Procurement Market Intelligence Report
Reference & Background Checking Services
Sourcing Guide & Market Intelligence
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Reference & Background Checking Services Global Overview
Definition
Summary
Reference and background checking service providers research and compile various records, including commercial, criminal, employment, educational, social security, and financial data, of an individual or organization. After collating their findings, operators report them to various stakeholders, including landlords, corporations, and other organizations. Key buyers include property owners, government agencies, government contractors, and various businesses.
This Report Includes:
- Record Collection
- Record Reporting
Not in this Report:
- Consumer Credit Reporting Services
- Business Credit Reporting Services
Global Reference & Background Checking Services Market - Suppliers by Region
| Country/Region | Number of Suppliers |
|---|---|
| #1 China | 3,400 |
| #2 Europe | 3,145 |
| #3 United States | 2,415 |
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Geography Drilldown - US, Canada & Europe
Average Cost of Reference & Background Checking Services
United States
2026 Market Pricing$2.00 to $XXX.XX
per reportCanada
Europe
Average Price
Prices in the Reference & Background Checking Services market range from $2.00 to $XXX.XX, depending on Type of Check, Turnaround Time and Quantity Purchased. For example, lower prices are associated with Identity ($2.00 to $4.00 per report), Credit history ($4.00 to $10.00 per report), Motor vehicle records ($3.00 to $10.00 per report) and Rental history ($4.00 to $10.00 per report), whereas higher prices are associated with Criminal background ($7.00 to $16.00 per report), Verifications ($7.00 to $15.00 per report) and Drug testing ($25.00 to $55.00 per report).
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Between our Europe and Canada collections, we provide price data for 350 markets so you can instantly compare prices across borders. Or, use our custom research services for intel on prices in any region across the globe.
Reference & Background Checking Services Category Price Trends
Pricing trends are indicated by the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) during a set period of time. For the Reference & Background Checking Services market, prices in the US have grown 1.9% from 2022 to 2025. and +2.0% in Europe.
United States (2022-2025)
Canada (2017-2020)
Compound Annual Growth Rate
Europe (2022-2025)
Compound Annual Growth Rate
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Price trend forecasts are available to subscribers, along with price driver projections and forward-looking cost structure data.
Cost Analysis - Total Cost of Ownership for Reference & Background Checking Services
Total cost of ownership is Low in the Reference & Background Checking Services market. The average cost of ownership differs depending on the contract but generally includes costs negotiated before the contract begins, costs billed during the contract period and unforeseen costs.
Negotiated Before
Set Up Fees
Billed During
Additional Fees
Buyer Power in Procurement Negotiations
In 2026, buyer power amounts to 0.5 in the United States. Buyer power is most positively impacted by Availability of Substitutes. It is most negatively impacted by Market Share Concentration. Subscribers can access details on eight other factors that impact buyer power. Learn more
United States
Canada
Europe
Buyer power forecasts: your glimpse into the future
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- Near-real-time updates to current and forecast Buyer Power Scores
- Methodology and weightings for Buyer Power Score Components
Supply Chain Risk
The average level of supply chain risk is assessed as Low, which has a positive impact on buyer power. The level of supply chain risk is affected by industry volatility, barriers to entry, competition, import penetration, regulation and industry financial risk. Buyers in this market can mitigate procurement and supply chain management risks by monitoring risk levels for individual first and second tier suppliers:
1st
Tier Suppliers
- IT Consulting Firms
- Database, Storage & Backup Software Publishers
- Social Networking Sites
- Credit Bureaus & Rating Agencies
2nd
Tier Suppliers
- Computer Manufacturers
- Search Engine Operators
- Internet Service Providers
- Commercial Banks
Biggest Reference & Background Checking Services Suppliers in the US by Revenue
The largest Reference & Background Checking Services vendors by revenue in the US are Accurate Background Inc., Cisive and General Information Services Inc. Subscribers can sort and filter by market share concentration, profit level and other factors. Learn more
| Supplier | Operational Size | Headquarters | Number of Employees | Market Share (%) | Market Share Performance (3yr trend) | Total Revenue ($ million) | Profit Level (%) | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Advantage Corporation | Global | Atlanta, GA | 1,001-10,000 | 5-10 | ||||
| Hireright Holdings Corp | Global | NASHVILLE, TN | 1,001-10,000 | 5-10 | ||||
| Sterling Check Corp. | Global | INDEPENDENCE, NY | 1,001-10,000 | 5-10 | ||||
| Automatic Data Processing, Inc. | Global | ROSELAND, NJ | >10,000 | < 5 | ||||
| Insperity, Inc. | National | KINGWOOD, TX | 1,001-10,000 | < 5 | ||||
| Accurate Background Inc. | Local | Irvine, CA | 501-1,000 | < 5 | ||||
| Cisive | National | Holtsville, NY | 251-500 | < 5 | ||||
| General Information Services Inc. | International | Chapin, SC | 1,001-10,000 | < 5 | ||||
| Employment Background Investigations Inc. | International | Owings Mills, MD | 101-250 | < 5 | ||||
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Subscribers can access vendor information on Canadian and European suppliers, too. We also offer custom research services to help with vendor sourcing anywhere in the world.
Profit Analysis
The average profit margin across vendors in the Reference & Background Checking Services market is 6.2% and steady. Profit levels shift depending on suppliers' spend on wages, purchases and overhead. The highest cost component for vendors is Overhead. The cost trend for this component is rising, when considering movement between 2025 and 2026. To understand cost forecasts for 2027 and uncover the implications on profit, start your subscription. Learn more
Vendor & Supply Chain Analysis
Reference and background checking services have a low level of supply chain risk. Suppliers of these services do not depend on any highly risky or difficult-to-source inputs to carry out services.
On average, operators in this market have a low degree of financial risk. Providers of reference and background checking services benefit from relatively stable supply chains and healthy demand for services, eroding the risk that they will go out of business due to market fluctuations.
Among the estimated 2,414 providers of reference and background checking services, the top four operators account for less than 30.0% of total market revenue, signaling a low level of concentration. Most operators are small companies servicing a narrow geographic region, which hinders their ability to garner significant market share.
The United States is a net importer of computers, meaning it imports more computers than it exports. While lower manufacturing costs abroad drive down prices for imported computers, relying on imports can lead to potential shortages and price increases with higher tariffs and if there are supply chain disruptions due to geopolitical tensions, trade disputes, or global crises.
Supplier Information
First Advantage Corporation
First Advantage Corporation is a private company operating globally in the manufacturing, administration, business support and waste management services and healthcare & social assistance sectors. The company's offerings include biometric devices, reference & background checking services and physical screening... Subscribe to learn more
Hireright Holdings Corp
Hireright Holdings Corp is a public company operating globally in the administration, business support and waste management services and healthcare and social assistance sectors. The company's offerings include reference & background checking services, physical screening services and consumer credit reporting... Subscribe to learn more
Sterling Check Corp.
Sterling Check Corp. is a public company operating globally in the administration, business support and waste management services sector. The company's offerings include reference & background checking services. Founded in 1975, the company is currently headquartered in NEW YORK, New York, United States of... Subscribe to learn more
Accurate Background Inc.
Accurate Background Inc. is a private company operating locally in the administration, business support and waste management services sector. The company's offerings include reference & background checking services. Founded in 1997, the company is currently headquartered in Irvine, California, United States... Subscribe to learn more
Automatic Data Processing, Inc.
Automatic Data Processing, Inc. is a public company operating globally in the information, professional, scientific and technical services and administration, business support and waste management services sectors. The company's offerings include recruitment software, human resources software, aca compliance... Subscribe to learn more
Cisive
Cisive is a private company operating nationally in the administration, business support and waste management services and other services (except public administration) sectors. The company's offerings include vehicle inspection services, reference & background checking services and consumer credit reporting... Subscribe to learn more
Employment Background Investigations Inc.
Employment Background Investigations Inc. is a private company operating internationally in the administration, business support and waste management services and healthcare & social assistance sectors. The company's offerings include reference & background checking services and physical screening services.... Subscribe to learn more
General Information Services Inc.
General Information Services Inc. is a private company operating internationally in the administration, business support and waste management services sector. The company's offerings include reference & background checking services. Founded in 1966, the company is currently headquartered in Chapin, South Subscribe to learn more
InfoMart Inc.
InfoMart Inc. is a private company operating globally in the administration, business support and waste management services sector. The company's offerings include reference & background checking services. Founded in 1989, the company is currently headquartered in Marietta, Georgia, United States of America... Subscribe to learn more
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Procurement Management KPIs for the Reference & Background Checking Services Market
Managing vendor performance throughout the contract period is easier when tracking specific key performance indicators (KPIs). For example, buyers should monitor Cost per Lead and Order Accuracy. Buyers may experience better performance throughout their contracts if they establish service level agreements (SLAs) based on Accuracy & Completeness and other factors.
| KPI | Level of Importance (1-5) | Measurements | Key Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost per Lead |
|
Cost to provide report Types of screens included in report Process to retrieve information (e.g., manual, automated, or hybrid) |
Buyers should assess how much it costs the supplier to provide each report in order to determine how efficient the supplier is with their processes as well as how much of a markup they are applying to their services. Automated reports are often cheaper to provide because they do not require as high of wage costs for suppliers' employees. |
| Order Accuracy |
|
Number of background check reports Number of accurate background check reports |
Order accuracy represents the share of reports that contain accurate information. It is critical for background checks to yield accurate results in order for buyers to make well-informed hiring decisions and to avoid potential legal action. |
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Questions to Ask During Procurement Negotiations
How can I gain leverage during negotiations?
Quality Control
How do you ensure the accuracy of your reports?
What methods do you use to ensure accuracy with databases that can be accessed instantly?
Experience and Expertise
What is the average number of reports you create per client annually?
In addition to compliance with the FCRA, how have you addressed growing concerns about privacy?
Service Performance
How do you help clients maintain compliance with the FCRA and other relevant legislation?
In what cases will you provide manual research to augment automated searches?
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Reference & Background Checking Services RFP Guidelines
What should my RFP include?
Organizational Overview
Buyers should give an overview of their organization, including their industry, number of employees, location(s), and type of ownership.
Buyers should describe their current and desired background checking solutions.
Statement Of Need
Buyers should provide a detailed description of the types of background checks required (e.g., Social Security traces, driving records, terrorist databases, etc.).
Buyers should list specific states or counties in which checks must be conducted.
Project Budget
Buyers should disclose the overall budget for the project, if relevant.
Buyers should state their preferred pricing model and terms of payment.
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Our Reports include:
- Opportunity assessment
- Market dynamics
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- Buyer power levers
- Price environment and market pricing
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- Total cost of ownership
- Cost structure benchmarks and analysis
- Supply chain and vendors
- Global supplier breakdown
- Market share concentration
- Regulation and business requirements
- Vendor management and KPIs
- Sourcing strategy guidance
