Who this is for
Owners, office managers, HR generalists, franchise operators, and growing teams that need reliable screening without a heavy procurement process.
Small business screening
Background checks for small businesses that hire carefully.
Run the right report without buying an enterprise contract. Information Direct helps small teams order FCRA-conscious background checks with clear pricing, human support, and court-focused research.
No setup fees, monthly minimums, or long-term contracts for standard SMB packages.
Published package pricing with pass-through source fees disclosed at cost when applicable.
Human-reviewed reports and U.S. support for questions, delays, and candidate disputes.
What to order first
Most small businesses start with a package, then add role-specific searches only when the position requires them. This keeps screening consistent without over-ordering.
- Silver for basic criminal, identity, sex offender, and watchlist coverage.
- Gold for roles where employment, education, driving, and federal criminal checks add useful context.
- Platinum for senior hires, regulated roles, or positions with broader risk exposure.
Why direct courthouse research matters
Database-only checks can be fast, but they may be incomplete, delayed, or missing final dispositions. For employment decisions, source-level court research gives small teams a more defensible record path.
- County criminal searches are performed close to the court source.
- Reports are reviewed by people before delivery.
- Disputes and reinvestigations have a clear response path.
Compliance basics for first-time buyers
Employment background checks usually require candidate disclosure and written authorization before ordering. If a report may affect a hiring decision, employers should follow the pre-adverse and final adverse action process.
- Confirm the role and permissible purpose before ordering.
- Keep the candidate authorization and disclosure record.
- Use adverse action templates and dispute workflows when a report affects the decision.
| Role type | Common starting point | Add when needed |
|---|---|---|
| Office and administrative | Silver or Gold | Employment verification, education verification |
| Drivers and field staff | Gold | Motor vehicle record, drug screening |
| Finance or fiduciary roles | Platinum | Employment credit report where legally permissible |
| Healthcare support roles | Gold or Platinum | OIG/SAM exclusions, license verification, drug screening |
FAQ
Common questions
Can a small business run only one background check?
Yes. Standard SMB packages have no monthly minimums, so a small business can order one report or build a recurring program over time.
Do small businesses need candidate consent?
For employment background checks, yes. Federal FCRA law and state laws generally require a clear disclosure and written authorization before ordering.
Do package prices include every possible source fee?
No. Package prices are base service fees. Courts, DMVs, schools, employers, labs, and international sources may charge access fees that are passed through at cost with no markup.
Ready to compare the right package?
Start with published SMB pricing, then add searches only when the role requires them. Enterprise support is available for custom matrices, volume pricing, and documentation needs.