Ask any security company owner who has been through the SIA Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) what it cost, and the answer is rarely just “the application fee”. Between SIA fees, independent assessments, internal staff time and professional consultancy, the total investment can be substantial. Consultancy alone commonly runs into thousands of pounds, depending on the size of the business and how much work is needed.
This article breaks down where SIA ACS costs come from, why consultancy is often the biggest discretionary cost, which costs you will always pay regardless of who helps you, and why ESC Support is currently providing its full ACS consultancy at no consultancy fee.
What Does SIA ACS Consultancy Usually Cost?
There is no fixed market price for ACS consultancy. Fees vary widely between providers and depend on several factors:
- The size of your business: the number of employees, sites and contracts affects how much documentation, evidence and review is required
- The number of licensable activities in your approval scope, such as security guarding, door supervision, CCTV, key holding or close protection
- Your starting point: a company with mature, ISO-style management systems needs far less work than one whose processes have developed informally
- The condition of your personnel files, screening records and SIA licence controls
- The consultancy model: fixed-price packages, day rates or open-ended hourly billing
- Whether implementation support is included, or only document writing
For a small, well-organised company, targeted support may be relatively modest. For a growing company that needs a full management system built, implemented and evidenced, consultancy commonly runs into the thousands, and open-ended hourly arrangements can climb further if the project drags on.
Why consultancy costs so much
Good ACS consultancy is labour-intensive. It is not about emailing a folder of policies. A proper project involves:
- A detailed gap analysis across every area of the ACS standard
- Writing and tailoring documentation around how your company actually works
- Helping implement processes and build months of genuine records
- Reviewing recruitment, screening and licence-control evidence
- Supporting the ACS Self-Assessment Workbook
- A realistic mock assessment and corrective actions
- Preparing directors and managers for independent assessment
Each of those steps takes experienced consultant time. That is where the cost comes from, and it is also where the value comes from. Cheap consultancy that skips implementation often leads to a failed or delayed assessment, which ends up costing more.
How your starting point changes the workload
The single biggest factor in consultancy cost is how much work your business needs. The profiles below are typical examples, not fixed quotes, but they show why two security companies can receive very different consultancy proposals.
| Company Profile | Typical Starting Position | Typical Consultancy Workload |
|---|---|---|
| Established, ISO-certified | Documented management system, controlled records, regular management reviews and internal audits already in place. | Targeted. Map existing systems to ACS requirements, close specific gaps and prepare for assessment. |
| Growing, informally run | Good operational delivery, but processes live in people’s heads, personnel files are inconsistent and records are patchy. | Substantial. Build documentation, implement processes, remediate personnel files and generate genuine evidence over time. |
| Recently eligible or not yet eligible | Newer company approaching or just past 12 months of trading, with limited historical records. | Foundational. Set up ACS-ready systems early so evidence builds naturally before assessment. |
| Stalled or previously unsuccessful | Has started ACS, possibly with templates or another consultant, but is not assessment-ready. | Recovery. Review existing work, keep what is usable, fix what is not and rebuild confidence before assessment. |
Questions to ask any ACS consultant before you pay
Whether you work with ESC Support or another provider, these questions will help you understand what you are really buying:
- Is the price fixed, or will hours accumulate? Open-ended billing makes budgeting difficult.
- Is implementation included, or only documents? Documents without evidence rarely satisfy an assessor.
- Will the documentation be tailored to our business? Ask to see how templates are adapted.
- Is a mock assessment included? It is one of the most valuable steps and is often sold as an extra.
- Do you support the Self-Assessment Workbook? A well-evidenced self-assessment makes the independent assessment smoother.
- What happens if improvement points are raised? Find out whether post-assessment support is included.
- What experience do you have in the security sector? ACS has its own language and expectations.
The Full Cost of SIA ACS: Where the Money Goes
Consultancy is only one part of the total. Here is how the main cost elements typically break down, and which ones ESC Support’s current offer removes.
| Cost Element | Paid To | With ESC Support’s Current Offer |
|---|---|---|
| Consultancy fees | Your consultant | No consultancy fee. Gap analysis, documentation, mock assessment and assessment support included. |
| SIA application fee | Security Industry Authority | Still payable directly to the SIA. |
| Assessment fees | Independent assessing body | Still payable directly to your assessing body. |
| Annual registration fees | Security Industry Authority | Still payable once approved. Typically linked to the number of licensed operatives. |
| Internal staff time | Your business | Still required, but reduced by structured, expert-led support. |
| Operational improvements | Various suppliers | Your choice. For example software, training or equipment you decide to invest in. |
Fees set by the SIA and assessing bodies can change, so always check the latest figures directly. The SIA’s guidance on applying for ACS approval and keeping your ACS approval is the best starting point.
The Hidden Cost of Getting ACS Wrong
When businesses try to save money on ACS, the result is often more expensive in the long run. Common costly mistakes include:
- Buying generic template packs that do not reflect how the company operates, so policies and practice do not match when the assessor looks closely
- Documents without evidence: having procedures but no records to prove they are used
- Incomplete personnel and screening files discovered at assessment rather than months before
- Unprepared managers who cannot explain how their own systems work
- Missed tenders because approval took longer than expected
- Repeat assessment work and management time spent fixing avoidable problems
For many security companies, the real price of ACS is not the fee. It is the contracts lost while waiting to become approved. A structured, properly supported project reduces that risk. Our guide to SIA ACS assessment preparation explains what assessors look for.
Why ESC Support Is Currently Providing ACS Consultancy for Free
We know that for many growing security companies, consultancy fees are the single biggest barrier to pursuing ACS. So we have removed them. Our reasons are straightforward.
Earning trust by delivering results
Plenty of security companies have been let down by consultants in the past. Rather than asking you to trust a sales pitch, we would rather demonstrate the quality of our work by helping you get assessment-ready. Good work builds long-term relationships, and that is how we want to grow.
Building our security-sector track record
Every successful ACS project strengthens our reputation in the industry. If you are pleased with the result, we may ask whether you would be happy to leave feedback or be featured as a case study. It is never a requirement.
A promotion that makes long-term sense
Approved contractors need to maintain their systems and prepare for ongoing assessments. Some clients choose to continue working with us on internal audits, annual assessment preparation, ISO 9001, COP 119 or BS 10119. Those services are optional. Taking up the free ACS consultancy does not commit you to anything else.
Is Free Consultancy as Good as Paid Consultancy?
It is a fair question. With ESC Support’s current offer, the answer is yes, because it is our paid consultancy. It is the same structured process, delivered by the same team:
- Initial consultation and eligibility review against the SIA’s published requirements
- Full gap analysis across the areas covered by the ACS standard
- Tailored documentation: policies, procedures, forms and registers built around your real operations
- Implementation support to turn documents into working systems with genuine records
- ACS Self-Assessment Workbook support and evidence organisation
- Mock assessment to test your readiness before the real thing
- Assessment support, including preparing your managers and helping close any improvement points
You can read the full stage-by-stage process on our SIA ACS consultancy page.
Paid vs Free: What Changes for Your Business
| Typical Paid Consultancy | ESC Support Current Offer | |
|---|---|---|
| Consultancy fee | Often thousands of pounds | No consultancy fee |
| Gap analysis | Included | Included |
| Tailored documentation | Varies. Sometimes generic templates. | Included, built around your operations |
| Implementation support | Often extra or not offered | Included |
| Mock assessment | Often an add-on | Included |
| Assessment support | Varies | Included |
| SIA and assessing body fees | Payable by you | Payable by you |
What You Could Do With the Money You Save
Removing consultancy fees frees up budget for things that directly strengthen your business and your ACS assessment, for example:
- Investing in staff training and development records
- Improving rostering, HR or incident-reporting software
- Strengthening screening and vetting capacity
- Supporting supervisors and managers with leadership training
- Preparing for further accreditations such as ISO 9001 that support tender scoring
How to Claim the Offer
- Book a free consultation through our free compliance consultation page.
- Talk us through your business: your services, licensable activities, team size, existing systems and any tender deadlines.
- We confirm eligibility and scope against the SIA’s published ACS requirements.
- Your project begins with the gap analysis, and we support you all the way to assessment.
The offer is available now. Like any promotion, we may review it in future. The terms confirmed at the start of your project are the ones that apply to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does SIA ACS consultancy cost?
It varies by provider and by the size and starting point of your business, but full ACS consultancy commonly runs into thousands of pounds. ESC Support is currently providing its full ACS consultancy at no consultancy fee.
What are the other costs of SIA ACS?
Besides consultancy, the main costs are the SIA application fee, independent assessing body fees for your assessments, annual SIA registration fees once approved, and your own internal staff time. Check current fee levels directly with the SIA and your assessing body, as they can change.
Does the free offer cover SIA or assessment fees?
No. The offer removes ESC Support’s consultancy fee only. SIA fees and assessing body fees are paid directly to those organisations.
Is SIA ACS worth the cost?
For many security companies, yes. ACS status is widely recognised by buyers, is often expected or scored in tenders for larger contracts, and demonstrates that your business meets an independently assessed standard. Removing the consultancy fee makes the business case considerably stronger.
Why would a consultancy provide ACS support for free?
We are doing it to build trust and long-term relationships with security companies, to grow our track record of successful projects, and because some clients choose optional ongoing services later. None of those are conditions of the offer.
Is there any obligation after the ACS project?
No. You are free to maintain your ACS systems yourself. If you would like ongoing help with internal audits or future assessments, it is available as an optional service.
Remove the Biggest Cost From Your ACS Project
Get full SIA ACS consultancy, including gap analysis, documentation, mock assessment and assessment support, at no consultancy fee. Book a no-obligation consultation to get started.