The figures on this page are our own indicative estimates. The Commission does not set audit prices and publishes none, so treat them as planning guides and get quotes. For a breakdown that separates sourced costs from costs that need a quote, use our registration cost calculator.
The short answer
For a small provider delivering lower-risk supports (verification pathway), expect roughly $2,000 to $5,000 all-in to reach registration. For a provider delivering higher-risk supports (certification pathway), a realistic range is $6,000 to $20,000+, dominated by the audit fee. The single biggest variable you control is how you produce your documentation.
Cost 1: The audit fee
Every applicant must engage an Approved Quality Auditor (AQA) and pay them directly. The Commission does not set or cap prices, auditors quote based on your size, sites, registration groups, and participant numbers. The Commission's quality audit process page explains what each audit type involves.
| Audit type | Typical cost (AUD) | What it involves |
|---|---|---|
| Verification audit | $900 to $1,500 | Desktop review of documents for lower-risk registration groups |
| Certification audit (small, single site) | $3,000 to $8,000 | Stage 1 remote document review + Stage 2 implementation assessment |
| Certification audit (multi-site or specialist modules) | $8,000 to $20,000+ | Larger scope, more interviews, site visits, specialist module assessment |
| Mid-term audit (certified providers, ~18 months) | $1,500 to $5,000 | Surveillance audit checking continued conformity |
Always get at least three quotes against the same initial scope of audit document. Quotes for identical scopes can differ by thousands of dollars, and with some auditors having left the Commission's list in recent years, lead times are worth comparing alongside price. See our guide to choosing an approved quality auditor. Which pathway you fall into depends on your registration groups, see verification vs certification audits.
Cost 2: Documentation
Auditors assess you against the NDIS Practice Standards largely through your policies, procedures, forms, and registers. You have three ways to produce them:
- Write everything yourself, $0 cash, weeks of time. Feasible if you know the Practice Standards well. Most new providers underestimate the scope: a compliant set spans governance, risk, incidents, complaints, worker screening, and every module you register for.
- Template package, roughly $500 to $3,000. Professionally prepared documents you customise with your own details. Our complete package covers the Core Module and Modules 1 to 5 with 220+ documents for a one-time $1,500, see pricing.
- Consultant, commonly $5,000 to $15,000+. A consultant builds your documentation and often manages the application. Useful for complex, multi-module registrations; overkill for many small providers.
Cost 3: Insurance
The Practice Standards expect appropriate insurance, including professional indemnity, public liability and accident insurance. Our estimate for typical small-provider premiums is $1,000 to $3,000 per year for combined public liability and professional indemnity, more for clinical or high-intensity services. Check separately what your state requires for workers compensation if you employ staff.
Cost 4: Worker screening and training
- NDIS Worker Screening Check: the fee is set by the worker screening unit in your state or territory, so check its current fee. A check is valid for up to 5 years, according to the Commission.
- NDIS Worker Orientation Module: free, mandatory for all workers.
- Role-specific training: first aid, medication handling, manual handling, restrictive practices awareness, budget a few hundred dollars per worker depending on your supports.
If you are a sole trader
The Commission says audit cost depends on the size and scale of your organisation and the number of participants you support, so a one-person business should ask auditors to price that scope. The registration fee is still nil, and you need your own worker screening check, because a registered sole trader is both key personnel and a worker. See our guide to NDIS registration for sole traders.
Cost 5: The costs people forget
- Your time. The application, self-assessment, and audit preparation take real hours; for a founder, often the largest hidden cost.
- Corrective actions. Non-conformities found at audit may need new documents, training, or systems before registration can be recommended.
- Revenue delay. While registration is pending you can't bill agency-managed participants. See how long registration takes.
- Other audits. A condition audit can be required, for example after buying a registered business. See buying or selling an NDIS business.
- Ongoing compliance. Registers, internal audits, training refreshers, and the three-year renewal cycle all have a cost. Registration is a system you maintain, not a certificate you frame.
Sample budgets
| Line item | Verification pathway | Certification pathway (small) |
|---|---|---|
| Audit fee | $900 to $1,500 | $3,000 to $8,000 |
| Documentation (template package) | $500 to $1,500 | $1,500 to $3,000 |
| Insurance (year one) | $1,000 to $2,000 | $1,500 to $3,000 |
| Screening + training (2 workers) | $300 to $600 | $500 to $1,500 |
| Indicative total | $2,700 to $5,600 | $6,500 to $15,500 |
Figures are indicative for planning purposes, your quotes will reflect your specific scope. The cheapest path to registration isn't cutting corners; it's arriving at the audit with complete, well-organised documentation so the auditor's time (and your corrective-action bill) stays small. Our audit checklist shows exactly what they'll ask for.
This page is general information based on NDIS Commission and government sources at the date shown. It is not legal or professional advice, and the rules can change. Check the NDIS Commission's current requirements and read our disclaimer.