This is the second in a series of blogs devoted to small businesses interested in background checks.

“I can see the value of background screening and it’s something I might do if I could, but I don’t know how.” A quote from many small business owners and managers we’ve spoken with.

As a business owner or manager, you know a lot about running a business, but you may not know a lot about doing a background check on potential and current employees. That’s OK. There are professional companies that can help you with this.

Hiring a background screening company may cost you a bit more up-front than doing things in-house, but there are benefits to hiring a good company to do your employee background checks:

• A reputable company will work with you to put together a background package that meets your company's needs. There are a many choices of products and services that you can choose from, and your consultant should ask questions, listen to your responses, and make recommendations based on both your answers and the needs of your business/industry.
• Background checks take time and resources to do correctly, something most small businesses are not equipped to do. An organization that specializes in background screening is able to turn around results much faster than people who don’t do it on a regular basis. It also has the means and personnel available to research any questionable results that may come back, ensuring accuracy.
• There are many federal, state and local laws and regulations associated with doing background checks. Using a professional company will help your business comply with the myriad of rules.

So what should you look for when hiring a background screening provider? Some people think size is important. But the size of the company is less important that the quality of work they do and how responsive to your needs it is. A few things you should check:

• Is the company accredited? Accredited companies place a high standard on quality, are committed to excellence and have high professional standards. Only about three percent of the industry is accredited, and a list of accredited background screening organizations is listed on the National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS) website. Corporate Screening is proud to be an accredited company.
• References are important. Ask the company to provide some names of its satisfied customers. Then call those references and ask questions.

We know you have a lot of skills when you own or work for a small business. You have to. But unless you really want to take the time to learn how to do a background check, you can save time and resources by hiring a professional to help you with this.