You've been asked for a SOC 2 report by a potential customer. Or maybe your investor mentioned it during due diligence. Either way, your first question is obvious: how much is this going to cost?
The frustrating answer you'll find everywhere is "it depends." That's technically true — but not helpful. So here are the real numbers companies actually pay in 2026.
Total SOC 2 Cost: The Bottom Line
For a small to mid-sized company getting SOC 2 for the first time, expect to spend between $20,000 and $80,000 in year one.
| Cost Component | Range |
|---|---|
| Audit fees (CPA firm) | $5,000 – $60,000 |
| Compliance automation platform | $5,000 – $40,000/yr |
| Internal team time (100-300 hrs) | $10,000 – $45,000 opportunity cost |
| Remediation & security tools | $2,000 – $15,000 |
| Year 2+ maintenance | ~40-50% of year-one cost |
A 15-person startup with a straightforward cloud setup can realistically achieve SOC 2 Type 1 for $20,000-$30,000 total. A 100-person SaaS company pursuing Type 2 across multiple trust service criteria might spend $60,000-$100,000+.
Type 1 vs Type 2: Which Do You Need?
Type 1 evaluates whether your controls are properly designed at a specific point in time — a snapshot. Audit fees range from $5,000 to $20,000, and the whole process takes 3-4 months. Most startups start here to unblock enterprise deals quickly.
Type 2 evaluates whether your controls actually work over a 3-12 month observation period. It's more credible and most enterprise buyers ultimately want Type 2. Audit fees range from $10,000 to $60,000.
The smart approach: start with Type 1 to unblock deals now, then transition to Type 2 within 12 months. Some auditors offer bundled pricing for this path — saving 15-25%.
What Drives the Cost Up?
Number of Trust Service Criteria: Security alone (the mandatory criterion) is cheapest. Adding Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, or Privacy each increases scope and cost by 15-25%.
Company size: More employees means more access reviews, more devices, more policies, and more audit sampling.
Infrastructure complexity: Multi-cloud environments, on-premise systems, and complex third-party integrations increase scope.
Auditor choice: Big 4 firms charge $75,000-$200,000+. Boutique CPA firms charge $8,000-$25,000 for the same attestation with equal legal validity.
Before spending $20K+ on SOC 2, make sure it's the right framework. ComplyZen's free assessment tells you exactly which compliance frameworks apply to your business — in 2 minutes.
Check Which Frameworks You Need →Three Approaches (and What Each Costs)
Approach 1: DIY (Manual)
Handle everything internally with spreadsheets and manual evidence collection. Total year-one cost: $15,000-$30,000. Works for small teams with an experienced security person, but the hidden cost is hundreds of engineering hours diverted from product development.
Approach 2: Compliance Automation Platform
Tools like Vanta ($10K-$40K/yr), Drata ($8K-$30K/yr), or Sprinto ($5K-$15K/yr) automate evidence collection and continuous monitoring. Total year-one cost: $25,000-$60,000. This is the most popular approach for startups in 2026.
Approach 3: Full Consulting
Hire a compliance firm to manage everything. Consultant fees: $15,000-$50,000+ on top of audit costs. Total year-one cost: $40,000-$100,000+. Best for complex environments or zero internal security expertise.
How to Minimize SOC 2 Costs
- Start with Security only — don't add extra criteria unless customers specifically require them
- Use a boutique auditor — equally valid reports at a fraction of Big 4 pricing
- Build security habits early — MFA, encryption, and access logging before starting the process saves thousands in remediation
- Bundle Type 1 and Type 2 — commit to both upfront for 15-25% auditor discounts
- Survey your customers first — one founder saved $15,000 by asking prospects what criteria they actually need
Is SOC 2 Worth the Investment?
For B2B SaaS companies selling to enterprise, the answer is almost always yes:
- Eliminates 200-question security questionnaires
- Unlocks enterprise deals that require SOC 2 as a prerequisite
- Can lower cyber insurance premiums by 10-25%
- Signals operational maturity to investors
Most companies report that SOC 2 pays for itself through a single enterprise deal that was previously blocked.