Start With the Government Cost Model

There is no universal CMMC price. DoD's 32 CFR final-rule analysis estimated the three-year cost of a Level 2 self-assessment and annual affirmations at roughly $37,000 for a small entity and a Level 2 C3PAO assessment and annual affirmations at roughly $105,000 for a small entity. Those estimates are assessment costs, not a quote, and exclude much of the implementation and remediation work needed to meet NIST SP 800-171.

Option 1: Traditional Consultant Engagement

Illustrative Consultant Planning Ranges

Service	Hours	Rate	Cost
Gap assessment	40-80 hrs	$200-400/hr	$8,000-$32,000
Policy documentation	60-120 hrs	$200-400/hr	$12,000-$48,000
SSP writing	40-80 hrs	$200-400/hr	$8,000-$32,000
POA&M development	20-40 hrs	$200-400/hr	$4,000-$16,000
Evidence collection coaching	30-60 hrs	$200-400/hr	$6,000-$24,000
Mock assessment	16-24 hrs	$200-400/hr	$3,200-$9,600
Illustrative total	206-404 hrs		$41,200-$161,600

These are planning inputs, not government statistics or guaranteed market rates. Obtain scoped quotes and distinguish readiness consulting from the independent assessment.

What Consultants Do Well

Deep expertise in specific control implementations
Hands-on technical remediation for complex environments
Relationship with C3PAOs and the assessment ecosystem
Custom advice for unique organizational challenges

Questions to Evaluate in a Consulting Proposal

How knowledge, workpapers, and ownership transfer to internal staff
Whether ongoing monitoring or periodic follow-up is included
Which work is manual, tool-supported, or retained by the customer
How updates, scope changes, and additional hours are priced
How estimated SPRS calculations are validated and documented

Option 2: CMMC Compliance Software

Software Platform Costs (Annual)

Platform Type	Monthly Cost	Annual Cost	What You Get
Basic assessment tools	$0-100/mo	$0-1,200/yr	Control tracking, basic scoring
Mid-tier platforms	$250-500/mo	$3,000-6,000/yr	Evidence vault, document generation, policy templates
Full-feature platforms	$500-1,500/mo	$6,000-18,000/yr	AI features, integrations, analytics, collaboration
Enterprise GRC suites	$2,000-5,000/mo	$24,000-60,000/yr	Multi-framework, enterprise features, API access

CMMC Command falls in the mid-tier to full-feature range:

Free: Complete 110-control assessment with SPRS scoring
Starter ($249/mo): Evidence, documents, policies, $2,988/year
Professional ($749/mo): AI + integrations + full platform, $8,988/year

What Software Does Well

Ongoing workflow tracking: Maintain entered statuses, tasks, and evidence records between reviews
Estimated SPRS scoring: Updates as you enter implementation statuses
Security-tool metadata sync: Integrations can retrieve selected configuration and posture data for human review; mappings are suggestions, not assessment findings
Document drafting: Structured SSP and POA&M drafts from assessment data
Team collaboration: Multiple users working simultaneously
Audit trail: Every change logged automatically

Where Software Falls Short

Can't physically configure your firewall or SIEM
Won't conduct the C3PAO assessment for you
May not cover highly specialized edge cases

The Real Answer: Both (But Differently)

One possible planning approach, which must be adjusted for scope, internal capability, contract requirements, and qualified-provider quotes:

Step 1: Software-Assisted Self-Review

Use a platform like CMMC Command to assess all 110 controls
Estimate an SPRS score from the control statuses you enter
Identify and prioritize gaps
Generate initial SSP and POA&M
Cost: $0-$249/month

Step 2: Targeted Consultant Support, If Needed

Bring in a consultant for the specific gaps you can't close yourself
They work from your existing assessment, not starting from scratch
Focus on technical remediation, not documentation (the platform handles that)
Cost: Obtain a scoped quote; there is no authoritative universal rate

Phase 3: Platform-Assisted Record Maintenance (Ongoing)

Scheduled selected-metadata drift checks and owner review
Evidence vault stays current
AI-assisted policy updates
Team training tracking
Cost: $249-$749/month

Illustrative Cost Scenario

Approach	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	3-Year Total
Consultant only	$50,000+	$15,000+	$15,000+	$80,000+
Software only	$3,000-9,000	$3,000-9,000	$3,000-9,000	$9,000-27,000
Hybrid approach	$8,000-18,000	$3,000-9,000	$3,000-9,000	$14,000-36,000

The table is illustrative and depends on the selected scope, internal labor, remediation, external support, and assessment type. Do not treat it as a promised savings rate or assessment timeline.

When You Definitely Need a Consultant

Some situations require specialized expertise:

FedRAMP environments: Complex cloud authorization boundaries
Multi-enclave architectures: CUI flowing between classified and unclassified systems
Legacy systems: Older systems that can't be easily updated
First C3PAO assessment: Some contractors want a consultant present during the assessment

The Bottom Line

One possible strategy, subject to scope and internal capability, is:

Start with free software to understand your gaps and SPRS score
Use the platform's AI and automation to close as many gaps as possible independently
Bring in a consultant only for what you can't do yourself
Use the platform to maintain entered records and monitor selected metadata between assessment activities

Start your free CMMC assessment. The platform estimates an SPRS score from the statuses you enter; validate it before submission.

CMMC Compliance Software vs. Hiring a Consultant: Planning Costs