What Backgrounds Online does

Backgrounds Online, legally operating as I.Q. Data Systems dba Backgrounds Online, is a Sacramento-based Consumer Reporting Agency founded approximately 1997-1999 that provides FCRA-compliant employment background screening services to US employers. The company offers a tiered product structure spanning Basic ($49.95), Standard, Comprehensive, and Custom packages covering criminal and court records, employment and education verifications, sex offender registry, global watchlist, and federal and county criminal searches, supplemented by add-ons such as international screening, motor vehicle record searches, drug screening (via Quest Diagnostics), criminal monitoring, and branded client portals.

The platform is built on proprietary technology including the Applicant Self-Submittal System (which automates candidate consent and compliance document approval), the Annual Screening Dashboard (for recurring re-screening programs), an API for programmatic integration, and native integrations with eight ATS platforms (BambooHR, JazzHR, Greenhouse, Workday, Lever, RecruiterBox, CareerBuilder, Cervis) plus ClearCo. In May 2026 the company launched Advanced Identity Verification Technology combining facial recognition with government-issued ID, geolocation, and document verification to authenticate candidates. The company holds PBSA accreditation, SOC 2 Type 2 certification (unmodified opinion from A-LIGN), full FCRA compliance, and participation in the EU-U.S., UK Extension, and Swiss-U.S. Data Privacy Frameworks.

The business operates a transaction-based pricing model with no signup, monthly, or subscription fees, generating revenue per background check ordered. Customer segmentation spans enterprise accounts running 10-1,000+ checks annually (served by US-based dedicated Account Managers), small businesses running fewer than 10 checks annually (served through self-serve), and individual consumers (via the separate I Am Screened brand). Go-to-market combines direct enterprise sales, inside sales, self-serve online onboarding, ATS channel partnerships, and content marketing. The company serves 16 industry verticals including construction, education, financial, government, healthcare, manufacturing, retail, staffing, technology, and transportation, and has been recognized for eight consecutive years on the HRO Today Baker's Dozen list of top US background screening providers, including #1 rankings in Enterprise Breadth of Service and Enterprise Quality of Service categories.

Name

Backgrounds Online

Legal name

I.Q. Data Systems dba Backgrounds Online

Website

https://backgroundsonline.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Backgrounds Online (I.Q. Data Systems) is a Sacramento-based, FCRA-compliant Consumer Reporting Agency providing employment background screening, criminal records, identity verification, and drug testing to US employers across 16 verticals via tiered pay-per-check packages and eight ATS platform integrations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Sacramento

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Employment Background Screening Services: Transaction-based background screening services where clients pay per background check ordered. Pricing varies by package type (Basic, Standard, Comprehensive, Custom) and includes various search components such as criminal records, verifications, and position-specific checks. Additional third-party fees apply for court fees, state criminal searches, motor vehicle records, verification services, and international searches.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Backgrounds Online (legal entity: I.Q. Data Systems dba Backgrounds Online) provides FCRA-compliant employment background screening services delivered through tiered screening packages (Basic, Standard, Comprehensive, and Custom) along with add-on services such as criminal and court record searches, employment and education verifications, drug screening, motor vehicle records, international screening, criminal monitoring, advanced identity verification using facial recognition, and an applicant self-submittal system. Orders are placed and managed through a proprietary web platform with ATS and HRIS integrations via API, serving employer customers seeking pre-employment and ongoing workforce screening.

Product overview

Backgrounds Online is an employment background screening platform offering a tiered package structure (Basic, Standard, Comprehensive, Custom) along with modular add-on services. The core platform provides FCRA-compliant criminal and court records searches, employment and education verifications, and position-specific screening packages. Additional offerings include international screening, drug screening via Quest Diagnostics, Motor Vehicle Record searches, Criminal Monitoring, and Branded Solutions. The platform features include the Applicant Self-Submittal System, Annual Screening Dashboard, and API Integration for ATS connectivity. Recent additions include Advanced Identity Verification technology using facial recognition for enhanced candidate authentication.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Basic Background Screening Package
• Standard Background Screening Package
• Comprehensive Background Screening Package
• Custom Background Screening Package
• Criminal & Court Records Search
• Employment & Education Verifications
• Drug Screening
• Motor Vehicle Records (MVR) Search
• International Screening
• Criminal Monitoring
• Advanced Identity Verification
• Position Specific Screening
• Branded Solutions (Co-branded Background Checks)
• API Integration
• Applicant Self-Submittal System
• Annual Screening Dashboard

Quantifiable outcome

• Eight consecutive years recognized among top 13 background screening providers in the United States by HRO Today.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

AI capability6 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• BambooHRcoreTechnology or IntegrationBambooHR is an all-in-one HR software for small and medium-sized businesses. Integration allows BambooHR users to order and receive background checks directly within the BambooHR platform, streamlining the hiring workflow for joint customers.
• JazzHRcoreTechnology or IntegrationJazzHR is recruiting software purpose-built for growing companies. Integration enables JazzHR users to access background screening services without leaving their recruiting workflow.
• GreenhousecoreTechnology or IntegrationGreenhouse is an applicant tracking system for companies focused on improving hiring processes. Partnership provides integrated background screening access for Greenhouse customers.
• WorkdaycoreTechnology or IntegrationWorkday provides enterprise cloud applications for finance and HR. Integration allows Workday users to access background screening services within their HR workflows.
• LevercoreTechnology or IntegrationLever is a talent acquisition platform combining ATS and CRM capabilities. Partnership enables integrated background check ordering and results retrieval for Lever customers.
• RecruiterBoxcoreTechnology or IntegrationRecruiterBox is applicant tracking software for growing companies. Integration provides seamless background screening access within the RecruiterBox hiring platform.
• CareerBuildercoreTechnology or IntegrationCareerBuilder is a major job site and recruitment platform. Partnership enables background screening services integration for CareerBuilder's employer customers.
• CerviscoreTechnology or IntegrationCERVIS (Community Event Registration and Volunteer Information System) helps organizations recruit volunteers online and manage volunteer opportunities. Partnership enables background screening for volunteer organizations using Cervis.
• ClearCocoreTechnology or IntegrationClearCo provides an organic, unified platform for hiring, onboarding, goal alignment, and performance management. Integration provides background screening capabilities within the ClearCo hiring platform.
• Quest DiagnosticscoreTechnology or IntegrationQuest Diagnostics is a provider of diagnostic testing services. Partnership enables drug screening services (5, 10, or 14 panel screenings) through Quest Diagnostics for Backgrounds Online clients requiring drug testing as part of their screening program.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Checkr: AI-native, venture-backed background screening platform serving enterprise and SMB with API-first integrations across major ATS platforms. Most direct functional competitor with a modern technology stack, though at substantially larger scale.
• Sterling: Large global background screening provider with broad enterprise and SMB coverage, multiple ATS integrations, and international screening capability. Directly comparable product set including criminal checks, verifications, and continuous monitoring.
• HireRight: Enterprise-focused background screening provider with global footprint and similar tiered package structure (criminal, verifications, drug/MVR). Direct competitor for mid-market and enterprise accounts in transportation, healthcare, and financial verticals.
• First Advantage: Large publicly-traded background screening company with comparable product breadth across criminal checks, verifications, and continuous monitoring. Serves similar enterprise and SMB customer base with ATS integrations.
• Accurate: Mid-market background screening provider with similar FCRA-compliant criminal, employment, and education verification offerings. Comparable scale and enterprise/SMB hybrid GTM motion.
• GoodHire: SMB-focused background screening platform with self-serve ordering and ATS integrations. Closest comparable to BGO's small-business self-serve motion with pay-per-order pricing.
• IntelliCorp: Mid-sized background screening provider serving SMB and mid-market with similar product breadth including criminal records, verifications, and continuous monitoring.
• Asurint: Background screening provider with comparable criminal, employment, and education verification offerings and similar mid-market/enterprise customer profile.

Broad incumbents

• ADP Screening and Selection Services: Screening services bundled within ADP's broader HR/payroll ecosystem. Not a standalone specialist, but competes for the same enterprise screening RFPs as part of a much wider HR suite.

Emerging players

• Certn: Newer, tech-forward background screening platform with AI-driven adjudication and developer-friendly APIs. Smaller scale than BGO but represents the AI-native competitive threat category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/backgrounds-online-139026756166410
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/backgrounds-online
• Xx.com/BGO_screening

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Backgrounds Online