ISO certification demonstrates that your business follows a recognised management standard. In practice, most businesses pursue it because a tender, an export customer or a large corporate buyer requires it. ISO 9001 for quality management is the most widely sought.
Who this suits
- Businesses bidding for government or corporate tenders
- Exporters whose overseas buyers require certification
- Suppliers to larger companies with vendor requirements
- Businesses formalising internal processes as they grow
The process, step by step
-
Standard selection and gap analysis
We identify which standard applies — ISO 9001 for quality, 14001 for environment, 22000 for food safety, 27001 for information security — and assess your current processes against its requirements.
3–5 working days -
Documentation
Preparing the quality manual, procedures, work instructions and record formats the standard requires. This is the bulk of the work and where most of the value sits, because the documentation has to reflect how you actually operate.
1–3 weeks -
Implementation and training
Rolling the documented system out across the business and training staff on the parts that affect them. An auditor will ask employees directly, so this stage cannot be skipped.
2–4 weeks -
Internal audit and management review
An internal audit against the standard, followed by a formal management review. Both are mandatory records the certification auditor will ask to see.
1 week -
Stage 1 audit
The certification body reviews your documentation and readiness, and identifies anything to correct before the main audit.
1 day on site -
Stage 2 audit and certification
The full audit of your implemented system. Once any non-conformities are closed, the certificate is issued. It is valid for three years, with annual surveillance audits.
1–2 days on site
Requirements
Certification body charges are separate from our consultancy fee and vary by standard, business size and number of sites. Certificates are valid for three years subject to annual surveillance audits.
Questions we get asked
Which ISO standard do I need?
It depends on why you need it. ISO 9001 (quality management) covers most tender and vendor requirements. Food businesses often need ISO 22000, and IT and data-handling businesses ISO 27001. If a customer is asking, check exactly what they specify.
How long does the whole process take?
Typically 6 to 10 weeks from start to certificate, depending on how much documentation already exists and how quickly implementation can be rolled out.
What does the certification body charge?
That's separate from our ₹7,500 consultancy fee and depends on the standard, your headcount and the number of sites. We obtain quotes so you see the total before committing.
Is the certificate permanent?
No. It's valid for three years and requires an annual surveillance audit to stay active. Re-certification is required at the end of the cycle.
Are cheap online ISO certificates valid?
Certificates from unaccredited bodies are frequently rejected by the very tenders and customers people buy them for. We work with accredited certification bodies, which is the point of doing it at all.
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Send us your details and we'll confirm the documents needed and the total cost.