ISO Consultant Cost; what you need to know

Implementing and maintaining ISO (International Organisation for Standardization) standards can significantly enhance a company’s credibility, efficiency, and overall performance. Many organisations, however, find the process of achieving ISO certification complex and time-consuming, prompting them to seek the assistance of ISO consultants. While these consultants play a crucial role in facilitating the certification process, understanding the associated costs is essential for businesses considering this path.

Factors Influencing ISO Consultant Costs:

Scope of the Project: The cost of ISO consulting services can vary widely based on the scope of the project. A small business seeking certification for a single ISO standard will likely incur lower costs compared to a larger enterprise pursuing multiple standards simultaneously.
ISO Standard(s) Chosen: Different ISO standards require varying levels of effort and resources to implement. Standards such as ISO 9001 (Quality Management) or ISO 14001 (Environmental Management) may have different requirements and complexities, impacting the overall cost of consultation.
Company Size and Complexity: The size and complexity of an organisation can significantly influence the cost of ISO consulting. Larger companies with more intricate processes and a greater number of employees may require more extensive support, resulting in higher consulting fees.
Current State of Processes: The existing state of a company’s processes can affect the cost of ISO consultancy. If a business already has well-established management systems in place, the consultant’s job may be less demanding, potentially reducing costs.
Consultant Experience and Reputation: The experience and reputation of the ISO consultant also play a crucial role in determining costs. Highly experienced consultants with a proven track record may charge higher fees, but their expertise can expedite the certification process and contribute to a smoother implementation.
Training and Documentation Requirements: ISO consultants may need to provide training to employees and help in the documentation of processes and procedures. The level of training required and the complexity of documentation can impact the overall cost.
Ongoing Support and Maintenance: Some ISO consultants offer ongoing support and maintenance services to help organisations continually meet ISO standards. This additional service can contribute to the overall cost but may be valuable for companies aiming to maintain their certifications over the long term.
Geographical Location: The geographical location of the consultant and the client can influence costs. Consultants in regions with a higher cost of living may charge more for their services.
Certification Body Fees: In addition to consultant fees, companies pursuing ISO certification should also budget for certification body fees. These fees cover the cost of the certification audit conducted by an accredited certification body.

Why is ISO a worthwhile investment?

ISO 9001 is a globally recognised mark of status and quality assurance. Organisations that have earned certification are presumed to have developed a reliable method for assuring high customer satisfaction and ongoing improvement.

Advantages of obtaining ISO certification:

Improved internal processes and procedures
Increased likelihood of profit and market share
Time saved through resource management that is more effective
Reduced or eliminated recurrent issues and abnormalities
Brand credibility and image increased
Process automation and integration
Using data and facts to guide decisions which increases organisational efficiency and effectiveness.

The ISO certification methodology examines both the individual processes and how they all interact with one another. You can identify areas ripe for optimisation and improvement by looking at how each of your business processes interacts with the others within the framework of a management system.

How to get ISO 9001 certification?

In order to become certified, you need to build up a quality management system in accordance with the most recent version of the ISO 9001 standard, and then have that QMS audited by a qualified auditor.

Once your organisation receives certification it normally lasts for three years before needing to be renewed.

Why invest in ISO certification?

ISO certification is suitable for 1-man businesses right the way through to large, multinational conglomerates. We specialise in supporting SMEs with ISO certification but offer a wide range of packages for larger organisations.

Any company that has had pre-qualification questionnaires or invites to tender will see that one of the questions listed is ‘please answer the following questions with regards to quality’.

There are numerous other benefits for organisations in implementing ISO certification relevant to the following areas:

Management
Employees
Clients
Business
Continuous Improvement

A business’s management and owners will find an ISO certification invaluable. Management will be able to enforce obligations and regulations more readily if a formal, approved framework is in place.

The workforce will gain from an ISO certification as well. Certification ensures that the implemented system complies with requirements that are advantageous to employees. They will have formal obligations, and procedures will be in place for them. Everyone will full understand their responsibilities and who is accountable for which activities.

Customers will be delighted due to the efficiency that an ISO certification would bring to a business. They will gain a better quality of service or standard of products from the systems that have been implemented for the company.

The business as a whole will gain from ISO since management, staff, and customers will all be working from the same framework. The business won’t struggle as much with staff or management changes if it has effective systems in place.

The improved productivity will also be advantageous to the company. There will be no doubt as to who is responsible for what once the roles of employees and management are established and standardised by your ISO documents.

With paperwork, auditing, and revisions, implementing ISO 9001 can appear to be a challenging process. The challenges that could arise from adhering to the ISO 9001 certification procedure, however, are worth it for the gains that this certification process will produce.

ISO 9001 is worth it especially if your business is quickly growing and needs more credibility for its reputation. As brands build their businesses, more people will ask for proof of legitimacy, and one of the best pieces of evidence you can provide is your ISO 9001 certification. It improves your quality management system, but it also develops the sustainability of your organisation to possible threats in the future.

We can help with ISO implementation, audits and ongoing support to embed your management system.

Check out a recent video of ours ‘Is ISO 9001 suitable for my business?’ here.

ISO Consultant cost; is it worth investing?

You can use it to market your products and services and to gain new customers. A certified company, especially a small enterprise, can enhance their reputation and tender for larger projects. When done right, this is a great way to leverage your company and even get you onto national frameworks. You can put that you are ISO 9001 certified on business cards, websites, flyers, and anything that has your organisation’s name on it. Compliant even supports collaborative PR about partners becoming certified, informing stakeholders, customers, staff and potential customers that they have a quality management system and are ISO 9001 certified.

Getting an ISO 9001 certification might take time. Some businesses may have to overhaul their whole management system just to comply with the standard. This has a benefit both for the management, the staff, and the customers. We have found that new companies and SMEs can easily adapt to the standard. How the certification can be achieved depends not only on the leadership of the organisation but on the cooperation of the staff.

View our full range of ISO certifications including ISO 14001, ISO 27001 and ISO 45001 or visit our website calculator for a no-obligation ISO proposal.

ISO Consultant Cost; what you need to know

While the cost of hiring an ISO consultant is a significant consideration for businesses, it’s crucial to view it as an investment in the organisation’s long-term success. The benefits of achieving ISO certification, such as improved efficiency, improved customer satisfaction, and increased competitiveness, often outweigh the initial expenses.

To make informed decisions, organisations should carefully assess their specific needs, the complexity of their processes, and the expertise of potential consultants. Obtaining quotes from multiple consultants, understanding the scope of their services, and considering the long-term value they bring to the organisation are essential steps in managing ISO consultant costs effectively. The right consultant can guide a company through the certification journey, ensuring compliance with ISO standards and fostering continuous improvement.

Our team of dedicated consultants are on hand to answer any questions that you might have and we can provide a FREE no obligation quote.

Compliant’s FREE GAP analysis to get you started

A gap analysis is important as it will highlight what areas are missing that your business needs to complete in order to qualify for ISO. It is important to start with a gap analysis first in order to see what a company already does to meet the ISO standards and what it needs to work on.

Your gap analysis will be carried out by BSI qualified, lead auditor and company director, Mark Henderson, who commented, “We are delighted to be supporting businesses by offering this free service. Many businesses are looking to grow and develop and that’s where we come in. Being ISO certified can enable companies to tender for large public sector contracts and gain access to supplier frameworks such as the NHS.

By providing this free gap analysis via Teams or Zoom, we can help to get companies on the first step to gaining ISO certification. We have seen a large interest recently for standards such as ISO 9001, 14001, 45001 & 27001 for quality, environmental, health & safety and information security respectively. This really proves that businesses are looking to invest and we are now delighted we can support them on the first step of their journey.

Many businesses think that gaining an ISO standard is an expensive and time-consuming process however this is just not the case. We can install a quality management system for JUST £150 per month and can get companies certification ready in only 30 working days. The benefits to businesses can be huge so it’s definitely something they should be investing in.

Our dedicated team are on hand to answer any questions and help businesses get started with a gap analysis. For more information on any of the certifications that we offer support with visit our services page or for feedback on our service provision visit our case studies page including our case study videos.”

Getting started with a management system

We deliver a range of ISO certifications and offer payment options including a 20% deposit followed by flexible monthly payments and can pass preferential rates from partnering certification bodies directly onto our clients. If you decide to partner with Complaint our Interest free monthly payments include certification and post certification support including design, documentation, implementation support, training and internal audits; management of the certification process including liaising with an independent UKAS accredited assessment body; support with grant funding where applicable and support on audit days.

There is no one else that better understands your business. Compliant will go the extra step in an initial teams meeting to fully understand your business, its requirements, the structure of the management system required, and the organisational context. We will then submit all your information to one of our preferred certification body partners.

Our bespoke management systems offer documents as evidence that adhere to each of the ISO clause requirements of your chosen standard in detail. We have supported businesses of all sizes and across a range of industries, offering low rates and payment plans.

As part of our internal audit process, we walk clients through each of the areas that need to be covered as part of standard requirements and can supply proven templates if required to ensure audit success.

If you would like more information on how to get ISO certified, we’d be happy to arrange a call to talk about your options. Alternatively, if you would like a quotation at any point just fill in our FREE quote calculator.