CMMC Compliance Billings: The Small Contractor's Guide to Slashing Level 1 Costs

Learn what typical consultant billings cover, what they miss, and how CMMC Resources offers a radically affordable alternative for small defense contractors.

Published on May 23, 2025·5 min read

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CMMC Costs: Feeling the Pressure?

You're a small defense contractor. You need CMMC Level 1. But the costs? They seem all over the map. You hear figures from a few thousand dollars to $15,000 or even more. It's confusing. It's stressful. And it makes you worry: "Can my business even afford this?"

This guide is for you. We'll explain why CMMC Level 1 can get so expensive if you take the traditional route. More importantly, we'll show you there's a much smarter, more affordable way for small businesses to get compliant and protect their contracts.

Who This Guide is For (and Who It's NOT For)

This Guide is For You If: You're a small defense contractor (think under 50 employees). You may not have a dedicated IT or compliance team. CMMC Level 1 costs and complexity feel overwhelming. You need a simple, affordable solution.

This Guide Might Be Less Direct (but principles may still apply) If: You're a large enterprise pursuing CMMC Level 2 or 3 with a dedicated compliance department. Handling CUI is a core part of your business.

While this guide dives deep into understanding and managing CMMC Level 1 costs, these expenses are just one part of your overall compliance journey. For a complete picture of all 15 controls, documentation best practices, and the self-assessment process, we recommend reading our Ultimate Guide to CMMC Level 1 for Small Defense Contractors.

Now, let's be clear: CMMC Level 1 is about basic cybersecurity. It's designed to protect Federal Contract Information (FCI) – that's the general contract-related info you handle. For this foundational level, you shouldn't need to spend a fortune.

Why Can CMMC Level 1 Get So Expensive?

Despite CMMC Level 1 being "basic," small businesses often encounter significant costs when using traditional methods or hiring outside help. These expenses typically arise from a mix of the following factors:

The Consultant Fees Trap

Many turn to CMMC consultants. Their hourly rates can be steep, often $250 to $400+. A gap assessment might cost $1,500-$5,000. Help with your System Security Plan (SSP) and policies? That could be $3,000-$7,000 or more. These billable hours add up very quickly.

The Documentation Nightmare

You'll need various security policies to cover the 59 objectives, and an SSP is strongly recommended as a best practice. Buying templates might seem like a shortcut (costing $500-$1,500). But then, you or your team still have to invest 50, 100, even 200 hours to customize them and write all your specific details. If your time is worth $50/hour, that's an additional $2,500 to $10,000, a huge hidden cost.

Remediation and Unnecessary Upsells

If your current IT setup has gaps against the 15 Level 1 requirements, you'll need to fix them. This might involve simple updates. However, some advisors might push expensive security software or complex solutions that are overkill for Level 1. This can inflate remediation costs from $1,000-$5,000 to much higher figures.

The Hidden Cost: Your Time & Stress

Simply understanding the CMMC requirements, the 15 controls, and the 59 assessment objectives takes significant time if you're not a compliance expert. Every hour spent deciphering government-speak is an hour not spent on your core business.

Ongoing Maintenance Costs

CMMC isn't a one-time task. Level 1 requires an annual self-assessment and affirmation in SPRS (Supplier Performance Risk System). Without an efficient system, this can mean re-learning, manual updates, or even re-hiring consultants, adding $1,000-$4,000+ to your costs each year.

These factors combined create that wide, intimidating cost range. It's a system that often benefits from complexity. But for small businesses needing Level 1, there has to be a better way.

Is There a Smarter, More Affordable Way?

Yes. After understanding why traditional CMMC Level 1 costs can spiral, you might feel discouraged. But what if you could get clear guidance, ready-to-use policy wizards, and a simple framework to manage your CMMC Level 1 compliance, all for a predictable, low monthly price?

That's the CMMC Resources approach. We believe Level 1 compliance should be accessible and affordable for every small defense contractor. No more hidden billings. No more five-figure surprises.

Our solution is built around a transparent price: just $149 per month. This isn't just about saving money; it's about saving your valuable time, reducing stress, and giving you confidence in your compliance.

How CMMC Resources Delivers Affordable Compliance

We achieve these dramatic cost savings for you by:

• Embedding Expertise: Instead of paying $250+/hour for a consultant to explain the rules, our platform provides clear, plain-English guidance for every Level 1 requirement. The expertise is built-in.
• Automating Documentation: Our Policy Wizard helps you generate essential policies and guides you through creating your recommended System Security Plan (SSP) in minutes, not weeks. This saves you template costs and hundreds of hours of writing time.
• Focusing Exclusively on Level 1: You only pay for what you need. Our platform is streamlined for Level 1, without the complexity or cost of features designed for higher CMMC levels or larger enterprises.
• Simplifying Tasks: We break down the 15 CMMC controls and 59 objectives into straightforward, actionable tasks. You know exactly what to do, eliminating wasted effort and confusion.
• Giving You Back Your Time: By making the process efficient and clear, we free you up to focus on running your business.

The Full Value: Beyond Just a Lower Price Tag

For $149 per month, CMMC Resources offers a complete solution for Level 1:

• A guided self-assessment process to understand your current posture.
• Tools to instantly create all necessary policies and guide you through creating your SSP.
• A centralized, secure place to upload and manage your compliance evidence.
• A visual dashboard to track your progress towards 100% compliance.
• Reminders for reviews and SPRS affirmation, ensuring you stay compliant.
• Continuously updated guidance to reflect any changes in CMMC requirements.

It's everything you need for CMMC Level 1, delivered with clarity and predictability.

Your Best Investment for CMMC Level 1

Searching for "CMMC compliance billings" shows you're a savvy business owner. You understand the importance of cost-effective solutions. The traditional path to CMMC Level 1 is often a maze of high fees, hidden time costs, and unnecessary complexity which is a poor fit for most small defense contractors.

CMMC Resources offers a clear, direct, and affordable alternative. Instead of risking thousands on unpredictable consultant bills, you can invest a small, fixed monthly amount in a platform designed to guide you to success. It's about empowering your business to meet DoD requirements efficiently and get back to what you do best.

As you take control of your CMMC Level 1 costs with a solution like CMMC Resources, remember that understanding the full scope of compliance is key. To explore every aspect of achieving and maintaining Level 1, from controls to SPRS affirmation, our comprehensive CMMC Level 1 compliance roadmap offers a complete A-to-Z walkthrough.

Stop worrying about the "CMMC billings" nightmare. Choose the smart, affordable path to CMMC Level 1 compliance.