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Why price varies so much
How we cover every gap
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Beyond the background check
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The screening company that’s actually easy to work with
No hidden costs and no runaround — just straightforward background checks for church volunteers and staff, from a family-owned team that answers the phone.
No hidden costs
Every price is published right on this page. The only extras are third-party court access fees — and we flag those up front, before you order.
Talk to a real human
Call us and an FCRA-certified person answers — not a ticket queue. Family-owned and independent for 20 years, with no private equity behind the curtain.
Applicants do the data entry
SearchMyBackground™ lets volunteers enter their own info and sign consent online — included free. Your coordinator never types an SSN into a form.
No setup fees, contracts, or minimums
Open a free account and order one search or a hundred. No annual commitment, no monthly minimum, and you can stop anytime.
Up and running the same day
No implementation project and no mandatory onboarding call. Open your account and order your first background check today.
Why one volunteer might cost $17 and a staff hire $92
Most volunteer screenings run $17–$45. The price only climbs when the role or the person’s history calls for it — a paid hire with several moves, a previous name, and access to church funds is the high end, not the norm. Because every applicant’s history is different and every church chooses its own level of diligence, there’s no one-size price. Here’s how it’s built, then three real people it plays out on.
Direct child contact, finances, or a supervised helper role — each calls for different searches.
Counties lived in and names used over the last 7 years — an SSN trace surfaces both.
We combine searches from the list below to match that person — not a one-size package.
Three real scenarios, priced openly
Tap any scenario to see exactly which searches we’d order and why.
Maria — Sunday school helper, one name, one county for 9 years
Single location · Single name · No direct unsupervised child contact
+ See breakdown
| Search | Why it’s ordered | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-State Criminal Search with AliasBroad sweep · all 50 states · instant | Catches anything outside her home county. SSN trace confirms she’s only ever lived in one county. | $10.00 |
| County Courthouse Criminal Search — Jefferson Co., KYDirect courthouse records · 7 years | Database searches miss things. This is the gold standard for her county of residence. | $7.00 |
$17.00
* Court access fees for Jefferson Co. not included and may add a small surcharge. If the SSN trace had returned additional counties, we’d add a $7 courthouse search for each one.
Betsy aka Elizabeth Smith-Anderson — youth group co-leader, 3 names, 3 counties in 7 years
Three names · Three counties · Direct child-contact role
+ See breakdown
| Search | Why it’s ordered | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-State Criminal Search with AliasAll 3 names searched · SSN trace surfaces all counties | Betsy Smith, Elizabeth Smith, and Elizabeth Smith-Anderson all searched. SSN trace returns all 3 counties. | $10.00 |
| County Courthouse — Davidson Co., TN (Nashville)7-year courthouse record | Lived here years 1–3 of the lookback window. | $7.00 |
| County Courthouse — Jefferson Co., KY (Louisville)7-year courthouse record | Lived here years 3–5 of the lookback window. | $7.00 |
| County Courthouse — Hamilton Co., OH (Cincinnati)7-year courthouse record | Current county of residence. | $7.00 |
| National Federal Courts SearchAll 94 US districts · 7 years | Essential for any role with direct child contact — catches crimes that don’t show in county or state records. | $12.00 |
$43.00
* Court access fees per county not included. A fixed package would have searched one name in one county and called it done. Betsy has three searchable names and three counties — any one of them could hold a record that disqualifies her from working with children.
Pastor David — paid staff hire, 4 counties across 3 states, previous name, children’s ministry & finances
Multiple names · Four counties · Three states · Paid role with financial responsibility
+ See breakdown
| Search | Why it’s ordered | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-State Criminal Search with AliasAll names · all states · instant | Both surname variants searched. SSN trace surfaces all 4 counties across 3 states. | $10.00 |
| County Courthouse — 4 counties across GA, FL & TN$7.00 per county × 4 | Each county where he lived in the past 7 years searched individually. | $28.00 |
| National Federal Courts Search94 federal districts · 7 years | Paid staff with child contact — non-negotiable. | $12.00 |
| County Civil Search — current countyCivil court records · 7 years | Financial responsibility role — civil judgments and liens are relevant due diligence. | $12.00 |
| Employment Verification — 2 previous employers$10.00 per employer × 2 | Paid staff hire — confirm his ministry and employment history directly. | $20.00 |
| Education Verification — seminary degree$10.00 per institution | Confirms the credentials he listed on his application. | $10.00 |
$92.00
* Court and repository access fees not included. Skipping any of these searches creates a documented gap in your due diligence — and Pastor David’s complex history is exactly why holistic, person-based screening matters.
In each example, an SSN trace did the work of finding every county and name. Gap Coverage Request lets you set that as your standard once, for every person you screen.
Before you compare us to a $5 instant check
Why the cheapest option often costs your congregation the most
You’ll find $5–$10 “instant” background checks advertised everywhere. For a one-time greeter or a helper with no direct child contact, that might be enough. But for anyone who will be alone with children — nursery, Sunday school, youth group, VBS — here’s what that price doesn’t include.
What a $5–$10 instant search leaves out
- ✕Real county courthouse records — not just a national database index
- ✕A certified human confirming the record actually belongs to your volunteer
- ✕A search of maiden names or previous names your volunteer has used
- ✕Coverage of more than one county — even if they’ve moved churches or cities
- ✕FCRA-compliant consent and adverse action documentation — that responsibility stays with your church
What that means for your congregation
Look back at Betsy above. A $5 instant check searches one name in one county. Betsy has gone by three different names and lived in three counties over the past seven years — any one of those combinations could surface a record that should keep her out of the youth group. An instant check checking the wrong name in the wrong county comes back clean either way.
Over 90% of abuse is committed by someone the victim already knows and trusts. That’s exactly the kind of gap a shallow, one-name search is built to miss.
The question courts and insurers actually ask isn’t “did the church run a background check.” It’s whether the check was reasonable given the access that person had to children. If a $5 instant check misses a record that a real county-level search would have caught, “we ran a background check” won’t protect your congregation — it may work against you in a negligent hiring claim, since it shows leadership knew screening mattered but chose the option least likely to catch anything. Beyond the legal exposure, it’s the trust of every family in your church that’s on the line.
Set your standard once with Gap Coverage Request
Database searches are a useful starting point, but many counties never report to them, and federal convictions never appear there at all. With GCR, you choose your standard once, as part of opening your account — our team then reviews each applicant’s address history and aliases and automatically adds the matching searches. You set the bar. We make sure every applicant clears it.
What most churches choose
Search every county the person has lived in, under every name they’ve used, plus all 94 federal districts. This is our recommended standard and the most common choice among church and faith-based clients — especially for anyone with direct child contact.
See all GCR options ↓Hide options ↑
Your selections apply to your entire account automatically. Fees are charged per search per name — costs scale with addresses and aliases found. Court access surcharges apply in some jurisdictions.
Full a la carte pricing
Every search we offer, grouped by type. Tap a category to see the individual prices — no membership, no minimum order.
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Multi-State Criminal Search with Alias Instant
1 billion+ records across all 50 states — counties, DOC, courts, sex offender registries, and terrorism sources. Includes alias names, SSN trace & validation, death index, and address history. All flags reviewed by FCRA-certified staff before release.
⚠ Best paired with county courthouse searches — not recommended as a standalone
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County Courthouse Criminal Search
Direct courthouse lookup — felonies & misdemeanors, 7-year history. All convictions and pending cases reported. Order one per county the applicant has lived in.
Same day – 3 business days · Court access fees may apply
Statewide Criminal Repository Search
State law enforcement database, 7-year history. Coverage varies widely by state — contact us about yours. Not available in all states.
Same day – 1+ week · Repository fees may apply · MA requires extra step
National Federal Courts Search
All 94 US district courts — uncovers trafficking, internet crimes against children, child exploitation, and embezzlement that county and state searches miss. 7-year history. Recommended for all child-contact roles.
Same day – 3 business days
Nationwide Wants & Warrants
Local, county, state, and federal extraditable warrants — misdemeanors and felonies. Not all agencies contribute to this database.
1–2 business days
County Civil Search
Non-criminal civil court records, 7-year history. Recommended for roles with financial responsibility.
3–5 business days · Court access fees may apply
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Employment Verification Agreement required
Verifies employment with a specific employer. As applicable and available, a standard verification confirms the candidate’s dates of employment and job title, plus the name and title of the person who provided the verification. Some employers require a signed release from the candidate before they will share information. Recommended for all paid staff.
1–5 business days (3 contact attempts) · Employer or third-party access fees not included* · Request access on your Service Agreement†
Education Verification Agreement required
Confirms degree, major, graduation date, and GPA with the institution. 3 contact attempts.
1–5 business days · Third-party fees may apply
Professional Reference Interview
Structured interview with a supervisor, colleague, or personal reference — covers performance, reliability, strengths, and any concerns.
Turnaround varies
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Credit Report Access
Credit reports are available to accounts enrolled in our Credit Report Access program — built for larger churches, multi-campus ministries, denominations, and dioceses that screen financial roles across many people or congregations. Your annual minimum is a prepaid balance, drawn down at the per-report rates below. Additional reports beyond the minimum are billed on your regular invoice.
Experian Employment Insight Instant
Experian’s employment-purpose credit report: payment history, open accounts and balances, bankruptcies, and address history. Recommended for financial roles — treasurers, bookkeepers, financial secretaries, and key holders or others with access to church funds. No credit score is provided. Signed authorization required. State and local law may restrict use — ask us.†
Requires Credit Report Access enrollment · Our standard employment credit report
TransUnion PEER Employment Credit Report Instant
TransUnion’s employment-purpose credit report: payment history, open accounts and balances, bankruptcies, and address history. Choose it when your policy calls for TransUnion data or a second bureau’s view. Recommended for financial roles — treasurers, bookkeepers, financial secretaries, and key holders or others with access to church funds. No credit score is provided. Signed authorization required. State and local law may restrict use — ask us.†
Requires Credit Report Access enrollment
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Motor Vehicle / Driving History Instant–5 days
3-year driving record — violations, suspensions, revocations, points, and current license status. Available from 49 states + DC. PA not available.
State access fees apply · State-specific authorization may be required
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5-Panel Urinalysis
Amphetamines, cocaine, opiates, PCP, marijuana. Includes lab screen, GC/MS confirmation if needed, and MRO review.
1–3 business days after specimen received · Collection fees may apply separately
10-Panel Urinalysis
All 5-panel substances plus barbiturates, benzodiazepines, methadone, propoxyphene, and methaqualone.
1–3 business days after specimen received · Collection fees may apply separately
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International Criminal / Education / Employment
Available for many countries. Depth and availability vary. Country-specific release forms required.
3–15 business days · Call 866-891-1954 opt. 2 for a quote
pricing
Important: Database searches are broad but should never be your only source. Always pair them with individual county courthouse searches for each location the applicant has lived. The SSN trace included in the Multi-State search will surface those counties for you.
Safeguard from Abuse™ — Child Abuse Awareness Training
A background check tells you about someone’s past. But protecting children in your congregation also takes a culture of accountability — staff and volunteers who know how to recognize, prevent, and report abuse before it happens. That’s what Safeguard from Abuse builds.
What it covers
- ✓Recognizing signs of abuse
- ✓Mandated reporting requirements
- ✓Creating safe environments
- ✓Grooming behavior awareness
- ✓Building accountability culture
Why it matters for churches
Churches are trusted environments — which makes them a target. Volunteers and staff spend time alone with children in classrooms, nurseries, and youth programs. A background check screens for past offenses. Training teaches your entire congregation how to recognize, prevent, and report abuse before it happens. Together they protect children in ways neither can alone.
Starting at only
$6.75
per seat
Bundle & save over 30%
vs. per-seat pricing
Ready to protect your congregation?
Open a free account in minutes and order your first search today — or reach out first if you’d like honest guidance from a team that’s served churches for 20 years. No pressure, no hard sell.
* 3rd-party court, repository, and state access fees may apply and are not included in listed prices.
† Employment verifications may require a one-time physical site inspection — ask us for details. Credit reports require enrollment in Credit Report Access: credit bureau approval, a one-time physical site inspection (the standard $85 fee is waived for churches and validated 501(c)(3) non-profits as a courtesy — email Support@SecureSearchPro.com to schedule), a one-time $400 setup fee, and a $7,500 annual minimum billed upfront. Several states and cities restrict the use of credit history in employment decisions — ask us.
MA statewide repository requires additional steps — contact Support@SecureSearchPro.com. PA MVRs not available.
“No setup fees, contracts, or minimums” applies to all background screening services. The optional Credit Report Access program carries its own setup fee and annual minimum.
All searches subject to FCRA compliance. State and local law may restrict use of certain report types.