Webdesign Accessibility check
I audit your website against WCAG 2.1 AA, both with automated tools and by hand, including with a keyboard and a screen reader. You get an easy-to-understand report with priorities.
Accessibility under the BFSG
Accessible website under the German Accessibility Act (BFSG): audit, implement and keep it compliant
Since June 28, 2025, many online shops and digital services in Germany must be accessible. I audit your website against WCAG 2.1, fix the barriers directly in TYPO3, WordPress or your shop and make sure it stays that way.
AI-generated
In brief
The German Accessibility Act at a glance
The German Accessibility Act (Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz, BFSG) implements the EU's European Accessibility Act in German law. It has applied since June 28, 2025 and requires businesses to design certain products and services so that people with disabilities can use them without help from others.
- Who it affects: mainly e-commerce services for consumers, meaning online shops and websites where consumers enter into contracts, for example bookings or orders.
- Exemption: micro-enterprises with fewer than 10 employees and no more than €2 million in annual turnover or balance sheet total are exempt for services.
- Technical standard: the European standard EN 301 549, which is based on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1, level AA).
- Mandatory information: providers who are affected must also explain how their service meets the requirements.
- Consequences of violations: the market surveillance authorities of the German states can demand corrections and impose fines of up to €100,000.
I am a web developer based in Hilden, Germany, and I put accessibility into practice: on existing websites, in a relaunch and in online shops.
Am I affected by the BFSG?
| Your offering | Affected? | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Online shop for consumers | Usually yes | Applies to the shop, checkout, customer account and payment |
| Website with online booking or ordering for consumers | Often yes | For example appointment, ticket or course bookings that form a contract |
| Purely informational website without contracts | Usually no | Accessibility still pays off for your customers and for Google |
| Offering exclusively for businesses (B2B) | Usually no | It depends on whether consumers can order too |
| Micro-enterprise (fewer than 10 employees, no more than €2 million) | Exempt for services | The exemption does not apply to products |
| Public bodies (authorities, schools, municipalities) | Already required | Separate rules on digital accessibility have applied here for some time |
The table gives you a first orientation. Whether your offering falls under the law in your specific case depends on the details. In the free check, I look at your website and tell you where you stand. The Accessibility Act quick test with five questions also gives you a fast first assessment. Note: This is not legal advice.
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What matters
What makes a website accessible
Accessibility means that everyone can use your website: with low vision, without a mouse, with a screen reader or simply on a smartphone in bright sunlight.
- Sufficient contrast: text and buttons are easy to read
- Keyboard navigation: menus, forms and buttons work without a mouse
- Alt text: images are described for screen readers
- Clear structure: meaningful headings and sections for orientation
- Understandable forms: labels, required fields and error messages are clear
- Zoomable: everything stays readable and usable at 200 percent zoom
- No endless animations: motion can be paused
Services
How I make your website accessible
From the first audit to ongoing monitoring: you get everything from a single source and don't have to study the standards yourself.
Implementation in your existing system
I fix the barriers directly in TYPO3, WordPress, PrestaShop or WooCommerce, without your website having to be rebuilt.
Accessible relaunch
If your website is getting on in years anyway, I rebuild it to be accessible from the start.
Accessible online shop
Product pages, cart, customer account and checkout designed so that every customer makes it all the way to the purchase.
Accessibility statement
I help you with the information that affected providers must publish about the accessibility of their service.
Training and ongoing monitoring
I show your team how to keep new content accessible and check regularly as part of a maintenance contract.
AI-generated
More than an obligation
Accessibility brings you more customers
An accessible website is more pleasant for everyone to use. Not only people with disabilities benefit, but also your sales and your visibility.
- More customers: older people and people with impairments also make it all the way to an inquiry or order
- Better Google rankings: clean structure, alt text and fast loading times help search engines too
- Fewer drop-offs: understandable forms and clear error messages lead to more completions
- Legal certainty: you meet the requirements before anyone asks
I audited this website myself, too
Before offering accessibility services, I audited my own website against the WCAG 2.1 criteria: contrast, keyboard navigation, headings, alt text, forms and animations. I removed the barriers I found, for example a contrast that was too weak in the footer and a scrolling ticker that can now be paused. That is exactly how I approach your website as well.
Process
An accessible website in four steps
Free quick check
You send me your website. I check the most important pages and tell you within 24 hours whether action is needed.
Detailed audit
I test all relevant pages and processes against WCAG 2.1 AA and prepare a report with priorities and a fixed-price quote.
Implementation
I fix the barriers in your system, on a test environment first if you like, and check every change.
Statement and monitoring
You get support with the accessibility statement. As part of a maintenance contract, I check regularly whether new content is accessible.
What happens if a website is not accessible?
Compliance with the BFSG is monitored by the market surveillance authorities of the German states. If they find shortcomings, they usually first ask for corrections within a deadline. If the shortcomings are not fixed, they can take further action and impose fines of up to €100,000. Consumer associations can also take action.
Much more important than the risk, though, is the opportunity: every barrier I remove means one more customer who can use your website without problems. On a related note: regular maintenance makes sure new content stays accessible, and in my online training sessions your team learns what matters when updating the site.
Note: This page gives an overview and does not replace legal advice.
Frequently asked questions about accessibility
Since when has the German Accessibility Act applied?
The BFSG has applied since June 28, 2025. It implements the EU's European Accessibility Act in German law.
Does my website have to be accessible?
That depends on your offering. It mainly affects online shops and websites where consumers enter into contracts, such as bookings or orders. Purely informational websites and purely B2B offerings are usually not affected. In the free check, I tell you where you stand.
Does the BFSG also apply to small businesses?
Micro-enterprises with fewer than 10 employees and no more than €2 million in annual turnover or balance sheet total are exempt for services. This exemption does not apply to products.
Which standard is used for the audit?
The benchmark is the European standard EN 301 549. For websites, it refers to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1) at level AA. That is what I audit your website against.
How much does it cost to make a website accessible?
That depends on the scope and the condition of the website. The quick check is free. After the detailed audit, you get a fixed-price quote for the implementation.
Does my website have to be rebuilt for this?
Usually not. Many barriers can be fixed directly in TYPO3, WordPress or the shop, such as contrast, alt text, form labels and keyboard navigation. A rebuild only makes sense if the website is outdated anyway.
Is an accessibility plugin or overlay enough?
No. Add-on tools that are placed on top of the website do not fix the actual barriers in the code and can even interfere with screen readers. The only lasting solution is implementing it directly in your website.
What are the consequences of violations?
The market surveillance authorities can demand corrections and impose fines of up to €100,000. Usually, a deadline for corrections is set first.
Does accessibility help with Google, too?
Yes. Clean headings, alt text, descriptive link text and fast loading times help search engines and AI search understand your content. Accessibility and SEO go hand in hand.
Will my website stay accessible after the implementation?
Only if new content is also added in an accessible way. That's why I show your team what matters and check regularly as part of a maintenance contract.
