ISO Certification Cost

The ISO certification cost can be a rather large expense for a business. Depending on the size and type of industry in question, the ISO certification cost can vary from organization to organization. However, achieving ISO certification can be an extremely valuable investment for a business. The following breakdown will give you an idea of the processes involved to determine the ISO certification cost.

What is ISO Certification?

Before we get into the ISO certification cost, let us first understand what it means to be ISO certified. ISO certification is an internationally recognized management system standard that verifies a company’s ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and regulatory requirements. There are many benefits of achieving ISO certification, including improved organizational efficiency, reduced costs, increased customer satisfaction, and more.

How Much Does ISO Certification Cost?

Now that we understand what ISO certification is, let’s take a look at how much it costs to get certified. The ISO certification cost will vary depending on the following key factors:

• The size of the organization
• The number of employees
• The number of locations
• The type of certification
• The products and services offered
• The risks associated with the company’s scope of activities

Key Factors Involved in the ISO Certification Cost

The ISO certification cost can be broken down into the following main categories:

• Fees for Certification Bodies
• Auditor Travel and Accommodations
• Training for Employees
• Documentation Preparation
• Implementation Costs
• Ongoing Maintenance and Surveillance Costs

Other Factors Involved in Determining the ISO Certification Cost

As you can see, the ISO certification cost is not a simple answer. It is very dependent on the type of industry and the size of your business. However, there are some general costs that will apply to most organizations:

• Fees paid to consultants
• Fees paid to registration agencies
• Training expenses (technical and non-technical)
• Internal audit expenses
• Management review expenses
• Continuous improvement expenses

The Process of Determining the ISO Certification Cost

There are a few steps involved in determining the ISO certification cost. The first step is to determine the specific requirements of the certification. This will vary depending on the industry and type of business. The second step is to evaluate the resources that are needed to meet those requirements. This includes manpower, training, and equipment. The third step is to calculate the total ISO certification cost of implementing and maintaining the certification.

Certification Bodies – ISO Certification Cost

After your organization has implemented an ISO management system, the next step in the ISO certification process is finding a certification body, which is an organization that has been accredited by a national accreditation body to certify companies against specific management system standards. The certification body will review your company’s documentation and perform an on-site audit to verify that your organization meets the requirements of the management system standard.

The certification body will charge a fee for its services. This ISO certification cost will vary depending on the size and type of organization, as well as the specific management system standard is certified against.

Tips to Reduce the ISO Certification Cost

If your company is thinking of getting ISO certified, there are a few tips that you can follow to reduce the ISO certification cost. You can:

• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement. Identifying areas where improvements can be made will help keep the ISO certification cost down since you do not need to make as many updates and adjustments after initial implementation.
• Refer to previous audits. If your company has already completed an ISO audit in the past, you can reference that audit when doing a “re-certification” audit. This will reduce the time and ISO certification cost for updates to ensure compliance with the newest version of the ISO standard.
• Provide training to staff early on. Training your employees before certification will help them be better equipped to meet the requirements and reduce the need for retraining down the road. This can reduce the overall ISO certification cost because employees will have a better understanding of ISO requirements.
• Use a consultant. Getting help from a consultant can be costly, but it can also be worth the investment. A consultant can help you navigate the certification process and ensure that everything is done correctly and on time to avoid any mishaps that can increase the ISO certification cost.
• Hire within. If possible, try to hire employees who already have experience with ISO certification. This will reduce the amount of training needed and help keep the ISO certification cost down.
• Keep all documentation up-to-date. Keeping your documentation up-to-date will ensure that there are no surprises during the certification process or when external auditors come in to assess your business. Organizations that already have proper documentation in place will have a significantly lower ISO certification cost than companies that do not.
• Be prepared for the external audit. Organizations that are prepared for external audits will have a lower ISO certification cost than those that do not. Prior to starting the audit process, make sure your business is ready by working with a consultant and preparing documentation in advance. The internal audit report should be ready to hand over to the external auditor at the time of the audit. Your organization should also resolve any deviations found in the internal audit report before the external audit is conducted to reduce the ISO certification cost.
• Identify areas of improvement before going through the certification process. If you identify opportunities to streamline your business processes before going through the certification process, you’ll be in a much better position to meet the requirements and reduce the ISO certification cost.
• Compare the ISO certification cost with certification bodies. Because the ISO management system standards are always evolving to integrate new ISO recommendations and best practices, the ISO certification cost will fluctuate as well. Make sure you discuss prices and a summary of all procedures connected to the ISO certification cost with the certifying organization you employ.

The ISO certification cost can be expensive, but there are ways to reduce it. By following these tips, you can make the process easier and less costly for your organization.

ISO Certification Cost – Is it Worth the Expense?

It’s important to remember that the ISO certification cost should not be viewed as an afterthought or something that can easily be paid for if finances are available after all other company expenses have been paid. Many businesses are unaware that ISO certification allows them to exhibit and verify their quality and best practices to potential clients, demonstrating to the rest of the world that they are serious about their business. This alone is worth the expense, but there are other benefits that most companies will appreciate.

The Benefits of ISO Certification

Now that we have looked at what ISO certification is and how much it costs, let’s take a look at some of the benefits of achieving certification. The ISO certification cost may seem like a large investment, but the benefits of achieving certification are well worth it. Some of the benefits of ISO certification include:

• Improved organizational efficiency
• Reduced costs
• Increased customer satisfaction
• Regulatory compliance
• Improved marketing and branding opportunities

The list goes on and on. The bottom line is that ISO certification can have a huge impact on the success of your business. It is not an easy process, but the rewards are well worth it.

To know more about the ISO certification cost, please contact one of our business coordinators today! or visit our ISO certification cost frequently asked questions page!