How much does a SOC 1 examination cost?
The honest answer: it depends on your report type, your scope, and your starting maturity -- but planning-estimate ranges are narrower than most firms admit. Start with the estimator, then see what drives the number.
Planning estimates (September 2026): a Type 1 examination fee runs $10,000–$30,000, a readiness assessment $5,000–$25,000, and a Type 2 examination $20,000–$100,000+ depending on company size and scope. First-year all-in program costs -- examination plus remediation, tooling, and staff time -- typically run 40–60% above the examination fee.
SOC 1 cost estimator
How this estimate is calculated (formula & assumptions)
Examination-fee bands are our planning estimates (September 2026) by company size and path: SMB Type 1 $8k–$20k / readiness $5k–$12k / Type 2 $15k–$40k; mid-market $15k–$35k / $8k–$20k / $30k–$75k; enterprise $25k–$60k / $15k–$35k / $50k–$150k. Each location past the first adds ~15% (multi-site sampling). Remediation: 40–100% of the examination fee -- the swing factor. Internal staff time excluded. These are budgeting figures, not quotes and not measured averages.
Worked example (no JavaScript needed)
A mid-market service organization with 3 locations, pursuing a Type 2, with some controls in place:
- Examination fee: $39,000–$97,500 (Type 2 band $30k–$75k, +30% for 3 locations)
- Remediation: 40–100% of examination fee → $15,600–$97,500
- Total: roughly $55,000–195,000, excluding internal staff time.
Bands are planning estimates (September 2026) -- see the formula disclosure above for the exact math.
Your estimate is a starting point. Estimates use our planning-estimate bands (sources: 2026 pricing report). A scoped quote is what a firm actually charges you -- get 2–3 and compare.
Get scoped quotesCost by report path
Your path is the first cost decision -- bigger than which firm you pick. Planning-estimate ranges per path (September 2026):
| Path | Examination fee (planning estimate) | Typical first-year all-in |
|---|---|---|
| Type 1 | $10K–$30K | $15K–$50K |
| Readiness assessment | $5K–$25K | $5K–$25K (no remediation cycle yet) |
| Type 2 | $20K–$100K+ | $30K–$160K+ |
Planning estimates for budgeting (September 2026), not quotes and not measured averages. Enterprise and Big Four engagements run higher.
What drives the number
- Scope breadth. In-scope systems, locations, and service lines -- every one gets tested. Tight scoping is the biggest lever.
- Report type. Type 2 costs more than Type 1: the observation period means more testing, sampling, and reporting.
- Control maturity. Undocumented controls mean readiness work before (or during) the examination -- billable either way.
- Subservice organizations. Inclusive-method reports cost more than carve-out.
- Firm tier. Boutique, mid-market specialist, national firm, Big Four -- fees and report acceptance rise together.
Cost questions
What is the typical cost of a SOC 1 Type 2 examination?
Planning estimates (September 2026): a Type 2 examination fee typically runs $20,000 to $100,000+, with most mid-market engagements quoted $30,000–70,000. First-year all-in program costs (examination + readiness + remediation + tooling + staff) run higher -- remediation alone typically adds 40–60% on top of the examination fee in year one.
Is a Type 1 cheaper than a Type 2?
Yes -- substantially. Type 1 examination fees typically run $10,000–30,000 (planning estimate) versus $20,000–100,000+ for a Type 2, because there is no observation period to test. But you only get to choose Type 1 if your customers will accept a point-in-time report.
What drives SOC 1 cost up the most?
Scope. The number of in-scope systems, locations, and service lines -- plus your starting control maturity. Tight scoping and documented controls are the two biggest cost levers.
How much does SOC 1 cost for a small SaaS company?
Planning estimate: roughly $15,000–40,000 all-in for the first year (Type 1 examination, readiness, modest remediation, tooling). This is our estimate for budgeting -- get scoped quotes for your actual situation.
How much does a Type 2 cost for a large service organization?
Planning estimate: roughly $100,000–300,000+ all-in for the first year, with the CPA firm fee alone typically $50K–150K and remediation the biggest line item. Complex multi-location environments and inclusive-method reports go higher.
Do costs drop after the first year?
Yes. Once scoping, documentation, tooling, and evidence habits exist, annual Type 2 renewals are mostly the examination fee plus evidence collection -- many programs report 30–50% lower year-two costs.
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