Total Cost Summary
Verification Pathway (Lower-Risk Services)
Total estimated cost: $3,000 - $6,000
Certification Pathway (Higher-Risk Services)
Total estimated cost: $8,000 - $15,000+
Cost Breakdown
1. Application Fee
Cost: $0 The NDIS Commission does not charge an application fee.
2. Audit Fees
Verification Audit:
- Range: $800 - $1,500
- Typical: $1,000 - $1,200
- Desktop review only
Certification Audit:
- Range: $3,000 - $6,000+
- Typical: $3,500 - $5,000
- Includes site visit
3. Insurance
Annual costs:
- Public Liability ($20M): $400 - $1,500
- Professional Indemnity ($5M): $600 - $2,500
- Total: $1,000 - $4,000/year
4. Worker Screening
Per worker:
- NDIS Worker Screening: $80 - $130 (varies by state)
- Processing time: 2-6 weeks
5. Policy Development
Options:
- DIY with templates: $200 - $500
- Professional assistance: $1,000 - $3,000
- Consultant package: $2,000 - $5,000
6. Systems and Software
Typical costs:
- Client management system: $50 - $200/month
- Accounting software: $30 - $80/month
- Document management: $0 - $50/month
Hidden Costs to Budget For
- Time investment - 40-100+ hours of your time
- Non-conformance resolution - May need consultant help
- Staff training - Time and potentially external training
- Ongoing compliance - Annual costs post-registration
ROI Consideration
Registration costs are an investment. Calculate your potential revenue increase from accessing NDIA-managed participants to determine if it makes business sense.
