Independent SOC 1 guide

Which SOC 1 report do your customers need?

Your customers’ auditors want assurance over the controls that touch their financial reporting. That assurance is a SOC 1 report -- Type 1 (point-in-time) or Type 2 (6–12 month period). Picking the wrong report wastes months and tens of thousands of dollars. We’ll help you pick the right one -- then match you with licensed CPA firms that issue SOC 1 reports under SSAE 18. Free. Two minutes. No obligation.

Free · 2 minutes · No obligation

3Paths: Type 1, readiness, Type 2
$5k–$100k+Planning-estimate range across paths
4 wk–12 moTimeline range, path-dependent
CPA firms onlyOnly a licensed CPA firm can issue a SOC 1 report

How quote matching works

  1. Tell us once — 4 questions, 2 minutes, free.
  2. We match you — licensed CPA firms filtered to your size, scope, and timeline.
  3. Auditors quote you — they send scoped quotes directly; you pick.
The three paths

Type 1, readiness, or full Type 2

Every SOC 1 journey follows one of these paths. What your customers and their auditors will accept decides -- not your preference.

1. SOC 1 Type 1

A CPA firm examines whether your controls are designed suitably at a point in time. Fastest and cheapest -- and a common first step before a Type 2.

Typical: $10K–$30K · 4–12 weeks

2. Readiness assessment

A CPA firm runs a pre-examination: control design review, gap analysis, remediation plan. No signed report -- but the examination that follows goes dramatically smoother.

Typical: $5K–$25K · 2–6 weeks

3. SOC 1 Type 2

A licensed CPA firm tests operating effectiveness over a 6–12 month period and issues your SOC 1 Type 2 report. This is what most enterprise customers require.

Typical: $20K–$100K+ · 6–12 mo + fieldwork

Full path comparison →  ·  Take the 2-minute path quiz →

CPA firm directory

SOC 1 CPA firms for every path

18 verified SOC 1 CPA firms -- from SMB-friendly Type 1 practices to Big Four and national examination teams. Independent directory: listings are not endorsements, and firms can’t pay for placement.

Licensed CPA firm

Zero Day CPA

Zero Day CPA is a Michigan-based boutique licensed CPA firm focused on SOC examinations for B2B SaaS and service organizations. Its SOC 1 practice cov…

West Bloomfield, Michigan · Boutique licensed CPA firm (Zero Day CPA, PC)
Licensed CPA firm

Prescient Assurance

Prescient Assurance is an AICPA-accredited SOC audit firm that pairs audit teams with security-testing experience. Its SOC 1 practice serves SaaS comp…

New York, New York · AICPA-accredited SOC audit firm
Licensed CPA firm

MJD Advisors

MJD Advisors is a SOC-focused licensed CPA firm offering SOC 1 and SOC 2 examinations. Its focused practice model suits service organizations that wan…

Des Moines, Iowa · SOC-focused licensed CPA firm
Licensed CPA firm

Johanson Group, LLP

Johanson Group, LLP is a licensed CPA firm focused on security compliance audits, operating as a remote-first practice. Its SOC 1 examinations cover T…

United States (remote-first practice) · Licensed CPA firm focused on security compliance audits

See all 18 firms →

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SOC 1 guides

The 3 SOC 1 Paths

Type 1 point-in-time, readiness assessment, or full Type 2 examination -- which report your customers actually need.

SOC 1 Cost Guide

What each path costs: planning-estimate Type 1, readiness, and Type 2 fee ranges plus an estimator.

SOC 1 Timeline

How long each path takes, from scoping call to signed report -- including the 6–12 month Type 2 observation period.

Which Path Fits You?

A 2-minute quiz that points you at the right SOC 1 report.

The SOC 1 Standard (SSAE 18)

What auditors test: control objectives, ICFR relevance, and the anatomy of a SOC 1 report.

Type 1 vs Type 2 Explained

Point-in-time vs period-of-time -- cost, effort, and when each one satisfies your customers.

2026 SOC 1 Pricing Report

Planning-estimate SOC 1 fee bands by path and company size, each labeled by source.

SOC 1 Guides

Step-by-step explainers for the whole examination journey.

Best SOC 1 Firms by Use Case

Buyer-matched picks for each report path.

Our Methodology

How we vet firms, label every price, and keep rankings unbought.

Common questions

SOC 1 basics

What is SOC 1 certification?

Strictly speaking there is no ‘SOC 1 certificate’ -- SOC 1 is an independent examination of the controls at a service organization that are relevant to its customers’ internal control over financial reporting (ICFR), performed under AICPA SSAE 18. ‘SOC 1 certification’ is the industry’s shorthand for completing that examination and receiving the report. Only a licensed CPA firm can issue it.

Which SOC 1 report do I need -- Type 1 or Type 2?

A Type 1 reports on the design of your controls at a point in time; a Type 2 reports on design and operating effectiveness over a 6–12 month period. Most enterprise customers and their auditors require a Type 2. A Type 1 is a common stepping stone for a first examination. Our paths guide and 2-minute quiz sort it out.

How much does a SOC 1 examination cost?

Planning estimates (September 2026): a Type 1 typically runs $10K–$30K, a readiness assessment $5K–$25K, and a Type 2 $20K–$100K+, depending on scope and company size. See the cost guide.

How long does SOC 1 take?

A Type 1 takes 4 to 12 weeks from scoping to signed report. A readiness assessment takes 2 to 6 weeks. A Type 2 requires a 6–12 month observation period plus 4 to 8 weeks of fieldwork and reporting. Details on the timeline page.

All frequently asked questions →

Get quotes from SOC 1 CPA firms

Tell us your path and timeline once. We’ll match you with licensed CPA firms that fit -- no obligation, no spam.

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