Best Background Check Companies: Small Business Checklist
Summary: Small businesses require reliable vendors for safe and fair hiring practices. This guide explains how to evaluate the best small business background check companies based on compliance, integration, turnaround times, and customer service.
Why Small Businesses Need the Right Background Check Partner
Hiring shapes the future of every small business. The right employee supports growth. The wrong one can create costly problems, damage your reputation, or put your team at risk. This is why working with the best background check companies for small businesses is essential.
Employment background checks verify criminal history, education, past employment, Social Security numbers, and driving records. The best background check services for small businesses do more than report data. They deliver screening solutions that are accurate, simple to use, and fully compliant with the law. A trusted vendor makes it easy for employers to run background checks, even with small teams.
What to Look for in the Best Background Check Companies
Not every provider offers the same value. The best background check companies for employers can be measured by four factors:
- Compliance
- Integration
- Turnaround times
- Customer service
This checklist helps you compare the best websites for background checks and identify vendors that deliver the best background search.
Compliance: Protect Your Business and Stay FCRA-Compliant
Compliance is the foundation of every background check process. A non-compliant vendor can expose small businesses to lawsuits, penalties, and reputational damage. The best background check companies provide FCRA-compliant background checks and document every step.
When reviewing providers, confirm that they offer:
- Stand-alone disclosure and written authorization before any background screening begins. These forms must be separate from job applications and signed by the candidate.
- Adverse action guidance that follows the two-step process (pre-adverse action notice, waiting period, final adverse action). Vendors should supply clear templates to protect small businesses from risk.
- Ban-the-box and timing compliance that follows state and city laws restricting when employers can ask about criminal history.
- Accurate interpretation of national database searches. A “national criminal” query is not complete on its own. It should be treated as a multi-jurisdictional search that requires confirmation by the county court for accuracy.
The best background check service for small business owners always follows FCRA rules. This protects employers, ensures fairness for applicants, and maintains trust in the hiring process.
Integration: Simplify the Hiring Process
Small businesses often lack large HR departments. Efficiency is critical. The best background check companies for small businesses save time by connecting with applicant tracking systems and other hiring tools.
Integration features to look for:
- Dashboards to order a background check package quickly
- Links to applicant tracking platforms that reduce manual entry
- Reports that combine criminal background checks, education verification, and employment verification
- Add-ons such as drug screening, motor vehicle records, license verification, and I-9 services
The best background check services for small businesses should be easy to read and interpret. Integrated solutions help small businesses run checks efficiently and with fewer errors.
Example: InfoMart provides an SMB portal with pre-set background check packages. Companies can include SSN trace, criminal history checks, and sex offender registries. Add-ons such as drug testing and county court records can also be added as needed.
Turnaround Times: Get Results Fast
Hiring delays frustrate candidates and cost businesses talent. The best background check companies prioritize speed without compromising accuracy.
When reviewing vendors, ask about:
- How long it takes to process criminal history and court records
- How quickly drug testing and driving records are returned
- Whether automation speeds up record search and reporting
- How often delays occur due to incomplete or local records
Vendors that deliver the best background search also provide steady turnaround times. They strike a balance between speed and accuracy, enabling employers to make informed hiring decisions. This balance becomes even more important as small businesses grow into mid-sized companies and move to mid-size business background checks.
Fast, accurate results improve the hiring process and reduce gaps, but affordability matters too. Before choosing a vendor, compare background check costs in 2025 to understand what you’re paying for speed versus accuracy.
Customer Service: Support You Can Trust
Customer service is critical when choosing the best background check companies for employers. Small businesses need more than software. They need answers and support.
Look for signs of strong service:
- An account manager who understands small business needs
- Clear pricing without hidden fees
- Easy-to-reach help by phone, chat, or email
- Guidance on compliance and industry-specific rules
Strong service also ensures that the best background search results are explained in plain language. A partner that values service helps small business owners conduct background checks with less stress. This support keeps hiring decisions on track.
Vendor Evaluation Checklist for Small Business Background Checks
Use this checklist when comparing vendors:
- Is the vendor FCRA compliant?
- Do they provide adverse action support?
- Can they integrate with applicant tracking systems?
- Do they offer customizable background check packages?
- What are their turnaround times for criminal background checks, driving records, and employment verification?
- Do they provide drug screening?
- Are their services clear and affordable for small businesses?
- Do they serve a range of industries that include small business owners?
- Do they offer strong customer service for screening solutions?
The best background check companies for small businesses should meet all of these points. They should also conduct thorough background checks so employers can compare candidates fairly.
Types of Background Checks Small Businesses Should Consider
Small businesses should know the main types of background checks:
- Criminal Background Checks: National, state, county-level, and sex offender registries
- Employment Verification: Confirms job history and dates
- Education Verification: Confirms earned degrees
- Drug Testing: Reduces risks and improves safety
- Driving Records / Motor Vehicle Records: Important for vehicle-related jobs
- Social Security Number Trace: Confirms address history
- Court Records: Provides civil and criminal filings
The best small business background check providers allow you to combine these into flexible background check packages. This allows businesses to run a background check tailored to each role without overspending.
Always ask if the vendor can deliver the best background search for each type. Accurate results across criminal history, education, and drug testing build trust in your hiring process.
Vendor Scorecard: How to Compare Background Check Companies
A checklist is helpful, but scoring each vendor makes your decision easier. Use this simple framework to weigh the most important factors. Rate each category from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent), multiply by the weight, then add the totals. The highest score points to the best fit for your small business.
| Category | Weight | What to Evaluate |
| Compliance | 30% | FCRA compliance, stand-alone disclosure and authorization, adverse action guidance, PBSA accreditation, ban-the-box expertise |
| Integration & Workflow | 25% | ATS or HR software connections, dashboard design, ease of ordering, clarity of reports |
| Turnaround Time & Accuracy | 25% | Average turnaround by search type, consistency of results, confirmation of database hits at the county court level |
| Customer Service & Pricing | 20% | Transparent pricing, no hidden fees, dedicated account manager, responsive support channels |
How to use it:
- Score each vendor from 1–5 in every category.
- Multiply the score by the weight.
- Add up the numbers to compare vendors side by side.
This approach helps small business owners evaluate the best background check companies with confidence, balancing compliance, efficiency, speed, and service.
Glossary of Background Check Terms
- Adverse Action: The two-step process employers must follow if they deny employment based on a background check.
- Applicant Tracking System (ATS): Software that manages applications and integrates with background screening services.
- Ban-the-Box: Laws that restrict when employers can ask about criminal history during hiring.
- Consumer Reporting Agency (CRA): A company that compiles and delivers background reports to employers.
- FCRA: The Fair Credit Reporting Act, which governs how background checks are conducted in the United States.
- Motor Vehicle Record (MVR): A report that shows a candidate’s driving history and license status.
- Multi-Jurisdictional Database Search: A wide search across databases that must be verified at the county or state court level.
- PBSA Accreditation: A certification for background screening companies that meet industry and compliance standards.
FAQs About Choosing the Best Background Check Companies
What is the best background check for small business owners?
The best background check companies for small businesses combine FCRA compliance, accurate results, and flexible packages. Look for PBSA-accredited providers that offer role-based background check services, allowing you to pay only for what you need.
How do I know if a vendor is compliant?
Verify that the provider is PBSA-accredited and complies with the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Compliant vendors also provide disclosure forms, candidate authorization, and clear adverse action steps when records are found.
Which industries benefit most from background checks?
Healthcare, transportation, childcare, and construction rely heavily on employment background checks. These industries often require drug testing, driving records, or license verification. A small business background check protects your company and ensures fair hiring decisions.
How long do employment background checks take?
Most background check services are completed in 1 to 5 business days. Criminal history searches may take longer if county courts require manual verification of records. Always ask vendors for average turnaround times by record type.
Can small businesses use online portals for screening?
Yes. Many background screening companies offer SMB portals with simple background check packages. Small businesses can run checks directly online, while larger companies may use a dedicated sales representative for custom solutions.
Final Thoughts: Choosing With Confidence
Selecting the best small business background check companies is more than just about price. It’s about trust, compliance, and speed. Small businesses that focus on these areas will find vendors that make hiring easier.
The best background search providers ensure results are reliable and clear. A strong vendor also ensures that every background check for employers is smooth and secure. By following this checklist, you can protect your business, support your team, and hire with confidence.
Partner with InfoMart, one of the best background check companies for small businesses. Our solutions simplify hiring, protect your business, and give you confidence.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not replace legal advice.
About Tammy Cohen
Tammy Cohen, an industry pioneer and expert in identity and employment screening, founded InfoMart 30 years ago. Deemed the “Queen of Screen,” she’s been a force behind industry-leading innovations. She was most recently the first-to-market with a fully compliant sanctions search, as well as a suite of identity services that modernizes talent onboarding. Tammy revolutionized the screening industry when she stepped into the field, developing the first client-facing application and a due diligence criminal search that has since become standard for all background screening companies. Cohen has received national awards and honors for her business and civic involvement, including Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Top 25 Women-Owned Firms in Atlanta, Enterprising Women Magazine’s Enterprising Women of the Year award, the YWCA of Northwest Georgia’s Kathryn Woods Racial Justice Award, and a commendation in the 152nd Congressional Record.
About InfoMart
InfoMart has been revolutionizing the global background and identity screening industry for 30 years, providing businesses the information they need to make informed hiring decisions. They develop innovative technology that modernizes talent onboarding, including a first-to-market biometric identity authentication application and a verified sanctions search. The WBENC-certified company is a founding member of the Professional Background Screening Association, and they have achieved PBSA accreditation in recognition of their consistent business practices and commitment to compliance with the FCRA. The company is dedicated to customer service, speed, and accuracy, and it has been recognized for its success, workplace culture, and corporate citizenship with over 45 industry awards. To Get the Whole Story on InfoMart, please visit www.InfoMart-USA.com, follow @InfoMartUSA, or call (770) 984-2727.