SterlingBackcheck

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

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

• Background screening services
• Employment verification
• Criminal record checks
• Identity verification services
• Pre-employment screening

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 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

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core 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

Named customers16 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• iCIMScoreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry accreditation body setting standards for background screening services. Sterling maintains PBSA accreditation demonstrating commitment to industry standards and compliance.
• CDIA (Consumer Data Industry Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association for consumer data companies including background screening providers. Member organization promoting industry standards and compliance.
• HRPA (Human Resources Professionals Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional association for HR practitioners providing industry thought leadership and professional development in the HR and screening space.
• SAPAA (Security Industry Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSecurity industry association supporting background screening providers with industry standards and best practices.
• NRF (National Retail Federation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRetail industry association providing insights into background screening needs for retail sector employees.
• SIA (Security Industry Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSecurity industry association supporting background screening best practices and standards.
• ASA (American Staffing Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStaffing industry association providing guidance on screening needs for temporary and permanent staffing.
• ASIS InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSecurity industry organization focused on security risk management and background screening standards.

Scale indicators6 records

Direct 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

• Xx.com/SterlingBackch
• Facebookfacebook.com/sterlingbackgroundchecks
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sterlingbackcheck

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors3 records

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

M&A6 records

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about SterlingBackcheck