The Short Answer
SOC 2 Type 1 costs between $7,500 and $25,000 in 2026 for most companies under 100 employees. Type 1 is cheaper than Type 2 because the auditor is testing a single point in time, not a 3–12 month window. A typical startup budget is $7,495–$12,000 including software and a boutique CPA auditor.
- •Auditor fees (Type 1): $2,500–$18,000
- •Compliance software: $4,995–$14,000/year
- •Optional pen test: $1,200–$3,000 (many teams skip in year one)
- •Time to report: 30–60 days from kickoff
If you're evaluating SOC 2 Type 1 cost, you've likely decided Type 1 is the right first step — usually to close an enterprise deal that requires proof of a SOC 2 program. This guide covers what Type 1 actually costs in 2026, why it's cheaper than Type 2, and where startups over-spend.
What Is SOC 2 Type 1?
SOC 2 Type 1 is a compliance report issued by a CPA firm that confirms your security controls are designed correctly at a specific moment in time. Think of it as a snapshot: on date X, all these controls exist and are structured to protect customer data.
SOC 2 Type 2, by contrast, tests the same controls continuously over a 3–12 month observation window. Type 2 costs more because the auditor's testing effort is roughly 2–3× larger.
Most B2B SaaS startups start with Type 1 to satisfy their first enterprise contract, then complete Type 2 six to twelve months later. See the full comparison in SOC 2 Type 1 vs Type 2.
SOC 2 Type 1 Cost by Team Size
| Team size | Auditor fee | Software | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–15 | $2,500 – $4,000 | $4,995 | $7,495 – $8,995 |
| 16–50 | $4,000 – $9,000 | $4,995 – $7,000 | $8,995 – $16,000 |
| 51–100 | $9,000 – $18,000 | $7,000 – $14,000 | $16,000 – $32,000 |
| 100+ | $15,000 – $25,000 | $10,000 – $20,000 | $25,000 – $45,000 |
Why Type 1 Is Cheaper Than Type 2
The audit cost gap comes down to how much work the auditor does. Type 1 is one review pass. Type 2 is multiple sample-based tests across the entire audit window.
| Dimension | SOC 2 Type 1 | SOC 2 Type 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Observation period | Point in time (1 day) | 3–12 months |
| Auditor sampling | Design only | Design + operating effectiveness |
| Typical audit fee | $2,500–$18,000 | $12,000–$35,000 |
| Time to report | 30–60 days | 6–15 months |
Should You Start with Type 1 or Skip to Type 2?
Start with Type 1 if: you need proof of SOC 2 within 60 days to close a deal, you're early-stage and want a phased spend, or your controls haven't been running long enough to survive a Type 2 look-back.
Skip to Type 2 if: your target customers explicitly require Type 2 (larger enterprises, regulated buyers), you've been operating controls for 6+ months, and you can wait for the audit window to complete.
Most startups choose Type 1 first. The staged approach costs about $5,000–$10,000 more over 18 months than going straight to Type 2, but you get a defensible report in weeks instead of months.
What's Included in a Type 1 Audit Fee
The auditor's fee typically covers:
- •Kickoff call and scope definition
- •Review of all in-scope controls (Security is required; add Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, or Privacy as needed)
- •Evidence sampling for control design
- •Interviews with control owners
- •Draft report + management response cycle
- •Final signed SOC 2 Type 1 report
Additional Trust Service Criteria beyond Security each add roughly $1,500–$3,000 to the audit fee.
LowerPlane Type 1 Pricing
Flat pricing. Everything you need to reach a Type 1 audit in 30 days:
- ✓Automated evidence collection from AWS, GCP, Azure, GitHub, Okta, and 300+ tools
- ✓15+ policy templates pre-mapped to SOC 2 controls
- ✓Dedicated compliance advisor (real human, not chatbot)
- ✓Boutique auditor partners with fixed pricing from $2,500
- ✓Includes ISO 27001, HIPAA, and GDPR mapping — one platform, multiple frameworks
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a SOC 2 Type 1 audit?
A SOC 2 Type 1 audit fee is $2,500–$18,000 in 2026, depending on team size and auditor tier. Boutique CPA firms serving startups sit at the bottom of the range; Big 4 sits at the top. Same signed report either way.
How long does SOC 2 Type 1 take?
30–60 days from kickoff to signed report with modern automation. Two weeks of readiness (policies, integrations, evidence collection), one week with the auditor, one to two weeks of report drafting.
Is SOC 2 Type 1 valid?
Yes. Type 1 is a formal AICPA report signed by a licensed CPA firm and is accepted by most B2B buyers as proof of a SOC 2 program. It's typically valid for 6–12 months before buyers ask for Type 2.
Do I need a pen test for Type 1?
Not strictly required by AICPA. Many startups skip it for Type 1 and add one before Type 2, when enterprise buyers start asking. Budget $1,200–$3,000 for a scoped pen test when you need one.
Is Type 1 wasted if I do Type 2 later?
No. Type 1 is the readiness phase for Type 2 — the same controls, policies, and evidence get reused. The Type 1 audit fee is separate work, but everything else (software subscription, control design, policy library) carries over.
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