SterlingBackcheck
Sterling Backcheck is a global background screening and identity verification platform serving 50,000+ clients including Fortune 500 companies across 100+ countries, offering criminal, employment, education, and identity checks via API-integrated workflows. Now operates as a brand under First Advantage following the 2024 acquisition.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1975
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
SterlingBackcheck firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SterlingBackcheck
- Legal name
- Sterling Check Corp.
- Website
- https://sterlingbackcheck.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1975
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Sterling Backcheck is a global background screening and identity verification platform serving 50,000+ clients including Fortune 500 companies across 100+ countries, offering criminal, employment, education, and identity checks via API-integrated workflows. Now operates as a brand under First Advantage following the 2024 acquisition.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SterlingBackcheck industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Background Screening Services
- NAICS
- Investigation and Personal Background Check Services (561611)
- SIC
- Services-Detective, Guard & Armored Car Services (7381)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Employment Verification (Work History & References) (BPACALAB)
Keywords
Where SterlingBackcheck is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices9 records
Markets served
SterlingBackcheck business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Background Screening Services: Per-screening fees charged to employers for criminal record checks, employment verifications, education verification, identity verification, and other pre-employment screening services. Revenue generated on a per-transaction basis as clients request screening packages for job candidates.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Custom enterprise pricing based on volume and service bundle |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
SterlingBackcheck product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sterling Backcheck provides pre-employment and post-employment background screening and identity verification services for employers, including criminal record checks, employment and education verifications, reference checks, identity verification, global background screening, and specialized vertical services such as tenant screening and contractor credentialing. Services are delivered through a cloud-based platform with API integrations to client HR systems and applicant tracking platforms, supporting 50,000+ clients across 100+ countries and territories.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Companies that use SterlingBackcheck
Customer profileNamed customers16 records
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
SterlingBackcheck technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
SterlingBackcheck partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- iCIMScoreIntegration partnership enabling seamless background screening workflow within the iCIMS applicant tracking system. Hudson Valley Credit Union case study specifically highlights successful use of Sterling with iCIMS integration.
- PBSA (Professional Background Screening Association)coreIndustry accreditation body setting standards for background screening services. Sterling maintains PBSA accreditation demonstrating commitment to industry standards and compliance.
- CDIA (Consumer Data Industry Association)coreIndustry association for consumer data companies including background screening providers. Member organization promoting industry standards and compliance.
- HRPA (Human Resources Professionals Association)minorProfessional association for HR practitioners providing industry thought leadership and professional development in the HR and screening space.
- SAPAA (Security Industry Association)minorSecurity industry association supporting background screening providers with industry standards and best practices.
- NRF (National Retail Federation)minorRetail industry association providing insights into background screening needs for retail sector employees.
- SIA (Security Industry Association)minorSecurity industry association supporting background screening best practices and standards.
- ASA (American Staffing Association)minorStaffing industry association providing guidance on screening needs for temporary and permanent staffing.
- ASIS InternationalminorSecurity industry organization focused on security risk management and background screening standards.
Scale indicators6 records
SterlingBackcheck competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Checkr: San Francisco-based background screening provider known for an API-first, developer-friendly platform and AI-driven adjudication. Checkr is Sterling's most direct tech-native competitor, particularly in mid-market, gig economy and high-volume employer segments.
- HireRight: Irvine, California-based global background screening provider serving enterprise and SMB employers across criminal, employment, education and drug/health screening. Closest comparable in scale, global footprint and enterprise customer mix.
- Accurate Background: Lake Forest, Illinois-based background screening provider offering criminal, employment, education and drug screening with an enterprise focus. Direct peer competing for the same mid-market and enterprise HR buyer.
- Cisive: Holtsville, New York-based background screening firm focused on regulated and enterprise verticals including healthcare, financial services and transportation. Comparable in regulated-vertical positioning and compliance depth.
- A-Check America (Global Verification Network): Glendale, California-based background screening provider with global screening capabilities across multiple countries. Comparable as a mid-size direct competitor with similar product breadth in criminal, employment and education verification.
Emerging players
- Veremark: UK-based tech-enabled background screening provider focused on international checks and a modern candidate experience. Comparable as an emerging tech-forward disruptor in the global screening category.
- Certn: Victoria, Canada-based AI-powered background screening platform offering criminal, credit and identity checks with rapid turnaround. Comparable as a Canada-rooted emerging tech-native screening competitor with overlap in identity verification.
Broad incumbents
- Kroll: Global risk consulting firm with a dedicated Employee Screening practice spanning background checks, due diligence and compliance. Comparable as a broader incumbent offering screening as part of a wider risk and investigations portfolio.
- Pinkerton: Global security and investigations firm offering pre-employment background screening as part of a broader corporate risk and protective services portfolio. Comparable as an incumbent offering background checks alongside adjacent investigative and security services.
Regional players
- DataFlow Group: Dubai-based primary-source verification and background screening specialist with deep coverage in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia. Comparable as a regionally focused screening provider serving expatriate and professional workforce verification.
Market position
Customer concentration
SterlingBackcheck social profiles
Digital presenceSterlingBackcheck financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SterlingBackcheck leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
SterlingBackcheck funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SterlingBackcheck M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A6 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SterlingBackcheck
What does SterlingBackcheck do?
Sterling Backcheck provides pre-employment and post-employment background screening and identity verification services for employers, including criminal record checks, employment and education verifications, reference checks, identity verification, global background screening, and specialized vertical services such as tenant screening and contractor credentialing. Services are delivered through a cloud-based platform with API integrations to client HR systems and applicant tracking platforms, supporting 50,000+ clients across 100+ countries and territories.
Is SterlingBackcheck a public or private company?
SterlingBackcheck is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was SterlingBackcheck founded?
SterlingBackcheck was founded in 1975. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is SterlingBackcheck based?
SterlingBackcheck is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does SterlingBackcheck make money?
One revenue line is on record: background Screening Services.
Who are SterlingBackcheck's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Checkr, HireRight, Accurate Background, Cisive and A-Check America (Global Verification Network). Emerging players are Veremark and Certn. Broad incumbents are Kroll and Pinkerton. DataFlow Group is listed as a regional player.
Does SterlingBackcheck have an API?
Yes. Sterling offers an API that enables clients to integrate background check and screening services into their existing systems. The API is designed for enterprise and partner use, though specific technical details such as protocol type (REST/GraphQL), authentication method, rate limits, and sandbox availability are not explicitly stated in the available source materials. Developer documentation is at www.sterlingbackcheck.ca/services/sterling-api.
What industry is SterlingBackcheck in?
SterlingBackcheck's product category is Background Screening Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACALAB, Employment Verification (Work History & References). Its NAICS code is 561611 and its SIC code is 7381.