SOC 2 Audit Cost Guide: Real Pricing from 30+ Auditors [2025]
Stop Googling "how much does SOC 2 cost" and getting vague answers. Here's real pricing data from 30+ verified auditors, broken down by firm type, company size, and complexity.
Quick Answer
SOC 2 audit costs range from $12K‑$160K for Type 1 and $15K‑$450K for Type 2, depending on auditor type, company size, and complexity. Specialist firms are cheapest, Big Four are most expensive.
SOC 2 Audit Cost: The Reality
Based on real data from 30+ verified auditors
Point-in-time assessment
3-8 month timeline
6-12 month observation period
6-20 month timeline
The $438K spread is real. Your actual cost depends on auditor choice, company size, system complexity, and readiness level. Keep reading for the breakdown.
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Cost Breakdown
- • GRC Platform: $12K-$60K/year
- • Internal labor: $25K-$90K
- • Control remediation: $5K-$150K+
- • Optional penetration testing: $15K-$50K
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SOC 2 Cost by Auditor Type
💡 Key Insight
The single biggest factor in SOC 2 cost is which auditor you choose. Price differences of 2-3x for identical scope are common. Compare firm types →
Specialist Auditors ($15K-$75K Type 2)
Examples: Prescient Security, A-LIGN, KirkpatrickPrice, Schellman, Green Rocket Compliance
| Service | Typical Cost | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Type 1 | $12K - $40K | 3-6 months |
| Type 2 | $15K - $75K | 6-10 months |
| Annual Surveillance | $10K - $50K | 4-6 months |
Why they're cheaper:
- Specialized in SOC 2 audits (high volume, streamlined process)
- Lower overhead than Big Four firms
- Technology-enabled audit platforms
- Competitive pricing pressure from peer firms
Best for: Startups, mid-market companies, first-time SOC 2 audits, companies with limited budgets
Regional Firms ($20K-$95K Type 2)
Examples: Moss Adams, Sensiba, Aprio, Withum, Johanson Group, Linford & Company
| Service | Typical Cost | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Type 1 | $15K - $50K | 4-8 months |
| Type 2 | $20K - $95K | 6-12 months |
| Annual Surveillance | $15K - $65K | 5-8 months |
Why mid-range pricing:
- Full-service CPA firms (not just compliance specialists)
- Strong regional presence and relationships
- Partner-level attention on engagements
- Broader service offerings (tax, audit, advisory)
Best for: Regional companies, clients of these firms for other services, companies wanting personalized attention
Mid-Tier Firms ($30K-$120K Type 2)
Examples: RSM, Grant Thornton, BDO, Baker Tilly
| Service | Typical Cost | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Type 1 | $20K - $65K | 5-10 months |
| Type 2 | $30K - $120K | 8-14 months |
| Annual Surveillance | $20K - $80K | 6-10 months |
Why higher pricing:
- National firms with Big Four quality standards
- Middle-market specialization ($50M-$500M revenue companies)
- Deep industry expertise and global affiliations
- Premium positioning vs specialist firms
Best for: Mid-market companies, PE-backed firms, companies needing multi-framework audits, clients seeking Big Four quality at lower cost
Big Four Firms ($60K-$450K Type 2)
Examples: Deloitte, PwC, KPMG, EY
| Service | Typical Cost | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Type 1 | $40K - $160K | 6-12 months |
| Type 2 | $60K - $450K | 10-20 months |
| Annual Surveillance | $40K - $300K | 8-14 months |
Why premium pricing:
- Brand recognition and prestige value
- Global delivery capabilities and resources
- Complex engagement requirements and quality controls
- Premium positioning and limited price competition
Best for: IPO-track companies, Fortune 500 enterprises, companies with complex global operations, heavily regulated industries
SOC 2 Cost by Company Size
Your company size directly impacts audit cost because it affects scope, complexity, and time required.
Small Company (1-50 employees)
- Type 1: $12K - $30K
- Type 2: $15K - $45K
- Best auditors: Specialist firms, regional firms
- Timeline: 3-8 months
Mid-Size Company (51-200 employees)
- Type 1: $20K - $60K
- Type 2: $30K - $90K
- Best auditors: Specialist firms, regional firms, mid-tier firms
- Timeline: 5-12 months
Large Company (201-500 employees)
- Type 1: $40K - $100K
- Type 2: $60K - $200K
- Best auditors: Mid-tier firms, Big Four
- Timeline: 8-16 months
Enterprise (500+ employees)
- Type 1: $60K - $160K
- Type 2: $100K - $450K
- Best auditors: Big Four, large mid-tier firms
- Timeline: 10-20 months
Cost Factors That Increase Pricing
These factors can significantly increase your SOC 2 audit cost:
1. Multiple Trust Service Criteria
- Security only: Base cost
- Security + 1 additional TSC: +15-25%
- Security + 2 additional TSC: +25-40%
- All 5 TSC: +50-75%
2. Complex System Architecture
- Simple SaaS app (monolith, single region): Base cost
- Microservices (5-15 services): +20-30%
- Distributed systems (multi-region, multi-cloud): +30-50%
- Highly complex (100+ services, global): +50-100%
3. Third-Party Dependencies
- Few vendors (< 10 critical vendors): Base cost
- Moderate vendors (10-25 critical vendors): +10-20%
- Many vendors (25+ critical vendors): +20-40%
4. Low Readiness Level
- Controls in place, well documented: Base cost
- Controls in place, poor documentation: +15-25%
- Significant control gaps: +25-50%
- Starting from scratch: +50-100% (or delay audit)
5. Multiple Locations or Data Centers
- Single location/DC: Base cost
- 2-3 locations: +15-30%
- 4+ locations: +30-60%
Hidden Costs Beyond the Audit Fee
⚠️ Important
The auditor fee is just one component of total SOC 2 cost. Many companies underestimate the full investment by 50-100%.
Internal Labor Costs
- First-time audit: 300-600 hours of employee time
- Annual surveillance: 150-300 hours
- At $100/hour average: $30K-$60K in hidden labor costs
GRC Platform / Automation Tools
- Vanta: $20K-$60K/year
- Drata: $15K-$50K/year
- Secureframe: $12K-$40K/year
- Strike Graph: $10K-$35K/year
Worth it? Yes. These tools save 100+ hours and reduce audit costs by 20-30%.
Control Remediation
- Minor gaps (documentation only): $5K-$15K
- Moderate gaps (some technical fixes): $15K-$50K
- Major gaps (significant technical work): $50K-$150K+
Readiness Assessment
- Internal assessment: $0 (DIY with free resources)
- Consultant-led assessment: $10K-$30K
- Full readiness audit: $20K-$50K
Penetration Testing
- Not required for SOC 2, but often done concurrently
- Cost: $15K-$50K depending on scope
- Value: Identifies vulnerabilities before audit finds them
Total First-Year SOC 2 Cost Examples
Startup (20 employees, simple SaaS, good readiness)
- Audit fee (Type 2, specialist): $22,000
- GRC platform (Secureframe): $15,000
- Internal labor (250 hours): $25,000
- Readiness assessment: $0 (DIY)
- Control remediation: $8,000
Total: $70,000
Mid-Market (150 employees, moderate complexity, average readiness)
- Audit fee (Type 2, regional): $55,000
- GRC platform (Vanta): $35,000
- Internal labor (400 hours): $40,000
- Readiness assessment: $20,000
- Control remediation: $35,000
Total: $185,000
Enterprise (800 employees, complex architecture, low readiness)
- Audit fee (Type 2, Big Four): $180,000
- GRC platform (Vanta): $55,000
- Internal labor (600 hours): $90,000
- Readiness assessment: $40,000
- Control remediation: $120,000
- Penetration testing: $35,000
Total: $520,000
Annual Ongoing Costs
SOC 2 isn't one-and-done. Budget for annual surveillance audits and continuous compliance:
- Annual audit: 60-70% of initial audit cost
- GRC platform: Same annual fee (often increases 10-15% YoY)
- Internal labor: 150-300 hours per year
- Control maintenance: $10K-$50K/year depending on changes
3-Year Total Cost of Ownership Example (Mid-Market Company)
- Year 1 (initial): $185,000
- Year 2 (surveillance): $95,000
- Year 3 (surveillance): $100,000
- 3-Year Total: $380,000
- Annualized: $127,000/year
How to Reduce SOC 2 Costs
1. Start with Security Only
Don't include optional TSC (Availability, Processing Integrity, etc.) unless customers specifically require them. Add them later if needed.
2. Get Quote from 3-5 Auditors
Pricing varies by 50-150% for the same scope. Always compare multiple quotes.
3. Use a GRC Platform
The $15K-$35K tool investment saves $20K-$50K in audit costs through automation and reduced auditor hours.
4. Do a Readiness Assessment First
Fixing gaps before engaging the auditor reduces finding remediation time and costs.
5. Bundle Multiple Frameworks
If you need SOC 2 + ISO 27001 + PCI DSS, doing them together with one auditor can save 20-30% vs separate audits.
6. Leverage Cloud Provider Controls
Inherit infrastructure controls from AWS/GCP/Azure rather than testing them yourself. Reduces scope and cost.
7. Avoid Big Four Unless Necessary
Unless you're IPO-bound or have complex global operations, specialist firms deliver equal quality at 50-70% lower cost.
8. Negotiate Multi-Year Pricing
Commit to 2-3 years with the same auditor for discounted rates on annual surveillance.
Is SOC 2 Worth the Cost?
Let's be real: SOC 2 is expensive. But here's the ROI calculation:
Direct Financial Benefits
- Won deals: Most companies win $500K-$5M+ in enterprise contracts post-SOC 2
- Shortened sales cycles: Reduce security review from 3-6 months to 2-4 weeks
- Premium pricing: Enterprise customers pay 20-40% more for certified vendors
- M&A value: Acquirers pay 10-30% premium for SOC 2 certified companies
Indirect Benefits
- Fewer security questionnaires (SOC 2 report answers 80% of questions)
- Improved internal security posture and reduced breach risk
- Faster onboarding for enterprise customers
- Competitive differentiation vs non-certified competitors
Break-Even Analysis
Example: $100K total first-year SOC 2 cost
- Win 1 enterprise deal at $200K ACV: 2x ROI
- Win 2 deals at $150K ACV each: 3x ROI
- Increase close rate from 20% to 40% on $2M pipeline: 4x ROI
Bottom line: If you're selling to enterprise, SOC 2 pays for itself within 6-12 months through increased win rates and faster sales cycles.
Compare Real Auditor Pricing
Here are Type 2 pricing ranges from auditors in our directory:
Specialist Auditors (Lowest Cost, Fastest Turnaround)
Big Four (Premium Brand, Highest Cost)
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Related guides: What is SOC 2? • How to Choose an Auditor • Compare All Auditors • Type 1 vs Type 2