Pricing and Costs of Employment Verification

Find pre-employment screening that suits your needs and your budget

The pricing and costs of employment verification are almost entirely dependent upon the type of information you need to verify, as well as the number of applicants that you review each month. If your company is a small one, it's most economical to work with background screening companies that provide services on a per-use basis. Large companies, though, are wise to invest in subscription services with a monthly fee or services that provide volume discounts.

Before you look into options for new employee verification, decide what information you must obtain in pre-employment screening. Then, consider the budget you have for the services. You should be able to find something to meet your needs as you examine the following options:

1. Locate free employment verification services for basic needs.

2. Seek out economical ready-made employment verification solutions.

3. Purchase a new employee verification package or design one to meet your needs.

 

Find free employment verification services

Depending on your needs, you may be able to use free applicant screening services. A completely free worker screening service won't provide extensive backgrounds checks, but will at least let you know if your applicants are legally eligible to work.
Try: The Department of Homeland Security offers E-Verify, which is a free online employment screening service that checks the validity of the applicant’s Social Security Number to ensure their eligibility to work. Past-Employ.com offers free employment verifications for members of its Employment Verification Services Consortium.

Find an employment verification provider with readymade solutions

Many companies offer solutions that are easy on both logistics and on your budget. Look to providers who offer clear price structures and standard products, especially if you have lower-volume needs.
Try: Intelius provides a full background check for about $50, but you may qualify for a volume discount if you handle a large number of applications each month. TALX’s The Work Number provides less extensive pre-employment screening, with verification of employment and income. Pricing for this service is based on the number of employment applications you review in a month. For example, if you only review 10 each month, your monthly fee would be under $150 dollars.

Buy a package for applicant screening or create your own custom package

When you have a number of employment verifications or if you have specialized needs, an applicant screening package can provide an economical solution. Most background screening companies allow for at least some customization as well.
Try: HireRight offers three different options for applicant screening, ranging from around $30 to around $70. You’ll need to register for about $20 before you can use these packages or its a la carte screening, which is under $15 per verification. Corra Group requires no registration fee and has packages designed for specific sectors and jobs, ranging from around $25 to nearly $200 depending upon the information you need. You can also create a custom package with either of these vendors.

 

• Most employment screening companies exclude prices charged by third parties. Courts, state agencies and some employers may charge fees for accessing their records, so be prepared for extra costs above the quoted price if you're conducting in-depth employment screening.

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