How Much Does ISO 9001 Certification Cost?

The cost of attaining ISO 9001 certification is a crucial question for many when considering the quality management standard. We’ll explore the multiple factors that can affect certification costs and the level of support you need.

ISO 9001 is a worldwide standard for supporting quality within businesses. It outlines what companies must do to set up and run a certified Quality Management System (QMS).

This standard is based on quality management principles that focus on customer needs, internal processes and a commitment to continual improvement. Following these guidelines helps businesses produce better quality products and services, leading to happier customers, lower costs and more efficient operations.

Obtaining ISO 9001:2015 certification for your QMS involves several steps, and the cost can vary significantly based on a few factors, including the number of locations your business operates from and the industry you work in.

As a result, it’s often not straightforward to give an exact cost for ISO 9001 certification. Each organisation is different, and each ISO certification should adapt to an organisation’s needs.

Example costs

As a general guide, an SME with fewer than ten employees and a single site should expect to budget around £2,250 – £2,750 for initial certification to one core standard (ISO 9001, ISO 14001 or ISO 45001). This reflects a typical standalone audit cost. For organisations seeking certification to multiple standards at the same time, costs will be higher, although integration can reduce total audit time and therefore lower overall costs by up to 20%. Larger organisations with more employees and/or multiple sites should expect higher costs to reflect the greater scope of auditing required. Ongoing expenditure should also be anticipated for annual surveillance audits across the standard three-year ISO certification cycle.

A thorough understanding of the standard and its requirements is key to preparing for a successful implementation of ISO 9001.

Therefore, one of the first costs to consider is the official ISO 9001 standards document from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), which costs around £134.

While purchasing a copy of the standards document is not mandatory, it is typically helpful because it provides comprehensive guidance on the specific requirements and best practices for implementing ISO 9001.

When reviewing these requirements, many businesses find that many of them are already in place, due to the nature of their organisation’s business operations.

For example, they may have already established quality control processes or customer feedback mechanisms. You can learn more about ISO 9001 requirements with our free ISO 9001 key requirements checklist.

Several factors will affect your business’s overall cost of ISO 9001 certification. Understanding these can help your organisation plan and budget for the process.

The main factors are:

• Company size: A larger company may require more resources and extensive audits to implement changes.
• Company complexity: Companies or organisations with complex structures, such as multiple locations or numerous divisions, may face higher costs due to the need for more detailed audits.
• Number of employees: The more employees your business has, the more extensive the training and communication required, potentially increasing costs.
• Your industry: Some industries may have specific quality requirements that add complexity to the certification process.
• Preparation level: Costs can vary depending on the degree to which your current QMS is aligned with ISO 9001 certification requirements, as you may need to implement changes or additions.
• Internal expertise vs. external support: Internal knowledge of ISO 9001 and QMS could reduce the need to hire an external consultant for the internal audit stage.
• Certification body: Not all certification bodies have the same pricing structures. It’s important to compare them to find the right fit for your business needs and budget.
• Geographical location: Auditor costs, travel expenses and local market conditions could cause certification costs to vary by location.
• Additional services: To complete the certification process, additional services such as quality testing and training may be required, which could increase costs.

Find out more about budgeting for ISO certification.

Take our ISO 9001 Readiness Quiz to explore whether your organisation is prepared to begin the certification process.

There are several stages to ISO 9001 certification, each with its own ISO 9001 accreditation cost.

Preparation stage

This initial phase involves acquiring the ISO 9001 standard requirements and familiarising yourself with the guidelines. Investing in employee training or hiring a consultant can help your organisation grasp the complexities of ISO 9001.

A crucial task at this stage is to conduct a gap analysis of your QMS to identify areas that need improvement. Implementing these changes may involve costs such as buying new tools.

Documentation review and internal audit (Stage 1)

This phase can require the most significant financial, time and resource investment as it involves creating, reviewing and updating the documentation needed for successful ISO 9001 compliance.

An internal audit is also key to successful certification. You may use an in-house auditor or decide to hire a third-party consultant to conduct the audit.

The internal audit results may require your business to make additional investments to ensure your QMS meets ISO 9001 standards.

Certification audit (Stage 2)

The final stage is the certification audit conducted by an accredited certification body.

An auditor will rigorously evaluate your QMS’s compliance with the ISO 9001 standard and award certification if all requirements are met.

At this stage, additional costs might include updating marketing materials and websites with certification logos and branding, which can vary depending on the certification body.

Annual audits

Remember that once certified, the organisation must follow a three-year cycle of annual audits. These are short audits that focus on maintaining standards.

ISO 9001 isn’t rocket science – the key is whether you have the resources to implement the standard whilst still doing your day job.

Most of our clients don’t have the luxury of a dedicated ‘Quality Manager’. Fortunately, this isn’t necessary – you need someone with a good understanding of the business to be responsible for quality management and internal audits.

Choosing someone from within your company can be cost-effective and enhance your team’s understanding of ISO 9001. However, internal auditors must be unbiased and well-trained, so you might need to invest in their training.

They will also need to focus on the audit, which might take them away from their regular duties.

You don’t have to hire an outside consultant for the certification process. However, you can bring one in at any stage to help your team with their specialised knowledge and experience.

Consultants usually charge either a project fee or a daily rate, between £400 and £1,000 per day. Their services vary, and they typically do more than just conduct an audit for your business.

While hiring an external consultant is an extra cost, they may complete the audit faster and more efficiently, potentially spotting issues your team could miss. Their expertise might be worth the additional cost for complex or highly technical audits.

Consider your budget and internal capabilities to decide which option is best for you.

Complete our Find an ISO Consultant form to get started on your search for an external consultant.

Choosing an accredited certification body for ISO 9001 certification is crucial for ensuring credibility and reliability.

Some certification bodies may offer you a set price for certification, but this typically means they aren’t accredited by UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) – the only accreditation body endorsed by the UK government.

Accredited certification bodies must follow strict UKAS standards, and do not charge for providing a quote.

If you opt for a non-accredited body, you may be locked into long-term contracts and your certification will not be accepted worldwide by the IAF (International Accreditation Forum)’s international network.

British Assessment Bureau costs

British Assessment Bureau is a UKAS-accredited body offering ISO certifications recognised worldwide.

Certification costs vary depending on business size. For larger organisations with multiple locations, the audit process may take several days to weeks.

For multi-site organisations conducting similar operations across locations, audits can be rotated within the 3-year certification cycle, potentially reducing expenses. Dependent on the make-up of your sites, in many instances, a sampling process is allowed, so if you have multiple sites all doing the same activities, they would be visited on a rotation basis.

Depending on your industry, you may need auditors with specific expertise, knowledge and qualifications.

We have produced a useful guide to help you avoid the common pitfalls when choosing a certification body.

When getting a quote from a certification body, be sure to check what’s included. Look out for extra costs that might come up later. The fee should include:

• Stage 1 and Stage 2 audits
• Compliance and administration tasks
• Travel fees for auditors
• Management fees

Be cautious of quotes with very low fees, as they may indicate a short or inflexible contract. The standard is a three-year contract.

Annual surveillance audits are necessary to demonstrate ongoing compliance and maintain certification. These audits involve regular evaluations to ensure your QMS continues to meet the ISO 9001 standard. They assess the effectiveness of your quality measures and identify new areas for improvement since the previous audit.

An accredited certification body typically performs surveillance audits, and the costs can vary based on factors such as hiring new staff

It’s important to include these costs in your budget to help your organisation stay compliant, build stakeholder trust and keep a competitive edge in quality management.

While annual audits are common, certification bodies may require them at different intervals.

After achieving ISO 9001 certification, your organisation must complete compliance audits every three years. These audits assess whether your QMS is still effective and compliant with the standard.

Failure to do so will result in your certification being withdrawn.

The re-certification process involves a thorough review of the QMS to confirm that it is being effectively maintained and that its policies, procedures and controls are continually improving. Quality management practices and incident response procedures are typically included in these audits.

Strategic planning can help reduce the costs of ISO 9001 certification:

• Conduct a gap analysis: Before starting the certification process, evaluate your organisation’s current quality management practices to identify areas that need improvement. This helps to avoid wasting time and resources at a later stage.
• Strong project management: Effective project management can help to keep the certification process on track and within budget.
• Use existing systems: Your QMS can be based on existing policies and procedures, which can reduce the need for new investments in tools or processes.
• Make the most of your existing systems: Build your QMS on existing policies, procedures and quality measures to minimise the need for new investments in tools or processes.
• Internal expertise: Use internal staff with expertise in quality management to oversee parts of the certification process. Training these employees could be more cost-effective than hiring external consultants.
• Phased implementation: Consider a multi-staged approach, concentrating on the high-impact areas first. This helps spread costs over time and makes the process more financially manageable.

Take a look at our ISO Buyer’s Guide to help you avoid the common pitfalls when choosing a certification body.

Although becoming ISO 9001-certified may require time and money, many companies consider the return on investment worth it.

ISO 9001 can help your organisation:

• Boost profits
• Win new business
• Retain existing customers
• Identify gaps in your processes
• Implement consistent, repeatable processes
• Stand out from your competitors
• Prepare for the future
• Spend less time completing tenders
• Engage employees
• Continually improve your business

Efficiency yields time and cost savings, so integrating ISO 9001 into your strategy shouldn’t cost you anything at all.

British Assessment Bureau can provide your business with expert support throughout the ISO 9001 certification process. Our auditors are with you from the beginning, from the initial audit to your recertification audit three years later.

We promise no hidden costs and transparent pricing at each step. We also offer a range of flexible payment plans.

To get a better understanding of the experience you can expect with British Assessment Bureau, take a look at the reviews we have received via the independent reviews service, Feefo.

Get started on your journey to ISO 9001 certification – get a quote today or contact our team to discuss your needs.