Sunday, April 12, 2020

When Should You do a Background Check on a Business?

How and Why to do a Background Check on a Business
Is it possible to do a background check on a business? And, if so, why should you?
No matter if you are thinking of hiring an employee or hiring a company, vetting them first is key. It is the only way to find out what you need to know before taking such an important step, all while keeping your company, your family, and yourself as safe as possible.

This question was recently posted on Quora, "How can my company conduct a background verification to verify potential vendors?”, and this was our response….

“You both can and should vet any company you are considering as a subcontractor, vendor, or partner. Doing a background check on these companies will help you get a better picture about how they conduct business, their reputation, and any previous or current litigation where they are listed as a complainant or defendant. Your best course of action is to do the following: check with the Better Business Bureau, look online for reviews, and check with local, county, state, and federal courts. The court checks should be done anywhere the company does business and should include both civil and criminal courts. It is wise to research these courts both under the company name and the owner(s) name(s). Doing your homework before you work with any company simply makes good sense. A good background check company can help you do it right. Please feel free to contact us if you have any further questions”.

You can find more answers to this question here!
It cannot be stressed enough ~ it is vital that you do your research on any business you may hire or work with! 

Whether we ourselves own a business and are contemplating taking on a partner or we are looking for  someone to work in our home, doing our homework first makes good sense!

The key is to know what to look for when we do our due diligence. Recognizing the questions to ask, and why, and also knowing how to verify the answer we get to those questions, will help!

It is important to understand that going into business with or hiring any company comes with a set of risks. The company could have dealt with clients poorly in the past. They may not live up to their promises or do shoddy work. Before you know it, you have wasted your time and money by hiring or working with someone that falls way short of your expectations. 

So, before signing on the dotted line with any company, do your homework!

Taking the time to ask the right questions and contacting sources that can give you a better picture of your potential hire is invaluable. It can help protect you, your company, and even your home from doing business with someone unreliable or even potentially harmful.

Steps You need to take before Doing Business with any Business! "Tweet This"

Discover the Steps You should take Before You do Business with any Business!
Steps You should take to Vet any Company:
  • Check Business References
  • Be prepared with questions to ask these references
  • Contact the Better Business Bureau
  • Check Civil and Criminal Court Records
  • Check Online Reviews
Discover more about these steps and what you need to know before you do business with any business here!

But doing your due diligence shouldn’t end with just vetting these kinds of businesses.


The same scrutiny should also be given to any charity or cause you are thinking of supporting! 

“Despite the many good charities out there, there are also those that are complete frauds. These organizations try to trade on a person’s desire to help others only to line their own pockets. But how can you tell the difference between a legitimate charity and a scam?”

4 Signs a Charity might be Fraudulent:
  1. They won’t give you any details about their mission or where their money goes
  2. They use a name that is close to, but not the same, as a well-known charity
  3. They try to pressure you into donating immediately
  4. They ask for cash or wired money donations 
So, what can you do to protect yourself and make sure your donations are doing the most good? Once again, do your homework and ask the right questions!

Discover the steps you should take before you donate in “Do This Before You Give Money to any Charity!”.

The more information you have on any business that you are contemplating as a potential partner, using as a subcontractor, hiring to work in your home, or even a charity you may support, the better decision you will be able to make! It will also give you the peace of mind that you have done all you can to protect the things that are the most important to you ~ your family and your business.

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Have questions about how to do a background check on a person or a company? Contact Us! API can help give you the information you need!


Learn more about About Us, Our Background Investigation Services, and Reviews from our own clients too!