ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management
The ISO 9001 process: from self-assessment to verified certificate
With Zertify, the ISO 9001 process runs online in a few clear steps. You answer 30 yes/no questions, pass with 20 correct, pay CHF 599 for the first year and receive your certificate within 4 hours. No on-site audit is needed, and every certificate can be verified publicly.
01: Overview
The ISO 9001 process in brief
ISO 9001:2015 is the world's leading standard for quality management systems. It describes how an organisation can consistently deliver products and services that meet customer requirements and regulatory obligations. It applies to manufacturers, service companies, trades, IT firms, consultancies and public institutions alike.
The Zertify process is built around that idea and keeps the effort low. You do not book an auditor or wait for a visit. You complete an online self-assessment, and the result decides whether a certificate is issued. The whole path from first question to certificate can fit into a single working day.
02: Steps
ISO 9001 certification step by step
This is the complete sequence with Zertify. Each step is short, and you always know what comes next.
Review the requirements
Read through the main topics of ISO 9001:2015, such as context, policy, risks, processes and improvement. This takes a few minutes if you already run a structured business.
Start the online self-assessment
Open the assessment on zertify.ch. It is free to begin and needs no registration.
Answer 30 yes/no questions
Each question refers to a requirement of the standard. Answer honestly and with your actual working practice in mind.
Reach the pass threshold
You pass with 20 of 30 answers. The result shows at once whether you qualify for the certificate.
Pay the first year
The first year costs CHF 599 (€599). The certificate is valid for 3 years and is confirmed every year with a short online re-audit, for CHF 399 (€399) per year from the second year. You can cancel at any time for the end of the year.
Receive your certificate
The certificate is issued by G6 Agency AG under licence from SICE within 4 hours after you have passed and paid, once SICE has reviewed your assessment. It carries a number and a QR code for public verification.
Nothing in this sequence requires a site visit, a consultant or a booked appointment. The only input is your own knowledge of how your business works.
03: Preparation
What to prepare before you answer the questions
The questions follow the structure of ISO 9001:2015. If you know where your business stands on the following areas, the assessment will go quickly. You do not need to write a manual first, but you should be able to answer each topic with confidence.
- Context of the organisation (clause 4)
- Know your interested parties, such as customers, staff and authorities, and the issues that affect your business.
- Quality policy and objectives (clauses 5 and 6)
- Have a stated policy from management and objectives you can measure.
- Risks and opportunities (clause 6)
- Be able to show that you look at what could go wrong, and what could go better, in a systematic way.
- Processes and their control (clause 8)
- Know how your products or services are planned, delivered and checked.
- Resources and competence (clause 7)
- Make sure people, equipment and skills fit the work that you promise to customers.
- Monitoring and improvement (clauses 9 and 10)
- Track performance, review results and act on what you find.
Businesses that already work with defined routines usually find most answers straightforward. Where an answer is no, you have learned something useful about your own quality management.
04: Comparison
Zertify process compared with the classic audit route
Many businesses know only the classic route: an on-site audit by a certification body. It is a valid way to certify, and it suits some situations. The table shows how the two routes differ in practice.
| Aspect | Zertify | Classic route with on-site audit |
|---|---|---|
| Method | Online self-assessment, 30 yes/no questions | Audit visit by a certification body |
| Your effort | A short online session | Preparation, documentation and audit days |
| Time to certificate | Within 4 hours after passing and payment | Indicatively several weeks to months |
| Price | CHF 599 (€599) in the first year, then CHF 399 (€399) per year | Quoted individually, indicatively higher and variable |
| Validity | 3 years, confirmed every year by online re-audit | Set by the certification body |
| Verification | Public, by number and QR code | Depends on the body |
The right choice depends on what you need the certificate for. If a customer or tender explicitly requires an on-site audit, check that requirement first. If you want a fast and transparent certificate, the Zertify process is designed for that.
05: Zertify
How Zertify fits into your ISO 9001 plans
Zertify issues ISO certificates based on an online self-assessment. The certificates are issued by G6 Agency AG under licence from SICE, the Swiss Institute of Certification and Education, and SICE reviews every assessment before the certificate is issued. For ISO 9001:2015 the price is CHF 599 (€599) in the first year, then CHF 399 (€399) per year including the online re-audit, with a validity of 3 years. You can cancel at any time for the end of the year.
You can read the full details of the standard on the ISO 9001 page. The pricing page lists what is included, and the self-assessment is the fastest way to find out where you stand. It costs nothing to try.
06: Verification
After the certificate: verification and re-audit
Every Zertify certificate has a unique number and a QR code. Customers, partners or authorities can check it publicly. They see that the certificate exists and that it belongs to your business. This removes doubt without any phone calls or paperwork.
The certificate is valid for 3 years and is confirmed every year with a short online re-audit for CHF 399 (€399). Use the time in between to keep your processes, objectives and reviews current, so that the next assessment is as easy as the first.
07: FAQ
Questions about the ISO 9001 process
08: Guide
Related pages
Begin your ISO 9001 process today
Answer 30 yes/no questions and find out whether you qualify for your certificate.
Free and without registration.