What is the best background check for small businesses?

The “best” background check service for a small business is the one that fits your size, industry, budget, and compliance needs; leading options frequently recommended for small businesses include **Checkr, GoodHire, HireRight, First Advantage, Accurate Background, and InfoMart**.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]

To choose among them, focus on these criteria:

- **Legal compliance**

- Ensure the provider is **FCRA-compliant** (Fair Credit Reporting Act) and supports EEOC and state/local regulations.[6][7][8]

- Look for built‑in workflows for **disclosures, authorizations, and adverse action notices** to reduce legal risk.[5][6][7]

- **Core checks small businesses usually need**

- Typical pre-employment packages include:

- **Criminal history** (national, state, county, and sex offender searches)[4][8]

- **SSN trace / identity verification**[4]

- **Employment and education verification**[2][4][8]

- **Professional license verification** (if relevant)[2][8]

- **Driving record (MVR)** for driving roles[2][8]

- Optional **drug testing** for safety‑sensitive jobs.[8]

- **Ease of use & integrations**

- Small-business oriented providers offer:

- Simple, self‑serve **online portals** to order reports and track status.[1][2][3][5][6]

- Integrations with popular **ATS/HR systems** for streamlined hiring (varies by provider, often highlighted by Checkr, GoodHire, HireRight, etc.).[2][5][6][7]

- **Pricing model**

- For small businesses, **pay‑as‑you‑go** or per‑check pricing is usually best so you are not locked into large contracts.[3][5][6]

- Example offerings:

- **GoodHire**: packages for small businesses starting around **$29.99 per check**, designed to be “fast, affordable” with built‑in compliance.[5]

- **First Advantage**: “pay‑as‑you‑go background checks for as little as $29” aimed specifically at small businesses.[3]

- Check for:

- No or low setup fees

- Clear pricing per package

- Turnaround time vs. cost trade‑offs.

- **Turnaround time**

- Look for providers emphasizing **fast results** so you can hire quickly; many small‑business solutions (First Advantage, GoodHire, Checkr, InfoMart) market **quick turnaround** as a core benefit.[1][3][5][6]

- **Support and scalability**

- Providers such as **InfoMart** and **Accurate** highlight treating small clients like large ones and offering consultative support plus self‑serve options.[1][4]

- Choose a service that can **scale** as you grow—from a few checks per year to more regular hiring.[1][2][4][6]

### How top options compare for small businesses (high level)

| Provider | Small-business focus & strengths |

|----------------------|----------------------------------|

| **Checkr** | FCRA-compliant, modern platform, widely ranked among the *top background check companies for small businesses*; strong automation and integrations.[6] |

| **GoodHire** | Markets specifically to small businesses; **affordable packages starting at $29.99**, fast results, built‑in compliance and support.[5][7] |

| **HireRight** | Enterprise-grade but offers solutions for **companies of all sizes**, including small businesses; broad checks (employment, education, criminal, licenses, driving).[2][7] |

| **First Advantage** | Small-business background checks with **pay‑as‑you‑go** pricing from about $29; emphasizes fast, consistent, and affordable checks.[3] |

| **Accurate** | Tailored solutions for **small and mid-sized businesses**, focusing on core checks such as criminal history, employment verification, and SSN trace.[4] |

| **InfoMart** | Background screening for **small and medium businesses**, with self‑serve and consultative options; emphasizes treating small clients like large ones and balancing affordability, compliance, and speed.[1] |

### Practical recommendation for a small business

1. **Define your minimal package** based on roles:

- Office roles: identity, criminal, employment, education.

- Regulated/safety roles: add driving record, drug testing, license checks.[2][4][8]

2. **Shortlist 2–3 providers** (for example **GoodHire, Checkr, First Advantage**) and:

- Compare their **small-business plans, per-check pricing, and turnaround times**.[3][5][6]

- Confirm **FCRA compliance** and that they provide compliant notices and workflows.[6][7]

3. **Pilot with 5–10 checks**:

- Test ease of use, support responsiveness, candidate experience, and report clarity.

- If you hire infrequently, favor **no-contract, pay‑per‑check** plans.[3][5]

4. **Document a written screening policy**:

- Specify which checks you run by job type and how you evaluate results to stay consistent and fair.[8]

In practice, many small businesses end up choosing **GoodHire, Checkr, First Advantage, HireRight, Accurate, or InfoMart** because they combine **affordable, pay‑as‑you‑go pricing, small-business workflows, and strong compliance support**.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]