>>>> ..and you have to give your current employer the two week courtesy notice
>>
>>Are they wanting you to give notice before you've accepted an offer- before there even is a formal offer? Wow. Maybe sound out your current employer if there's any chance there's a better offer right where you are.
>
>No. They already gave me a formal offer. But the background check is still going on.

Hmm... making you a formal offer that's not contingent on a background check, but performing one anyways sounds less than completely professional. Making a job offer is serious business - I assume this is a job, not a contract position (?). There are likely state employment practices legislation and civil contract law issues in play - get familiar with both if you're not already.

In that vein also familiarize yourself with any legislation regarding notice. In much the same way many jurisdictions legislate minimum severance pay, you may be subject to minimum notice, which may be more than 2 weeks and is not "courtesy". If you have a good relationship with your current employer they will likely not chase you for insufficient notice, but you don't want to be in that position - and the company making you the offer should know not to put you in that position... again, sounds less than professional to me.

Is this a startup? Some red flags are outlined at https://medium.com/startup-grind/i-got-scammed-by-a-silicon-valley-startup-574ced8acdff , no doubt an extreme example but just one of those flags can torpedo your new job.

At this stage it's worth remembering that they're wooing you just as you're wooing them. If you're at all unsure of their financial stability don't be afraid to get a Dun & Bradstreet or similar report on them. If they're very small you could even ask for trade references. Bear in mind that no experienced, reputable business person will *ever* consider it an insult to be asked for trade references; I've found clients I've asked generally have more respect for me, in that it makes me look thorough and that I'm checking their references just like they're checking mine. If a potential small employer balks at giving trade references that would be a giant red flag for me.

Bear in mind that any legal documents you will be asked to sign - offer, employment contract/agreement, confidentiality agreement etc. will all, by default be strongly slanted in favour of your new employer. Don't be afraid to ask them to amend or strike any clauses you're not comfortable with - or add some of your own. Don't rely on anything being implied or implicit - if it's not on paper it doesn't exist. Dot the i's and cross the t's. In your case at hand, ask them directly if their offer is contingent on the results of the background check and to include their answer yes/no in the offer itself.

This is business - it's all negotiable.