SOC 2 Cost Guide
SOC 2 Cost by Team Size
How much does SOC 2 cost for a 10-person startup vs. a 250-person company? See realistic budgets for every growth stage.
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1-25 employees
Total First-Year Cost
$30,000 – $68,000
Auditor Fee
$12,000 – $25,000
Tooling
$8,000 – $18,000
Internal Effort
$10,000 – $25,000
Timeline
8-14 weeks
Lean scope, often Type I first. Founder or single engineer handles prep.
26-50 employees
Total First-Year Cost
$45,000 – $98,000
Auditor Fee
$18,000 – $35,000
Tooling
$12,000 – $28,000
Internal Effort
$15,000 – $35,000
Timeline
10-16 weeks
More systems in scope, starting to need dedicated owner.
51-100 employees
Total First-Year Cost
$63,000 – $131,000
Auditor Fee
$25,000 – $45,000
Tooling
$18,000 – $36,000
Internal Effort
$20,000 – $50,000
Timeline
12-20 weeks
Multiple teams involved, formal ownership structure needed.
101-250 employees
Total First-Year Cost
$89,000 – $178,000
Auditor Fee
$35,000 – $60,000
Tooling
$24,000 – $48,000
Internal Effort
$30,000 – $70,000
Timeline
14-24 weeks
Complex environments, multiple products, dedicated compliance team.
250+ employees
Total First-Year Cost
$136,000 – $292,000+
Auditor Fee
$50,000 – $100,000+
Tooling
$36,000 – $72,000+
Internal Effort
$50,000 – $120,000+
Timeline
16-30 weeks
Multi-product, global operations, often multi-framework.
Key Insight: Cost Doesn't Scale Linearly
A 250-person company doesn't pay 10x more than a 25-person startup. Costs roughly double every 3-4x headcount increase. The biggest driver isn't headcount—it's scope complexity: more products, more systems, more data types.
2-3x
Cost increase from 25 to 100 employees
50-60%
Internal effort as % of total cost
100+
Employees where dedicated owner pays off
What Changes as You Grow
Under 50 Employees
- ✓Founder or engineer can own compliance
- ✓Narrow scope keeps costs manageable
- ✓Type I often sufficient for first audit
- !Knowledge concentration risk if owner leaves
50-100 Employees
- !Multiple teams need coordination
- !More vendors and systems in scope
- ✓Part-time compliance owner recommended
- ✓Investment in automation starts paying off
100-250 Employees
- ✗Part-time ownership no longer viable
- ✓Dedicated compliance lead essential
- ✓Multiple frameworks often required
- !Cross-team coordination becomes critical
250+ Employees
- ✓GRC team (2-5 people) common
- ✓Multi-framework efficiency gains
- !Global operations add complexity
- !Enterprise auditors may charge premium
SOC 2 Cost by Team Size FAQs
Why does SOC 2 cost more for larger companies?
More employees means more systems, access controls, data flows, and evidence to collect. Auditors spend more time validating controls across a larger environment.
Can a 10-person startup afford SOC 2?
Yes. Many startups complete SOC 2 Type I for $30-50K total. The key is narrow scope—focus on the core product and essential systems only.
How does headcount affect auditor fees specifically?
Auditors price based on scope complexity, not headcount directly. But larger teams typically have more systems, vendors, and data flows that expand audit scope.
Should we hire a compliance person before SOC 2?
Under 50 employees: usually not required. 50-100: consider a part-time owner. 100+: dedicated compliance lead significantly reduces cost and risk.
Does team growth during the audit increase cost?
Minor growth is normal. Rapid scaling (2x+ headcount) during observation can expand scope and require re-scoping conversations with auditors.
How do remote/distributed teams affect SOC 2 cost?
Remote teams add complexity around endpoint management, access controls, and physical security. Budget extra for MDM/EDR tooling and policy documentation.
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