Five Below: Company Profile & Background Check FAQs

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Five Below: Company Profile & Background Check FAQs

Five Below is one of the fastest-growing discount retailers in the United States, with thousands of store positions filled each year. Understanding the Five Below background check process and what to expect during hiring can help you prepare before you apply. Below, we cover Five Below's history and operations, and straightforward answers to the most-searched questions about the Five Below background check process.

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Five Below: Company overview

Five Below was founded in 2002 by Tom Vellios and David Schlessinger and is headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The company opened its first store in Wayne, Pennsylvania, built around the concept of selling trend-right merchandise at prices mostly at or below five dollars. The format targeted tweens, teens, and budget-conscious families with a rotating mix of seasonal products, games, tech accessories, beauty items, and home goods.

The company went public in 2012 and has expanded steadily since, operating more than 1,800 stores across 44 states as of 2024. Five Below stores are typically located in high-traffic strip malls and power centers, averaging around 8,000 to 9,000 square feet per location. The company's merchandising model emphasizes frequent product turnover, with new items arriving regularly to drive repeat visits.

In recent years, Five Below introduced a "Ten Below" section in many stores, expanding the price ceiling beyond the original five-dollar concept to accommodate higher-cost products in categories like tech accessories and gaming. The company has continued to target younger consumers and value-seeking shoppers as its core customer base.

Company culture and employee programs: Five Below refers to its store employees as "Crew" members. The company offers a benefits package for eligible employees that includes:

Health, dental, and vision insurance for qualifying full-time employees
A 401(k) retirement savings plan for eligible employees
Paid time off for qualifying employees
An employee discount on store merchandise
Career development and internal advancement opportunities

Five Below background check FAQs

Can Five Below run background checks?

Yes. Five Below is legally authorized to conduct background checks on job applicants. The company uses third-party screening vendors to run reports that may include criminal history searches, identity verification, and other checks relevant to the position. The scope of the background check may vary based on the role and the state where the position is located.

How long can a Five Below background check take?

Most Five Below background checks can be completed in three to five business days, though some reports may return faster depending on the screenings ordered and the accessibility of records. Factors that can extend the timeline include:

Court records searches that require manual retrieval from county courthouses
Searches spanning criminal records across multiple states or jurisdictions
Employment or education verification that requires responses from third-party sources
High application volume periods where processing queues are longer

For general information on background check timelines, see Checkr's guide on background check turnaround times.

What can be revealed in a Five Below background check?

A standard background check for a Five Below position may include searches across several record categories. Common components include:

Identity verification: An SSN trace confirms the applicant's identity and establishes the address history used to scope additional searches
Criminal history: County, state, and federal criminal records searches covering felony and misdemeanor convictions
Sex offender registry: A search of national and state sex-offender registry databases
Global watchlists: A search of global watchlists including OFAC sanctions lists and other federal and international databases

The specific searches included in any individual report will depend on the position applied for and applicable legal requirements in the hiring location.

How far back can Five Below's background check go?

For most positions, background checks at Five Below typically cover seven years of criminal history, which is the standard look-back period under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) for most consumer reports. However, the actual look-back period can vary based on several factors:

State law: Some states impose stricter limits on how far back criminal records can be reported, with certain jurisdictions limiting reporting to five years or fewer
Salary threshold: The FCRA's seven-year limit on certain records does not apply when the position pays above $75,000 annually, which may allow for longer lookbacks in some cases
Role type: Positions with greater responsibility or access to sensitive areas may involve more thorough searches

Many jurisdictions also have "ban-the-box" laws that restrict when employers can ask about criminal history during the hiring process. Candidates should review the laws applicable in their state or city for specifics.

What is the FCRA and how does it protect candidates?

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a federal law that governs how consumer reporting agencies collect and report background check information, and how employers may use that information in hiring decisions. Key FCRA protections for candidates include:

Written disclosure: The employer must provide a clear, standalone written disclosure that a background check will be conducted
Written authorization: The candidate must provide written consent before the background check is initiated
Pre-adverse action notice: If the employer intends to take an adverse action based on the report, the candidate must receive a copy of the report and a summary of their rights before the decision is finalized
Opportunity to dispute: Candidates have the right to dispute inaccurate or incomplete information in their background report with the CRA
Adverse action notice: If a final adverse action is taken, the employer must notify the candidate and provide information about the CRA that supplied the report

These protections apply regardless of the employer or the position being applied for.

Does Five Below hire felons?

Five Below does not publish a blanket policy excluding all applicants with felony records. Like most large retailers, the company evaluates candidates with criminal histories on a case-by-case basis, taking into account factors such as the nature of the offense, how much time has passed, and the relevance of the conviction to the specific role being applied for. This approach is consistent with EEOC guidance encouraging individualized assessments rather than categorical exclusions.

Applicants with felony records are not automatically disqualified. However, certain conviction types, particularly those involving theft, fraud, or violence, may be evaluated more closely for roles that involve cash handling or direct customer interaction. State and local laws may also affect how Five Below considers criminal history in specific hiring locations. Candidates are encouraged to be upfront about their history and understand that outcomes will vary depending on the role and location.

What is the Five Below hiring process?

The Five Below hiring process for store-level crew positions generally follows these steps:

Online application: Candidates submit an application through the Five Below careers portal
Application review: The hiring team reviews applications and screens for minimum qualifications
Interview: Qualified candidates are contacted for a phone screening or an in-store interview with store management
Conditional job offer: Candidates selected for the role receive a conditional offer of employment
Background check consent and initiation: The candidate provides written authorization and the background check is initiated through a third-party CRA
Orientation and onboarding: Upon successful completion of the background check and any other pre-employment requirements, the candidate proceeds to new hire orientation

Timeline from application to start date varies by location and hiring volume. The background check phase typically takes three to five business days once initiated.

What does Five Below look for in a background check?

Five Below's background check criteria are not publicly disclosed in full, but the company's evaluation of background check results is generally consistent with EEOC guidance on individualized assessments. Key factors that influence how results are evaluated include:

Relevance to the role: Whether the nature of any criminal record is directly relevant to the responsibilities of the position being applied for
Recency: How recently any offense occurred, with older records typically carrying less weight
Severity: The seriousness of the offense and whether it involved violence, theft, or harm to others
Pattern of conduct: Whether the record reflects an isolated incident or a pattern of behavior
Rehabilitation: Evidence of rehabilitation, such as completion of a sentence, participation in programs, or subsequent stable employment history

Candidates are evaluated in the context of the specific role and hiring location, and applicable state laws may further shape which records can be considered and how.

Does Five Below drug test?

Five Below does not publicly disclose a company-wide drug testing policy. Drug testing practices in retail vary by employer, role, and state law. Some positions, particularly those involving safety-sensitive responsibilities or equipment operation, are more likely to require pre-employment drug screening than general store crew positions. Candidates who want to confirm whether drug testing is required for a specific role or location should ask directly during the interview process, as policies can differ by store and state.

Order your own background check

Running a personal background check with Checkr lets you preview what Five Below may see before you apply. Reviewing your own report gives you the opportunity to identify and dispute any inaccurate or outdated information before it appears in an employer's search.

A personal background check through Checkr can include:

Criminal history searches across county, state, and federal databases
Sex offender registry searches
Global watchlist searches
SSN trace and identity verification

To get started, visit Checkr Personal Background Checks or create a portable Checkr Profile that you can share with prospective employers directly.

Are you a candidate with an open background check with Checkr?

If Five Below initiated your background check through Checkr and you have questions about your report status, you can log in to the Candidate Portal or find answers and support through the Checkr Help Center.

The resources and information provided here are for educational and informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Always consult your own counsel for up-to-date legal advice and guidance related to your practices, needs, and compliance with applicable laws.