What drives the price
- Court access fees. Some counties charge per search; those pass-through costs vary by jurisdiction and are unavoidable.
- Number of counties. Address history determines how many county searches run.
- Verifications. Each employer, school, or license verified adds cost because it involves work by a human or a data partner.
- Drug testing. Collection site, panel size, and medical review officer time.
- International scope. Foreign records cost more and take longer.
Typical package tiers
| Tier | Typical contents | Price range |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | Identity, national criminal database, sex offender registry, one county search | $25–$50 |
| Standard | Basic plus employment and education verification | $50–$100 |
| Comprehensive | Standard plus credit, MVR, licenses, drug screening, international | $100–$200+ |
The costs that do not appear on the invoice
Slow turnaround costs more than the check itself. Every extra day to hire carries recruiter time, delayed productivity, and candidate drop-off. A report that is $10 cheaper but three days slower is usually the more expensive option.
See Ethur's published per-check pricing, including add-ons, on the pricing page — no per-seat platform fee.
Frequently asked
Who pays for an employment background check?
The employer. Charging the candidate is prohibited or restricted in many states.
Are there free background checks?
Free public-record lookups exist, but using them for hiring decisions without an FCRA-compliant process exposes the employer to significant legal risk.