The ultimate guide to compliance without breaking the bank. From seed stage to Series A.
Get Certified Without Breaking the Bank
2025 Edition
Chapter 1: Why Startups Need Compliance - The enterprise sales unlock
Chapter 2: Which Framework to Start With - SOC 2, ISO, or HIPAA?
Chapter 3: Compliance on a Budget - How to save 60% on costs
Chapter 4: Timeline Planning - Get certified in 30-45 days
Chapter 5: DIY vs Vendor - Making the right choice for your stage
Chapter 6: Building Security Culture - From day one, not day 100
Chapter 7: Scaling Compliance - Multi-framework strategy for growth
Early-stage founders (Seed to Series A) exploring compliance
Technical founders building security programs on limited budgets
Startups losing deals due to missing compliance certifications
Small teams (5-50 employees) needing to get certified fast
Which compliance framework to pursue first - Decision framework based on your industry and customers
How to get certified for under $10K - Budget-friendly strategies and vendor alternatives
Timeline to certification - Realistic expectations and how to accelerate the process
Building security culture early - Habits and practices that make compliance easier
Avoiding expensive mistakes - Common pitfalls that cost startups time and money
"This guide is a lifesaver for bootstrapped startups. We got SOC 2 for $5K instead of the $30K we were quoted. Now we're closing enterprise deals."
Jessica R.
Founder, DataViz (YC W23)
"Finally, compliance advice that understands startup constraints. We followed this guide and got certified in 32 days on a seed-stage budget."
Tom P.
Co-Founder, SecureAPI