Why Monthly Minimum Fees Are Driving Companies to Switch Background Check Providers

Jan 14, 2026

Why Monthly Minimum Fees Are Driving Companies to Switch Background Check Providers

Why More Companies Are Reconsidering Their Background Check Provider

Over the past several months, we’ve been hearing the same concern again and again from companies exploring new background check partners:

“Our current provider just introduced a monthly minimum fee.”

For many organizations—especially those with fluctuating hiring volumes—this change creates unnecessary pressure and added cost. At 3rd Degree Screening, we believe background screening should scale with your business, not force your business into a rigid pricing model.

The Problem With Monthly Minimums

Monthly minimum fees often sound harmless at first, but they can quickly become a burden:

  • You pay even when hiring slows down
  • Seasonal or project-based hiring becomes more expensive
  • Smaller teams subsidize larger clients
  • Costs become unpredictable year over year

In many cases, these fees are introduced quietly—long after the relationship has already been established.

A Different Approach at 3rd Degree Screening

We built 3rd Degree Screening around one simple principle: fair, transparent pricing that doesn’t change the rules midstream.

Here’s how we’re different.

🔒 Lifetime Locked-In Background Check Rates

When you onboard with 3rd Degree Screening, your pricing is locked in for the life of your relationship. No surprise rate hikes. No annual renegotiations. No sudden “industry adjustments.”

What you agree to is what you pay—today, next year, and beyond.

📄 No Contract Term Commitment Required

We don’t believe in forcing loyalty through contracts. We earn it through service, accuracy, and reliability.

There’s no long-term contract requirement and no minimum usage thresholds. You run background checks when you need them—nothing more, nothing less.

Built for Real-World Hiring

Hiring demand isn’t always predictable. Growth spurts, hiring freezes, seasonal peaks—these are normal realities. Your screening partner should support that flexibility, not penalize it.

Whether you run:

  • High-volume hiring one month and none the next
  • A lean operation with occasional onboarding
  • A growing company that values cost certainty

3rd Degree Screening is designed to fit your workflow—not the other way around.

The Bottom Line

If you’re feeling boxed in by monthly minimum fees or unexpected pricing changes, it may be time to reassess what your background check provider is really offering.

At 3rd Degree Screening, we believe:

  • Pricing should be stable
  • Partnerships should be flexible
  • Trust should be earned, not contractually enforced

If that aligns with how you do business, we’d welcome the conversation.

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