SterlingNOW, the self-service background screening solution
you can trust.
Create a free account and order your first online
background check in minutes.
Already have a SterlingNOW account? Log in.

You’ve worked hard to build your business and establish trust with your customers. Protect your brand with comprehensive background screening from SterlingNOW.
Industry-leading protection
Many other providers rely exclusively on a national database search, with no data verification. SterlingNOW goes straight to the source to provide a more complete picture of criminal history, and results undergo QA for validation and compliance.
Fast results
SterlingNOW leverages proprietary CourtDirect™ technology to deliver trusted results quickly. 70% of criminal searches are complete within the hour, and 90% are done within a day.
Decades of trusted experience
Sterling has pioneered background screening innovation for more than 45 years, serving over 40,000+ customers, and conducting more than 75 million checks annually.
Self-service customizations
SterlingNOW has three different levels of background checks to match the needs of your business, and you can add customizations including driver’s records and education verification.
Easy (and free!) account setup
No sales calls or hidden setup fees. Create your account and order a self-service, online background check in under five minutes.
Compliance by design
SterlingNOW is fully compliant with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and accredited by the National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS).
Take a
Look
Just how quickly can you get your first background check? Watch and see.
Screening Packages
SterlingNOW offers three screening packages,
as well as customizations to address your
unique business needs.
Click for details:
- Social Security Number Trace
- Multi-State Instant Criminal Check with Verification
- DOJ Sex Offender Search
- Single-County Criminal Search
Click for details:
- Social Security Number Trace
- Multi-State Instant Criminal Check with Verification
- DOJ Sex Offender Search
- 7-Year County Criminal Record Search
- 7-Year Federal District Criminal Record Search
- Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) Terrorist Watchlist
Click for details:
- Social Security Number Trace
- Multi-State Instant Criminal Check with Verification
- DOJ Sex Offender Search
- 7-Year County Criminal Record Search
- 7-Year Federal District Criminal Record Search
- Locator Select with Verification
- Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) Terrorist Watchlist
Customize Your Screen
to the Role
Once you’ve selected your screening package, you can add any of
the following services to your order.
Driver’s Record
Employment
Verification
Education
Verification
Very easy to set up and use, customer service was extremely helpful and responsive, and the results came quickly.
Director of HR
Global Brand AgencyNYC
Awesome I could just get going on my own—looking around, other options seemed unnecessarily complicated.
Owner
Web Development FirmSeattle
Straightforward and easy.
Owner
Concrete CompanyLas Vegas
I haven’t had a single problem. It’s very easy. If you can read and punch keys on the computer you can do it.
Executive Director
Social Services NonprofitCleveland, TN

SterlingNOW
for Franchises
SterlingNOW is the smart solution for franchisees, making it easy and affordable to run thorough, high-quality background screens so you can build your best team and protect your brand.
Need guidance? Be in touch.Our
Faq
Guide
How do I get started?
Click Get Started above or here to create an account. You will need your business information ready in order to create your account.
Fill out the “Get Started” form with your first name, last name, business email, and new password. Next, you will be taken to the section where you will sign an agreement and provide your business information for account approval.
What will I need to set up an account?
To create an account, you will need to review and sign the agreement and provide your business information including full legal business name, type of organization, size of organization, years in business, business address, business phone number, company website, and business email. To help expedite your request, you can submit a proof of business document for review. Your account request will be processed to verify the information provided and that you have a permissible purpose under the FCRA to run background checks. If clarification or additional information is required, we will reach out to you.
Why do I have to verify my business?
SterlingNOW must verify that a background screening order is being placed on behalf of a valid business for employment purposes only, to comply with the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and privacy laws to name a few.
Do I need to wait until my account is approved to request a background check?
No, you can request a background check as soon as you have set up your account and signed the agreement, but the order will not be started or processed until your account has been approved.
How long do criminal background checks take?
90% of criminal checks conducted by Sterling are completed within a day.
For education and employment verifications turnaround time is dependent upon the responsiveness of the organization we are reaching out to for the verification.
You can view the status of your orders in your dashboard here. You can also reach out to our customer service team with the order number and they can provide a status update for you.
Is SterlingNOW available outside the US?
At this time, SterlingNOW is only available for companies and candidates based in the United States.
Can I run a background check on myself?
At this time, SterlingNOW is not set up for individuals to run background checks on themselves.
What happens if I decide not to hire based on background check results?
The Fair Credit Report Act (FCRA) requires that if employers are considering taking adverse action based (in whole or in part) on adverse information in a background check report, they must follow a process for pre-adverse and final adverse action. This involves a 3-step process.
- Send pre-adverse notice.
- Wait for the required amount of time (at least 5 days but can vary by jurisdiction) and address any fair-chance or individualized assessment issues.
- Make a final decision, and send final adverse action notice if needed.
Review our handy Adverse Action checklist for guidance and best practices.
What fees should I expect?
There may be county and state fees depending on where your candidate has lived. These fees will be passed through to you and added to the package price at checkout. Fees are subject to change and can vary depending on location.
There are also additional fees for processing Motor Vehicle Records. These fees vary by state.
Can I add multiple users to one account?
At this time, only one user can be associated with an account at a time.
How do I update my credit card?
You may update your credit card at checkout any time you place a new order. If you need help with this or have other billing-related queries, please contact us at support@sterlingnow.io.
How do I access my receipts?
To access receipts, navigate to your dashboard and click the name of the candidate of the background screen you’d like a receipt for. Once you click the candidate name, scroll to the bottom of the page and click “print receipt.”
Receipts are also sent to the email address associated with your SterlingNOW account each time you place an order. If you are not receiving receipts via email, please ensure that you are not unsubscribed from SterlingNOW emails.
To manage your SterlingNOW email preferences, click here and fill out the form to receive a link. Once you receive that link, you will need to check the box next to “Receipt and Order Confirmation” on that page to be “opted back in” and receive order receipts as well as confirmation emails.
Can I get a discount if I purchase multiple background checks at once?
We do not offer bulk order discounts at this time. All available packages and add-ons are listed on our webpage.
Do you offer drug testing, credit checks, or fingerprinting?
The SterlingNOW platform does not currently support drug testing, credit checks, or fingerprinting. However, Sterling does provide these services outside of the SterlingNOW platform. Please contact us to learn more or click here.
Can I screen minors through SterlingNOW?
The SterlingNOW platform does not currently include background checks for minors. However, Sterling does offer these services outside of the SterlingNOW platform. Please contact us to learn more.
How do you conduct employment and/or education verifications?
For employment verifications, Sterling gets information directly from the companies where the candidate was formerly employed or their preferred third-party vendor. Almost all employment verifications will return the candidate’s dates of employment and most recent job title. Many employers will not release further information, but at times we will also receive salary (when permitted), reason for leaving, performance information, and eligibility for rehire. There are some employment types where we will not be able to independently obtain this information, such as self-employment and periods of unemployment. In those cases, we can obtain documentation from the candidate if the client’s workflow includes it.
For education verifications, Sterling gets information directly from the educational institutions that the candidate attended or their preferred third-party vendor. Almost all education verifications will return the candidate’s dates of attendance and degree level. Collegiate verifications will also include the field of study. However, schools will not release GPA, citing a law called FERPA (Family Education Rights & Protection Act).
Read more about our verification services here.
Webcast - Screening and Hiring in the Age of the Gig Economy, Social Media, and Identity Fraud
Watch On-demandWith the World in Flux, the Gig Economy Shows Up
Read The BlogThe Smart Way to Consider a Candidate’s Social Media
Read the NewsSterling – Best Self-Service Background Check for 2020
Read The BlogGet Started with SterlingNOW
Perfect for small and mid-sized businesses, choose SterlingNOW for fast, easy, online background checks. Click the option that best describes you.
Job candidate? Click here