SOC 2 Cost and Budget
What is the total cost of SOC 2 including platform, consultant, and auditor?
What Is the Real All-In Cost?
Most startups underestimate SOC 2 cost because they only price the auditor. The auditor fee is typically the smallest line item. The real cost includes the platform, the human expertise to configure it, and the engineering time to collect evidence.
Year One Cost Comparison
| Line Item | Traditional | With AI Tool |
|---|---|---|
| GRC platform (annual) | $10,000–$25,000 | $0 |
| AI compliance tool | $0 | $299–$499 |
| Consultant/vCISO | $5,000–$20,000 | $0 |
| Auditor (Type I) | $7,000–$15,000 | $7,000–$15,000 |
| Engineering time (40–80 hrs @ $100/hr) | $4,000–$8,000 | $1,000–$2,000 |
| Year 1 Total | $26,000–$68,000 | $8,300–$17,500 |
Hidden Costs Most Founders Miss
- Platform implementation time — Setting up Drata or Vanta takes 2–4 weeks of engineering effort
- Consultant onboarding — The consultant needs to learn your stack before they can help
- Annual renewal — GRC platforms charge annually, so year two costs $10,000–$25,000 again
- Type II step-up — Type II audits cost 30–50% more than Type I
- Scope expansion — Adding criteria or systems increases auditor fees
Why the Traditional Path Is Expensive
The traditional SOC 2 stack was designed for mid-market companies with compliance teams. Drata and Vanta provide dashboards and integrations, but they assume you have someone who knows how to configure controls, write policies, and map evidence. Most startups hire a consultant to fill that gap — doubling the cost.
The Alternative
Screenata replaces the GRC platform and the manual operational work someone would otherwise bill for. It reads your codebase and infrastructure, generates policies, collects evidence, and guides you through audit prep — starting at $299 for Type I. The auditor fee is your main remaining expense.