How Much Does It Usually Cost to Run a Background Check? 20 Jun 2018

How much does a background check really cost? Some companies charge over a hundred dollars while others claim to offer free background checks. This calls into question how thorough these checks are, and might make you worry whether they’re fully compliant or if you’re overpaying.

Since there are many reports that can be included or excluded from a background check, you need to do your research. You have to understand which background checks to run to ensure your new hire will be a good fit for your company and safe to work with – all while staying within budget.

In order to balance these two needs, it’s good to know what the average cost of a background check is so that you can factor this into your hiring costs and decide what you really need to include in your background checks.

How Much Does It Cost to Run a Criminal Background Check?

The cost of a criminal background check varies depending on the kind of background check you choose. The fees required to obtain information and the availability of the information needed for the background check will also impact the cost of the check.

For example, checking if an applicant is a registered sex offender is usually cheaper than a background check that uncovers whether an applicant has a state criminal record. The cost varies because lists of registered sex offenders are easily accessible, whereas state criminal records aren’t as accessible.

Certain courts and databases charge a fee for accessing their information. This is usually called an access fee and typically only applies to certain kinds of background checks. It’s one of the determining factors in the cost of criminal background checks.

Here are the average prices for different types of criminal background checks:

• County criminal records: $5 – $20. This may include access fees depending on the court used to obtain the records.
• State criminal records: $9 – $20. This type of background check will usually include access fees.
• Federal criminal records: $8 – $15. There are no access fees with this type of background check.
• Sex offender status: Free to $10. There are no access fees with this type of background check.
• Records of terrorist activity: Free to $5. There are no access fees with this type of background check.

How Much Does It Cost to Run a Motor Vehicle Background Check?

For many jobs, it’s critical to find an applicant with a clean motor vehicle record. For example, if the applicant will be using a company vehicle, you’ll want to ensure they have a clean record. You may even have to run a motor vehicle check to comply with industry laws.

The average motor vehicle background check is $3 – $10. It’s important to note that these background checks will also be subject to access fees.

How Much Does It Cost to Run Verification Background Checks?

Many positions require the applicant to have a license or degree in order to meet industry or company standards. In the medical field, for example, registered nurses are required to have a two-year or four-year degree. If you don’t run an education verification background check on an individual applying for this job and it turns out they don’t have the necessary degree, your organization could run into legal trouble. The cost of verification background checks depends on the type of verification you need. You may need to run several different verifications to ensure that an applicant is who they say they are, and that they have the degrees, licenses, and experience that they claim to.

Here are a few verification checks and their average costs.

• SSN verification checks: Free – $10. There are no access fees with this type of background check.
• Education verification checks: $7 – $15. There may be access fees for this type of background check.
• Employment verification checks: $7 – $15. There may be access fees for this type of background check.
• Professional license checks: $7 – $15. There may be access fees for this type of background check.

How Much Does It Cost to Run a Credit Background Check?

You may want to run a credit background check if you’re hiring for a job in finance and want to make sure that the applicant is financially responsible. After all, if you put someone in charge of a client’s investments who doesn’t know how to manage money responsibly, you could lose that client’s business, damage your business’s reputation, or have a lawsuit filed against your company. The cost of a credit background check is usually between $5 – $12 and has no access fees.

How Do I Find a Company That Performs the Types of Background Checks I Want at a Reasonable Price?

When looking for the right company to perform background checks, it’s important to know what kind of background check(s) you need to make a smart hiring decision and which checks are required by industry standards.

At Trusted Employees, we offer tailor-made packages that only include what you want and what your company needs. This keeps your costs low since you’re not paying for checks you don’t need. Contact Trusted Employees today to get started on a personalized background check package.