How much does an SDS cost?
Professional SDS authoring services typically charge $500–$1,500 per SDS for a small manufacturer. SDScribe, one of the better-known services for small businesses, charges around $1,495 per document. ChemAdvisor, SciDoc, and similar services charge in a similar range. These prices reflect the cost of a trained industrial hygienist or toxicologist reviewing your formulation and taking professional responsibility for the classification.
For a business with one or two products, a $1,500 SDS is a manageable one-time compliance cost. For a business launching five or ten products, the cost becomes prohibitive. That's the gap SDSDraft addresses: $79 once for a tool that generates 16-section GHS draft PDFs from your ingredient list.
The tradeoff is clear: SDSDraft does not provide professional review. You are responsible for verifying the classification. The $1,476 price difference is the cost of the professional's time, liability insurance, and expertise. For products with complex formulations or significant hazards, professional authoring is worth the cost. For straightforward consumer products with well-understood ingredients, a verified draft is a reasonable starting point.
SDSDraft generates a DRAFT safety data sheet from the information you enter. You are solely responsible for verifying the hazard classification and all content with a qualified person before use or distribution. SDSDraft is software, not professional safety, legal, or toxicological advice.
Generate a draft SDS — free, no upload
When to use each option
- Simple, well-understood formulation (3-5 common ingredients): Start with SDSDraft draft, verify classification with a safety consultant, finalize in-house.
- Complex mixture with multiple hazardous ingredients: Engage a professional SDS authoring service.
- Product with ingredients above GHS corrosivity or acute toxicity thresholds: Professional authoring strongly recommended.
- Consumer product with minimal hazardous ingredients (e.g. mostly water, plant oils, low-concentration surfactants): SDSDraft draft + professional review may be sufficient.
- Import product without any SDS: You must provide one as the importer. Complexity determines whether DIY verification or professional authoring is appropriate.
Questions
Is a $79 SDS 'good enough' for compliance?
No tool produces an automatically compliant SDS — that requires professional verification of the classification. SDSDraft generates a draft starting point at $79. Whether the final SDS meets HazCom requirements depends on whether you (or a professional you engage) verify and complete it correctly.
Can I save money by using SDSDraft and then paying a consultant to review it?
Yes. Many safety consultants will review a draft SDS rather than authoring one from scratch, which can reduce the consultation cost. Having a structured draft with your ingredient list, concentrations, and classification already populated gives the consultant a concrete document to verify rather than starting from blank.
Do I need a new SDS if I change my formulation?
Yes. Any significant formulation change that affects the hazard classification requires an updated SDS. Keep a record of formulation revisions and update the SDS accordingly.