Background Checks for Employers
Most employers think they’re covered — until something goes wrong. One bad hire can cost 3x their salary, expose you to a negligent hiring lawsuit, and put your entire team at risk. SecureSearch delivers complete, human-verified employment screening across every service your organization needs — for every industry, every role, every size.
FCRA-compliant. No setup fees. No monthly minimums. No contracts. And if you don’t see exactly what you need — just speak with a Client Advocate. The answer is probably yes.
The 5 Real Pain Points Employers Face With Background Checks
Whether you’re a small business hiring your 5th employee or a multi-location company onboarding hundreds a year, these are the problems we hear every day — and exactly what SecureSearch is built to solve.
⚠ Pain Point 1: “We used an instant check — and it missed everything.”
Instant database checks don’t search county courthouses — where the vast majority of criminal convictions actually live. They miss alias names, skip federal courts, and return results with no human review. The record that matters most is often the one they don’t find. SecureSearch searches every county for every address in the past 7 years, across all known alias names, with human validation of every record found.
⚠ Pain Point 2: “FCRA compliance terrifies us.”
The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires specific disclosures, authorizations, and a precise pre-adverse and adverse action process before you can deny employment based on a report. The rules vary by state and city. Most employers don’t know what they don’t know — and the liability is real. SecureSearch’s FCRA-certified Client Advocates guide you through every step so you’re never exposed.
⚠ Pain Point 3: “Background checks slow down our hiring and we lose candidates.”
Lengthy, confusing screening processes cost you candidates. In today’s market, 60% of job seekers will abandon an application that feels too complex. SecureSearch’s SearchMyBackground™ tool puts data entry on the candidate — you send one email, they complete it on mobile, and most results are back same day to a few days.
⚠ Pain Point 4: “Different managers run different checks — we have no consistency.”
Inconsistent screening across your hiring team is one of the fastest ways to create legal liability. If one manager runs a full check and another runs nothing, your process can’t be defended. SecureSearch lets you set role-specific screening packages that run automatically — every hire for every role gets the same thorough, consistent process every time.
⚠ Pain Point 5: “We can’t get a real person on the phone when something goes wrong.”
Enterprise background check companies put you in a queue. Chatbots can’t answer compliance questions. When you have a problem — a disputed record, a confusing result, an adverse action question — you need a real, knowledgeable person fast. SecureSearch gives every client a dedicated FCRA-certified Client Advocate who knows your account and picks up the phone.
Free eBook for Employers
The Defensible Workplace
Executive Guide to Employment Screening, FCRA Compliance, and Negligent Hiring Risk
By Steve Durie, Founder — SecureSearch
New for 2026. Everything HR professionals and business owners need to build a hiring process that holds up under scrutiny — and keeps your company off the defendant’s table.
Don’t See What You Need?
We offer far more than what’s listed here. If you have a specific screening need — for any role, any industry, any situation — just ask. The answer is probably yes.
Everything You Need. All in One Place.
SecureSearch offers a complete suite of employment screening services — far beyond the criminal check. Here’s everything we can do for your organization. Don’t see something? Just ask a Client Advocate.
🔍 Criminal & Identity
- Criminal background check — county, state & national
- National Sex Offender Registry
- SSN Trace / Identity Verification
- National Federal Courts search — all 94 districts
- International / global background checks
🎓 Employment & Credentials
- Employment history verification
- Education / degree verification
- Professional license verification
- Reference checks
- Social media screening
🚗 Driving & Drug
- MVR / Motor Vehicle Record
- Drug testing — pre-employment, random & post-incident
- DOT-compliant drug & alcohol testing
🏥 Healthcare & Financial
- OIG / SAM exclusion search
- Healthcare sanctions — state Medicaid exclusion lists
- Credit history / financial background check
📌 Compliance & Ongoing
- E-Verify / I-9 employment eligibility
- Continuous / ongoing employee monitoring
- Custom Recheck system — keep screening current over time
- FCRA adverse action guidance — every step
👉 Coming Soon — FL & CA
- Fingerprint-based background checks
- Live Scan fingerprinting — now available in Florida & California
Ask a Client Advocate about availability in your state.
Every Employer Vertical. One Trusted Partner.
Background check requirements aren’t the same across industries — and a one-size-fits-all check creates gaps that expose you. SecureSearch builds role-specific, industry-appropriate screening packages for every vertical in the employer space. Not sure what you need? Your Client Advocate figures it out with you — at no charge.
Healthcare & Senior Care: Criminal + OIG/SAM exclusions + healthcare sanctions + drug testing + license verification. The highest-risk environment for vulnerable populations requires the most thorough screening — and federal law requires OIG checks for anyone billing Medicare or Medicaid.
Transportation & Logistics: Criminal + MVR + DOT drug & alcohol testing + federal courts. Every driver on your payroll needs a current, clean record — and an MVR alone isn’t a complete picture.
Financial Services: Criminal + federal courts + credit history + employment verification. Positions with financial authority require searches that most providers skip entirely.
Retail, Hospitality & Hourly: Fast, affordable criminal + sex offender screening that keeps pace with high-volume hiring without cutting corners on safety.
Construction & Trades: Criminal + drug testing + MVR for equipment operators. Field workers at customer sites, operating machinery, or entering homes require more than a basic database search.
Technology & Professional Services: Criminal + education verification + employment verification + social media screening. Resume fraud is far more common than most employers realize.
Education & Childcare: Criminal + sex offender registry + federal courts + fingerprint-based checks (FL & CA). Every adult working around children needs the most thorough screening available.
Healthcare & Senior Care
Criminal • OIG/SAM Exclusions • Sanctions • Drug Testing • License Verification
Transportation & Logistics
Criminal • MVR • DOT Drug & Alcohol • Federal Courts
Financial Services
Criminal • Federal Courts • Credit History • Employment Verification
Retail, Hospitality & Hourly
Criminal • Sex Offender Registry • SSN Trace • Fast Turnaround
Construction & Trades
Criminal • Drug Testing • MVR for Equipment Operators
Technology & Professional Services
Criminal • Education Verification • Employment Verification • Social Media Screening
Education & Childcare
Criminal • Sex Offender Registry • Federal Courts • Fingerprint / Live Scan (FL & CA)
SecureSearch vs. Instant Background Check Services
Most instant background check services leave dangerous gaps. Here’s how SecureSearch protects employers differently — and why it matters when your hiring decision is ever questioned in court.
| Feature | Instant / Cheap Services | SecureSearch |
|---|---|---|
| Alias name & address history searching | ✗ Rarely included | ✓ Every search, always |
| County courthouse criminal searches | ✗ Not included | ✓ Every address, 7 years |
| National Federal Courts — all 94 districts | ✗ Rarely included | ✓ Yes — always available |
| Human validation of every criminal record | ✗ Automated only | ✓ Every record, every time |
| Full service suite — drug, MVR, credit, OIG, I-9, international, fingerprint | ✗ Limited add-ons | ✓ All of it, one partner |
| Industry-specific packages — healthcare, DOT, finance, education & more | ✗ One size fits all | ✓ Built for every vertical |
| FCRA-certified staff & compliant workflows | ✗ Rarely | ✓ All staff certified |
| Adverse action guidance — step by step | ✗ You’re on your own | ✓ We walk you through it |
| Dedicated Client Advocate — real person, your account | ✗ Chatbot or call queue | ✓ Named advocate, always |
| Setup fees / monthly minimums / contracts | ✗ Often required | ✓ Never. Ever. |
Simple for Your Team. Seamless for Your Candidates.
Getting started takes 5 minutes. No paperwork, no contracts, no minimums. Most results back same day to a few days.
Open Your Free Account
5 minutes online. No credit card. No contracts. Your dedicated Client Advocate reaches out to help you build the right package for your roles.
Send a Screening Request
Enter a name and email. Your candidate gets a secure mobile-friendly link to enter their own info and sign FCRA consent forms. No data entry on your end.
Get a Clear, Validated Report
We handle all verification, human validation, and compliance. You get a clear, human-reviewed report — and we walk you through every next step.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a background check take?
Most searches return same-day to 2 business days. County courthouse searches can take 1–3 business days depending on the jurisdiction. We communicate ETAs and any court delays proactively — you’re never left guessing.
What’s the difference between a database check and a county courthouse search?
Database checks scan compiled records — which are often incomplete, outdated, or missing entirely for many counties. A county courthouse search pulls directly from the actual court records where convictions are filed. Most convictions only exist at the county level, which is why database-only checks miss critical records.
What is FCRA compliance and why does it matter?
The Fair Credit Reporting Act governs how employers may use background check results. It requires specific disclosures, written authorization, and a precise pre-adverse and adverse action process before denying employment. Violations can result in lawsuits — including class actions. SecureSearch guides you through every step.
Do you work with small businesses or just large companies?
Both — and everyone in between. There are no minimums, no volume requirements, and no contracts. You can run one background check or a thousand. Our pricing and process work equally well for a 5-person company and a 500-person organization.
Can I run different background check packages for different roles?
Yes — and you should. A delivery driver needs an MVR. A bookkeeper needs a credit check. A healthcare aide needs OIG exclusion screening. SecureSearch lets you build and save role-specific packages so the right searches run automatically every time, with no guesswork from your team.
What happens if a background check returns a criminal record?
We walk you through it. FCRA requires a specific process before you can take adverse action based on a background check result. Your dedicated Client Advocate will guide you through pre-adverse notice, the candidate dispute period, and final adverse action — so you stay compliant every step of the way.
I need something I don’t see listed here. Can you help?
Almost certainly yes. We offer far more services than what’s listed on this page — including specialty searches, international screening, fingerprinting (FL & CA), and industry-specific compliance packages. Speak with a Client Advocate and tell us what you need.
What Employers Say About SecureSearch
“SecureSearch has been wonderful to work with over the years. Their website is self-explanatory and easy to use, the results come back quickly, and if I need another item added to my in-progress search, I can just reach out and they take care of it right away. The customer service team is super responsive to any questions or concerns I have — whether it’s clarification on a result, invoicing, or retrieving something from the archives. They are top notch and I would highly recommend their services to other employers and HR professionals who need reliable fact checking.”
“We are an organization with multiple sites and the ability to run all background checks with a consistent process throughout the United States is amazing. The team has been very helpful and accommodating to adjust processes to better fit our business model and needs. We are excited about our continued partnership with SecureSearch.”
“I wanted to express gratitude for the outstanding customer service and follow-up. You are patient, you explain processes well, and your responses come so quickly. You truly stand out above any company I have dealt with.”
“We switched to SecureSearch from another provider. Trust me, not all background check companies are the same! SecureSearch offers an exceptional product, competitive pricing, and an outstanding customer care experience. If you are thinking about using SecureSearch, do it today — you will be a happy customer.”
