Pay-As-You-Go Background Checks for Landlords and Employers
February 28th, 2026 by Dodie Murphy
Pay-as-you-go background checks let you buy screening reports when you need them, without a recurring subscription. For a landlord filling occasional vacancies or an employer hiring a few people at a time, the useful comparison is the total price for the searches you actually need.
Background Check Solutions offers tenant and employment screening with no monthly, yearly, or sign-up fees and no minimum order. You pay by credit or debit card for the reports you order.
Current new-customer screening offers
| Screening purpose | Introductory price | Included searches |
|---|---|---|
| Tenant screening | $29.95 per report for new customers during their first 60 days | Credit report, criminal search, and eviction search |
| Employment screening | $19.95 per report for new customers during their first 60 days | Nationwide criminal search, sex-offender search, prior-address verification, and SSN verification |
The tenant and employment offers serve different purposes and include different searches. Additional searches are priced separately. Check current pricing and the amount shown for your account before ordering, including after the introductory period.
Who benefits from paying per report?
This approach can suit a landlord with an occasional vacancy, a property manager whose screening volume changes during the year, or a small employer making individual hiring decisions. It allows screening costs to follow actual orders rather than adding a fixed subscription charge.
Consider your workflow as well as your volume. A business ordering many reports should compare available volume pricing, the searches included, support, and any software needs. Paying per report is a purchasing model; it does not by itself establish that one report is more thorough or suitable than another.
Choose the searches that answer your question
For a rental applicant, start with the tenant screening options. Review credit, criminal-record, and eviction-history information in the context of your lawful rental criteria. A credit report and an eviction search provide different information, so check what is included before choosing a package.
For a job applicant, review employment background checks. BCS lists county, statewide, national, and federal criminal searches, driving records, employment credit reports, and SSN verification among its available options. Select searches appropriate for the role and permitted in your jurisdiction; availability does not mean every employer should order every search.
Employment screening is different from employment verification. BCS does not offer employment or education verification. The packages described here are not income-verification services. If confirming job history, pay, or a degree is essential, arrange that work separately.
Compare the full order, not just the advertised starting price
Before buying, write down the purpose of the check and the information you need. Then compare providers using the same scope:
- Which searches are included, and which require a separate charge?
- Does the price apply to one applicant, one search, or a bundle?
- Is the advertised rate introductory, and when does it change?
- What limitations or verification steps could affect the result?
- Who can answer questions or help address a disputed record?
A low entry price is helpful only when you understand what it buys. Request clarification about any extra search before adding it to an order.
From registration to the first report
- Choose tenant or employment screening. Register through the relevant service page and follow the confirmation instructions. Registration alone does not order a report.
- Prepare the applicant information and required authorization. Review the instructions for your account and screening purpose. Ask BCS about anything you cannot provide correctly.
- Log in and select the searches. Confirm the package, any additional searches, and the order price before payment. Follow any further applicant-verification instructions.
- Review the completed results. Check the report status, identifying details, and any limitations. Raise questions with the provider before relying on unclear information.
Turnaround depends on the searches and any required verification. Plan around the actual order status rather than treating “online” as a promise of an immediate completed report.
The payment model does not replace screening responsibilities
Landlords need a permissible purpose for a consumer report. If information in a report contributes to an adverse rental decision, notice requirements apply. See the FTC’s landlord guidance.
For employment reports, the FTC and EEOC guidance for employers explains disclosure and written-permission requirements, as well as procedures before and after adverse action. State and local rules can add restrictions. Screening information supports your decision; purchasing a report does not make every use of it lawful.
Frequently asked questions
Will I be charged in a month when I order nothing?
BCS has no monthly or yearly subscription fee and no minimum order. Its charges are for reports you choose to order.
Do I have to buy a package?
No. BCS offers individual searches as well as bundles. Compare the combined price and scope before deciding.
Does the employment introductory package include a driving record?
No. The listed introductory package contains nationwide criminal, sex-offender, prior-address, and SSN searches. A driving record is a separate search.
Where should I start?
Choose tenant screening or employment screening, then review pricing. For help with an order, contact BCS or call 512-451-2734.
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