Art of Vector · Guides

SOC 2 pentest cost for startups

Founders need a budget number before they book a call. Here is the practical range for seed to Series A SaaS, and what actually moves the quote.

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Typical startup range

Art of Vector quotes fixed scopes rather than open-ended retainers. Typical engagements land in $5,000–$12,000, with report turnaround of about 5 business days after kickoff.

  • Mini assessment: free
  • Retest for agreed findings: included
  • Market SaaS SOC 2 scopes often run higher when firms add cloud, network, and rush fees

Cheap scans vs audit-ready testing

A low sticker price is not always cheaper if the report fails auditor or buyer review. Budget for methodology, reproduction detail, TSC-ready language, and retest—not only a PDF of scanner noise.

FAQ

How much does a SOC 2 pen test cost for a startup?

Most seed to Series A web and API engagements with Art of Vector fall in the $5,000–$12,000 range. Exact quotes follow a free mini assessment.

Why do some vendors advertise under $2,000?

Very low menu prices often mean scanner-heavy output. Auditors and enterprise buyers usually expect manual testing of auth and tenancy, plus remediation and retest evidence.

What changes the price?

Number of apps and APIs, auth complexity, multi-tenant depth, environment access, and whether you need rush timing beyond the standard turnaround.

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Tell us about your app and we will follow up with next steps for web, API, and AI application security — with optional SOC 2 mapping.

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