Vendor Comparison · Live Scan Fingerprinting
IdentoGO vs Certifix: What’s the Difference and Which One Do You Need?
This is the most misunderstood comparison in the live scan industry. IdentoGO and Certifix aren’t really competitors — they serve different functions. But not knowing the difference between them could cost you clients, credibility, and money.
Here’s the confusion most fingerprinting entrepreneurs walk into: they research live scan platforms, see IdentoGO and Certifix come up constantly, and assume they’re choosing between two equivalent options. They’re not. These platforms do fundamentally different things — and your business model needs to account for both, not just one.
The short version: IdentoGO controls what the government mandates. Certifix controls what you can build independently. Understanding where those lanes intersect and where they diverge is the difference between a fingerprinting business that runs smoothly and one that constantly loses clients to agencies it didn’t know required a different vendor.
The core distinction in one sentence: IdentoGO holds exclusive state government contracts for specific agency submissions — you can’t substitute another vendor. Certifix is an open partner network for independent operators to offer live scan services across a wide range of submission types where no exclusivity applies.
At a Glance: IdentoGO vs Certifix
| Category | IdentoGO by IDEMIA | Certifix Live Scan |
|---|---|---|
| Business Model | State government contract holder | Open entrepreneur partner network |
| State Contracts | ✓ Exclusive in 40+ states for specific agencies | Authorized — not exclusive |
| Florida Insurance Licensing | ✓ Exclusive — $49.50 mandatory fee | ✗ Cannot substitute |
| Florida FDLE / AHCA | Available | ✓ Certified and authorized |
| Build Your Own Brand | ✗ You operate under IdentoGO brand | ✓ Your location, your business |
| Set Your Own Pricing | ✗ Fixed fee structure | ✓ Flexible margin model |
| Partner Network Size | Extensive — nationwide centers | 1,200+ locations |
| Best For | State-mandated submissions | Independent business building |
| Starting Point for Entrepreneurs | Secondary / supplemental | ★ Primary platform |
Platform 1 of 2
IdentoGO by IDEMIA
The government contract giant — essential to understand, not always essential to join
State Contracts
IdentoGO is operated by IDEMIA, one of the world’s largest identity and security companies. Through its predecessor MorphoTrust USA, IdentoGO has spent decades winning state government fingerprinting contracts — and that’s the key to understanding everything about how they operate.
When a state signs an exclusive contract with IdentoGO, that’s not a suggestion — it’s a mandate. The agency that requires fingerprinting tells applicants exactly which vendor to use, and IdentoGO is the answer in those states for those purposes. Florida insurance license applicants, for example, must submit through IdentoGO and pay $49.50 directly to them. Texas’s FAST program runs exclusively through IdentoGO. New York routes fingerprints for 44 state agencies exclusively through IdentoGO centers.
This matters enormously for entrepreneurs: if a client comes to you saying they need fingerprints for their Florida insurance license and you try to process them through Certifix, the submission will not be accepted. You’ve taken their money and their time, and they’ll still need to go to IdentoGO. That’s a reputation problem.
The IdentoGO Partner Program
IdentoGO does offer a partner program for existing businesses — notary offices, shipping centers, and service businesses with foot traffic can apply to become IdentoGO Centers. Partners are paid on a per-applicant basis, receive branded equipment, staff training, and marketing support. The revenue model is supplemental — it’s designed to layer onto an established business, not replace one.
The trade-off is operating inside their ecosystem. You’re an IdentoGO Center, not an independent fingerprinting business. Pricing is fixed, branding is theirs, and your income from this channel is entirely dependent on IdentoGO’s contract relationships in your state. That’s a fine supplemental layer. It’s not a foundation.
✓ IdentoGO Strengths
- Exclusive state contracts — only option for many mandated submissions
- Processes 40+ state agency programs nationwide
- Per-applicant revenue model adds to existing business income
- Training and operational support included in partner program
- High client trust — state agencies direct people to IdentoGO specifically
✗ IdentoGO Limitations
- You operate under their brand — limited independent positioning
- Fixed pricing — no ability to build your own margin
- Not a platform for building an independent fingerprinting business
- Partner selection is selective — not a guaranteed approval
- Revenue depends entirely on IdentoGO’s state contract landscape
State Contracts, Exclusive Vendors, and ORI Numbers — It’s More Complex Than It Looks
Before you build your fingerprinting business model, you need to know exactly which agencies in your area require IdentoGO, which ones Certifix covers, and how to position your service to handle both client types profitably.
Platform 2 of 2
Certifix Live Scan
Your foundation for an independent fingerprinting operation
Build Here
Where IdentoGO is defined by government exclusivity, Certifix is defined by openness. Their 1,200+ location partner network includes independent notaries, UPS stores, shipping centers, and small businesses — and that’s by design. Certifix built their platform to onboard the kind of operator who wants to run their own fingerprinting business, not join a government-contracted franchise.
FDLE and AHCA certification for Florida means Certifix covers the largest volume of everyday fingerprinting requests you’ll encounter: healthcare workers, teachers, childcare providers, contractors, and professionals in dozens of licensed industries. These clients don’t need IdentoGO’s state-contract-exclusive submissions — they need an FDLE-authorized provider, and Certifix is exactly that.
The enrollment flow works for your business model. Clients enroll online, receive a QR code, bring it to your location. You capture and submit. The entire client-facing experience is handled through Certifix’s system, which means you’re not managing a clunky intake process or explaining fingerprinting workflow to every new client. The system does that before they arrive.
The margin model is real. Unlike IdentoGO’s per-applicant fixed payment, Certifix’s partnership structure allows you to build your pricing around your cost structure and market. For a mobile notary or document prep service adding fingerprinting as an additional revenue line, this flexibility matters.
✓ Certifix Strengths
- FDLE-certified and AHCA-authorized for Florida
- California DOJ compliant — covers both highest-volume states
- Built for independent entrepreneurs and existing service businesses
- Walk-in and appointment service both supported
- QR code online enrollment reduces intake friction
- Pricing flexibility — build your own margin model
- Your brand stays in front — not subsumed by Certifix corporate identity
✗ Certifix Limitations
- Cannot substitute for IdentoGO on state-contract-exclusive submissions
- Partner approval required — not instant signup
- Some state-specific submission types require ORI configuration
The Strategic Play
Can — and Should — You Use Both?
Yes, and for many established fingerprinting operators, using both is the right answer. Here’s how the lanes break down in practice:
For FDLE, AHCA, FBI, and open-market submissions — the bulk of your daily volume
For state-mandated submissions where the agency requires it — insurance licensing, teaching credentials, etc.
Positioned to handle both — the client gets their submission done, you keep the appointment
The most important operational skill here is knowing in advance which agencies in your market require IdentoGO. When a client calls and says they need fingerprints for a specific license or employer, you should be able to tell them immediately which vendor handles that submission — and either process it yourself if it’s Certifix, or direct them to the IdentoGO center if it’s a state-contract requirement.
Sending a client to IdentoGO when you can’t fulfill the submission yourself isn’t a loss — it’s professionalism. That client remembers you knew the answer, and they come back for their next fingerprinting need that Certifix does handle.
The real advantage of knowing both: Most of your competitors don’t. The notary down the street who added a fingerprinting scanner last month doesn’t know that Florida insurance licensing requires IdentoGO specifically. When a client gets turned away from that location and finds yours, your knowledge of the landscape is the differentiator.
Common Questions
IdentoGO vs Certifix — FAQ
IdentoGO holds exclusive state government contracts in 40+ states — for those submissions, the agency mandates IdentoGO and no other vendor can substitute. Certifix is an open partner network where independent entrepreneurs join to offer live scan services for a wide range of submission types without exclusivity restrictions. They serve different functions and many fingerprinting businesses ultimately work with both.
For many submission types, yes. But for state-mandated programs where IdentoGO holds an exclusive contract — like Florida insurance licensing or the Texas FAST program — the agency requires IdentoGO specifically and Certifix cannot be substituted. Knowing which submissions require which vendor in your state is fundamental knowledge before building your business model.
Start with Certifix as your primary platform — that’s where you build your independent fingerprinting operation. Once that’s established, adding the IdentoGO partner program as a supplemental layer can capture the state-mandated submission volume that Certifix can’t handle. They’re not mutually exclusive, and many successful operators run both.
Yes. IdentoGO is the exclusive vendor for Florida insurance license fingerprinting — applicants pay $49.50 directly to IdentoGO. For other Florida submissions including general FDLE background checks and AHCA healthcare worker submissions, Certifix is certified and authorized. Knowing which Florida agencies mandate IdentoGO versus which accept Certifix is essential for any Florida fingerprinting operator.
Final Word
The Vendor You Choose Reflects the Business You’re Building
IdentoGO is not your competitor and it’s not your enemy — it’s a lane of the industry you need to understand and route clients into correctly when needed. Certifix is your platform for building an independent, branded, margin-controlled fingerprinting operation. The entrepreneurs who thrive in this space know both, use both appropriately, and are the most knowledgeable person in the room when a client asks which vendor handles their specific submission.
Getting there requires more than vendor knowledge. It requires understanding ORI numbers, state-specific submission requirements, pricing strategy, and how fingerprinting fits into a broader mobile services or document preparation business. That’s what our course is built to teach.
Know the Landscape Before You Build on It
Our Live Scan Fingerprinting Course covers vendor selection, state requirements, IdentoGO vs Certifix in your specific market, and the complete business model for profitable fingerprinting operations.
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