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Conditional Offer Letter Generator

Generate a job or engagement offer that is conditional on a satisfactory background check, explains the process, and promises an individualized assessment before any decision.

  • Conditional offer letter
  • Background check contingency clause
  • Word, text, print

Not legal advice · Last reviewed Oct 2026

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Why you'd use this

Many fair-chance laws, including California's and New York City's, prohibit asking about conviction history until after a conditional offer. A clear conditional offer letter does two jobs: it makes the offer, and it explains that the background check comes next and how it will be evaluated.

This generator writes an offer for an employee or an independent contractor that is conditional on a background check, commits to an individualized assessment and notice before any decision, and adds jurisdiction-specific language for California and New York City.

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Using it

  1. 1

    Enter the offer

    Company, candidate, role, pay, dates, and whether it is an employee or contractor offer.

  2. 2

    Choose the location

    California and New York City add fair-chance language.

  3. 3

    Download

    Word, text, or a printable PDF with an acceptance block.

What a background check contingency should say

  • That the offer depends on a satisfactory background check, run only after written authorization.
  • That no one is automatically disqualified because of a record.
  • That you will send a pre-adverse action notice, a copy of the report, and the Summary of Rights before deciding.
  • How long the candidate has to respond.

Primary sources

Read the rules at the source. Laws and agency guidance change; last reviewed Oct 2026.

Questions people ask about this

Can I run a background check before making an offer?

Federal law does not prohibit it, but many states and cities require a conditional offer before asking about or checking criminal history. Running the check after a conditional offer is the safest default.

Can I withdraw a conditional offer after a background check?

Only after following the FCRA's adverse action steps and any fair-chance law that applies, including an individualized assessment where required.

Is this an employment contract?

No. The employee version includes at-will language. Have counsel review any offer that includes terms beyond pay, start date, and the background check condition.

General information only, not legal advice. Using this tool does not make a process compliant on its own, and federal, state, and city rules differ and change. An employment lawyer can apply them to your facts.

Pairs well with

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FCRA Disclosure & Authorization Form Generator

A standalone FCRA disclosure and a separate authorization, ready to download.

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Individualized Assessment Worksheet

A fair-chance worksheet built on the EEOC Green factors, with California and NYC variants.

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Adverse Action Letter Generator

Pre-adverse and final adverse action letters with the waiting-period dates filled in.

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Or let PreHireBadge handle the paperwork

Every PreHireBadge order is an invite: the candidate gets the stand-alone disclosure, state notices, and e-sign authorization on their phone, and adverse action runs inside the product. $5 per report, no subscription.

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