Start with the scope, not a price range
The NDIS Commission: the quality audit process says the Commission does not set audit prices and encourages providers to compare quotes. It distinguishes verification and certification audits and identifies the Initial scope of audit as the document that tells you the audit type.
Send the same current scope to every shortlisted auditor. Add an accurate summary of the services, sites, workforce and participant numbers they request. Describe a planned expansion separately from services already operating. If a quote is based on a different scope, ask the auditor to explain the difference before comparing totals.
For an overview of cost factors, use our existing NDIS audit cost guide. The worksheet here deals with the actual quotes you receive.
Ask for these items in writing
| Quote item | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Scope and audit stages | Audit type, applicable modules, sites and stages included; assumptions about sampling and team time. |
| Professional fee | Work included in the base fee, report preparation and any separate administration charge. |
| Travel and attendance | Travel, accommodation and remote/on-site assumptions; whether an estimate has a ceiling. |
| Follow-up work | What is included if findings need review and how any additional work is priced. |
| Tax and payment | GST treatment, deposit, payment dates, quote expiry and rescheduling or cancellation terms. |
| Schedule | Proposed dates, required preparation and dependencies before the report can be completed. |
These are suggested purchasing questions, not a universal fee schedule. An auditor may use different terms or combine items. Ask them to explain the total without forcing their quote into assumptions that do not apply.
Work through a fictional comparison
Example only: Quote A is A$3,000 including GST but excludes travel. Quote B is A$3,450 including GST and includes travel for the agreed visit. A is not yet a complete lower-cost option. If A confirms A$600 travel, its comparable total becomes A$3,600. If travel remains unknown, keep A’s total marked incomplete.
Next check whether both cover the same stages and follow-up. A small saving can disappear if you compare an initial stage with a complete engagement. Record the answer and the quote version so a later change is visible.
Choose a suitable auditor and prepare your team
Check the provider against the Commission’s current approved quality auditor list. Ask the auditor directly about your service scope, availability and any independence issue. A marketplace article or consultant recommendation is not proof of approval.
Once engaged, keep the agreed scope, timetable, requests and responsible people together. Use real operating records and resolve gaps honestly. Do not create backdated records to make a file look complete.
If your gap is documentation, inspect the SIL kit catalogue and actual samples. If the difficulty is keeping quality actions and evidence organised, investigate the ProviderQMS workspace. Neither purchase replaces the auditor or guarantees an outcome.
Questions worth asking before you sign
Is the lowest quote the best value? Only after scope, terms and unknown costs are comparable. Ask why a material difference exists.
Can a policy kit include my independent audit? Read the specific offer. Our document kits and QMS subscription are separate from an approved auditor’s engagement.
What if my service changes? Tell the auditor and ask for a revised written scope and quote. Do not assume an earlier price covers a different service.
Audit quote comparison worksheet
Use business requirements and internal references only. Entries stay in this page and are lost when you leave or reload. Print or download your brief before leaving.
Source: https://providerqms.com.au/provider-guides/compare-ndis-audit-quotes/ · 3 October 2026
Sources and editorial approach
Source pages checked 3 October 2026. Linked official guidance and vendor statements are identified separately from our suggested evaluation methods. Examples are fictional. Research and drafting used AI assistance; this guide does not claim practitioner approval or independent vendor testing.