ISO certification cost: accredited, self-assessment and consulting compared

For a small company, accredited ISO certification typically costs several thousand francs for the initial audit, followed by annual surveillance audits. Add external consulting and the total quickly reaches five figures. A self-assessment certificate such as the one from Zertify costs a one-off CHF 599 to 849 depending on the standard, but it is not accredited.

Every figure on this page is a guide value in Swiss francs for a single-site business, not a quote. Prices vary widely by certification body, sector and standard. A number only becomes binding once you hold a written quotation.

• Fixed prices for every standard at Zertify

Certification bodies charge by auditor day. The more days an audit needs, the higher the invoice. Five factors decide how many days are needed and how much preparation comes first.

Headcount

It is the main yardstick for audit duration. For a team of about 15 people, three to five auditor days for the initial audit is a realistic guide value. At 150 people it is a multiple of that.

Sites

Each additional site with its own activities is audited or sampled. That adds days, travel time and expenses.

Number of standards

Every extra standard lengthens the audit. A combined audit for ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 saves days but does not halve the effort. ISO 27001 usually takes longer than ISO 9001 because of risk assessment and scoping.

Maturity

If processes, responsibilities, internal audits and management review are already documented, you pay less for preparation and avoid follow-up audits. Starting from zero means planning for months.

Consulting

In Switzerland, consultants typically charge CHF 1,000 to 1,800 per day as a guide. Eight to twenty days is common for a small company. Preparing in-house saves that money but costs your own time.

The table shows roughly what to budget for each route and what it suits. Costs are guide values in Swiss francs for a company of about 15 employees.

• Accredited or not: the difference

Assumptions: one site, ISO 9001, no formal management system so far. The calculation covers the three-year life of a certificate. All figures are guide values.

Accredited, no consultant

Initial audit CHF 4,000 to 8,000, two surveillance audits at CHF 1,500 to 3,000 each, recertification in year three at CHF 3,000 to 6,000. About CHF 10,000 to 20,000 in total, plus 60 to 150 hours of your own work.

Accredited, with consultant

Eight to twenty consulting days at CHF 1,000 to 1,800 come to CHF 8,000 to 36,000. With audit fees, the three-year budget is around CHF 18,000 to 55,000. Internal work falls, but it does not disappear.

Zertify self-assessment

CHF 599 one-off for ISO 9001, valid for three years. The assessment takes 20 to 30 minutes, plus the time to clarify processes and evidence. Renewal after three years costs less.

With accredited certificates the initial audit is only the start. Surveillance audits follow in years one and two, at roughly a third of the initial effort, so about one to two days. In year three comes recertification, which as a guide takes around two thirds of the initial effort.

Then there are internal costs that rarely appear in quotes: one internal audit a year, the management review, corrective actions and training. Plan for two to four person-days a year. Extra sites, special audits after major nonconformities and travel expenses push the total up.

Zertify has no annual fees. After three years you renew with a new assessment at the reduced renewal price shown in the price table.

• See prices and renewal prices

The price applies per standard and is only due once you have passed the assessment. There is no subscription and there are no hidden items.

Assessment

30 yes or no questions about your management system, which you can pause at any time, with an instant result.

Certificate

PDF with certificate number and QR code, issued by SICE, valid for three years, with a public verification page.

Support

Help by email with questions about the assessment, the certificate and the invoice.

Optional extras

Audit report and additional sites on request. From two standards you get a 20 per cent volume discount, from three standards 30 per cent.

• Go to the price overview
• How the process works
• ISO 9001 at Zertify