# First Advantage

> First Advantage is an Atlanta-based public software and data company that helps employers verify identity, screen candidates, confirm credentials, manage onboarding compliance, and monitor workforce risk. After buying Sterling for $2.2 billion in 2024, it operates at unusual scale: more than 80,000 customers, 200 million-plus screens a year, service in more than 200 countries and territories, and over one billion records in proprietary databases.

- **Founded:** 2003
- **Headquarters:** Atlanta, United States
- **Team size:** Approximately 9,500 employees; LinkedIn lists 5,001-10,000.
- **Products:** Employment Background Screening, Digital Identity, Verified!, Drug and Health Screening, Post-Hire Monitoring
- **Notable:** Completed the $2.2 billion acquisition of Sterling Check in October 2024., Serves more than 80,000 customers across more than 200 countries and territories., Processes more than 200 million screens annually and maintains more than one billion records in proprietary databases.

## Products & services

- **Employment Background Screening** — Configurable criminal, civil, employment, education, credential, reference, motor-vehicle and related checks across domestic and international jurisdictions.
- **Digital Identity** — Identity authentication, document review, biometric and liveness checks designed to reduce candidate identity fraud before other screening begins.
- **Verified!** — Employment and income verification services supported by a proprietary database with more than 130 million records.
- **Drug and Health Screening** — Drug and alcohol testing, occupational health services, fingerprinting and regulated-workforce screening through provider networks and digital workflows.
- **Post-Hire Monitoring** — Continuous or periodic monitoring for criminal records, motor vehicle records, healthcare sanctions and other role-specific risks.
- **Onboarding and Compliance** — Form I-9 and E-Verify workflows, tax-credit screening, driver qualification file management and case-management support.
- **Residential Screening** — Tenant background and credit reporting tools for property managers and housing providers.
- **Integrations and APIs** — Prebuilt ATS/HCM connections, standard APIs and REST APIs that let employers order checks and receive status and reports inside existing hiring systems.

## Achievements

- Completed the $2.2 billion acquisition of Sterling Check in October 2024.
- Serves more than 80,000 customers across more than 200 countries and territories.
- Processes more than 200 million screens annually and maintains more than one billion records in proprietary databases.
- Reported 96% average gross customer retention for 2025.
- Reported $1.574 billion of 2025 revenue and $441.4 million of adjusted EBITDA.
- Completed core Sterling integration activities and actioned $55 million of acquisition synergies by the end of 2025.
- Named to TIME's 2026 list of America's Best Companies, according to the company.
- Named Overall Digital Identity Solution Provider of the Year in the 2026 FinTech Breakthrough Awards program.
- Achieved Workday Platinum Level Innovation Partner status, according to First Advantage.

## Latest updates

- **2026-07** — First Advantage announced its inclusion on TIME's 2026 list of America's Best Companies.
- **2026-05** — The company reported first-quarter revenue of $385.2 million, up 8.6% year over year, with $2.2 million of GAAP net income.
- **2026-05** — First Advantage described itself as Workday's only background-screening provider at Platinum Level Innovation Partner status.
- **2026-02** — The company reported 2025 revenue of $1.574 billion and said core Sterling integration activities were complete.
- **2026-02** — Management issued 2026 revenue guidance of $1.625 billion to $1.700 billion and authorized a new $100 million share-repurchase program.
- **2024-10** — First Advantage completed its $2.2 billion acquisition of Sterling Check, including assumed debt.

## Links

- Website: https://fadv.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/first-advantage
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/FAMultiLatin
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstAdvantage
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FirstAdvantage1/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/first-advantage
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-13