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What does ISO 14001 certification cost?

For an SME with 10-50 employees, ISO 14001 certification usually costs €3,000 to €8,000 in the first year (audit only). With support from a consultant this rises to €15,000-€25,000.

On this page
  1. Cost items overview
  2. Price indication per company size
  3. What influences the price?

What does ISO 14001 cost?

The costs vary greatly. They depend on your company size, complexity and whether you engage a consultant.

Rule of thumb for SMEs: Count on €3,000 - €8,000 for the audit in the first year. With consultant guidance: €15,000 - €25,000 total.

Cost items overview

Indication

Certification audit (year 1) € 2.000 tot € 6.000

Surveillance audit (per year) € 1.500 tot € 3.500

Recertification (every three years) € 2.000 tot € 5.000

Consultant (optional) € 5.000 tot € 20.000

Not on the axis, as there is no fixed amount: Internal hours (highly variable).

Price indication per company size

Per company size, on one axis
  • First year (audit only)
  • With consultant

Small (5-50 FTE) First year (audit only): € 2.000 tot € 4.000 With consultant: € 10.000 tot € 20.000

Medium (50-250 FTE) First year (audit only): € 4.000 tot € 8.000 With consultant: € 15.000 tot € 35.000

Large (250+ FTE) First year (audit only): € 8.000 tot € 15.000+ With consultant: € 25.000 tot € 50.000+

Prices indicative, excl. VAT. The audit price depends on the chosen certification body.

What influences the price?

Five factors determine your costs:

  1. Number of employees (more = more audit time)
  2. Number of locations (each location is assessed)
  3. Environmental risks (chemistry is more complex than the office)
  4. Current situation (already ISO 9001? Then faster)
  5. Choice of certification body (prices vary 20-40%!)

Questions about ISO 14001

What is the difference between ISO 9001 and ISO 14001?

ISO 9001 focuses on quality management and customer satisfaction. ISO 14001 focuses on environmental management: energy, waste, emissions and sustainability. Both standards share the same structure and combine well in one integrated system.

Read the full answer
What does ISO 14001 certification cost?

For an SME with 10-50 employees, ISO 14001 certification usually costs €3,000 to €8,000 in the first year (audit only). With support from a consultant this rises to €15,000-€25,000. After that you pay €1,500 to €3,500 a year for surveillance audits.

Read the full answer
How long does it take to get ISO 14001 certified?

On average three to eight months for small companies and six to twelve months for medium-sized organisations. The standard requires an evidence period of at least three months in which your system demonstrably works.

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Is ISO 14001 mandatory?

No, ISO 14001 is voluntary. But more and more clients require it in tenders, especially government bodies. Some municipalities ask for it with environmental permits. Check whether your customers or sector require it.

Can I get ISO 14001 without a consultant?

Yes, you can. Especially if you already have experience with management systems or ISO 9001. Many SMEs do it themselves with templates and online resources. A consultant can speed up the process, but is not required.

Can I combine ISO 14001 and ISO 9001?

Yes, and that is often smart. Both standards share the same structure (High Level Structure). You can set up one integrated management system and have combined audits carried out. That saves time and money.

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