CQS

What CQS does

CQS - Certifikace systémů managementu is a Czech Republic-based accredited certification body founded in 1993, with headquarters in Praha 9. The company specializes in third-party certification of management systems against international ISO standards, serving B2B enterprise clients across manufacturing, service organizations, food production, healthcare, medical devices, IT, energy, logistics, and public administration. CQS holds accreditation number 3029 from the Czech Institute for Accreditation (ČIA) under ČSN EN ISO/IEC 17021-1:2016, covering ISO 9001, 14001, 45001, 50001, 27001, 13485, 3834-2, 20000-1, 22000, and HACCP, and related standards such as IATF 16949, IRIS, TISAX, ISO 22301, EMAS, MDR, and SJ-PK. CQS is the sole Czech member of the IQNET international certification network, which spans 37+ countries and issues approximately one in four certificates worldwide.

CQS generates revenue through certification fees structured as multi-year subscription contracts, with each certificate valid for 3 years and supported by annual surveillance audits. Pricing is contractual, based on the complexity of the organization's processes, number of locations, and number of employees. Beyond certification, CQS offers supporting services including professional training courses on ISO standards and pre-certification situation audits. The company is structured as a consortium of six established Czech testing and certification institutes: Elektrotechnický zkušební ústav (EZÚ), Strojírenský zkušební ústav (SZÚ), Technický a zkušební ústav stavební Praha (TZÚS), Fyzikálně technický zkušební ústav (FTZÚ), Textilní zkušební ústav (TZÚ), and Institut pro testování a certifikaci (ITC). Over 30 years, CQS has issued more than 9,600 certificates and serves customers both directly through its sales team and indirectly through IQNET referrals, industry events such as Customer Days and itSMF conferences, and its membership in the Czech Chamber of Commerce.

Name

CQS

Legal name

CQS - Certifikace systémů managementu

Website

https://cqs.cz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CQS is a Czech Republic-based accredited certification body founded in 1993 that issues ISO management system certifications to B2B enterprises across manufacturing, services, food, healthcare, IT, and public administration. It is the sole Czech member of the IQNET international certification network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Management System Certification

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Certification Program Administration & Scheme Management (Standard Owners) (AFALACAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Pre-Assessment, Gap Assessment & Certification Readiness Services (AFALACAE)

Keywords

• ISO management certification
• Accredited certification body
• Management system audits
• Quality management systems
• Information security certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Prague

HQ country

Czechia

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. ISO Certification Services: CQS generates revenue through certification fees for management system audits and issuance of certificates under various ISO standards. Pricing is contractual based on complexity, number of locations, and number of employees. Certificates are issued for 3-year validity periods with annual surveillance audits.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CQS is an accredited certification body that audits and certifies client organizations against internationally recognized ISO management system standards. Its core service is third-party conformity assessment, including initial certification, surveillance audits, and recertification, delivered by qualified auditors and recognized internationally through IQNET. The offering is targeted at organizations that require independent verification of their quality, environmental, occupational health and safety, information security, energy, food safety, and medical-device management systems.

Product overview

CQS is an accredited certification body providing management system certification services across multiple ISO standards. The company operates as a unified certification services platform offering certifications including ISO 9001 (Quality), ISO 14001 (Environment), ISO 45001 (Occupational Health & Safety), ISO 50001 (Energy), ISO/IEC 27001 (Information Security), ISO 13485 (Medical Devices), ISO/IEC 20000-1 (IT Services), ISO 22000 and HACCP (Food Safety), IATF 16949 (Automotive), IRIS (Railway), TISAX (Automotive IT Security), ISO 22301 (Business Continuity), and others. CQS provides these certifications through its network of member organizations including Elektrotechnický zkušební ústav (EZU), Strojírenský zkušební ústav (SZÚ), Technický a zkušební ústav stavební Praha (TZÚS), Fyzikálně technický zkušební ústav (FTZÚ), Textilní zkušební ústav (TZÚ), and Institut pro testování a certifikaci (ITC). Supporting services include training courses and situation audits. CQS has been operating for 30 years and has issued over 9,600 certificates, functioning as the Czech representative of the international IQNET certification network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ISO 9001 Quality Management System Certification
• ISO 14001 Environmental Management System Certification
• ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management System Certification
• ISO 27001 Information Security Management System Certification
• ISO 50001 Energy Management System Certification
• ISO 22000 Food Safety Management System Certification
• ISO 13485 Medical Devices Quality Management System Certification

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 9,600 certificates issued
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IQNETcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIQNET is an international certification network of major certification bodies from more than 37 countries. CQS is the only Czech member of IQNET. Every fourth certificate worldwide is issued by IQNET members. IQNET provides mutual recognition and global acceptance of certificates issued by member organizations. CQS celebrated IQNET's 35th anniversary in 2025.
• Český institut pro akreditaci (ČIA)coreOthersCQS holds accreditation as certification body number 3029 from Czech Institute for Accreditation (ČIA). Accreditation confirms CQS meets international standards for conducting certification services and is under ongoing oversight.
• Elektrotechnický zkušební ústav, s.p. (EZÚ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEZÚ is an independent testing and certification authority established by Ministry of Industry and Trade. Provides electrical product testing and certification services. Has operated since 1926. EZÚ is a member of CQS association.
• Strojírenský zkušební ústav, s.p. (SZÚ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSZÚ is one of the largest accredited testing and certification organizations in Czech Republic. Provides testing, inspection, certification, and training services. Member of CQS association.
• Textilní zkušební ústav, s.p. (TZÚ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTZÚ is an independent testing and certification authority established by Ministry of Industry and Trade. Leader in textile testing and certification. Located in Brno at Cejl 12. Member of CQS.
• Fyzikálně technický zkušební ústav, s.p. (FTZÚ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFTZÚ is an independent certification body for testing and certification of products in explosion hazard environments. Has been in operation for over 50 years. Authorized by Ministry of Industry and Trade. Member of CQS.
• Technický a zkušební ústav stavební Praha, s.p. (TZÚS Praha)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTZÚS Praha is the largest testing and certification organization in Czech Republic for construction product conformity assessment. Provides services through network of branches in Brno, České Budějovice, Ostrava, Plzeň, Prague, Předměřice nad Labem, Teplice. Member of CQS.
• Institut pro testování a certifikaci, a.s. (ITC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerITC is a Czech independent company with global operations providing testing, certification, technical inspection, calibration and standardization services. Accredited as certification body number 3002 since 2002. Located in Zlín. Member of CQS.
• Hospodářská komora ČR (Czech Chamber of Commerce)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCQS became member of Czech Chamber of Commerce on April 20, 2016. Active in the Quality Section, promoting management systems. Collaborated on ISO 9001 Guide publication.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights8 records

Broad incumbents

• DNV (Business Assurance): DNV operates a global certification division (formerly DNV GL Business Assurance) offering ISO management system certifications and industry-specific schemes. It is a recognized IQNET-equivalent body with strong presence in Europe and competes with CQS for ISO 9001, 14001, 45001 and 27001 audits in Czechia.
• TÜV SÜD: TÜV SÜD is a major German-based TIC group offering ISO management system certification, product testing, and industry-specific schemes (IATF 16949, ISO 13485, ISO 27001). It directly competes for the same Czech enterprise customers as CQS, with stronger international brand recognition.
• TÜV Rheinland: TÜV Rheinland is a leading global certification body offering ISO 9001/14001/45001/27001 and industry-specific audits. It actively serves Central European enterprises and competes head-to-head with CQS for Czech ISO certification engagements.
• BSI (British Standards Institution): BSI is a globally recognized standards and certification body, originating several ISO standards, and offering ISO 9001/14001/45001/27001 certification services. It competes for international certification mandates in Czechia and serves as a benchmark peer given CQS's similar third-party certification model.
• SGS: SGS is the world's largest TIC company and offers a comprehensive range of ISO management system certifications including ISO 9001, 14001, 45001, 22000 and sector-specific schemes. Its global scale and brand make it a direct competitor to CQS for enterprise Czech clients seeking internationally-recognized certifications.
• Bureau Veritas: Bureau Veritas is one of the world's largest TIC (Testing, Inspection, Certification) companies, directly competing with CQS in ISO 9001/14001/45001/27001 and food safety certifications. It operates globally with a much larger auditor pool, serving as the principal international incumbent competing against CQS in the Czech market.
• LRQA (Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance): LRQA is an established global ISO certification body providing assurance services for ISO 9001, 14001, 45001, 27001 and sector schemes. It is part of the same IQNET-affiliated global certifier ecosystem as CQS and competes for ISO certification mandates in Central Europe.
• DEKRA: DEKRA is a German TIC leader offering ISO management system certification alongside testing and inspection services. It competes with CQS in automotive (IATF 16949), information security (ISO 27001), and quality/environmental management certifications in Central Europe.

Direct peers

• Strojírenský zkušební ústav (SZÚ): SZÚ is one of the largest accredited Czech testing and certification organizations and a member of the CQS association. It offers management system certification and product testing services, making it a direct peer in Czech ISO certification.
• Institut pro testování a certifikaci (ITC): ITC is a Czech accredited certification body (body number 3002) based in Zlín offering testing, certification, technical inspection, calibration and standardization services. As a CQS member institute, ITC is directly comparable to CQS in operating model, accreditation scope, and Czech market focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cqs---sdru%C5%BEen%C3%AD-pro-certifikaci-syst%C3%A9m%C5%AF-jakosti

Compliance17 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CQS