What Reliable Background Screening does

Reliable Background Screening is a privately held, family-owned consumer reporting agency founded in 1990 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, that delivers FCRA-compliant background screening and adjacent compliance services to organizations across the United States and internationally. The company's core offering spans criminal record searches (county, state, federal, national database, sex offender registries, OFAC/global watch lists), employment/education/license verifications, motor vehicle records, credit reports, drug testing via SAMHSA-certified collection sites, occupational health services, social media screening, continuous criminal monitoring, electronic I-9 and E-Verify, and franchisee, membership, tenant, and business associate screening programs.

Its technology stack centers on a secure online portal (instascreen.net) with candidate-driven e-forms, FCRA-compliant authorization workflows, and integrations with applicant tracking systems. The proprietary vID identity verification product (launched February 2026) adds biometric liveness analysis, deepfake/synthetic media detection, document authenticity forensics, and biometric-to-ID matching; sub-brands include Quick App Pro for candidate workflow and a digital credential/wallet capability. The business operates on a primarily transactional, per-candidate pricing model ($15 to over $100 per screen) supplemented by recurring streams from continuous criminal monitoring and I-9/E-Verify, and distributes through direct enterprise field sales, inside sales/phone ordering, self-service web portal, and a growing set of channel partnerships (ClientTether, fpSOLUTIONS, CareerPlug, Troon, Club Leaders Forum). Customer segments span staffing, franchise, real estate/property management, country clubs and private clubs, healthcare, education, government, non-profit, and volunteer organizations, with thousands of clients served across all 50 states and international coverage extending to 250+ countries and territories.

Name

Reliable Background Screening

Legal name

Reliable Background Screening

Website

https://reliablebackgroundscreening.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Reliable Background Screening is a consumer reporting agency that offers background screening services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Background Screening Services

NAICS

Investigation and Personal Background Check Services (561611), Investigation and Security Services (5616)

SIC

Services-Detective, Guard & Armored Car Services (7381), Services-Consumer Credit Reporting, Collection Agencies (7320)

akta.pro primary industry

Pre-Employment Background Checks & Screening (BPAKAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Criminal Background Checks (National/State/County) (BPACALAA), Continuous Monitoring & Post-Hire Screening (BPACALAJ), Tenant & Rental Background Screening (BPAKAEAB), Social Media & Online Reputation Screening (BPACALAL), Credit History Checks (Permissible Purpose) (BPACALAF), Global / International Background Screening (BPACALAI)

Keywords

• Background screening services
• Employment background checks
• Identity verification
• Criminal monitoring
• Drug testing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Scottsdale

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Background Screening Services: Per-candidate background screening fees ranging from $15 to over $100 depending on depth and scope of screening package. Services include criminal searches, verifications, MVR, social media screening, credit reports, and more. Sold as custom packages tailored by position, industry, and compliance requirements; bundled packages for efficiency; and à la carte add-ons.
2. Continuous Criminal Monitoring: Ongoing monitoring service providing alerts for criminal activity after onboarding. Subscription or recurring revenue model for maintaining real-time oversight of employees.
3. Drug Testing Services: SAMHSA-certified drug testing through nationwide network of clinics. Turnaround time under 2 business days for negative results. Medical Review Officer review for non-negative results.
4. Electronic I-9 & E-Verify Services: Electronic I-9 form completion and E-Verify submission platform. Streamlines compliance workflow with error detection, automated record management, and audit-ready reporting.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Reliable Background Screening is a FCRA-compliant consumer reporting agency that provides comprehensive background screening services across employment, franchise, membership, tenant, volunteer, and business associate contexts. Offerings include criminal searches (county, state, federal), employment/education/license verifications, drug testing, social media screening, credit reports, continuous criminal monitoring, I-9/E-Verify compliance, and its proprietary vID identity verification with AI-powered biometric liveness detection and deepfake prevention. Services are customizable by industry and role, delivered through a secure 24/7 online portal with candidate-driven e-form workflows, and supported by U.S.-based customer service with no overseas outsourcing.

Product overview

Reliable Background Screening is a comprehensive background screening platform providing risk mitigation solutions for employment, franchise, membership, tenant, and business associate screening. The core platform offers criminal searches, identity verification, and verification services, with specialized modules for drug testing (OccuHealth/SAMHSA-certified), occupational health, continuous criminal monitoring, social media screening, and I-9/E-Verify. The vID identity verification product (with three tiers: Verify, Verify+Collect, Verify+Carry) provides AI-powered biometric liveness detection and deepfake detection for fraud prevention. All services are customizable by industry and role, delivered through a secure online portal with candidate-driven e-form workflows, and supported by U.S.-based customer service. The company does not outsource any candidate data overseas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• vID: Identity verification solution with liveness detection, deepfake prevention, document authenticity verification, and biometric-to-ID matching. Includes three package options: Verify (basic), Verify + Collect, and Verify + Carry (digital wallet/credential).
• Quick App Pro
• I-9 Compliance

Products and services

• Employment Background Checks Comprehensive pre-employment background screening covering criminal history (county, state, federal, national database), motor vehicle records, social media, identity verification, employment/education/license verifications, drug testing, occupational health, continuous criminal monitoring, and I-9/E-Verify. Customizable by industry and role with average 2 business day turnaround.
• Volunteer Screening Background screening for volunteers with customizable packages based on role risk level. Includes criminal searches, sex offender registry, drug testing, social media screening, MVR for driving roles, and credit searches for financial responsibilities.
• Franchisee Screening Comprehensive background screening for franchise candidates including criminal checks, identity verification, credit reports (including soft-pull options), bankruptcy/lien/judgment searches, asset verification, MVR, social media, employment verifications, civil records, and international searches for 250+ countries.
• Membership Screening Background screening for private clubs, country clubs, and yacht clubs. Includes criminal records, social search, soft-pull credit reports, MVR, and bankruptcy/lien/judgment searches. Customizable to club requirements with costs typically passed to applicants.
• Resident & Tenant Screening Residential tenant screening with credit reports, eviction records (separate from credit bureaus post-July 2017), criminal background checks (county, state, federal, national, sex offender, OFAC), bankruptcy/lien/judgment searches, and primary source verifications. Offers instant reports or live-agent verified options.
• Business Associate Screening Background screening for business associates including investors, partners, suppliers, vendors, clients, board nominees, and subscribers. Customizable programs for specific association types.
• vID Identity Verification AI-powered identity verification platform (vID) with biometric liveness detection and deepfake detection. Offers three tiers: Verify (basic identity), Verify+Collect (adds SSN collection and forms), and Verify+Carry (adds digital wallet credentials and QR code badges). Uses real-time facial biometrics matched against government-issued IDs.
• Electronic I-9 & E-Verify Services Electronic I-9 form completion and E-Verify submission service powered by partner I9 Compliance. Features error-detecting workflow, candidate-driven Section 1 completion, automated record retention/purging, and audit-ready reporting. Includes paper-to-electronic conversion and I-9 audit support services.
• Social Media Screening FCRA-compliant social media background checks analyzing publicly available online content. Flags hate speech, threats of violence, explicit content, drug-related behavior while redacting protected class information. Uses AI combined with human review. Available as one-time check or continuous monitoring.
• Credit Reports FCRA-compliant credit reporting including soft-pull options for franchisee, tenant, and membership screening without impacting credit scores. Includes SSN validation alerts (death master index, year/state of issue verification) and court-order credit reports for fiduciaries and divorce proceedings.
• Drug Testing SAMHSA-certified drug testing with nationwide collection site network. Supports urine, saliva, blood, hair, and DOT testing with 4, 5, 9, and 10-panel configurations. Average turnaround under 2 business days for negative results; MRO review for non-negatives.
• Occupational Health (OccuHealth) Services Occupational health services including physical exams, lab testing, vision/hearing screenings, TB testing, immunity titers, and vaccinations. Delivered through nationwide clinic network with streamlined scheduling.
• Continuous Criminal Monitoring Ongoing criminal record monitoring that alerts employers to new reportable activity (misdemeanor and felony convictions) after onboarding. Proactive real-time risk detection separate from one-time background checks.
• Criminal Searches Multi-layered criminal record searches including county, state, and federal district courts; national criminal database (CORE); sex offender registries; and OFAC/SDN/global watch lists. Addresses non-centralized U.S. criminal database limitations through comprehensive coverage.
• Motor Vehicle Records (MVR) Driving history checks revealing license status, serious traffic violations, DUI offenses, suspensions, and failures to appear. Provides behavioral risk assessment for positions requiring driving or company vehicle access.
• Employment, Education, License & Reference Verifications Primary-source verification services confirming employment history, education credentials, professional licenses, and reference checks through U.S.-based verification team. Validates employers, dates, and positions held.
• International Background Screening Global background screening services covering more than 250 countries and territories for organizations with international operations or candidates.

Quantifiable outcome

• 39% lower employee turnover for organizations utilizing background screening
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability6 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered key, core and preferred.

• ClientTetherkeyGTM or Marketing Partner · 23 February 2026Strategic partnership integrating comprehensive background screening services directly into ClientTether's platform for franchise and multi-location brands. The combined solution supports cohesive hiring workflows, reduces operational friction, and maintains consistent compliance across organizations scaling across regions. Both companies emphasize shared commitments to innovation, automation, and customer success targeting the franchise hiring market.
• fpSOLUTIONSkeyTechnology or Integration · 15 October 2025Strategic partnership providing integrated workforce compliance and hiring risk mitigation solutions for HR teams. The partnership integrates Reliable's background screening, drug testing, and occupational health services directly into fpSOLUTIONS's compliance platform, offering automated workflows and enhanced transparency throughout the hiring process. Collaboration strengthens shared commitment to delivering compliant, high-quality HR support services.
• I9 CompliancecoreTechnology or IntegrationElectronic Form I-9 and E-Verify solution provider powering Reliable's electronic I-9 services. Platform features comprehensive dashboard, error-detecting workflow, candidate-driven completion, automated record management, and audit-ready reporting. Mobile device friendly solution helps employers streamline hiring and reduce I-9 audit risk.
• CareerPlugpreferredTechnology or IntegrationHiring and applicant tracking software partner. CareerPlug empowers teams to grow by making it easier for managers to hire and retain the right people. Software and playbook built for non-HR experts, trusted by 60,000+ businesses and 600+ franchise and member organizations.
• TroonpreferredGTM or Marketing PartnerWorld's largest golf and golf-related hospitality management company providing services at locations in 45-plus states and 40-plus countries. Partnership supports background screening needs for Troon's portfolio of clubs and hospitality venues.
• Club Leaders ForumpreferredGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganization dedicated to advancing excellence in private club leadership, governance, management, and operations worldwide. Partnership provides screening services to Club Leaders Forum member clubs.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Checkr: AI-driven background screening provider offering criminal, identity, employment, and continuous monitoring checks. Most direct peer by product/category, serving the same employer and staffing customers with a modern, tech-forward platform.
• Accurate Background: Mid-sized background screening company serving enterprise, mid-market, and SMB across staffing, healthcare, education, and franchise verticals. Closely comparable in size, product mix, and customer base to Reliable.
• Asurint: Background screening provider focused on customizable screening programs, verifications, and continuous monitoring. Similar mid-market positioning and customer segments to Reliable, especially staffing and enterprise employers.
• InfoMart: Mid-sized screening company offering criminal, employment/education verifications, drug testing, and identity checks with a focus on customization and customer service. Comparable service model and SMB/mid-market focus to Reliable.
• S2 Verify: Smaller background screening firm offering employment, tenant, and volunteer screening with strong compliance focus. Closely comparable in size, customer segments (including volunteer and niche verticals), and consultative service model.

Broad incumbents

• Sterling: One of the largest global background screening providers, offering pre-employment, drug testing, identity, and verification services. Overlaps heavily with Reliable's enterprise and franchise customers but at far larger scale and broader geographic footprint.
• HireRight: Global background screening incumbent serving enterprise, SMB, and government customers with criminal, employment, drug, and identity checks plus integrated ATS workflows. Competes for the same multi-location and enterprise accounts as Reliable.
• First Advantage: Large, publicly-traded screening and identity verification provider offering pre-employment, tenant, fleet, and continuous monitoring products. Comparable scope to Reliable across multiple verticals with materially greater scale and capital.

Emerging players

• Veremark: International background screening provider with a tech-forward, subscription-based platform covering 200+ countries. Comparable to Reliable's international screening offering and continuous-monitoring emphasis, though with a more global/emerging-tech posture.
• Certn: AI-native background screening and identity verification provider targeting SMB and mid-market with rapid-turnaround checks. Comparable to Reliable's emerging vID/AI verification direction and self-service online ordering model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ReliableKnows
• Facebookfacebook.com/ReliableBackground
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/reliable-background-screening

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Reliable Background Screening