If you’re exploring SOC 2 for the first time, you’re probably feeling a mix of curiosity and dread.
You know it matters — especially if you’re starting to sell into the US or scaling up your customer base — but you’ve also heard the horror stories about cost, chaos, and endless spreadsheets.
If you’re a UK company chasing US clients, SOC 2 has likely come up in more than one sales call. You’ve nailed ISO 27001, but now the question is: “Where’s your SOC 2?”
If you’re a US company scaling fast, it’s the same story — customers, investors, and even cloud providers want proof that your controls are solid before they’ll sign.
Either way, the process can feel vague until you put real numbers to it.
SOC 2 Costs in 2025: The Snapshot
Let’s get practical about the numbers. Here’s what most organisations can expect when planning for SOC 2 in 2025:
- Audit fees (direct costs): $5,000–$60,000 (≈£4,000–£45,000), depending on report type, how many Trust Services Criteria you include, and the experience of your auditor.
- Indirect costs (staff time, lost productivity): $50,000–$70,000 (≈£38,000–£53,000) tied up in internal resources — collecting evidence, managing documentation, and coordinating with auditors.
- Security tools & automation platforms: $5,000–$30,000 annually (≈£4,000–£23,000) for the systems that keep your data security controls running smoothly and your evidence organised. Tools like Hicomply help automate those processes — from policies and risk assessments to reminders and audit-ready documentation — so you spend less time chasing evidence and more time maintaining compliance.
- Ongoing compliance: $10,000–$50,000 per year (≈£8,000–£38,000) for continuous monitoring, refresher training, and your next audit cycle.
Most companies land somewhere between $20k and $100k+ (≈£15k–£80k+) in their first year.
It’s a meaningful investment — but it’s not just about paying for an audit.
Those costs reflect the time, resources, security training, and technology that go into building a system you can rely on long after the auditors have signed off.
Why SOC 2 Is More Than Just Audit Fees
SOC 2 isn’t just about getting a report — it’s about proving your internal controls and data security practices actually work in the real world.
A licensed CPA firm, led by certified public accountants, tests your systems against the Trust Services Criteria: security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy.
How many of those criteria you choose to include has a big impact on cost. Each one adds more controls to review, more evidence to gather, and more time for your auditors to test.
Beyond scope, a few other factors also shape your final bill:
- The experience and reputation of your auditor: well-known firms often charge premium rates, while smaller CPA firms can be more cost-effective.
- Your existing security posture: if your controls are already well-documented and tested, your readiness assessment and remediation will cost far less.
- How you communicate during the audit: a clear evidence trail and quick responses can cut billable hours dramatically. Think of it as building a clean pipeline between your team and your auditors — it pays off.
In short, it’s not just the audit you’re paying for. It’s the preparation, the communication, and the maturity of your systems that determine how costly (or calm) your SOC 2 journey feels.
Factors That Influence SOC 2 Costs
Breakdown of SOC 2 Compliance Costs
Hidden vs Visible SOC 2 Costs
These hidden costs — from lost productivity to additional security tools and extended compliance reporting — can easily double the total cost of your SOC audit if not managed early.
Why Readiness Assessments Matter
If there’s one step worth investing in before your SOC 2 audit, it’s a readiness assessment.
Think of it as your dress rehearsal — a low-pressure way to find out what’s working, what isn’t, and how much time you really need before the auditors walk in.
A good readiness assessment highlights gaps in your internal controls early, giving you the chance to fix them properly instead of scrambling during the audit itself. That means fewer surprises, less stress, and no repeat invoices from your auditors later down the line.
It’s also where you’ll see a real return on preparation.
Teams with well-established security controls and clear documentation usually move through the audit process faster and at a lower cost. They’ve already done the heavy lifting — the assessment simply confirms that they’re on the right track.
In short: the earlier you start, the smoother it goes. A few weeks of preparation now can save months of remediation (and a lot of budget) later.
SOC 2 Compliaqnce: Cost vs Investment
It’s true — SOC 2 comes with real costs. You’ll pay for auditor fees, security tools, employee training, and the hours your team spends on audit readiness. But framing it purely as an expense misses the point.
SOC 2 compliance is an investment — in your systems, your people, and your company’s future. When it’s done right, it doesn’t just get you through an audit; it helps you build a stronger foundation for growth.
The payoff usually looks like this:
- Faster enterprise deals because you can prove your security posture with confidence.
- Investor trust — solid compliance speaks volumes during due diligence.
- Reduced risk of data breaches through better controls and ongoing monitoring.
- Easier alignment with other frameworks like ISO 27001 or GDPR when you need to expand your compliance coverage later.
The teams that get the most from SOC 2 are the ones that treat it as an ongoing process, not a one-off project.
They prepare early, keep communication with auditors efficient, and use automation to stay on top of evidence and monitoring year-round.
The result? Lower long-term costs, fewer surprises, and compliance that quietly works in the background instead of taking over every quarter.
Final Word on SOC 2 Costs in 2025
When you put all the pieces together, most organisations see costs that look something like this:
- Audit fees alone: $5,000–$60,000 (≈£4,000–£45,000), depending on the report type, audit scope, and the experience of your chosen auditor.
- Year one total costs: $20,000–$100,000+ (≈£15,000–£80,000+), once you factor in internal time, readiness work, and security tools.
- Ongoing compliance: $10,000–$50,000 annually (≈£8,000–£38,000) for monitoring, retraining, and re-audits.
The exact figure will vary based on your company size, audit readiness, and how many Trust Services Criteria you include.
But one truth stays the same: the earlier you start, the easier it is to control costs. Plan your readiness assessment well in advance, keep your documentation organised, and automate what you can.
That’s how you move from firefighting to forward planning — and turn SOC 2 from a costly exercise into a long-term investment in trust and growth.
Ready to Control SOC 2 Costs?
If you want SOC 2 to feel manageable — not overwhelming — Hicomply can help.
One of the most time-intensive parts of SOC 2 prep is building out your security policies and procedures in line with the Trust Services Criteria. With Hicomply, that process takes minutes — not months.
With our platform, you can:
- Automatically populate policies and procedures from proven templates.
- Generate risk assessments and link them directly to your controls.
- Keep documentation up to date without chasing endless versions.
- Send automatic reminders for reviews, training, and audit tasks.
- We can also connect you with our preferred audit partners who offer competitive rates and understand how to work efficiently with automated platforms.
Hicomply starts at £4,800 per year, giving you everything you need to stay audit-ready — from policies and risk assessments to task reminders and evidence tracking.
Book a demo today to see how automation, clear systems, and repeatable workflows can turn SOC 2 from a burden into a business advantage.
