Trusted IT partner since 1994 +1 917 628 2365
Free Security Check [email protected]
Get in touchBook a 30-min call
> What actually drives the bill

How Much Does SOC 2 Compliance Cost?

A first SOC 2 audit typically costs $10,000–$60,000+ all-in. The CPA auditor fee is usually $10k–$30k; the rest is readiness work, compliance tooling, and internal staff time. Type I (point-in-time) costs less than Type II (a 3–12 month observation window). Cost scales with company size, system complexity, and how audit-ready you already are.

Explore Compliance servicesGet in touch

By Roman Heiman, CEO & Founder of RHC Solutions — 30+ years in IT and cyber security.

In short: budget roughly $10k–$60k+ for your first SOC 2, then a recurring annual cost for the Type II renewal. The audit fee is only part of it — most of the spend and effort goes into closing control gaps (readiness), compliance-automation tooling, and the time your team spends gathering evidence. The further you are from audit-ready, the higher the readiness cost.

SOC 2 cost breakdown

What drives the cost

Three factors move the number most: company size and headcount, the complexity and number of in-scope systems, and your current security maturity. A 20-person SaaS startup on cloud infrastructure with decent hygiene lands near the low end; a larger firm with on-prem systems, many integrations, and few existing controls lands higher. Your choice of trust-services criteria also matters — only Security is mandatory; Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy are optional and expand scope.

How to reduce SOC 2 cost

Start with a readiness assessment to find and fix gaps before the auditor arrives — failed controls and re-tests are the most expensive surprises. Use compliance automation to collect evidence continuously instead of manually. Scope tightly to the systems and criteria your customers actually require. And reuse controls you may already have — Zero-Trust access, least-privilege IAM, and centralized logging all count. RHC runs SOC 2 and ISO 27001 readiness so the audit itself is a formality.

> FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much does SOC 2 cost for a startup?
A small SaaS startup typically spends $10k–$25k all-in for a first SOC 2, assuming reasonable security hygiene — split across the auditor fee, readiness work, and tooling. Larger or less-prepared organizations pay more.
What's the difference between SOC 2 Type I and Type II cost?
Type I (controls at a point in time) is cheaper and faster; Type II (controls operating effectively over 3–12 months) costs more because it covers an observation period and requires sustained evidence. Most customers ultimately want Type II.
Is SOC 2 a one-time cost?
No. SOC 2 Type II is renewed annually, so budget a recurring cost for the audit, tooling subscription, and ongoing evidence collection — typically less than the first year once controls are in place.
How long does SOC 2 take?
Type I can be achieved in 1–3 months; Type II adds a 3–12 month observation window. The readiness work before the audit is what varies most by organization.
> Let's talk

Pursuing SOC 2 or ISO 27001?

We run readiness so the audit is a formality — gap assessment, remediation, and evidence automation.