What does a SOC 2 audit actually cost?
March 6, 20261 min readSOC 2 Cost and Budget
What Does SOC 2 Cost?
The total cost of SOC 2 depends on three components: the auditor fee, the preparation tooling, and whether you hire a consultant. Most startups pay between $10,000 and $30,000 all-in for their first Type I report using traditional methods.
Cost Breakdown
| Component | Traditional Path | AI-Assisted Path |
|---|---|---|
| Compliance platform (Drata, Vanta) | $10,000–$25,000/year | — |
| AI compliance tool (Screenata) | — | $299–$499 |
| Compliance consultant / vCISO | $5,000–$20,000 | Not needed |
| Auditor fee (Type I) | $7,000–$15,000 | $7,000–$15,000 |
| Auditor fee (Type II) | $10,000–$25,000 | $10,000–$25,000 |
| Engineering time | 40–80 hours | 10–20 hours |
| Total Type I | $22,000–$60,000 | $7,300–$15,500 |
What Drives the Auditor Fee?
Auditor pricing depends on:
- Scope — More Trust Services Criteria = higher fee
- Company size — More employees and systems = more testing
- Audit type — Type II costs more than Type I
- Firm size — Big 4 firms charge 3–5x what startup-friendly firms charge
- Readiness — If you are well-organized, fieldwork is faster and cheaper
How to Minimize Cost
- Scope to Security-only Trust Services Criteria
- Use a startup-friendly audit firm (not Big 4)
- Use AI tools instead of a GRC platform + consultant
- Prepare your evidence before fieldwork starts
- Keep your system boundary small
Screenata reduces the preparation cost to $299 for Type I by replacing both the GRC platform and the compliance consultant, leaving the auditor fee as your main expense.