We keep our costs and fees transparent, so you know what you are getting into with Digital Background. 

Say you want to do 10 checks, look at the table above for the 1-50 checks. The current DBS fee and Digital Background fee, plus VAT is £57.90 per application (prices correct as of 2026). If you do more than 50 checks per annum the admin fee reduces according with the table above. 

There is a one off fee of £10+VAT to sign up with us for company and eligibility verification. This fee is no charged annually. 

There are no ongoing fees or costs other than application fees. It really is pay as you go.

For organisations and charities offering eligible volunteer (unpaid) roles, the DBS will waive its fees. This means you will only need to pay the administration fee and VAT, as outlined in the tables above, without the DBS fee. For instance, the enhanced check fee for a volunteer within the 1–50 checks range would be just £8.40.

All volunteer roles must comply with the DBS guidelines and will be assessed by our team for eligibility. More details can be found on the Government website. 

We offer an option to charge the applicant for the cost of the DBS check directly. This carries a small additional admin fee, dependent on volume and agreement to additional T&C. Please contact us for further information.