Start with a comparable scope
A useful certification quotation starts with what will be assessed. Two organisations with similar headcounts can need different audit arrangements because their activities, sites, shifts and risks differ. A price without that context is difficult to compare.
Describe the legal entity, the products or services, the locations and the standard you want covered. Identify outsourced activities that affect the proposed scope. The certification body can then explain the basis of its quotation.
Separate audit time from the daily rate
Audit time and the commercial rate answer different questions. The first concerns the assessment required; the second concerns its cost. Ask for the planned activities and the assumptions used, rather than comparing only a headline fee.
- People, sites, shifts and the complexity of the activities in scope.
- Applicable scheme rules and any justified adjustments to audit time.
- The split between Stage 1, Stage 2, remote work and on-site work.
Look across the certification cycle
Initial certification is only one part of the cost. Ask how surveillance, recertification and changes to the scope are charged. Travel, taxes, translation and additional visits should be identified in the commercial terms.
A low initial fee can be a poor comparison if the other quotation includes work that will later be charged separately. Ask both providers to respond against the same scope and cycle.
Keep preparation and certification separate
Your organisation owns its management system and any preparation work. Training, independent consultancy and certification are different services. A certification quotation should explain the assessment it covers; a payment or course booking cannot guarantee a certification decision.
If the scope or readiness changes, request a revised written basis before accepting extra work. Keep the approved quotation, terms and agreed scope together so the audit arrangements can be checked against them.
Your working checklist
Use this list when discussing your requirements. It helps organise questions and does not determine conformity or certification eligibility.
Sources and further reading
These sources explain relevant standards or professional pathways. Their inclusion does not imply accreditation, recognition or endorsement of CORE.