SOC 2 Audit Fees in 2026
Boutique vs Mid-Tier vs Big 4 Pricing
The audit fee is typically 20-40% of total SOC 2 cost. This page covers specific fee ranges by auditor tier, factors that drive pricing, and how to negotiate. For auditor selection guidance (not pricing), see SOC2ComplianceCost.com.
| Auditor Tier | Type 1 Fee | Type 2 Fee | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
Boutique CPA Firms Linford & Co, Johanson Group, Prescient Assurance | $5K - $15K | $10K - $25K | Startups and scale-ups. Best value for standard scope. |
Mid-Tier Firms BDO, Grant Thornton, Crowe, Moss Adams | $12K - $30K | $20K - $50K | Scale-ups and mid-market. Balance of brand recognition and cost. |
Big 4 Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG | $30K - $60K | $50K - $100K+ | Enterprise. Required by some Fortune 500 buyers. |
What Drives Fees Up
Additional Trust Services Criteria
+$5K - $20K per criterionEach criterion beyond Security adds scope, controls, and evidence requirements for the auditor to test.
More systems in scope
+$3K - $15KEach additional cloud environment, SaaS tool, or infrastructure component increases testing scope.
More employees
+$2K - $10KLarger sample sizes for access reviews, training verification, and policy acknowledgment testing.
Complex cloud environments
+$5K - $20KMulti-cloud, hybrid, or heavily customised infrastructure requires more specialised testing.
First-time audit
+$3K - $10KNo baseline for the auditor. Every control must be understood from scratch. Returning audits are faster.
Tight timeline
+$2K - $8KRush engagements require the auditor to prioritise your engagement, often at premium rates.
International operations
+$5K - $15KMultiple jurisdictions, data residency requirements, and different regulatory contexts increase complexity.
Regulated industry
+$3K - $12KHealthcare, financial services, and government add industry-specific requirements and auditor expertise needs.
What Drives Fees Down
Platform-negotiated rates
-20% to -40%Compliance platforms bundle auditor access at volume discount rates. Best savings for standard engagements.
Multi-year contracts
-15% to -20%2-3 year commitments lock in pricing and give auditors revenue predictability. Most firms offer this discount.
Simple scope (Security only)
-$5K - $15KFewer criteria means fewer controls to test, less evidence to review, and shorter fieldwork.
Clean readiness assessment
-$3K - $10KFewer exceptions and findings mean shorter fieldwork. Auditors charge more when they find problems.
Smaller audit firm
-$10K - $50K+The SOC 2 report carries the same AICPA standard regardless of firm size. The brand name costs extra.
Off-peak timing (Q2-Q3)
-$2K - $5KAuditors have more capacity outside of year-end busy season. Some firms offer seasonal pricing.
What Is Included vs. Extra
| Item | Typically Included in Audit Fee? |
|---|---|
| Audit fieldwork and testing | Yes, included |
| SOC 2 report (Type 1 or Type 2) | Yes, included |
| Management representation letter | Yes, included |
| Bridge letter (if needed) | Yes, included |
| Readiness assessment | Usually extra cost |
| Remediation consulting | Usually extra cost |
| Policy review and development | Usually extra cost |
| Additional Trust Services Criteria | Usually extra cost |
| Penetration testing | Usually extra cost |
| SOC 1 or SOC 3 report | Usually extra cost |
"Included in the fee" varies between firms. Always confirm scope in writing before signing the engagement letter.
Platform-Bundled vs. Direct Engagement
Direct Engagement
$15K - $50K
You choose the auditor. Full market rates. Maximum flexibility.
Platform-Bundled
$10K - $30K
Auditor from the platform partner network. 20-40% below market rates.
For most startups and scale-ups, platform-bundled audit is the better financial choice. The combined cost of platform subscription + bundled audit is often less than the direct audit fee alone at market rates. The trade-off is limited auditor choice.