St. Louis Company: The Business of Protecting Business

Online, December 16, 2011 (Newswire.com) - St. Louis, Missouri When Kathy Rose and Christopher Powell decided to start their own company, they looked to their own experience in business for inspiration.
"I worked in financial services," says Kathy. "Companies dealing with commodities and investments are highly sensitive to security issues. Since they are entrusted with people's savings and financial future, they want to make sure they're hiring employees who are reliable. Background screening is an essential part of their business practices."
That led Kathy to investigate the background screening industry. What she found told her that a background screening company could leverage her own experience to help provide essential services that every company needs.
"It's a business whose future is unlimited. The country's economic situation has increased job turnover and upended the residential rental market. Employers and landlords need the protection of background screenings more than ever."
To take advantage of this potential, Kathy and Chris launched United Background Screening this year. A lifelong St. Louis resident, Kathy sees her hometown as a perfect place to grow their company.
"In the last census, St. Louis had a 19% vacancy rate in city housing units," she observes. "That means turnover and turnover means a huge need for tenant screenings. It also means big changes in workforces and hiring."
She has found other opportunities created by the character of St. Louis. "This is a giving city-it has one of the highest rates of online donations and a huge volunteer base. Non-profits need to feel secure in their volunteers and employees just as much as commercial companies. Maybe more so-they often deal with people in need, who are even more vulnerable."
Kathy intends to reach out to a wide range of businesses and individuals to build her client base. "The Internet has increased the danger of identity theft. And even people using dating services want to check out whether a possible match is really who he or she says they are."
She is depending on co-owner Christopher Powell to provide an ear to the ground for United. "He's a union electrician and deals with all kinds of companies every day. Contractors probably have a greater sense of what's going on out in the business community than anyone."
Kathy adds, "We do more than just run background checks for a company. We actually train staff to launch complex searches themselves with the click of a mouse. So our services are available to them 24/7."
This focus on service extends to providing customized search packages for every kind of industry, a kind of one-click service to verify employee or tenant applicants. But this sort of rapid-response investigation into an individual's background requires a high level of accountability.
"You can't just dig around in people's lives," Kathy warns. "You have to respect their rights and privacy, so we are strict about conducting business according guidelines like the Fair Credit Reporting Act."
"Our clients depend on us to help stay in compliance with laws and regulations. We have to know what we're doing and we have to stay in touch with changes in compliance standards."
Kathy Rose and Chris Powell see background screening as a slam-dunk in terms of cost and reward. "It is a modest investment that can pay off big. One bad employee can mean huge losses for a company. One bad tenant can cost a landlord thousands in property damage or lost income. Even families need the reassurance of knowing a housekeeper or a childcare professional is trustworthy. We're here to provide that reassurance."

www.unitedbackgroundscreening.com
888 816 7886