Name

DBS Check Online

Legal name

Applications Assist Limited

Website

https://dbscheckonline.org.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

DBS Check Online is a UK government-approved Responsible Organisation offering Basic, Standard, and Enhanced DBS criminal record checks online for employers, individuals, and regulated verticals across England, Wales, and Scotland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Background screening services

NAICS

Investigation and Personal Background Check Services (561611)

akta.pro primary industry

KYC/KYB & Customer Onboarding (CIP, beneficial ownership, screening) (FSAGAFAB)

Keywords

• DBS check services
• Criminal record checks
• Background screening
• Pre-employment vetting
• Disclosure services

Headquarters

HQ city

Blackburn

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Basic DBS Check Processing: One-time fee per basic DBS check application. Includes third-party processor fee (£4.00), DBS government fee (£21.50), service charge (£30.00), application processing fee (£38.08), and VAT (£14.42). Total £108.00 per check.
2. Standard DBS Check Processing: One-time fee per standard DBS check application. Includes third-party processor fee (£4.00), DBS government fee (£21.50), service charge (£40.00), application processing fee (£43.08), and VAT (£17.42).
3. Enhanced DBS Check Processing: One-time fee per enhanced DBS check application. Includes third-party processor fee (£4.00), DBS government fee (£49.50), service charge (£35.00), application processing fee (£34.75), and VAT (£14.75).
4. Add-on Services: Optional add-ons including DBS ID Card (£20 + VAT), ISA check, identity check, adverse credit history check, DVLA check, right to work check, and fast track service for expedited processing.
5. DBS Cloud Service Subscription: Monthly subscription service at £6.00 per calendar month for portal access and management tools. Minimum 1 month term, cancellable thereafter.
6. Organisation Registration: One-time registration fee of £48 (£20 service charge + £20 processing fee + £8 VAT) for organisations to access the DBS check platform.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

DBS Check Online is a UK government-approved Responsible Organisation that processes Basic, Standard and Enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) criminal record checks through a fully online platform. The platform serves both individuals applying for Basic checks and organisations submitting Basic, Standard and Enhanced checks for staff, with digital ID verification via Yoti, a bulk portal for high-volume employers, and optional add-on screening services (ISA, Identity, Adverse Credit, DVLA, Right to Work).

Product overview

DBS Check Online is a government-approved DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) provider offering a comprehensive online platform for criminal record checks across three levels: Basic, Standard, and Enhanced DBS checks. The core offering consists of the Online DBS Application Portal, which encompasses the DBS Organisation Check Application Form for employers and the DBS Individual Check Application Form for personal Basic check applications. The platform provides three ID verification methods: Digital ID (via Yoti), Post Office ID Check, and Manual ID Verification. Add-on services include a Fast Track Service (3-hour processing), DBS ID Cards (physical and digital), ISA Barred List Checks, Identity Checks, Adverse Credit History Checks, DVLA Checks, and Right to Work Checks. For high-volume organisations, the DBS Bulk Portal (eBulk) enables batch processing with real-time tracking and smart notifications. Additional services include the DBS Cloud Service subscription, SMS status updates, and pre-paid payment options. The company also launched self-employed Enhanced DBS check applications in January 2026, extending services to independent contractors and freelancers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Basic DBS Check Entry-level criminal record check revealing unspent convictions and conditional cautions. Available for individuals and organisations, commonly used for roles in retail, office-based, hospitality and general employment contexts where Standard or Enhanced checks are not legally required.
• Standard DBS Check In-depth criminal record check revealing spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings. Must be applied for by an employer or organisation; required for roles in FCA-regulated environments such as financial or insurance sectors.
• Enhanced DBS Check Highest level of DBS check, including all Standard check information plus relevant police-held intelligence. Can include checks against Children's and/or Adults' Barred Lists. Required for roles involving unsupervised work with children or vulnerable adults.
• Online DBS Application Portal Fully electronic online system enabling organisations and employers to manage Disclosure applications with the DBS throughout the UK, supporting submission, tracking and management of all check types.
• DBS Bulk Portal (eBulk) Bulk DBS management platform allowing organisations to submit multiple DBS checks online, eliminating paperwork. Features include application invitation system, real-time status tracking, smart notifications, SSL and SFTP encryption, and GDPR alignment.
• Fast Track Service Priority processing add-on offering 3-working-hour processing rate for applications. Does not expedite DBS service delivery; only accelerates the checking, preparing and reviewing of the application by DBS Check Online.
• Digital ID Verification (Yoti) Quick digital ID verification process allowing users to upload identity documents and take a selfie for instant identity confirmation. Powered by Yoti; fastest way to verify ID for DBS applications.
• Post Office ID Check ID verification service via local Royal Mail Post Office. Users scan and print ID documents, visit the Post Office for verification and payment of £12.75, after which verified documents are sent to DBS Check Online.
• DBS ID Card Physical ID card customised with individual-specific information (name, identification number and other details). Customised cards are non-refundable. Also available as Digital ID Card (iPhone only) or combined Physical and Digital package.
• DBS Cloud Service Monthly subscription service at £6.00 per calendar month, providing ongoing DBS check management and processing capabilities. Includes a 1-month minimum term with no cancellation fee thereafter.
• Self-Employed Enhanced DBS Check Service Online service enabling self-employed individuals to apply for Enhanced DBS checks directly, without an employer or organisation intermediary. Targeted at tutors, freelance carers, therapists, sports coaches and childcare providers needing to demonstrate safeguarding compliance independently.
• DBS Check Add-On Screening Services Bundle of additional screening checks: ISA (Adults' Safeguarding Barred List) check, Identity Check, Adverse Credit History Check, DVLA driving licence validation, and Right to Work employment eligibility check. Bolt-on services to enhance the standard DBS application.

Quantifiable outcome

• Process applications in as little as 3 working hours
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers25 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• YoticoreTechnology or IntegrationYoti provides digital ID verification technology powering DBS Check Online's instant identity verification feature. Users can upload ID documents and take a selfie for quick digital verification, eliminating the need for manual document checking.
• uCheckcoreTechnology or IntegrationuCheck is a recognised third-party processor for DBS checks. uCheck is recognised by The Disclosure and Barring Service as a top responsible organisation for Basic checks and a registered Third party for Standard Checks and Enhanced Checks. They process DBS applications submitted by DBS Check Online.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Onfido: Digital identity verification provider whose biometric IDV technology overlaps with the Yoti-powered verification DBS Check Online offers. Adjacent competitor in identity verification for regulated onboarding use cases.
• Veremark: Background and identity verification platform offering DBS checks alongside international employment screening. Comparable digital-first, API-enabled screening approach targeting enterprise HR and compliance teams.

Broad incumbents

• Sterling: Large background-screening firm offering identity, criminal, and employment checks globally. Comparable as an enterprise background-check incumbent with overlapping UK DBS-adjacent capabilities, but operating at much broader scale.
• HireRight: Global background screening provider serving enterprise HR with criminal, identity, and employment checks. A broader incumbent offering DBS-equivalent UK screening as part of a wider global portfolio rather than as a UK-only specialist.

Direct peers

• uCheck: UK government-approved umbrella body that processes Basic, Standard, and Enhanced DBS checks. DBS Check Online uses uCheck as its third-party processor for the actual DBS submissions, making it both a supplier and a direct end-customer competitor in the same product category.
• Aaron's Department: UK DBS umbrella body processing Basic, Standard, and Enhanced checks online for organisations and individuals. Competes on speed, pricing, and service quality in the same addressable market.
• Care Check: UK DBS umbrella body focused on the care, healthcare, and education sectors. Directly competes with DBS Check Online's primary Health, Care & Wellbeing and Education verticals on the same Basic/Standard/Enhanced DBS products.
• Online DBS Checks: UK-based online DBS check provider offering Basic, Standard, and Enhanced DBS services to employers and individuals. A direct competitor in the same regulated product category with a similar digital, online-led GTM.
• Personnel Checks: UK-based DBS umbrella body offering Basic, Standard, and Enhanced DBS checks via an online portal to employers and individuals. Directly competes with DBS Check Online on the same government-regulated product, pricing, and vertical customer segments (care, education, security).

Others

• Yoti: Digital identity verification platform that is DBS Check Online's ID-verification technology partner (via the Yoti integration). They are a supplier/enabler rather than a direct competitor, but Yoti's identity stack could be white-labelled by competing umbrella bodies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/DBSCheckOnline
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dbscheckonline
• Instagraminstagram.com/dbscheckonline
• TikToktiktok.com/@dbscheckonline

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 DBS Check Online