How Much Does a Background Check Cost for Small Business in 2025?
How Much Does a Background Check Cost for Small Business in 2025?
Planning to hire new employees and wondering, "How much does a background check cost?" You're in the right place.
Background checks can range from $25 to $200+ per check, depending on what you need. But for most small businesses, you'll pay between $30-$80 for a comprehensive check.
In this guide, we'll break down:
- Average background check costs by provider
- What factors affect pricing
- How to get the best value for your money
- Hidden fees to watch out for
Quick Answer: Average Background Check Costs (2025)
| Check Type | Price Range | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Criminal Check | $25-$35 | Entry-level positions, occasional hiring |
| Standard Check | $45-$60 | Most small business hiring |
| Comprehensive Check | $75-$100 | Management positions, sensitive roles |
| Premium + Verifications | $100-$200+ | Executive positions, high-trust roles |
Most popular for small businesses: $50-$80 for a standard check with county criminal search, employment verification, and education verification.
Background Check Pricing by Provider (2025)
GoodHire Pricing
Starting Price: $29.99/check Most Popular: $54.99/check Premium: $79.99/check
What's Included:
- $29.99: Nationwide criminal databases, sex offender registry, SSN trace
- $54.99: Adds county criminal court search, domestic watch list
- $79.99: Includes 1 education + 1 employment verification
No monthly fees. No minimums. No setup fees.
✅ Best for: Small businesses with occasional hiring needs ✅ Speed: 90% complete in <1 minute ✅ Volume discounts: Available for 10+ checks/month
Checkr Pricing
Starting Price: $29.99/check Most Popular: $54.99/check Premium: $79.99/check
What's Included:
- $29.99: SSN trace, sex offender registry, national criminal searches
- $54.99: Adds county criminal searches
- $79.99: Includes education and employment verifications
Add-ons:
- Federal Criminal Search: $10/check
- Motor Vehicle Record (MVR): $9.50/check
- Drug Test (onsite): $37/test
- Drug Test (clinic): $60/test
- International Check: Starting at $32/check
First Check Discount: Up to $40 credit on first order
✅ Best for: Growing startups and tech companies ✅ Speed: 1-2 business days average ✅ Volume discounts: Custom pricing for 300+ checks/year
Sterling Pricing
Starting Price: $50-$100/check Enterprise: $120,000/year average
What's Included:
- Custom packages based on industry and location
- Comprehensive reports with detailed information
- Dedicated account manager for enterprise
Note: Sterling does not publicly disclose pricing. Custom quotes required.
✅ Best for: Enterprise companies (500+ employees) ✅ Speed: 2-4 business days ✅ Features: Most comprehensive, customizable packages
What Factors Affect Background Check Costs?
1. Type of Check
Criminal Background Check Only: $25-$40
- Nationwide criminal database search
- Sex offender registry
- SSN verification
Criminal + County Search: $50-$65
- Everything above
- County-level criminal court records (more accurate)
Full Background Check: $75-$100
- Criminal checks
- Employment verification (1-2 past jobs)
- Education verification (degree/diploma)
- Professional license verification
Comprehensive Executive Check: $150-$250+
- Everything above
- Credit check
- International background check
- Social media screening
- Multiple employment verifications
2. Geographic Scope
- Single State: $30-$50
- Nationwide: $50-$80
- International: $80-$200+
Pro Tip: County criminal searches are more accurate than national databases but take longer and cost more.
3. Turnaround Time
- Instant (database only): $25-$35
- 1-2 Business Days: $50-$70
- Same Day Rush: +$20-$50 fee
- International (5-10 days): $100-$200+
4. Hiring Volume
1-10 checks/year: Pay standard pricing 10-50 checks/year: 10-20% volume discount 50-300 checks/year: 20-30% volume discount 300+ checks/year: Custom enterprise pricing (30-40% discount)
5. Add-On Services
- Drug Testing (onsite): $37-$50
- Drug Testing (clinic-based): $60-$100
- Motor Vehicle Record (MVR): $9-$15
- Credit Check: $15-$30
- Continuous Monitoring: $1.70-$5/month per person
- International Check: $32-$150 per country
Hidden Fees to Watch Out For
❌ Setup Fees
Some providers charge $50-$200 to set up your account. Avoid: Choose GoodHire or Checkr (no setup fees).
❌ Monthly Minimums
Some providers require you to order a minimum number of checks per month. Avoid: Look for pay-per-check services with no minimums.
❌ Court Fees
County searches may include additional $5-$15 court access fees. Solution: Ask if pricing includes all court fees upfront.
❌ Cancellation Fees
Some enterprise contracts charge penalties for early termination. Avoid: Stick with month-to-month, no-contract providers.
❌ "Free" Trials
Some services offer free trials but require credit card and auto-renew into paid plans. Solution: Read the fine print carefully.
How to Get the Best Value
1. Only Order What You Need
Don't pay for a comprehensive check if you're hiring for an entry-level position.
Entry-Level (Cashier, Retail, Server): Basic criminal check ($30-$40) Professional (Office Admin, Sales Rep): Standard check ($50-$60) Management (Manager, Supervisor): Comprehensive check ($75-$100) Executive (Director, VP): Premium check with verifications ($150+)
2. Bundle Multiple Checks
If you're hiring multiple people, ask about volume discounts:
- 5-10 checks: Save 10-15%
- 10-20 checks: Save 15-25%
- 20+ checks: Save 25-35%
3. Skip Unnecessary Add-Ons
❌ Credit checks: Only necessary for finance roles ❌ International checks: Only if candidate lived abroad recently ❌ Social media screening: Limited value for most roles
✅ Focus on: Criminal check, employment verification, education verification
4. Use Pay-Per-Check Services
Avoid monthly subscription fees. Choose providers like GoodHire or Checkr that only charge per check.
5. Ask About Package Deals
Most providers offer pre-built packages at discounted rates:
- Basic Package: Criminal check only
- Standard Package: Criminal + employment verification
- Premium Package: Criminal + employment + education + references
Packages save 20-30% compared to ordering services individually.
Real Cost Examples for Small Businesses
Scenario 1: Coffee Shop Hiring Barista
What You Need: Basic criminal check + sex offender registry Provider: GoodHire Basic ($29.99) Annual Cost (4 hires/year): $120/year
Scenario 2: Tech Startup Hiring Software Developer
What You Need: Criminal check + employment verification Provider: Checkr Essential ($54.99) Annual Cost (10 hires/year): $550/year With Volume Discount: $495/year (10% off)
Scenario 3: Small Business Hiring Office Manager
What You Need: Criminal check + employment + education verification Provider: GoodHire Premium ($79.99) Annual Cost (2 hires/year): $160/year
Scenario 4: Restaurant Chain (Multiple Locations)
What You Need: Basic criminal checks for all staff Provider: Checkr Basic+ ($29.99) Annual Cost (100 hires/year): $2,999/year With Enterprise Discount: $2,100/year (30% off)
Is a Background Check Tax Deductible?
Yes! Background checks are a legitimate business expense and are tax-deductible.
Background check costs can be deducted under:
- Employee recruitment costs
- Pre-employment screening expenses
- Business operating expenses
Keep your receipts and consult with a tax professional for your specific situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much should I budget for background checks?
A: For most small businesses, budget $50-$80 per hire for a standard background check. If you hire 10 people per year, budget $500-$800/year.
Q: Are there free background checks?
A: No legitimate, FCRA-compliant background check is free. Free services are unreliable and often violate employment laws. Always use a certified provider.
Q: Can I do background checks myself to save money?
A: Technically yes, but it's risky. DIY background checks:
- May violate FCRA regulations
- Often miss critical information
- Increase liability risk
- Take significantly more time
Professional services cost $30-$80 and handle compliance for you.
Q: Do I need to run background checks on every employee?
A: It depends on your industry and local laws. However, running consistent background checks protects your business and ensures fair hiring practices.
Some industries (healthcare, education, finance) require background checks by law.
Q: What if I can't afford background checks?
A: Consider:
- Using basic checks ($30) instead of comprehensive ($80)
- Only checking final candidates (after interviews)
- Asking for volume discounts
- Using providers with no monthly fees (pay-per-check only)
But never skip background checks entirely. One bad hire can cost $50,000+ in damages, theft, or lawsuits.
Bottom Line: What Should You Expect to Pay?
For most small businesses:
- Basic Check: $30-$40 (criminal only)
- Standard Check: $50-$65 (criminal + employment)
- Comprehensive Check: $75-$100 (criminal + employment + education)
Best value providers:
- GoodHire: Best for small businesses, instant results
- Checkr: Best for growing startups, more integrations
- Sterling: Best for enterprise, custom packages
Get a Personalized Recommendation
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- Company size
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Last updated: January 10, 2025
Disclaimer: Pricing and features may change. Always verify information directly with the provider before making a purchase decision.