In this guide, I will show you the ISO 27001 costs for a owner managed business, solo entrepreneurs and micro businesses wanting to achieving ISO 27001 certification.
I am Stuart Barker, an ISO 27001 Lead Auditor with over 30 years of experience conducting hundreds of audits. I will cut through the jargon to provide you with plain-English advice to get you certified.
Key Takeaways: ISO 27001 Costs for Micro Businesses
- Most Cost-Effective Path: Utilising a professional DIY toolkit is the most affordable route for solo entrepreneurs, costing approximately £500 compared to the high fees associated with external consultants.
- Speed of Certification: A dedicated DIY sprint can achieve ISO 27001 certification within 30–90 days, significantly faster than the 6–12 months typically required for consultant-led projects.
- Mandatory Audit Fees: Regardless of implementation strategy, micro-businesses must budget between £5,000 and £6,250 for the mandatory two-stage accredited audit process.
- Long-Term Budgeting: Organisations must account for the three-year certification cycle by budgeting for annual surveillance audits, which typically cost one-third of the initial fee.
- Strategic Scoping: Reducing the certification scope to cover only essential services or customer-required data can effectively lower overall implementation costs and audit durations.
Comparison Table: ISO 27001 Implementation Strategies
This table summarises the financial and time commitments for the four primary methods of achieving ISO 27001 certification.
| Implementation Strategy | Estimated Cost | Project Duration | Primary Deliverable | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Do-It-Yourself (DIY) | £500 (Toolkit) | 30 – 90 Days | Templates & Self-Guidance | Tech-savvy solo owners |
| Consultant | £10k – £20k | 6 – 12 Months | Expert Policy Writing | Cash-rich, time-poor firms |
| Full-Time Employee | £40k+ / year | 6 – 12 Months | Internal Resource Mgmt | Scaling businesses |
| Contractor | £40k – £160k | 6 – 12 Months | External Execution | High-complexity projects |
Table of contents
A note on the Total cost of certification
Achieving ISO 27001 is a journey with distinct financial stages, not a single purchase. To create a realistic budget, you must account for preparation, implementation, mandatory audits, and ongoing maintenance.
Preparation Costs
This phase involves acquiring foundational resources. The baseline costs include:
| Preparation Item | Description | Estimated Cost (GBP) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Documents | Official ISO/IEC 27001 (Requirements) and ISO/IEC 27002 (Controls) publications. | £300 |
| Gap Analysis (Optional) | A professional readiness review to identify deficiencies against the standard’s requirements. | £3,500 – £10,000 |
Implementation Costs
This is the variable cost centre, depending entirely on your chosen strategy:
| Implementation Strategy | Estimated Cost (GBP) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Do-It-Yourself (DIY) | £500 | Cost-effective approach utilizing a professional toolkit for self-guided implementation. |
| Consultant / Platform | £10,000 – £40,000 | Premium options involving external expertise or dedicated software platforms for management. |
Audit Costs
Certification requires a mandatory two-stage accredited audit. Costs are dictated by employee headcount.
| Audit Type | Basis / Headcount | Estimated Duration | Estimated Cost (GBP) |
|---|---|---|---|
| External Certification Audit | 1 – 10 Employees | 5 Audit Days | £5,000 – £6,250 |
| Internal Audit (Outsourced) | Per Audit Cycle | N/A | £3,500 – £10,000 |
Ongoing Maintenance Costs
Certification is valid for three years. You must budget for annual surveillance audits (approx. 1/3 of the initial fee) and a full recertification audit in year three.
ISO 27001 Implementation Costs for Solo Entrepreneurs and Micro Businesses
| Metric | Do It Yourself (DIY) | Consultant | Full-Time Employee | Contractor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estimated Cost | £500 (Toolkit) | £10k – £20k | £40k+ per year | £40k – £160k |
| Typical Duration | 30 to 90 days | 6 to 12 months | 6 to 12 months | 6 to 12 months |
| Core Deliverable | Templates & guides for self-implementation. | Expert guidance & policy writing. | Internal resource management. | External resource execution. |
Strategy 1: The Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Approach
Best for: Tech-savvy owners with time to spare but limited budget.
The DIY approach represents the minimum financial cost (approx. £500). However, the “hidden cost” is your personal time. If you have a background in technology or process management, you can achieve certification in a focused sprint of 30 to 90 days, gaining deep internal knowledge of your ISMS.
Strategy 2: The Consultant Approach
Best for: Cash-rich, time-poor businesses.
Consultants cost between £10,000 and £20,000. They minimise your personal involvement but often result in a longer project timeline (6–12 months). This path leverages external expertise but exchanges budget and speed for reduced personal effort.
Strategies to Avoid: Employee or Contractor
Hiring a full-time employee (£40k–£60k/year) or a contractor (£500–£700/day) is generally considered financial overkill for a micro-business. The resource scale is disproportionate to the requirements of a one-person ISMS.
Key Decision Factors for Solo Business Owners
When choosing between DIY and a Consultant, consider the following:
- Budget vs. Time: Evaluate which resource is scarcer for your business, as a DIY approach prioritises financial savings while consultants focus on reducing internal effort.
- Personal Aptitude: Assess your process-oriented mindset, as the ISO 27001 standard is accessible enough for those with high technical aptitude to manage via a DIY framework.
- Urgency: Determine your required timeline, noting that a dedicated DIY sprint can achieve certification in 30-90 days, significantly outpacing the 6-12 month consultant lead times.
Actionable Advice: How to Reduce Costs
Regardless of your strategy, avoid common pitfalls to keep your ISO 27001 costs down.
Common Errors
- Lack of Understanding: Avoid paying inflated prices driven by marketing hype by gaining a baseline understanding of the actual requirements for ISO 27001 certification.
- Failing to Compare Quotes: Ensure competitive pricing by obtaining at least three quotes from different certification bodies, as many frequently utilise the same pool of freelance auditors.
Expert Tips
Scope Correctly: Narrow your certification scope to exactly what your customers require. This reduces complexity and audit days.
- Adopt a DIY-First Mindset: Use a high-quality toolkit (£500 range) and free resources first.
- Layer Support: engage external coaching only “as needed” rather than committing to a full consultancy package upfront.
ISO 27001 Solo Entrepreneur Costs FAQ
How much does ISO 27001 certification cost for a micro-business?
ISO 27001 certification for a micro-business typically costs between £5,500 and £6,750 for the initial year. This includes approximately £500 for a professional DIY toolkit and £5,000 to £6,250 for the mandatory two-stage accredited audit, based on a headcount of 1–10 employees.
How long does it take a solo entrepreneur to get certified?
A solo entrepreneur can achieve ISO 27001 certification in 30 to 90 days using a focused DIY implementation sprint. This is significantly faster than consultant-led projects, which typically range from 6 to 12 months due to external scheduling and complex administrative overheads.
What are the recurring annual costs for ISO 27001?
The primary recurring cost is the annual surveillance audit, which usually costs about one-third of the initial audit fee, approximately £1,700 to £2,100 for small firms. You should also budget for annual toolkit or software renewals to ensure your documentation remains compliant with the three-year certification cycle.
What is the most cost-effective way to implement ISO 27001?
The most cost-effective implementation method is the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) route using professional templates. By leveraging internal aptitude instead of hiring consultants (who charge £10,000 to £20,000), a micro-business can reduce implementation spend to roughly £500 while maintaining full ownership of their security management system.
Conclusion
For a one-person business, the most cost-effective path to ISO 27001 certification is usually a DIY-first strategy supported by a robust toolkit. This approach acts as a risk mitigation tool, preserving capital while building essential internal knowledge. By understanding the cost breakdown and avoiding expensive retainers, micro-businesses can turn ISO 27001 from a burden into a competitive advantage.
