SOC 2 auditor price comparison guide
Interactive estimators
Cost ranges
| Item | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Low quote (Security-only, tight scope) | $12K–$25K | Often assumes mature controls and minimal remediation support |
| Mid quote (standard Type II) | $25K–$60K | Typical single-product SaaS with six-month observation window |
| High quote (multi-category / complex) | $60K–$150K+ | Extra TSC categories, entities, or heavy sample populations |
| Out-of-scope hourly (change orders) | $200–$500+/hr | Scope creep, extra locations, or report revision cycles |
What drives variance
Auditor price comparison fails when RFPs describe different systems. Before ranking quotes, normalize: identical Trust Services Categories, Type I vs Type II, observation period dates, legal entities in scope, subservice inclusive vs carve-out method, number of in-scope cloud accounts, and whether readiness remediation is included. Low quotes sometimes exclude bridge letters, extra sample rounds after exceptions, or travel for on-site walkthroughs. High quotes may bundle advisory hours you already staff internally. Build a comparison matrix with line items — base fee, per-entity surcharge, category add-ons, report revision policy — and ask each firm to confirm assumptions in writing. Educational ranges here are not bids; use them to spot outliers before signing.
Sources & methodology
- AICPA SOC 2 overview: AICPA SOC 2 reporting overview for service organizations; accessed August 26, 2026
- AICPA Trust Services Criteria: AICPA TSP Section 100 — 2017 Trust Services Criteria; accessed August 26, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Base examination fee, TSC categories in scope, observation window length, entity count, subservice treatment, sample methodology, report revisions, and hourly rates for out-of-scope requests.
Different assumed boundaries, category counts, readiness work bundled in one quote but not the other, or different sample sizes for Type II operating effectiveness testing.
Prefer fixed-fee proposals tied to a written scope. If hourly, cap hours for fieldwork and define change-order triggers so remediation rework does not open-end.
Some CPAs discount fieldwork when evidence is pre-organized; others price the same. The platform fee is separate — compare total program cost, not auditor line alone.
Draft your system description and category list, then use /costs/soc-2/how-to-choose-auditor and /tools/soc-2-cost-calculator to sanity-check bands before procurement.