Research-based guides to background checks, tenant screening and hiring software for US small businesses: what each check costs per hire, which package fits which role, and the legal steps you need before you order one.
Checked October 2026 · Prices come from the vendor's own pricing page, listed per report, in US dollars before passthrough fees and tax. Research-based, not hands-on testing and not legal advice.
A small business usually needs three things from a background check provider: a package that matches the job, a clear price per hire once court and DMV fees are added, and built-in steps for consent and adverse action under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The guides in this section compare providers on exactly those points.
Checkr background check packages (October 2026)
| Package | Price per report | What it covers |
|---|
| Basic | From $29.99 | SSN trace, sex offender registry, global watchlist and national criminal search |
| Essential | From $59.99 | Adds identity verification and unlimited county criminal search |
| Complete | From $94.99 | Adds unlimited state criminal search and federal criminal search |
| Tenant screening | $24.99 / $34.99 / $44.99 | Criminal, credit, eviction history and income for rental applicants |
| Add-ons | MVR $9.50 · ID $4.99 · drug test from $10 | Driving records for driver roles, identity checks and drug screening |
Courts, DMVs and databases charge passthrough access fees on top of these prices; Checkr's fee tool shows them by state and county before you order.
How we compare background check providers
- Price per hire: package price plus typical passthrough fees, read on the vendor's own page with the check date shown.
- Coverage: which searches each package includes (county, state, federal, MVR, identity).
- Compliance tools: digital consent, pre-adverse and adverse action notices, and permissible-purpose checks.
- Contract terms: setup fees, minimums and whether you can pay per report.
- Fit by industry: drivers, retail, healthcare, hospitality and other common small-business roles.
Start here
- Background check cost for small business (2026): posted prices from 4 providers, the court and DMV fees inside them and a budget by role
- Checkr pricing and deals: free account setup, pay-as-you-go checks and every package price
- Checkr pricing 2026: cost per hire with passthrough fees: four hires priced fee by fee, add-ons and a 10-hire budget
- Checkr vs GoodHire (2026): same parent company and package prices; what differs in add-ons, contract terms and international checks
- Checkr review for small businesses: who it fits, packages and the fine print
- Checkr vs Sterling vs HireRight: who posts prices, small-business sign-up routes and contract terms
- MVR checks for hiring drivers: cost per driver, continuous monitoring and the steps
- How to run an employee background check legally: the FCRA steps in order: disclosure, consent, pre-adverse and adverse action
- Tenant screening for small landlords (2026): what a screening costs, who pays and the fair housing rules to follow
- How to run a background check on yourself: free and paid routes, FBI and state record fees, and how to dispute errors
- Background checks for contractors and home service techs: which package fits each role, licenses and re-check costs
Employers must follow the Fair Credit Reporting Act, including written disclosure, the candidate's consent and adverse action notices. See the joint EEOC and FTC guide Background Checks: What Employers Need to Know. This page is not legal advice.
Last updated October 19, 2026.
