best for property owners: TransUnion SmartMove
Who's this for? TransUnion SmartMove offers background screening services for landlords who are vetting tenants. Reports come directly from TransUnion and also leverage a database of credit histories and criminal records. Property owners can view tenant credit reports, criminal background reports, eviction-related reports, income insights and identity check reports.
Standout features: TransUnion SmartMove's technology calculates a ResidentScore® that property owners can use to predict the eviction risk of a potential tenant.
TransUnion SmartMove
Cost
$25 for SmartCheck Basic plan; $40 for SmartCheck Plus plan; $47 for SmartCheck Premium plan
Background check services
ResidentScore®, criminal background report (including multi-state reports and sex offender registry check), credit report, eviction related report (including judgments, unlawful detainers and small claims), income insights report and identity check report
Pros
- Offers the option to have the property owner cover the cost of the service or to have the tenant pay for the cost
- Offers reasonable pricing compared to some other background check services
- Proprietary ResidentScore® helps property owners predict eviction risk 15% more often than a regular credit score, according to SmartMove's website
- Credit reports come directly from TransUnion
Cons
- Not BBB accredited
- Works best for residential properties
Best for ATS integration: HireRight
Who's this for? HireRight offers integrations with over 70 applicant tracking systems (ATS) platforms to help businesses move through the hiring and screening process more efficiently. Some ATS platforms you can integrate with include ADP, Greenhouse, Lever, Oracle, SmartRecruiters, Spark Hire, Workday and Paradox.
Standout features: In addition to standard screenings, HireRight also offers a healthcare sanctions check, extended workforce screening and global ID check for authenticity.
HireRight
Cost
Must contact for a custom quote
Background check services
Global ID check, U.S. employment verification, global employment verification, global criminal search, healthcare sanctions check, drug and alcohol testing, extended workforce screening, county criminal, felony and misdemeanor screening, financial background services, compliance and due diligence and identity services
Pros
- Offers 70+ ATS integrations
- Offers compliance services
- Offers due diligence services spanning registry, media and civil records
Cons
- You must contact them for a custom quote and they don't offer pricing range transparency on their website
- Not BBB accredited
- Has a number of low star ratings on the BBB, though, many reviews seem to be from job candidates submitting verification through HireRight rather than HireRight customers
Best for industry-specific screening
Who's this for? Different industries and enterprises may have different background screening needs — some more complex than others. First Advantage has provided screening services for a variety of industries, including financial services, gig work, healthcare, manufacturing, retail, staffing technology and transportation.
Standout features: First Advantage's screens span over 200 countries and territories. According to their website, 90% of criminal screens are completed within one day.
First Advantage
Cost
Small business background checks cost as little as $29/check; customized pricing available upon request
Background check services
Criminal background checks, drug and alcohol screening, employer tax credit screening, executive screening, fingerprinting, identity services, investigative due diligence, oral fluid drug screening, verification screening, online background checks and more
Pros
- Pricing starts at $29/check, which may be more affordable than some other services
- Offers a mobile app for iOS and Android phones
- Support offered through phone, email and chat
- Supports multiple languages including English, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean and Chinese
- Is BBB accredited and rated A+
Cons
- Charges a one-time setup fee of $175
FAQs
Do small companies have to run background checks?
Not all small businesses are automatically required to run background checks, but some may have to if they are in regulated or sensitive industries, like banking, health care, education and child care. One of the most common things to screen for is a criminal record.
How much does it cost to run a background check?
Running a background check can cost anywhere from $0 to $100 per screening, or more. There are customizable options depending on the company's size or nature, although some businesses may pass the cost on to candidates.
How long does it take to run a background check?
How long it takes to complete a background check depends on the service you use and how in-depth your review. There are services that aim to complete a standard criminal background check within one day.
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Our methodology
CNBC Select analyzed dozens of U.S.-based background check sites. We ranked our picks by best for fast results, best for property owners, best for ATS integrations and best for industry-specific screening.
We compared each background check site on a range of features, including:
- Pricing structure
- Better Business Bureau and customer ratings, when available
- ATS and HR support tools offered
- Types of background check services offered
- Turnaround time
- Industries served
- Learning resources offered
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