How much does an ISO certificate cost?
Organizations that care about quality demonstrate it with an ISO certificate — to ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO/IEC 27001, ISO 22000 and other standards — in line with the budget they have set. Certification places the organization on a higher level and proves that its management system meets the requirements of the standard.
Prices for these services vary, so there is no single price. As a rough guide, the total cost of obtaining an ISO certificate — consultancy and certification — is between €1,500 and €5,000. This sum covers two different services from two different providers:
Develops the documented information and helps implement it.
Conducts the audit and issues the certificate. With us — through CERTIND S.A.
“Buy cheap, buy twice” — which is why, when it comes to certification, price should be the last thing to focus on.
What the price of ISO certification depends on
The price is determined by several unavoidable factors. Some of them determine the duration of the audit, while others are costs outside the certification body.
AFactors that determine the audit days — and the price of certification
- Complexity and sectorA manufacturing operation with many processes takes more time than an office with a single service. The field of activity also matters.
- Number and type of standardsEach standard has its own requirements. With an integrated system, the combined audit is usually shorter than separate audits.
- Number of sitesLarge companies with several locations have a wider scope. Each site is either audited or checked on a sampling basis.
- Number of employeesFull-time and part-time staff.
BOther costs
- ConsultantMany organizations hire a consultant who develops and implements the documentation and conducts the relevant internal audits in accordance with ISO 19011. The consultant’s fee depends on their experience and the scope of the consultancy.
- TrainingTraining one or more employees as internal auditors in accordance with ISO 19011, depending on the number of standards you will be certified to — optional.
- InfrastructureYour existing infrastructure and equipment — if they need to be supplemented to meet the requirements.
CMaintaining the certificate
- Surveillance auditsIn the second and third years — they require preparation for the audit, including an internal audit in accordance with ISO 19011, a management review and the preparation of reports.
- RecertificationAt the end of the three-year cycle — so that the certificate remains valid.
Costs over the full three-year cycle
The certification contract covers three calendar years. Surveillance audits are carried out in the second and third years, and at the end of the cycle there is a recertification, which keeps the certificate valid.
What the price of certification includes — and what it does not
Includes
- Stage 1 — review of the documentation and readiness
- Stage 2 — on-site audit at your premises
- Independent certification decision
- Issue of the certificate
- Surveillance audits in the second and third years
- Recertification after three years
Does not include
- Consultancy and development of the documentation
- Implementing the system
- Employee training
- Internal audits of the system
A certification body may not provide consultancy to the organizations it certifies — this is an impartiality requirement under ISO/IEC 17021-1. If you use a consultant, they must be independent of the body.
Buy cheap, buy twice: a worthless certificate
Just as there are “replicas” of goods everywhere, certification services also have organizations that simply sell a sheet of paper called a certificate. At first glance it has all the required details, but it does not stand up to scrutiny.
- No on-site audit
The certificate is not backed by a report from a real certification audit at the organization.
- No documented information
The organization has no documentation for the system to which it is “certified”.
- No accreditation
The body cannot name an accreditation body that is a signatory to the EA MLA and IAF.
In a tender, the contracting authority often requests documents from the management system through which the organization proves that it really works to the standard and has documentation tailored to its processes. How to check a certificate.
How to get an exact price
- 1Describe your activity
Tell us what you do, how many employees and sites you have, and which standards you need.
- 2Receive a quote
Within two hours during business hours — with the scope, stages, timeline and price, and no additional costs.
- 3Decide at your own pace
The quote does not commit you to anything. If you accept it, we plan the audit together.
Questions about the price of ISO certification
How much does ISO 9001 certification cost?
The price depends mainly on the complexity of the activity, the organization’s locations, the number of employees and the types of standards to be certified. You receive an exact price in a tailored quote that includes all the costs of carrying out the audits.
Is consultancy included in the price of certification?
No. The consultant who develops and implements the system is a separate cost. A certification body may not provide consultancy to the organizations it certifies — this is an impartiality requirement under ISO/IEC 17021-1.
How much does it cost to maintain the certificate?
The certificate is valid for three years. Surveillance audits are carried out in the second and third years, and they cost less than the first year. After three years comes recertification, and the cycle repeats.
Is it cheaper to get certified to several standards at once?
With an integrated management system — for example ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 — the combined audit is usually shorter than three separate audits. More about integrated systems.
Why does the price depend on the number of employees?
Because the duration of the audit is determined under the IAF mandatory document IAF MD 5, mainly according to the number of employees. More people usually means more processes and a longer audit.
How soon will I receive a quote?
Within two hours of your enquiry during business hours. The quote sets out the scope, the stages, the audit timeline and the price, including all the costs of carrying out the audits.