The short answer
There is no single price for ISO certification. Accredited certification bodies calculate the number of audit days from internationally agreed rules, mainly IAF MD 5, and price the audit from those days. Two companies certifying to the same standard can therefore pay very different amounts.
This guide explains what drives the cost, what you pay for over the three-year cycle, and how to keep the total down without putting your certificate at risk.
What decides the cost
Number of employees
Audit time rises with the number of people working under your management system, including part-time staff and contractors. This is the biggest single factor.
Complexity and risk of your activities
A drilling services contractor or a food processor needs more audit time than a small office of the same size, because there are more processes and risks to check.
Number of sites
Each site that is covered by the certificate may need to be visited. Multi-site organisations can sometimes be sampled, which reduces cost.
Which standards, and whether they are combined
Each standard adds audit time. Running ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 as one integrated system usually allows a combined audit, which is cheaper than three separate ones.
Travel and logistics
Sites far from the auditors, offshore locations or several cities add travel time and costs.
How ready you are
If your system is not working when the auditor arrives, you may need extra visits to close major nonconformities. Being ready first time is the cheapest option.
What you pay for over three years
Certification is not a one-off payment. Plan your budget for the full cycle:
| When | Audit | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | Stage 1 and Stage 2 (initial certification) | Stage 1 reviews your documents and readiness. Stage 2 checks that your system works in practice. If successful, the certificate is issued. |
| Year 2 | Surveillance audit 1 | A shorter audit, roughly one third of the initial audit time, to confirm the system is maintained. |
| Year 3 | Surveillance audit 2 | As above. |
| Before expiry | Recertification audit | Roughly two thirds of the initial audit time. Starts a new three-year cycle. |
On top of the certification body’s fees, budget for your own internal costs: staff time, training, and any independent consultant you choose to use to prepare.
How to keep the cost down
- Get your system working before you book the Stage 1 audit
- Combine standards into one integrated management system
- Give accurate employee and site numbers so the quote is right first time
- Keep your system running all year so surveillance audits stay short
- Choose an accredited certification body, so you never have to pay twice for a certificate that a client or regulator rejects
How to get an accurate quote from SCL
Send us these details and we will reply with a fixed written quote:
- The standard or standards you need
- Total number of employees, including contractors and shift workers
- The address of each site, and the activities at each
- Whether you already hold a certificate you want to transfer
- When you would like to be certified
You can request a quote or apply online. Already certified elsewhere? See how to transfer your certificate to SCL.
Frequently asked questions
Can you give me a price for ISO 9001 certification?
We give every client a written, fixed quote after a short questionnaire about your employees, sites and activities. Because audit time is calculated from these details, a price without them would only be a guess.
Do I pay every year?
Yes. Certification runs on a three-year cycle. You pay for the initial certification audit in year one, a shorter surveillance audit in years two and three, and a recertification audit before the certificate expires.
Can a certification body also act as my consultant?
No. Accredited certification bodies must stay impartial, so they cannot design or write your management system for you. You can prepare in-house, use an independent consultant, or attend training.
Is it cheaper to certify to several standards at once?
Often, yes. If ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 are run as one integrated management system, the audits can be combined, which usually reduces the total audit time compared with three separate audits.
Why are some quotes much cheaper than others?
Very low prices can mean too little audit time, or a certification body that is not accredited by an IAF member. Certificates from unaccredited bodies are often rejected by operators and regulators, including NCDMB, so the cheapest quote can end up costing more.
Sources: IAF mandatory documents, including IAF MD 5 (audit time); NCDMB NCEC Application Guidance Notes (December 2025).