Background check services priced per applicant, not per month
Run employment, tenant and healthcare background checks from one free account. Pay only for the searches you order. No setup fee, no subscription and no minimum volume.
Accounts are for credentialed business use with a permissible purpose under the FCRA. Signup takes about two minutes and you can order right away.
- PBSA member since 2010
- BBB A+ rated
- D&B verified
- PCI DSS compliant
Background checks built for how you hire, rent and credential
Pick the package that matches your use case, then add individual searches as needed. Every report is delivered in your secure online account.
Employers & HR teams
Pre-employment background checks with county, state and federal criminal searches plus FCRA adverse action letters.
Landlords & property managers
Tenant screening with eviction history, bankruptcies and criminal records so you can approve renters with confidence.
Healthcare & long-term care
FACIS Level III, OIG/SAM exclusion screening and license verification to meet federal healthcare program rules.
Starter
High-volume, pay-as-you-go screening with instant database results and no contracts to sign.
Background check packages and prices
All prices are per applicant. Court or state access fees, where a county or state charges one, are shown before you confirm an order. Download the printable rate card (PDF).
Basic SSN Trace & Nationwide Criminal
Fast identity confirmation plus a nationwide criminal and sanctions sweep. Ideal as a first-pass screen.
- SSN trace: names, aliases, address history
- Nationwide criminal database search
- National sex offender registry
- USA Patriot Act, OFAC/SDN, FINRA, OIG, SAM, USDA sanctions
- Interpol global watch list and Canadian sanctions
Name-based searches use the name you enter. Former last names are charged separately.
FCRA Employment Screening
Everything in Basic plus courthouse-verified criminal records at the county and federal level for hiring decisions.
- SSN trace: names, aliases, address history
- Nationwide criminal, sex offender and sanctions search
- Federal U.S. District Court criminal search
- One county court criminal search (FCRA, 7 years)
- Add more counties from $18 each
Some counties charge a court access fee. You see it before you confirm.
Tenant Screening
Everything in Basic plus the financial and rental history you need to approve a tenant.
- SSN trace: names, aliases, address history
- Nationwide criminal, sex offender and sanctions search
- National bankruptcies (SSN based)
- Statewide eviction records from address history
- Evictions cross-matched to the SSN address history to cut false positives
Name-based searches use the name you enter. Court or state fees, if any, are shown before you order.
Health Care Background + FACIS® Level III
Sanctions, exclusions and license status for clinical and non-clinical healthcare staff.
- SSN trace: aliases, former names, address history
- FACIS® Level III repository search
- Professional license verification and current status
- Nationwide criminal and sex offender search
- Patriot Act, OFAC, OIG, SAM, Interpol and Canadian sanctions
Pair with monthly OIG/SAM exclusion screening for ongoing compliance.
USA Public Records Profile
A broad public-records profile when you only have a name, date of birth and address.
- Name and alias verification, cities and states of residence, age
- Nationwide criminal, sex offender and Patriot Act database search
- Bankruptcies, liens and judgments
- Real property records and foreclosures
- Business entities, email and social media accounts
Email and social accounts are returned when available.
Deluxe Background Check
Our most complete report: every county of residence, statewide, federal criminal and civil, plus assets and public records.
- SSN trace with alias and former-name expansion on every search
- Unlimited FCRA county criminal searches, all counties resided (7 years)
- Statewide real-time criminal history
- Federal criminal and civil, nationwide wants and warrants
- Bankruptcies, tax liens, judgments, evictions, property, vehicles
- Email and social media accounts
Plus court or state fees, if any. Vehicle ownership is not available in every state.
Compare all six packages side by side
Swipe sideways to see every package.
| Search included | Basic$25 | FCRA Employment$58 | Tenant$45 | Health Care$58 | Public Records$67 | Deluxe$140 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SSN trace, aliases & address history | Name-based | |||||
| Nationwide criminal database | ||||||
| National sex offender registry | ||||||
| Patriot Act, OFAC/SDN, FINRA, OIG, SAM sanctions, Interpol, Canada | ||||||
| Federal U.S. District Court criminal | — | — | — | — | ||
| County court criminal (FCRA) | — | 1 county | — | — | — | All counties, 7 yrs |
| Statewide real-time criminal (FCRA) | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Nationwide wants & warrants | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Federal civil search | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Bankruptcies, liens & judgments | — | — | Bankruptcies | — | ||
| Statewide evictions | — | — | — | — | ||
| FACIS® Level III & license verification | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Real property, foreclosures & vehicles | — | — | — | — | Property | |
| Business entities, email & social media | — | — | — | — | ||
| Name-based searches run on the name and date of birth you enter. Deluxe also expands to aliases and former or maiden names found on the SSN trace. Court or state access fees are additional where charged. | ||||||
Order one search at a time or add to any package
Need one more county, a driving record or an employment verification? Add it to a package or order it on its own. Prices are per search, per applicant.
Criminal & court records
| Search | Price |
|---|---|
| County Court Criminal Search (FCRA)Direct courthouse search with final dispositions. 7 years by default, extra years optional.* | $18 |
| Statewide Real-Time Criminal Search (FCRA)Felonies and misdemeanors filed as of the previous business day. Select states.* | $20 |
| U.S. Federal District Court Criminal Search (FCRA)Federal offenses that never appear in county records. | $17 |
| Nationwide Criminal Database SearchCriminal records, sex offender registry, Patriot Act/OFAC in one pass. Enter two last names hyphenated to search both. | $17 |
| Nationwide Sex Offender Search (US DOJ)Dru Sjodin NSOPW registry across all states, territories and tribes. | $9 |
| Nationwide Wants & Warrants SearchActive arrest warrants. Use as a supplement to a county search. | $30 |
Identity & sanctions
| Search | Price |
|---|---|
| SSN Address History TraceNames, aliases, DOBs and jurisdictions to target FCRA court searches. Research use only. | $10 |
| Consent Based SSN Verification (CBSV)Validates SSN, name and DOB directly with the Social Security Administration. FCRA compliant. | $25 |
| IRS TIN MatchingReal-time match of name, TIN and address for applicants without an SSN. | $10 |
| USA Patriot Act, OFAC/SDN & Global Watch ListsThousands of government terrorist, sanctions, DEA, ATF, FINRA and Interpol lists at once. | $8 |
| Healthcare Exclusion Screening (OIG, SAM, LEIE, Medicaid)Required federal program exclusion check for healthcare employees and vendors. | $6.50 |
Civil, financial & property records
| Search | Price |
|---|---|
| U.S. Federal District Court Civil SearchDiscrimination, labor and interstate commerce lawsuits. | $30 |
| County Civil Court SearchLawsuits between private parties or companies. | $30 |
| Nationwide BankruptciesAll U.S. federal bankruptcy courts, SSN based. | $10 |
| Statewide Bankruptcy, Tax Liens & JudgmentsCombined statewide financial public records, SSN based. | $15 |
| Real Property, Foreclosures & AssessmentsOwnership and mortgage records. Package only. | $18 |
| State Workers’ CompensationInjury, filing dates and compensation history. Signed consent required. | $25 |
Verifications, driving & FCRA letters
| Search | Price |
|---|---|
| Former Employment VerificationDates, title and eligibility for rehire confirmed with prior employers.*** | $25 |
| Education VerificationInstitution, dates, major and degree earned. Signed consent required.*** | $15 |
| Automated Reference ChecksReferences are contacted directly for faster, consistent responses.*** | Quote |
| Driving Records, Real-Time DMV (MVR)Instant motor vehicle records for employment screening.** | $15 + state fee |
| Commercial Driver’s License (CDLIS)Current CDL plus up to three prior licenses for FMCSA compliance.** | $15 + fee |
| Pre-Adverse Action Notification LetterSystem-generated with report copy and FCRA Summary of Rights. | $5 |
| Adverse Action (Job Declination) LetterIncludes FCRA Notice of Rights and contact sheet. Editable for local law. | $5 |
* Some counties and states charge a court access fee. We show any fee before you place the order. See counties that charge search fees.
** DMV and CDLIS searches are for employment screening only and are enabled after we validate your business use and state-specific documentation.
*** Employment screening only and not available at initial signup. Some employers and universities route records through national clearinghouses that charge $12 to $20 extra. We notify you before that fee applies.
Statewide evictions, real property, vehicle ownership and business affiliation searches depend on the SSN address history report and are available as part of a package.
From free signup to finished report in three steps
Open your free account
Register your business online. There is nothing to install and no contract. Credit card accounts have no setup, monthly or minimum fees.
Pick a package or build your own
Choose a screening package, add individual searches and enter the applicant’s details. Any court or state fees display before you confirm.
Review results in your dashboard
Database results are instant. Court researchers return county and federal records with dispositions, and you can generate FCRA adverse action letters in one click.
Screening that holds up when it matters
Employment and tenant decisions carry legal obligations. Our platform is built around the Fair Credit Reporting Act so you can stay compliant without a legal team on speed dial.
- Courthouse-verified records. County, statewide and federal criminal searches return final case dispositions, the standard for FCRA reportable results.
- Adverse action made simple. Generate pre-adverse and adverse action letters with the Summary of Your Rights already attached.
- Permissible purpose enforced. Accounts are credentialed for legitimate business use before employment-only searches are enabled.
- Secure by design. PCI DSS compliant payments and SSL-encrypted reporting, with a BBB A+ rating and D&B verification.
Background check pricing and process, answered
How much does a background check cost?
Packages start at $25 per applicant for the Basic SSN Trace & Nationwide Criminal search. FCRA Employment Screening is $58, Tenant Screening is $45, Health Care Background with FACIS Level III is $58, the USA Public Records Profile is $67 and the Deluxe Background Check is $140. Individual searches start at $5. Where a county or state charges a court access fee, you see it before you place the order.
Are there setup, monthly or minimum fees?
No. Credit card accounts have no setup fee, no monthly subscription and no minimum volume. Open a free account, pay per search and only for what you order.
Are your background checks FCRA compliant?
Yes. County, statewide and federal court criminal searches follow Fair Credit Reporting Act requirements and include final case dispositions. We also provide system-generated pre-adverse and adverse action letters with the Summary of Your Rights under the FCRA so employers can complete the adverse action process correctly.
How long does a background check take?
Database searches such as the SSN trace, nationwide criminal database, sex offender registry, sanctions lists and most DMV records return instantly. County, statewide and federal court searches are completed by court researchers; many return the same business day, and turnaround depends on the courthouse. Statewide real-time criminal results are updated as of the previous business day.
Who can open an account and order background checks?
Accounts are available to credentialed businesses with a permissible purpose, such as employers, staffing agencies, landlords, property managers and healthcare organizations. Signup is free and immediate. Employment-only searches such as driving records, employment verification and education verification are enabled after your business use has been validated.
What is the difference between a nationwide criminal database search and a county court criminal search?
A nationwide criminal database search is a fast, low-cost scan of hundreds of millions of aggregated records that helps you find where to look. A county court criminal search goes directly to the courthouse in each county where the applicant has lived and returns complete, verified records with final dispositions. For FCRA employment decisions, the county search is the recommended primary source and the database search is a supplement.
Do I need the applicant’s Social Security number?
Most packages use an SSN trace to confirm identity, aliases and address history so the right counties are searched. If you do not have an SSN, the USA Public Records Profile runs on name, date of birth and address and includes criminal, sex offender, bankruptcy, lien, judgment, property and business records.
What does a tenant screening report include?
The Tenant Screening package includes an SSN trace with address history, nationwide criminal database and national sex offender search, USA Patriot Act and OFAC sanctions screening, national bankruptcies and statewide eviction records based on the applicant’s address history.
Start your first background check today
Open a free business account in about two minutes. No setup fee, no monthly fee, no minimum. Order a $25 Basic screen or a full FCRA employment package right away.