When you run a small business, every hire counts — and you don't have a giant HR department to lean on. You need small business background checks that are simple to run, compliant, and backed by a real person who actually picks up the phone. At NCS Workforce, you're the priority. When you call, you'll quickly reach a live person in our office — not a bot, not a phone tree, not a ticket queue. We pair powerful technology with real human support, because behind every great hire there should be people who care.
We've spent 20+ years running full-service background screening for more than 20,000 customers nationwide, and many of them are small businesses, franchises, nonprofits, and local shops just like yours. We built our screening to be easy to use and quick to learn, so a confident, compliant hire doesn't require a compliance team. We make it easy.
Get a quote — tell us how you hire and we'll talk through exactly what you need.
Background Checks Without the Complexity
You don't have time to wrestle with a clunky platform. Our screening is built to be straightforward, so you can run a check and get back to running your business.
- Easy to use. A clean, guided process that doesn't require training or a manual.
- Fast turnaround. Many searches return instantly or within minutes. County-level criminal searches typically take a few days depending on the court.
- Real human support, included. Even on our simplest plan, a real person in our office is one call away — no add-on, no upsell, just how we work.
- Hailey, your AI HR assistant. Right inside your command center, Hailey can help you understand results, choose the right package, and answer screening questions in plain language — with our team always a call away.
We're FCRA compliant and SOC 2 compliant, one of the first CRAs to earn PBSA accreditation (renewed in 2026), and an A+ rated BBB member — the kind of credentials that usually come with a much bigger, much less friendly vendor.
A Real Person on the Phone — Not a Phone Tree
This is the part that matters most when you're small. The big screening vendors route you to a chat window and a ticket number. We answer the phone, because you're the priority.
- A live person, fast. Call us and you'll quickly reach a real person in our office — by phone, chat, or email.
- Someone who knows your name. We'd rather build a relationship than process a ticket.
- Help reading a result. When a record turns up and you're unsure how to handle it, you won't be left guessing — a knowledgeable member of our team is one call away.
- No runaround. Companies thrive when they're supported by real people who care.
That's not a feature we bury in the fine print. For a small business, it's the whole point.
The Searches Small Businesses Rely On
You don't need every search under the sun — you need the right ones for the roles you hire. Here are the searches small businesses use most:
- SSN trace. Confirms identity and surfaces names, aliases, and address history that point the rest of the search in the right direction.
- Multi-state criminal database search. Scans criminal records across a wide multi-state database to catch records beyond a single county.
- County criminal history. Pulls records at the courthouse level, where the most authoritative criminal records live.
- National sex offender registry and OFAC / watchlist checks. Important for roles with public, customer, or in-home contact.
- Employment and education verification. Confirms a candidate's history is what they say it is.
- Drug screening. Lab-based and instant options for roles that require it. See our drug screening options.
Not sure which searches your roles need? That's exactly the kind of thing our team is happy to walk through — and Hailey can help you sort it out inside your command center, too. Contact us and we'll help you map searches to roles.
A Plan That Fits How You Hire
Small businesses hire in all kinds of ways — a few times a year, or a steady trickle as you grow. NCS Workforce comes in three plans, so you can start simple and add capabilities only if and when you need them.
- NCS Lite — criminal background checks only. Simple and fast, built for smaller or occasional hirers who just need a reliable check.
- NCS Workforce Pro — à la carte. Build the plan you need by adding the workforce capabilities you want: continuous criminal monitoring, the Hailey AI assistant, electronic authorization, smart forms, dashboards and analytics, and review and approval workflows. Add only what fits how you hire.
- NCS Workforce Platinum — everything Pro offers, fully included, plus enterprise capabilities for when you grow into a larger or multi-location operation.
Not sure where to start? Most small businesses start with Lite or Pro — and we'd rather talk it through than make you guess. Contact us for pricing.
Why Small Businesses Choose NCS Workforce
You get the credentials of a big vendor with the service of a neighbor. That's the difference — and we back it with credentials, not just promises.
- 20+ years of full-service background screening expertise.
- 20,000+ customers nationwide trust us with their hiring — many of them small businesses just like yours.
- FCRA compliant and SOC 2 compliant, one of the first CRAs to earn PBSA accreditation (renewed in 2026), and an A+ rated BBB member.
- Hailey, a true AI HR assistant in your command center. Most providers bolt AI onto the back end. We give you a hands-on, conversational assistant you can actually talk to — for screening questions, understanding results and charges, and picking the right package — with real people always a call away. It's a little like having an HR assistant on your team.
Companies thrive when they're supported by real people who care. We're striving to exceed your expectations on every hire you screen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a small business run background checks easily?
Yes. Our screening is built to be simple to use, with a clean, guided process that doesn't require training or a compliance team. Many searches return instantly or within minutes, and a real person in our office is always one call away if you have a question.
What background checks should a small business run?
It depends on the role. Most small businesses run an SSN trace, multi-state and county criminal searches, and the national sex offender registry, then add verifications or drug screening when a role requires it. We're glad to help you map the right searches to each role.
Do I get real support, or just chat and tickets?
Real support. When you call, you'll quickly reach a live person in our office — not a bot or a phone tree. Human support is included on every plan, even the simplest one. It's the same standard that's served our 20,000+ customers for 20+ years.
How much do small business background checks cost?
It depends on how you hire and the searches each role requires. Tell us how you hire and we'll build a quote around exactly what you need — nothing padded, nothing you won't use. Get a quote or call us at (479) 695-2111.
Can NCS help me stay FCRA compliant?
We offer tools that help: we can collect FCRA-compliant applicant consent electronically on your behalf and provide applicant-specific adverse-action templates to support the process. The FCRA obligations themselves rest with you as the employer, so confirm specifics with your compliance or legal counsel — and if you have a question along the way, a real person in our office is ready to help.
Get a Quote
Tell us a little about your business and how you hire, and we'll help you choose the right plan and the right searches. Simple screening, real people who care, and credentials you can trust.
Get a quote or call us at (479) 695-2111, Monday–Thursday 8:00 AM–5:00 PM CST and Friday 8:00 AM–4:00 PM CST. You'll quickly reach a live person in our office. And once you're set up, Hailey is right there in your command center at mycommandcenter.com whenever you have a question.
Related: Background Check Packages & Pricing · Drug Screening · Verifications · Compliance · Contact Us
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