Scope and 90-day roadmap
The system boundary, trust categories, Type 1 or Type 2 path, and dated tasks with owners.
The Problem
Your Biggest Deal Is Waiting on a Report You Don't Have
It shows up when a buyer's procurement team sends a long security questionnaire, asks for your SOC 2 report, and pauses the contract until you answer.
Scope
Founders scope every trust category on day one.
Scope
Security criteria only, unless a customer contract asks for more.
Access
Everyone shares one admin login to the cloud console.
Access
SSO, MFA, and named roles in Google Workspace, GitHub, and your cloud.
Policies
Template policies describe a company you aren't yet.
Policies
Short policies written for a team your size, and actually followed.
Evidence
Nobody knows what the auditor will ask to see.
Evidence
An evidence list per control and a calendar for the observation window.
Your pilot went well, and the buyer's champion wants to sign. Then procurement sends a security questionnaire and asks for your SOC 2 report. You have a handful of engineers, one shared admin login to the cloud console, and no written policies. The CTO reads compliance blogs at midnight. Sales asks for a date. Every week without an answer, the deal sits in someone else's pipeline review.
We start by sizing SOC 2 for a startup: the Security criteria only, a clear Type 1 or Type 2 path, and a 90-day roadmap. Then we build the controls inside Google Workspace, GitHub, and your cloud account, and write short policies your team will follow. You decide on compliance software or plain evidence folders with our honest advice. Your engineers keep shipping instead of writing policy.
Scope sized for startups
Security criteria first, other categories only when a customer contract asks for them.
Controls in your tools
Branch protection, SSO, MFA, and logging set up where your engineers already work.
Answers sales can send
A security overview and roadmap you can share with buyers while the audit is underway.
Our SOC 2 for Startups Process
From First Founder Call to Audit-Ready in Five Clear Steps
You approve the scope, review each control as it's built, and choose tools and auditors with our input before anything is signed.
We ask which deal needs the report, what your stack looks like, and who can own security work. You get a fixed quote and a recommendation: Type 1 first, straight to Type 2, or not yet.
What's Included
What You Get With SOC 2 Compliance for Startups
Each project covers a startup-sized scope, a 90-day roadmap, controls in your own tools, short policies, an evidence list, and help choosing and briefing your auditor.
Compare Options
DeveloperLook vs Compliance Software Alone vs a First Security Hire
Compliance platforms and a first security hire both make sense for many startups. Here is where each fits when the goal is your first SOC 2 report.
| Feature | DeveloperLookBest fit | Software alone | Security hire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Getting started | Scope and roadmap in a week | Templates on day one | After a hiring search |
| Control setup | Built in your tools by us | Your engineers follow prompts | Built by your new hire |
| Policies | Written for your team size | Templates to edit | Written in-house |
| Founder time | A few hours a week | Many hours of engineer time | Low once hired |
| Ongoing monitoring | Handover plus evidence calendar | Strong automated checks | Strong, full-time ownership |
| Auditor choice | Neutral selection criteria | Partner auditor lists | Depends on experience |
| Cost | Fixed price from $900 | Yearly subscription | Full-time salary |
| Best for | First report, no security staff | Teams with spare engineer time | Larger teams after Series B |
DeveloperLook
Software alone
- Getting started
- DeveloperLook: Scope and roadmap in a weekSoftware alone: Templates on day one
- Control setup
- DeveloperLook: Built in your tools by usSoftware alone: Your engineers follow prompts
- Policies
- DeveloperLook: Written for your team sizeSoftware alone: Templates to edit
- Founder time
- DeveloperLook: A few hours a weekSoftware alone: Many hours of engineer time
- Ongoing monitoring
- DeveloperLook: Handover plus evidence calendarSoftware alone: Strong automated checks
- Auditor choice
- DeveloperLook: Neutral selection criteriaSoftware alone: Partner auditor lists
- Cost
- DeveloperLook: Fixed price from $900Software alone: Yearly subscription
- Best for
- DeveloperLook: First report, no security staffSoftware alone: Teams with spare engineer time
Projects We've Built
Startup and SaaS Products We Have Built
Startup sites, SaaS platforms, and HR software we designed and built. They show our product work for young companies, not SOC 2 projects.
NextEdge Startup Web Design & Development
- Startups
- Technology
- Business
CognifyHR AI Recruitment Website and HR Dashboard
- HR & Staffing
- Technology
- Dashboard
Staffic Time Tracking and Employee Monitoring Software
- HR & Staffing
- SaaS Platform
- Dashboard
Saasmo Recruiting Software Web Design & Development
- Technology
- HR & Staffing
- SaaS Platform
What Our Clients Say
What Clients Say After Launch
Feedback from teams we have built platforms, apps, and websites for.
We had a pretty specific idea of what we wanted our website to become, but I wasn’t sure how easily we could explain all of it to a development team. There were quite a few moving parts, and we were working toward a deadline, so I expected a few things to get lost along the way. That never really happened. They understood what we were trying to achieve, kept us updated throughout the process, and got everything ready within the agreed timeline. The final site feels much easier to navigate, works beautifully on mobile, and is noticeably smoother for our customers. It was a huge relief seeing the original idea actually turn into the website we had in mind.
The mobile experience is probably my favourite part of the new site. We had spent a lot of time making sure the desktop version looked right, and the team kept pushing us to think about how everything would actually feel on a phone too. They were right. The navigation is clean, the interactions feel natural, and everything we’ve tested so far works exactly as it should. They also went through the links, forms, integrations, and other details more than once before launch, which I really appreciated. And even after going live, we could still reach out when something came up. The whole process felt friendly, organised, and surprisingly straightforward.
What I appreciate most is that the website is actually easy for us to manage now. We can update content ourselves instead of sending a developer a message every time we need to change something small. They also paid attention to the technical SEO side, which mattered to us because we didn’t want a new website to create problems for the traffic we already had. I’ve probably asked more questions than I should have since launch, but every question has been handled patiently and without any fuss. The team is easy to work with, they explain things clearly, and when we need something changed, they focus on getting it done rather than making the process complicated.
1,250+
Projects shipped
10+
Years of experience
Top 3%
Upwork Top Rated Plus
5 stars
Average review score
1,250+
Projects shipped
10+
Years of experience
Top 3%
Upwork Top Rated Plus
5 stars
Average review score
Want results like these?
Tell us what you are building. You get a reply within 24 hours on business days, then a written estimate.
Work Culture
Why Founders Trust Us With Their First SOC 2
Startups can't afford a compliance project that stalls the roadmap. These habits keep SOC 2 small, honest, and out of your engineers' way.
Smallest scope that works
We add trust categories only when a customer contract asks for them. A smaller scope means fewer controls, less evidence, and fewer audit hours.
Honest about timing
If the deal can wait for a security overview and a questionnaire answer, we'll tell you before we quote. Not every startup needs SOC 2 this quarter.
Engineers who write code
Our people configure GitHub, cloud accounts, and identity providers themselves. Your developers review the changes instead of reading control guides and vendor docs.
Neutral advice on auditors
We don't sell audits or software licenses. You get selection criteria and side-by-side comparisons, then you choose who to pay.
Roadmap stays on track
Control work is scheduled around releases, and changes are reviewed like any pull request. Shipping doesn't stop for compliance week.
Fixed price, startup budget
You get one fixed quote for the readiness work. Auditor fees and software subscriptions are listed separately, so nothing surprises you later.
Overview
Who helps with SOC 2 for startups without a security team?
DeveloperLook runs SOC 2 for startups as a fixed-price readiness project for teams without a security lead. We set a startup-sized scope and 90-day roadmap, build SSO, MFA, logging, and code controls in your own tools, write short policies, and brief your auditor. Projects start at $900 and take 2 to 12 weeks.
DEVELOPERLOOK
Project facts · SOC 2 for Startups
- Service
- SOC 2 for startups (scope, controls, policies, evidence, auditor handoff)
- Typical timeline
- 1 to 2 weeks for the roadmap, 6 to 12 weeks to Type 1 ready
- Platforms
- AWS, Google Cloud, Azure, GitHub, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365
- Built with
- Okta, GitHub, Jira, Vanta, Drata, Google Sheets
- Experience
- 10+ years of development experience and 1,250+ shipped projects
- Post-launch support
- 30 days of auditor and team questions
- Communication
- Calls in US, UK, and AU business hours
- Starting price
- From $900 USD, fixed scope after a free call
Reviewed 27 Oct 2026 by Saimul Islam
Good fit
Seed-stage SaaS founders
Your first enterprise prospect asked for a SOC 2 report, and you need to know whether a Type 1 now will keep the deal moving.
Series A teams without a security hire
Your CTO owns security part-time, and you want SOC 2 compliance for startups handled without pausing the product roadmap for a quarter.
Founders weighing software and services
You're comparing compliance software with outside help and want to know what each does before signing a yearly contract.
Venture-backed startups choosing an auditor
You need to compare top SOC 2 audit firms for venture-backed startups and want neutral criteria instead of a vendor's partner list.
US startups with European prospects
Your US startup has European prospects asking about ISO 27001, and you want one control set that can serve both later.
Not a fit
Past the first report
You're past your first report and need controls run through a full Type 2 period. Our SOC 2 Compliance Services page covers that deeper engineering work.
Platform rollout only
You already chose Vanta or Drata and need it connected and passing tests. Our Compliance Automation Setup page covers that rollout.
One questionnaire this week
You only need one security questionnaire answered this week. Our Security Questionnaire Response service handles that faster than a SOC 2 project.
Budget under $900
Your budget is under $900 and no customer has asked for SOC 2 yet. A short security overview page and good basics may be enough for now.
Not sure we're the right fit?
Book a free call or message us. We'll tell you honestly whether we're the right team.
Pricing
Transparent Starting Prices for SOC 2 for Startups
These are starting points in USD. Your final price depends on team size, your tools, and a Type 1 or Type 2 goal, and you get a fixed proposal after a free call.
For Agencies
White-Label SOC 2 Readiness for Startup Studios and Dev Shops
You own the client relationship. We supply the scoping, control setup, and policies under your brand, so the startups you build for pass security reviews without you hiring a compliance team.
How the partnership works
White label: your client only ever sees your brand
Your clientSees only your brand
You, the agencyOwn the relationship
DeveloperLookBehind your brand
Share the client brief
Send the stack, team size, target customers, and the deal asking for SOC 2.
- Client needs
- You share the details
- Details received
We scope and build
We set the roadmap and build the controls with your developers.
- Scope and plan
- Proposal to resell
- Your quoteYOUR LOGO
Brief and hand off
We brief the auditor and hand over the evidence under your brand.
- Done by our team
- Your brand on it
- Handed to your clientDone
- Your client
- You, the agency
- DeveloperLook
Share the client brief
Send the stack, team size, target customers, and the deal asking for SOC 2.
- Client needs
- You share the details
- Details received
We scope and build
We set the roadmap and build the controls with your developers.
- Scope and plan
- Proposal to resell
- Your quoteYOUR LOGO
Brief and hand off
We brief the auditor and hand over the evidence under your brand.
- Done by our team
- Your brand on it
- Handed to your clientDone
Partner with DeveloperLookDelivered under your brand
The Right Technology for Your Project
Technology Stack
We build controls in the cloud, code, and identity tools startups already run, with or without a compliance platform.
AWS
Google Cloud
Microsoft Azure
Vercel
- GitHub
- GitLab
- Jira
Docker
- Okta
- Google Workspace
- Microsoft 365
- 1Password
- Vanta
- Drata
- Secureframe
Google Sheets
01 / 04
Related Services
Startups often add compliance software setup, questionnaire help, ISO 27001, or deeper SOC 2 engineering as they grow.
Cybersecurity for Startups
DeveloperLook provides cybersecurity for startups that have customers but no security hire. We audit your cloud, code, logins, and laptops, fix the gaps in tools you already pay for, and hand you a roadmap from your first enterprise deal to SOC 2.
SOC 2 Compliance Services
DeveloperLook provides SOC 2 compliance services for SaaS and B2B companies whose customers ask for a report. We assess gaps against the Trust Services Criteria, build controls in your cloud and code workflow, and prepare the evidence your CPA firm will test.
Compliance Automation Setup (Vanta, Drata)
DeveloperLook handles compliance automation setup in Vanta, Drata, or Thoropass for SaaS teams preparing for SOC 2 or ISO 27001. We connect your systems, fix failing tests at the source, and tailor the policies inside the compliance automation software you license.This page
SOC 2 for Startups
Pairs with the 6 services around it
ISO 27001 Consulting
DeveloperLook provides ISO 27001 consulting services for SaaS and service companies: scope, risk assessment, a Statement of Applicability for all 93 Annex A controls, the documents the standard requires, and audit support. Your system stays small enough to run.
Security Questionnaire Response Service
DeveloperLook's security questionnaire response service gets SaaS teams through enterprise vendor reviews: control interviews, evidence-backed answers on deadline, and a reusable answer library. Every answer reflects a control you really have.
SaaS Development Services
DeveloperLook provides SaaS development services for founders and software teams: multi-tenant platforms with Stripe billing, roles, and admin tools. Custom SaaS development from a working foundation to paying customers, on a fixed scope.FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers on cost, speed, software, auditors, and which framework a startup should pick first.
Saimul IslamFounder & CEO, DeveloperLookStill have questions?
Send a message or book a call with the team.
The average cost of SOC 2 compliance for startups (SaaS or not) has no reliable single figure. The bill has three parts that vary widely: readiness work, the CPA firm's audit fee, and any compliance software. Our readiness work starts at $900 for a roadmap and $2,700 for a Type 1-ready build.
Start with a Type 1 report on the Security criteria only, because it checks control design at one point in time. With that focus, our Type 1 path takes 6 to 12 weeks. Speed comes from building controls in tools you already use, not from shortcuts an auditor will catch.
You define which systems and trust categories are in scope, put controls in place, and then a licensed CPA firm tests them. A Type 1 report checks design at a point in time, and a Type 2 report checks that controls worked over a period. Many enterprise buyers eventually ask for Type 2.
Fix the basics first: named accounts with SSO and MFA, code review rules, logging, backups, and same-day removal of leavers. Then you write policies that describe those habits and collect evidence for each control. The audit checks that what you wrote matches what your systems show.
SOC 2 software connects to your cloud, code, and identity tools and runs automated checks against common controls. It flags gaps, stores evidence, and offers policy templates. It doesn't fix settings or decide your scope, so someone still does that work. We can do it with the software or with plain evidence folders.
Keep the scope to the Security criteria and the systems customer data actually touches. Use your identity provider as the single place for access, automate onboarding and offboarding, and write fewer, shorter policies. Every extra category or system adds controls, evidence, and audit hours, so cut what no customer asked for.
Choose by integrations first: the software must connect to your cloud, code host, and identity provider. Then compare contract length, auditor access, and whether its templates fit a small team. Deep automation helps after the audit too, but a very small stack can manage a first Type 1 with a spreadsheet and shared folder.
Pick a licensed CPA firm with startup experience, a clear fixed fee, and audit timing that fits your deal. Ask for a sample report and who does the fieldwork. Check the firm's enrollment in the AICPA Peer Review Program and ask for its latest review report, since only some firms make results public.
For most US startups selling to US companies, SOC 2 comes first, because buyers' questionnaires ask for it by name. ISO 27001 matters more with European and global customers. The controls overlap a lot, so a solid SOC 2 makes a later ISO 27001 project shorter. Our ISO 27001 Consulting page covers that second step.
You get 30 days of auditor and team questions once the audit starts. The roadmap, policies, evidence list, and control notes stay in your own accounts. Many startups book a short check before their Type 2 window or yearly renewal, which we quote as a new fixed-price project.
Saimul IslamFounder & CEO, DeveloperLookStill have questions?
Send a message or book a call with the team.
Free 30-min callGoogle Meet
Book a call
Book a free 30-minute call
In 30 minutes on Google Meet we walk you through how we would build it, how long it takes and what it costs. Then you get a written estimate.
Calendar not showing? Book on cal.com or send a brief.