BRCGS certification: costs and timeline
BRCGS does not publish a universal total price for every site. The official route to certification starts with scope, a certification body and audit planning. Also use the BRCGS FAQ for certification bodies to sharpen the questions you ask in your quotes.
Costs depend on factors such as product category, number of processes, sites, outsourced activities, audit option, preparation, and travel or laboratory work. The BRCGS hub, the scope page and the standard requirements guide help you limit what the quote covers. The amounts below are not market prices. The euro examples are hypothetical calculation examples only.
You can only compare quotes from certification bodies properly if every line uses the same scope and assumptions. So ask what is included, which assumptions apply, and which follow-up activities are invoiced separately.
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The cards follow the budget from scope to maintenance. Only fill in amounts after you receive quotes and make an internal estimate of hours. The timeline is a sequence of activities, not a guaranteed duration.
1. Scope and quote
Send every certification body the same scope description. State the site, products, processes, shifts, outsourced activities, laboratory use and the audit option you want. Ask about audit days, reporting, certificate, travel and accommodation costs, administration, and any registration fees.
Also place your internal costs next to the external quote. Think of hours from quality, production, maintenance, purchasing and management. Include equipment, calibration, laboratory testing, training and any building improvements.
| Budget item | Question to ask in the quote or plan |
|---|---|
| Certification audit | Which scope, audit option and activities are included? |
| Follow-up | How are corrective actions and additional assessment calculated? |
| Travel costs | Are travel, accommodation and administration included? |
| Internal hours | Which roles must be available before, during and after the audit? |
| Technical improvements | Which investments does your gap analysis show? |
2. Preparation
Start with a gap analysis against the current Issue 9 documents and F926. Then update your risk analysis, procedures, records, training and internal verification. Plan a realistic period in which staff carry out the new way of working and you collect evidence.
The length varies a lot between organisations. An existing food safety structure may need less work than a new site with several product lines. So set milestones, not promises: scope agreed, controls in place, internal audit completed, actions closed, quote confirmed.
A hypothetical calculation example: a site sets aside 120 hours of internal quality work and 40 hours of production time. The rates you attach to those hours are your own budget assumptions, not a BRCGS market price. In your budget, note who delivers the hours and what drops out if the scope changes.
3. Audit and decision
Ask whether the quote covers the full audit, reporting, certification decision and normal communication. Ask separately about re-assessment of corrective actions, extra audit days, changed scope and a new audit after an insufficient file.
After the audit, budget time for root cause analysis, actions and evidence. Read the explanation of audit results and the rules for unannounced audits so you do not confuse those items.
4. Annual cycle
A BRCGS budget does not stop at the first certificate. Reserve capacity every year for checks, internal audits, training, supplier assessment, changes, and follow-up on complaints or incidents. Plan recertification according to the arrangements with your certification body.
Keep a record of the quote scope: scope version, audit option, validity date, included activities and exclusions. If you add a new product line or site, ask for a change quote before you change the operation.
A quoted amount or timeline is not a guarantee. Ask the certification body to confirm the current scope and planning. Do not use the hypothetical euro examples as a market indication.
For the order of the timeline, the step-by-step guide helps. Also budget for training costs. The role matrix is on BRCGS standard training.
Frequently asked questions
How much does BRCGS certification cost?
There is no reliable universal amount without a scope and a quote. Budget external certification, internal hours, preparation, testing, training, improvements and follow-up separately.
How long does certification take?
That depends on your starting level, scope, available staff, improvement actions and audit planning. Use milestones and ask the certification body to confirm the schedule.
Does a consultant need to be in the budget?
Not automatically. Only include consultancy if you need that help, and describe the deliverables, hours, travel costs and limits. Internal ownership and verification are still needed.