# Do license applications require a background check? *Reviewed 2026-05-15* ## Short answer Many do. States commonly run background checks and fingerprinting on the owners, officers, and control persons of a business applying for a license, especially in regulated areas like lending, collections, and money transmission. The exact people checked and the standard for past issues vary by state and license type. Regulators want to know who controls a licensed business, so applications often require fingerprint-based background checks on owners above a certain stake, officers, directors, and managers. The threshold for who counts as a control person and how past convictions are weighed differs by state and by license. A prior issue is not always disqualifying, but disclosing it accurately matters, because an undisclosed item found in a check is treated more seriously than the item itself. Preparing the disclosures and fingerprints early keeps the application from stalling. ## Related - [Background check services](/background-checks) - [Licensing services](/services) - [Contact our team](/contact)