Best Background Check Services for Small Businesses on a Budget

TL;DR

• 5 Star Background Checks is best for the lowest report cost, with pricing starting at $7.95, no minimum orders, and a stated 8 to 24-hour turnaround.
• Checkr is best for speed. A third-party review of Checkr reports that 84% of checks finish within 15 minutes to 24 hours.
• GoodHire is best for occasional self-service screening, though it does not publish per-check pricing.
• HireRight is best for customized and global screening. Vendr contract data estimates a cost of $50 to $80 per report for buyers ordering fewer than 100 screenings annually.
• Get transparent per-report pricing from 5 Star Background Checks without contracts or minimum orders.

Why background checks can cost more for small businesses

Low hiring volume can make an inexpensive screening plan costly per report. A company hiring one to five people each month may pay the same subscription minimum as a company ordering far more checks. Dividing that fixed charge across a few reports raises the effective cost of each screening.

Enterprise providers may also charge for user seats, platform integrations, or minimum annual order commitments. Small businesses often cannot spread those costs across enough hires to justify them. Unused report allowances create a similar problem because you pay for screening capacity you never use.

Per-report pricing gives occasional hirers more control over spending. You pay when you need a check, while contracts and minimum orders can turn a low published price into a larger total bill.

We rank providers by published per-report prices, expected turnaround times, and contract requirements because these measures determine the likely cost per hire and suitability for an irregular hiring schedule.

What to look for in a budget-friendly background check service

• Compare the pricing model. Per-report pricing usually suits occasional hiring better than a subscription because you pay only when you screen a candidate.
• Check contracts and minimum orders. Annual commitments or monthly minimums raise your effective cost when you hire only a few people.
• Review expected turnaround. Fast results can shorten hiring delays, but county searches and manual record checks may extend completion times.
• Identify add-on fees. Court access and optional services such as verifications, drug tests, or expedited processing can push the final invoice above the advertised starting price.
• Confirm FCRA compliance coverage. A compliant service should support candidate consent, required disclosures, dispute handling, and adverse action notices. Lower pricing does not justify removing these protections.

The four providers compared

5 Star Background Checks

Best for: Small businesses seeking the lowest starting price without contracts or minimum orders.

What it is: 5 Star Background Checks pricing starts at $7.95 per report. Published packages range from $7.95 to $25.95, which lets you compare costs before placing an order.

The no-contract model suits businesses that hire occasionally or at uneven intervals. You pay when you need a report, and the company does not require a minimum number of orders. That structure avoids recurring charges during months when you make no hires.

5 Star Background Checks states an expected turnaround of 8 to 24 hours for standard results. Searches that require court access or manual verification may take longer.

Pros:

• Published per-report prices make costs easier to forecast.
• No contracts or minimum orders accommodate low hiring volume.
• Customizable packages let you choose relevant searches instead of buying a fixed bundle.
• À la carte services cover needs such as employment verification and drug testing.
• The stated 8 to 24-hour turnaround is shorter than the multi-day windows common among enterprise providers.

Cons:

• The $7.95 basic report will not include every search or verification you may need.
• Specialized screening can raise the final cost beyond the starting price.
• Businesses hiring at high volume may prefer a provider built around enterprise integrations and centralized screening operations.

Pricing: Reports range from $7.95 for a basic option to $25.95 for comprehensive screening packages. You can also select à la carte services or request a customized package. 5 Star Background Checks requires no contract or minimum order.

Checkr

Best for: Fast turnaround for companies that can absorb subscription-style or volume-tiered pricing as screening volume grows.

What it is: Checkr offers self-service background checks through an online platform. Automated searches support quick results, although county court access can delay some reports.

Pros:

• A third-party review of Checkr reports that 84% of checks finish within 15 minutes to 24 hours.
• Self-service packages let smaller companies order checks without arranging an enterprise plan.
• Package tiers cover basic criminal searches, county records, and employment or education verification.

Cons:

• Jurisdiction-based court fees can push actual invoices above the published package prices.
• Companies that outgrow self-service pricing may face minimum commitments and negotiated enterprise contracts.
• Checkr does not publish a general support phone number, so customers use its online portal or email for assistance.

Pricing: Checkr publishes a Basic+ package at $29.99 per check, covering core identity and criminal searches, with higher tiers adding county criminal searches and employment or education verification. Published tier prices vary across sources, so confirm current rates on Checkr's pricing page. Self-service pricing applies to companies ordering fewer than 300 checks per year. Higher-volume customers must contact sales for custom pricing.

GoodHire

Best for: Occasional hirers who want self-service ordering and per-check pricing.

What it is: GoodHire lets employers order checks without building an enterprise screening program. Some checks return within minutes, although searches that require manual records or verification can take longer. GoodHire now operates as part of Checkr following its acquisition.

Pros:

• Self-service ordering helps occasional hirers avoid building an enterprise screening program.
• GoodHire offers identity verification, credit checks, and healthcare sanctions searches alongside criminal checks.
• According to Betterteam's GoodHire review, employers can contact US-based customer support by phone or email.

Cons:

• GoodHire does not publish per-check pricing, so you cannot compare its cost against published rates without contacting the company.
• Third-party sources report conflicting figures for GoodHire's pricing and setup fees, which makes secondhand estimates unreliable.
• Available sources do not confirm whether GoodHire requires a minimum order.

Pricing: GoodHire does not list per-check prices publicly. Several third-party sites publish figures for GoodHire, but those figures conflict with one another and mirror Checkr's published tiers, so treat them as unverified. Request a written quote and fee schedule, including any one-time business verification or onboarding charge, before ordering.

HireRight

Best for: Growing companies that need custom packages, international checks, or broader screening options.

What it is: HireRight configures screening packages around check type, screening depth, and expected annual volume. Buyers can combine identity, employment, criminal record, education, credit, drug testing, and international screening.

HireRight bases quotes partly on expected annual volume, which may produce lower per-screening rates for larger commitments. Small businesses with occasional hiring may find the purchasing process less predictable.

Pros:

• HireRight supports custom packages for different roles and countries.
• Quote-based pricing may reduce the per-screening rate when a buyer commits to higher annual volume.
• Broad screening options suit companies with complex hiring requirements.

Cons:

• HireRight does not publish list prices.
• Annual volume commitments and multi-year agreements may affect negotiated rates.
• API or hiring software connections may carry integration and setup fees.
• Available pricing sources do not establish a standard turnaround time or expedited-service fee. Confirm both terms in HireRight's written quote.

Pricing: HireRight provides individual quotes based on screening scope, buyer size, and committed volume. Third-party contract data estimates that organizations ordering fewer than 100 screenings annually commonly pay $50 to $80 per standard screening. International searches, expedited processing, integrations, and added services can increase the final cost.

Comparison at a glance

Provider	Starting price	Turnaround time	Contract requirement	Standout feature
5 Star Background Checks	$7.95 per report	8 to 24 hours	No contract or minimum order	Lowest published starting cost
Checkr	$29.99 per check	15 minutes to 24 hours	Commitments as volume grows	Fast turnaround
GoodHire	Not published	Some checks within minutes	Minimum order unconfirmed	Self-service ordering
HireRight	Not published; third-party estimate of $50 to $80 for fewer than 100 annual screenings	Confirm by quote	Terms vary by quote	Custom global packages

Pricing reflects rates published by each provider, or third-party estimates where noted, as of September 2026. Providers marked "Not published" do not list per-report rates publicly. Starting prices exclude court and agency pass-through fees, which vary by jurisdiction and apply across the industry.

Which provider fits your hiring situation

Occasional or low-volume hirer

Choose 5 Star Background Checks when you want to order reports as needed without committing to a contract or minimum volume.

Fast-growing company that prioritizes speed

Checkr suits companies that need fast results and can absorb higher costs as screening volume and integration needs increase.

Self-serve DIY hirer

GoodHire fits an owner or HR generalist who wants to run occasional checks through a self-service platform, provided you are willing to request a quote first.

Company needing custom global packages

HireRight fits companies that need international screening or packages built around complex roles. Its quote-based model makes more sense once screening needs justify a negotiated agreement.

Why 5 Star Background Checks is the best value pick

5 Star Background Checks gives low-volume employers predictable screening costs. Published 5 Star Background Checks pricing starts at $7.95 per report, which lets you estimate the screening cost for each hire before ordering.

Small businesses also avoid paying for unused capacity. With no contract or minimum order, you can screen one candidate during a quiet month and several during a hiring push without taking on a recurring commitment. Customizable packages and à la carte services also let you pay for the checks each role requires.

For companies hiring only a few people each month, that pricing model keeps total screening costs tied to actual hiring activity. Review 5 Star Background Checks pricing or request a quote when you are ready to compare package options.

What actually matters when budget is the constraint

Compare your expected annual cost rather than the lowest advertised price. Checkr starts at $29.99 per check, while HireRight's estimated rate for businesses running fewer than 100 annual screenings reaches $50 to $80 per screening. GoodHire publishes no rate at all. By comparison, 5 Star Background Checks starts at $7.95 per report without a subscription.

Add-on fees can erase a low base price. A third-party review of Checkr fees estimates that court fees can put invoices for multi-state employers 40% to 70% above published rates. Vendr's HireRight contract data estimates integration and setup costs of $1,000 to $10,000 or more. Court and agency pass-through fees apply across the industry, so ask every provider for a written fee schedule rather than assuming the published rate is the final cost.

Minimum commitments raise the effective cost of occasional screening. Checkr reportedly applies minimum commitments to some larger accounts, and HireRight prices discounts around committed annual volume. Ask whether unused checks expire, whether overages cost more, and whether cancellation triggers a fee.

FCRA compliance should remain in every budget. Your screening workflow should establish a permissible purpose, obtain written consent, and provide required pre-adverse and final adverse-action notices. The provider should also support accurate reporting and candidate disputes. Keeping those safeguards in place supports lawful screening and gives candidates a process for disputing inaccurate information.

FAQs

How much does a small business background check cost?

Per-report pricing varies by search depth and included records. 5 Star Background Checks starts at $7.95, while Checkr starts at $29.99 per check. GoodHire and HireRight do not publish rates. Published prices help you compare expected costs before ordering.

Do background check services require contracts?

Background check contracts set the purchase term, minimum volume, or both. 5 Star Background Checks requires no contract or minimum order, while enterprise plans may require annual commitments. Flexible terms prevent occasional hirers from paying for unused checks.

How fast do background checks come back?

Turnaround time covers the period between ordering a report and receiving available results. 5 Star Background Checks usually returns results within 8 to 24 hours, though court access can cause delays. Faster reports help you keep qualified candidates moving.

What does FCRA compliance require?

The FCRA governs how employers obtain and use consumer reports for hiring. You must provide disclosure, obtain written authorization, and follow adverse-action notice procedures before rejecting a candidate based on a report. Proper procedures reduce legal risk and give candidates a chance to dispute errors.