Author: Marçal Santos, vCISO | +20 Years Cybersecurity Experience
Getting SOC 2 certified isn’t just about passing an audit—it’s about unlocking enterprise deals, building customer trust, and proving your security practices actually work. But before you start the process, you need to understand what it’ll really cost.
This guide breaks down every component of SOC 2 certification cost in 2026, from audit fees to the hidden expenses that catch most companies off guard. Whether you’re a 20-person startup or a growing mid-market SaaS, you’ll walk away knowing exactly how to budget for year one and beyond.
Quick answer: How much does SOC 2 certification cost in 2026?
The total cost of SOC 2 certification typically ranges from $20,000 to $80,000 for small and mid-size companies in 2026. Large enterprises with complex environments can expect to spend $80,000 to $250,000+ when you factor in tools, consulting, and internal effort.
Here’s how the main components break down:
These numbers combine into your realistic “all-in” budget. A typical startup pursuing their first SOC 2 spends $20,000 to $35,000 in year one when you add the audit, compliance platform subscription, and staff time together.
The wide ranges exist because costs vary based on your company size, how many Trust Services Criteria you include in scope, and whether you choose a boutique audit firm or a Big Four like Deloitte.
Most organizations underestimate the preparation costs. The formal audit itself often represents less than half of your total spend.
SOC 2 certification cost breakdown
SOC 2 isn’t technically a “certification”—it’s an attestation report issued by licensed certified public accountants. But everyone calls it SOC 2 certification, and customers expect to see your report before signing enterprise contracts. The audit process evaluates your security controls against the AICPA’s Trust Services Criteria.
Your SOC 2 certification cost splits into three main buckets:
- External audit fees paid to a CPA firm for the formal audit
- Preparation and remediation including policies, control implementation, and security tools
- Ongoing annual maintenance covering re-audits and continuous monitoring
Here’s what each component typically costs in 2026:
First-year costs are always higher than later years. You’re building your compliance program from the ground up—writing policies, deploying new security tools, and establishing evidence collection processes.
Think in terms of “year 1 investment” versus “steady-state yearly cost” when planning budgets. Most companies see their total cost drop by 30-50% in year two once the foundation is in place.
SOC 2 Type 1 vs Type 2: audit fee ranges
A Type 1 report evaluates whether your controls are properly designed at a specific point in time—essentially a snapshot. A Type 2 report tests whether those controls actually worked effectively over an observation period, typically 3 to 12 months.
Type 2 is the “gold standard” that enterprise customers expect. It costs more because auditors need to review evidence from your entire process across months of operation, not just a single day.
The auditor fees you’ll pay depend on:
- Size of your environment (user count, systems, locations)
- Number of Trust Services Criteria in scope (security only vs. all five criteria including availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy)
- Chosen audit firm (boutique firms charge less than Big Four)
Some firms offer bundled pricing for Type 1 + Type 2 in the first year. This approach can reduce your average costs by 10-20% if you’re planning to complete both within 12-18 months anyway.
Calculate Your SOC 2 Audit Fees Now: Use the Secureleap SOC 2 Audit Cost Calculator to get an accurate estimate tailored to your organization's size and scope. This tool helps you plan your budget effectively and avoid surprises in your compliance journey.
How much does a SOC 2 Type 1 certification cost?
Type 1 is a snapshot assessment of your control design on a specific date. Startups often use it as a first milestone to show prospects they’re serious about data security without waiting 6+ months for a full Type 2.
Concrete 2025 audit fee ranges for Type 1:
These figures exclude preparation costs like your readiness assessment, policy drafting, and security tooling. The entire process for Type 1 typically takes 3-4 months from kickoff to receiving your report.
When to choose Type 1 first:
- You’re an early-stage startup that needs something in 3-4 months to unlock sales
- Enterprise prospects are asking for “any SOC 2 report” to proceed with deals
- Your internal expertise is still developing and you want a stepping stone
Some organizations skip Type 1 entirely and go straight to Type 2 if they already have mature security practices. This makes sense when your security posture is solid and you can afford the longer, more expensive compliance process.
How much does a SOC 2 Type 2 certification cost?
Type 2 covers a review period—typically 3, 6, or 12 months—and tests whether your controls operated effectively throughout. Auditors examine evidence collection logs, review access management systems, and verify that monitoring actually happened as documented.
Realistic 2026 audit fee ranges for Type 2:
Longer review periods, more Trust Services Criteria, and additional locations directly increase billable hours. Adding availability, confidentiality, and privacy to your audit scope can increase fees by 30-50% compared to security-only.
Example scenario: An 15-person US SaaS company with security in scope typically pays roughly $8,000–$12,000 for a 6-12 month Type 2 audit in 2026.
Most customers now expect an annual Type 2 report. Treat these costs as an ongoing operational line item, not a one-time project expense.
Preparation and hidden SOC 2 certification costs
Here’s what catches most organizations: audit fees are often less than half of the true SOC 2 cost. Preparation, remediation, and internal resources make up the rest.
Typical preparation ranges for 2026:
- External readiness help: $6,000–$15,000 (if using consultants)
- Internal personnel time and lost productivity: $2,000–$15,000
- New security tools and services: $1,000–$25,000
Hidden costs that don’t show up on invoices include:
- Time spent by engineering, DevOps, and leadership on evidence collection
- Context switching and delays in project delivery during the audit window
- Rework if the first readiness check uncovers missing controls or substantial gaps
Early gap analysis and a structured project plan keep overall costs closer to the low end. Companies that skip the planning phase often face 2-3x the remediation costs when auditors identify gaps during the formal audit.
Readiness and gap assessment costs
A SOC 2 readiness or gap assessment is a pre-audit review of your policies, procedures, and technical controls against the AICPA Trust Services Criteria. It’s designed to identify gaps before you engage your audit firm.
Concrete price ranges for 2026:
Some CPA firms bundle a light readiness review into their audit fees. Others charge separately or recommend third-party consulting services.
A thorough readiness assessment can prevent failed audits and costly rework, effectively lowering your total SOC 2 audit cost over the first 12-24 months.
Sample timeline for achieving compliance:
Security tools, automation platforms, and training
SOC 2 compliance often drives investment in security infrastructure you may have been deferring. Common purchases include:
- Identity and access management (SSO, MFA)
- Endpoint management (MDM/EDR solutions)
- Vulnerability scanning, logging, and threat and intrusion detection
- Compliance automation platforms for automated evidence collection
- File integrity monitoring and security configurations tools
Typical 2026 annual price ranges:
Security awareness training is also required. Regular security awareness training costs typically run:
- Online training programs: $20–$100 per user annually
- Instructor-led or custom workshops: $1,000–$5,000 per engagement
Employee training at scale (say, 100 employees at $25/person) adds $2,500/year to your compliance costs.
Worked example: A 10-person US SaaS adopting SSO, MDM, and a compliance platform might add $6,000–$10,000 per year in tool spend for their first SOC 2.
These investments typically support compliance with other frameworks too—ISO 27001, HIPAA, GDPR evidence requirements. They’re not “SOC 2-only” costs but rather foundational data protection investments that multiply in value.
Legal, consulting, and internal time costs
SOC 2 often triggers legal review of:
- Customer and vendor contracts
- Employee Handbook and acceptable use policies
- Existing legal agreements that reference data handling
Realistic ranges for 2026:
Internal time adds significant indirect costs. Typical first-year projects require 40-150 hours from engineering, security, and leadership combined. At common salary rates, that translates to roughly $2,000–$15,000 of internal effort.
Your internal team carries the bulk of compliance tasks: gathering evidence, implementing controls, updating asset inventory, and responding to auditor questions. Key roles affected include:
- CTO or VP of Engineering (strategic decisions, audit prep)
- Security Lead (control implementation, continuous monitoring)
- DevOps/IT (technical configurations, access management systems)
This diverted internal team effort has real opportunity cost. Projects get delayed. Features ship later. Using compliance automation platforms and standardized templates can significantly limit ad hoc legal fees and consulting fees.
Ongoing SOC 2 maintenance and recertification costs
SOC 2 reports are valid for 12 months. Customers expect a current report, which means organizations treat SOC 2 as an annual operating expense, not a one-time project.
Typical recurring annual maintenance costs after year 1:
- Repeating Type 2 audit fees: Often similar to year one, sometimes 10-15% lower once systems stabilize
- Compliance platform and security tools subscriptions: $6,000–$15,000+ annually
- Internal time for continuous monitoring, evidence collection, and policy refreshes: Varies by company size
Ballpark 2026 “steady-state” cost ranges:
Expanding audit scope increases these recurring costs. Adding the privacy criterion or new regions like the EU means additional controls, more evidence, and higher auditor fees.
Comparison: Ongoing compliance runs about 40-70% of your initial year-one spend, depending on how much re-architecture was needed at the start. If year one cost $60,000, budget $25,000–$40,000 annually going forward.
How to lower your SOC 2 certification cost without cutting corners
The goal isn’t “cheap SOC 2”—it’s cost-efficient SOC 2 that produces a credible, customer-trusted report. Cutting corners leads to failed audits, compliance status issues, and wasted spend.
Practical strategies that work:
Narrow your audit scope in year 1:
- Start with fewer TSCs (security only if that meets customer requirements)
- Scope a single product or system rather than your entire infrastructure
- Limit to primary operating regions before expanding globally
Invest in automation:
- Compliance automation platforms reduce internal hours by 50-80%
- Automated evidence collection eliminates manual screenshot gathering
- Continuous monitoring catches issues before auditors do
Use vetted templates:
- Don’t write policies from scratch when proven templates exist
- Control libraries aligned to Trust Services Criteria save weeks of work
- Many compliance platforms include policy templates in their subscription
Choose the right auditor:
- Select auditors experienced with your industry and tech stack
- Boutique firms often charge $8,000–$15,000 where Big Four charge $50,000+
- Ask for references from similar-sized SaaS companies
- Note: Secureleap offers security audits at very competitive prices. Contact us for more info and to discuss how we can support your SOC 2 compliance needs.
Bundle strategically:
- Type 1 + Type 2 bundles can save 10-20% on auditor fees
- Readiness + audit packages from some firms run $20,000–$40,000 total
Smart planning in the first 90 days can easily save 25-50% of avoidable SOC 2-related costs over the first two years.
Is SOC 2 certification worth the cost?
SOC 2 is both a security investment and a go-to-market requirement for B2B cloud and SaaS providers. If you’re selling to enterprises that handle sensitive customer data, the question isn’t whether to get SOC 2—it’s when.
The ROI comes from multiple angles:
Sales acceleration:
- Faster vendor security reviews with a ready-to-share report
- Fewer custom questionnaires eating up your team’s time
- Eligibility for enterprise deals that explicitly require current SOC 2 Type 2
Risk management:
- Better security posture through formalized controls
- Reduced breach risk from continuous monitoring and regular reviews
- Insurance benefits from demonstrated data security practices
Operational efficiency:
- SOC 2 evidence supports other frameworks (ISO 27001, HIPAA, GDPR)
- Compliance reporting becomes systematized rather than reactive
- Your service organization operates with documented, repeatable processes
Many enterprise buyers now make SOC 2 a prerequisite in their vendor evaluation. Without it, you’re not even in the conversation for deals that could represent significant revenue.
The math often looks like this: If SOC 2 unlocks even one enterprise deal worth $100,000+ annually, the $20,000–$60,000 first-year investment pays for itself. When that report also replaces 10-15 custom security audits from different customers, the ongoing costs become clearly worthwhile.
Start by modeling your own 12-24 month SOC 2 budget and timeline. Map out your current security practices, identify gaps in your risk management program, and get quotes from 2-3 audit firms. Treat the spend as a strategic enabler that supports compliance, accelerates sales, and strengthens your overall security program—not as a pure cost to minimize.
Your customers trust you with their data. SOC 2 proves you take that responsibility seriously.
Final Take: Get SOC 2 Certification Fast and Affordable with Secureleap
Achieving SOC 2 certification is a critical step in demonstrating your commitment to data security and winning the trust of enterprise customers. While the process can seem complex and costly, partnering with the right experts can make all the difference.
Secureleap specializes in helping organizations obtain SOC 2 certification quickly and at a very competitive price. With tailored services designed to streamline your audit process, reduce preparation time, and manage costs effectively, Secureleap ensures you get a credible, customer-trusted SOC 2 report without unnecessary delays or expenses.
Whether you're a startup or a growing mid-market company, Secureleap’s expertise and efficient approach can help you navigate the compliance journey smoothly, so you can focus on what matters most—growing your business with confidence.
Contact Secureleap today to learn how we can support your SOC 2 compliance needs and accelerate your path to certification.
