By Core Business Solutions

Co-Founder and President

Scott Dawson
Like many other small businesses, our
company started out with very humble
beginnings. We worked, struggled,
and learned a great deal as we went.
We became ISO certified ourselves,
so that we would know the process
as second nature. Our constant
commitment to quality, service, and
family continues to drive each decision
we make at Core Business Solutions.

It took time, but we now assist

hundreds of small businesses across
the country each year as they work to
achieve ISO certification. Our team of
expert consultants is local to any area
of the US and our staff is committed
to the ideals of honesty, hard work,
helpfulness, and fun.

There is a persisting pattern of

questions, fears, and misconceptions
about the ISO certification process.
From the outside looking in, the details
can seem overwhelming. This guide
was written to demystify the process
for you and to provide clear direction
to help you reach your goals.

We don’t take your needs, time frame,

and budget lightly, so we’ve made
it a priority to provide affordable
solutions with plenty of options that
make certification available to any
business.

I hope you find the details to follow

useful. The only thing I ask in return
is that you pass it on to other small
business owners who may also benefit
from the guide. If you have any
questions as you read through this,
grab a coffee and give me a call.
You will need to make two major decisions in
your pursuit of ISO certification: the first will be
your choice of the type and amount of assistance
you will need to prepare, and the second will
be selecting registrar or auditing body who will
provide your certification.

With a super-saturated market of consultants,

trainings, documentation templates, and software
as well as a myriad of third-party auditing
companies and registrars, it’s easy to become
overwhelmed with the prospect of beginning
your ISO journey. Depending on your business,
you may not need extensive support - but without
proper research, you could end up paying for
services you don’t need.

That’s why it’s crucial to develop an understanding

of exactly what you’re looking for and how it will
help. And it’s even more important to scrutinize
the credentials and capabilities of any company
who may provide products or services to your
efforts.

The marketplace for ISO 9001 offers options for

products and services that can be broken into two
groups, one that aids in preparation and the other
centered on the provision of ISO certification.
 How do I decide what I need?
Preparation Assistance
There are companies that specialize in providing products and services designed to assist small businesses
with the ISO audit. Generally, these companies have a combination or complete offering of consulting, training,
documentation and software services - all geared at assisting you in the preparation phase.

Consulting
Consulting provides hands-on assistance with
preparation for the certification. Experienced
consultants have worked with numerous companies
in a variety of industries and can provide guidance
on how to get the most overall business benefit from
your preparation efforts.
Using a consultant is optional, but can be invaluable
if your company has little or no experience with
ISO and/or you have few people and resources to
dedicate to the project. A good consultant will save
your team time, provide expert guidance, and help
you achieve better overall business results, benefiting
both you and your customer.
Training
Training is a critical part of any ISO project, ensuring
that you gain proper understanding of both the
requirements for the audit and the steps to follow
in getting ready. Training is usually provided as part
of a consulting project, and some registrars provide
training as an additional service. It can also be
purchased separately from a number of providers.
Training that you will want to look into includes topics
such as:
• ISO introduction for managers
• Detailed training on the ISO requirements
• Training for internal auditors
• Basic employee training

Training is available in several formats including:

Documentation and software
The use of a software system is also optional for a
successful ISO certification, but it can save a lot of
time and hassle in maintaining your program in the
future.
The requirements of ISO include administrative
processes, such as document control, records
• Public courses
• Private onsite training
• Do-it-yourself training packages
• On-line training programs
Look into several options to determine the best way
to provide the training for your organization.

management, corrective action, internal audits
and more. Software platforms can combine file
management, project time lines, success maps,
document templates, and security control systems
to aid not only in the successful achievement of ISO
certification, but also in the long-term success of your
company.
Certification Providers
Registrars are the professional auditing firms who
provide the actual certification. There are hundreds
of registrars throughout the world, and organizations
are tasked with choosing which registrar to hire for
certification.

The CORE ISO Compliance Platform, offered with all
our solutions, provides templates to aid in achieving
and maintaining ISO compliance.
The International Organization for Standardization
(ISO) develops the actual standards which include
the requirements you must meet for ISO certification.
Standards are available for purchase from independent
organizations or directly from ISO.

Core Business Solutions has preparation programs designed specifically for small businesses. Whether you’re
looking for an online or onsite approach, our coaching and consulting support can be tailored to meet your
needs. We offer expert-led training, a simple-to-use CORE Compliance Platform, and have the capability to
provide you with a list of recommended ISO registrars.

Our goal is simple: to offer programs that meet your needs, your budget, and your time frame.
 Who Do I Choose?
Deciding to seek assistance with your ISO project is a key starting point for achieving certification. Selecting the
right provider will help ensure you get the most from the investment in your ISO certification. The company you
choose to partner with should be on-hand to help through consulting, training, documentation templates, and
software questions.

Not all providers of ISO products and services
have the depth of knowledge and background
of hands-on experience to help you achieve ISO
certification and realize the long-term benefits of your
investment. There are specific criteria to consider
when making the decision regarding who to use for
assistance -start by asking three primary questions:
1. How long has this company been providing ISO
assistance?
2. Do they provide a wide variety of products and
services for support as your project progresses?
Experience and capabilities are the most important
factors to evaluate to ensure a company is able to
meet your specific needs.
Carefully evaluate products you may be considering
before making any purchase, and be wary of “quick
and easy” solutions or organizations that claim that
you won’t have to change your business at all in order
to become certified. Both miss the point of ISO, which
is to improve organization within your company’s
operations so that you can better serve your customers
and grow your business.

3. Do they offer a guarantee?

When completing your evaluation of potential partners, be sure to ask these questions:

Is this provider ISO certified themselves to prove their Are they only “knowledgeable” of ISO 9001 based on
commitment to and qualification for ISO? past experience?

Are they a full-service consulting company providing Do they provide support through a call center,
products based on their experience? answering service or customer support?

Do they provide access to their consultants if you call Do they simply provide document templates for sale?
for help or assistance?

Do you get no answer or a recording promising to

Do they answer the phone when you call? give you a call back?

Do they focus on helping you gain actual business Do they emphasize making everything “quick and
improvements and results from your ISO certification? easy” as the only priority?

Do they provide actual hands-on consulting as an Do they only provide downloadable products for sale
option in case you need additional assistance? for you to work on by yourself?

Is their website full of in-depth information on ISO? Does their website focus only on promoting their
products?
 When you provide your customers with a copy of your ISO certificate, you are assuring
them that you have reliable processes and controls in place that they can count on.

They expect your ISO certification to be more than just piece of paper.

At Core Business Solutions, we’re dedicated to providing an experience built on trust: to

you, to your team, and to your customer.

For more information about ISO or the products and services available from Core Business
Solutions, give us a call at 866-354-0300 or email at us info@thecoresolution.com.

Robert S. Gautier Specialty Metals (PA)

I would definitely recommend the full service package to
anybody who is thinking of ISO certification. The value of
having someone who has “been there” before far exceeds the
cost.

Scott R. TrimGen Corp. (MD)

“Core Business Solution’s guidance system is very well
organized and designed, making it easy for a small company
like ours to achieve ISO certification. We achieved this goal in
only 3 months and couldn’t have done it without your attention
to detail and support.”

Jeff R. Nittany Paper Mills, Inc. (PA)

Core Business Solutions provided our company with more
than everything we could have needed. Their consulting made
the registration process much smoother than we would have
ever imagined and left us with a very stable QMS on which to
build.

John H. Bluegrass Supply Chain Services (KY)

Core Business Solutions did an outstanding job! Their
templates were easy to use and their consultant was very
knowledgeable.

Robert S. Open System Sciences (CA)

Core Business Solutions provided expert
guidance and support which enabled us to
implement the most cost effective processes
and procedures, resulting in our certification in
minimum time with absolutely no deficiencies
noted during our audit.

Stephen D. Zimmerman Associates, Inc. (VA)

Core Business Solutions is a quality operation
that knows ISO - They worked with us to meet
a very tight 16 week certification time frame.
 © Core Business Solutions, Inc.
Lewisburg, PA
866-354-0300 | info@thecoresolution.com
www.thecoresolution.com