{"id":7765,"date":"2016-10-17T10:14:58","date_gmt":"2016-10-17T09:14:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/amtivo.com\/uk\/resources\/budgeting-for-iso-certification\/"},"modified":"2025-12-15T16:20:05","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T16:20:05","slug":"budgeting-for-iso-certification","status":"publish","type":"resources-filter","link":"https:\/\/amtivo.com\/uk\/resources\/insights\/budgeting-for-iso-certification\/","title":{"rendered":"Budgeting for ISO Certification"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re researching the costs of ISO certification, hopefully you\u2019re sold on the extensive benefits the likes of ISO 9001<\/a> can bring; access to new work, improved internal efficiency and increased client satisfaction are all proven.<\/em><\/p>\r\n

However, the big question remains: how much does it cost to become ISO certified?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\r\n

We\u2019ll get to the answer straight away: it\u2019s impossible to give an accurate cost without getting to know your business and its current state \u2013 there are just too many variables. However, the guidance below will give a good indication of the budget required \u2013 but as you\u2019ll see, that largely depends on you.<\/p>\r\n

Training and Consultancy \u2013 Do You Need It?<\/h2>\r\n

This is an important question, as ISO consultancy especially can cost more that the certification itself. A smaller business\u2019 ISO certification audit will normally consist of two visits. This will be an initial day to see where you are, and what needs to be in place, followed by the formal Audit when you\u2019re ready. Although your Certification Body (that\u2019s us!) can offer generic templates and give non-specific examples, they cannot<\/em> tell you how to do things as this would be deemed as consultancy, therefore destroying the objectivity of the Audit. If you\u2019re seeking more hands-on assistant, then the only option is to also source an ISO consultant.<\/p>\r\n

If you\u2019re starting from scratch, with little documentation in place already and without a clue on how to get started, clearly your consultant will be likely be there for a few days. If you take the option of them writing your documentation for you, it\u2019s easy to see they\u2019ll be there longer than the 2 days required for certification (assuming you\u2019re an SME). Suddenly then, the project cost can double easily. That\u2019s not to say you shouldn\u2019t use an ISO consultant<\/a>, you just need to weigh up the cost vs. benefit. A typical scenario for smaller business may be the person responsible simply cannot spare the time to implement the standard; a consultant can take on that work load. In a larger business, a consultant can quickly up-skill the person responsible and help spread implementation throughout the organisation.<\/p>\r\n

Whether you need training<\/a> or not is also your call. Undoubtedly, an introduction course will give a better understanding of the benefits and requirements of the standard, leading to confidence in starting the process.<\/p>\r\n

Whilst we believe training can help turn what can seem like a daunting task into a stress-free experience, many of our clients are happy to start the certification process without it, or a consultant for that matter. Of course, it helps if you have previous experience of ISO standards or already manage your organisation\u2019s policies and management systems.<\/p>\r\n

ISO Certification Costs<\/h2>\r\n

Certification Bodies use specified guidelines on how long they should look to take on-site Auditing; things that affect this include the size of the organisation, their level of risk and how many sites they have. A typical office-based SME will experience the service as described previously; there\u2019ll be two visits spanning a day each.<\/p>\r\n

Our guidance is that an organisation with 10 or less full-time employees can become certified to one of the ISO management standards from \u00a32,250. (This is all dependant on number of employees and sites.)<\/em><\/p>\r\n

When investigating costs for your organisation, it\u2019s important to know exactly what you\u2019ll be paying for. With some Certification Bodies using sub-contracted Auditors, there can be additional travel fees and associated costs to be mindful of. There\u2019s also the often used \u2018Annual Management Fee\u2019, something not mentioned until you read it in black and white. It\u2019s especially important to factor in these costs as ISO certification<\/a> is dependent on ongoing surveillance visits to ensure you are still meeting the requirements of the standard; a \u00a3200 here and there adds up if you\u2019re with that Certification Body for a number of years.<\/p>\r\n

Ongoing Cost Considerations<\/h2>\r\n

As mentioned, retaining certification is dependent on you continuing to meet the requirements of your chosen ISO standard<\/a>. Continual improvement is a key requirement; and is a major reason why the standards are chosen by buying authorities: it gives confidence that their suppliers are monitored.<\/p>\r\n

Ongoing certification is based around a 3 year certification cycle once you\u2019ve been initially assessed. The first two Surveillance Audits are a pared-down version of initial certification, with the third being a full assessment once again. While you must be visited at least annually, some Certification Bodies will insist on more regular Audits. Ultimately it\u2019s up to you to decide whether that frequency is a help or hindrance to your organisation. For reference, typically the cost of a Surveillance Audit is less than 50% of the initial certification costs.<\/p>\r\n

The less obvious costs are worth consideration too. Implementing an ISO Management Standard takes an investment from management level down to those on the warehouse floor to be successful. Not only does someone have to take overall responsibility, reinforcing the merits of doing something different will take time and effort. On the whole, people don\u2019t like change and it\u2019ll require ongoing training and reminders to gain workforce buy-in. Of course, the gains from implementing a standard should outweigh the input, but it is a \u2018cost\u2019 nevertheless.<\/p>\r\n

Factors that Influence Cost and Time<\/h2>\r\n