Accessible Websites for Service Providers and Businesses
Since June 28, 2025, the Accessibility Strengthening Act (BFSG) requires businesses and service providers to design their websites and digital offerings accessibly. The law affects banks, insurance companies, booking portals, and many other online services. With SiteCockpit, you implement legal requirements efficiently and with legal certainty, reach more people, and create digital participation for everyone.
What Does the Law Require from Websites and Service Providers?
The Accessibility Strengthening Act (BFSG) transposes the European directive, the European Accessibility Act (EAA), into national law. The law obligates businesses and service providers to design their websites and digital services so that all people can use them. For many providers, accessibility is no longer optional, but a clear legal mandate.
Services in electronic commerce are affected, such as online banking, insurance portals, travel bookings, passenger transport ticketing systems, telecommunication services, and e-books. Standard corporate websites also fall under the law as soon as such services are offered to consumers through them. As a rule of thumb: Wherever people enter into a contract or book a service online, the offering must be accessible.
The requirements follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). These guidelines and the corresponding EN 301 549 standard form the technical benchmark by which accessible content is measured. SiteCockpit audits your website automatically against this standard and shows you specifically which content to adapt.
Legislators align closely with European standards. The underlying EU directive ensures that requirements across the entire EU remain comparable. For online services, this means: images require meaningful alternative text, forms need clear labels, and videos require captions to ensure all content is accessible. Implementing these legal requirements early future-proofs your digital services.
Mandatory for many commercial websites since June 2025
Applies to services provided in electronic commerce
Aligned with WCAG guidelines and EU standard EN 301 549
Accessible content reaches more people and more customers
The Four Principles of Accessible Content
Accessible design follows four principles of WCAG 2.2 Level AA. These principles demonstrate how to make content accessible to all people, including those with impairments.
1. Perceivable
Texts, images, and videos must be perceivable—through alternative text for images, captions, and sufficient contrast between text and background.
2. Operable
Your website must be operable via keyboard, featuring clear navigation, visible focus indicators, and large click targets, even without a mouse.
3. Understandable
Use plain language and readable typography so that content and processes are clear and easy for everyone to use.
4. Robust
Your content must be robust and work reliably across all devices, including assistive technologies such as screen readers.
Who Is Affected? Practical Examples
The law affects significantly more businesses than many realize. Beyond online stores, numerous service providers whose offerings are accessible via websites or apps are included. For example: A bank with online banking, an insurance company with digital policy applications, or a travel portal with booking flows.
Providers of e-books, telecommunication services, and passenger transport tickets are also covered. Exemptions apply only to microenterprises with fewer than 10 employees and a maximum of €2 million in annual revenue for service offerings.
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Banks and insurance companies offering digital consumer services
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Travel, booking, and ticketing portals, such as passenger transport
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Providers of e-books, telecommunication services, and online stores
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Exemption applies only to microenterprises under €2 million annual turnover
Accessibility as an Opportunity for Your Business
Accessible websites do not only fulfill legal obligations—they are also a major win for your business. Millions of people live with disabilities, joined by many others with temporary or age-related impairments. Accessible content makes your online offerings usable for all these people.
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Mandatory under the Accessibility Strengthening Act since June 28, 2025
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Expanded reach: accessible offerings connect with more people
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Legal certainty: avoid warning letters and administrative fines
Well-designed, accessible content improves user experience for everyone, builds brand trust, and positively impacts search engine visibility. Removing barriers early also mitigates legal risks. Non-compliance can result in legal warning notices and fines up to €100,000.
SiteCockpit shows you where your website contains digital barriers, such as images lacking alt text, insufficient color contrast, or navigation that cannot be operated via keyboard. This allows you to make your content accessible step-by-step while maintaining transparent documentation.
Your Complete Solution
Five Steps to Digital Accessibility
1. Initial Audit: Test your website using our free Livecheck and locate existing barriers.
2. Set Up Monitoring: Activate easyMonitoring for automated audits mapped against WCAG 2.2 AA.
3. Implement Immediate Fixes: Integrate easyVision and generate missing alt texts for images using easyAlt.
4. Make Content Accessible: Expand reach with easyTranslate to offer content in multiple language variants.
5. Generate Documentation: Publish your legally compliant accessibility statement via easyStatement.
Digital Accessibility. Made Simple.
SiteCockpit makes your website accessible, legally compliant, and user-friendly.
Reach More People
Accessible offerings connect with a wider audience, including users with disabilities or technical constraints.
Simple Integration
Embeds into existing websites without a relaunch via a lightweight code snippet in minutes.
Legally Secure
Fulfills WCAG 2.2 and statutory requirements with clear, audit-proof documentation.
Technical Requirements: WCAG 2.2 and EN 301 549
The technical benchmarks rely on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) at Level AA compliance. This framework and the harmonized EN 301 549 standard define how accessible web content must be constructed. In practice, this means meaningful alternative text for visual media, adequate contrast ratios between text and background, readable typography, complete keyboard operability, and full support for screen readers.
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WCAG 2.2 AA standard, referenced via EN 301 549
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Color contrast, readable text, keyboard navigation, and screen reader support
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Accessible content across all devices and assistive tools
Furthermore, content must perform robustly across all devices and remain compatible with assistive technologies. This ensures your offerings stay accessible regardless of the software or hardware used. Thoughtful, accessible design empowers users with diverse needs to interact with your site seamlessly. Use clear color palettes with strong contrast and design control elements as intuitively as possible. Logical page structure and clearly labeled forms are also key accessibility criteria.
SiteCockpit audits your website automatically against these standards, prioritizes required measures, and provides concrete remediation guidance. Test brand color contrast via our Contrast Checker and generate image descriptors using easyAlt.
SiteCockpit: Your Complete Digital Accessibility Solution
With SiteCockpit tools, fulfill all legal requirements simply, scalably, and independently of your tech stack.
easyVision
Personalized accessibility options such as contrast toggles, reading modes, and keyboard controls right on your site.
easyMonitoring
Automated website audits to identify barriers alongside clear, actionable recommendations.
easyStatement
Legally sound accessibility statements, automatically generated and fully customizable.
easyAI
AI-powered assistance for digital accessibility and content optimization.
easyAlt
Automated alternative text generation for images—fast, consistent, and WCAG-aligned.
easyTranslate
Accessible translations and language variants for your digital content.
Workshops
Practical knowledge for optimal implementation of accessibility within your system.
Webinars
Live sessions offering practical guides, best practices, and Q&A covering digital accessibility.
Seamless Integration with Your Tech Stack
Start your free 7-day trial today and make your website accessible without delay.
Flexible Packages and Pricing at a Glance
Unlock the full potential of digital accessibility with flexible packages tailored to your business needs.
Starter
- Website Widget
- 1 Domain
- Accessibility Statement
- 2500 Credits per month
- 1 User
- easyMonitoring
- easyALT (aut. Alt attributes)
Pro
- Everything from Starter +
- 2 Domains
- 10,000 Credits per month
- easyMonitoring
- 3 Users
- easyTranslate (Live-Translation)
- Integration service
Premium
- Everything from PRO +
- 5 Domains
- 30,000 Credits per month
- easyLanguage
- 10 Users
- Key-Account & Personal Onboarding
- Assistance with inspections by the authorities
Enterprise
- Individual requirements
- Key account support
- Manual audits and training courses
- Support with audits by authorities and with content-related issues through warnings (no legal advice)
- 99.9% SLA
** Note: Vouchers are non-transferable, not combinable with other discounts and can only be redeemed online. A cash payment is excluded.
Have questions? We are here to help.
Whether you need an initial consultation on accessibility laws or concrete technical planning, our team is ready. Make your website accessible alongside a partner who understands your offerings.
Frequently Asked Questions About Accessibility for Websites & Service Providers
The main framework is the Accessibility Strengthening Act (BFSG). It transposes the European Accessibility Act (EAA) into national law and requires businesses and service providers to design their websites and digital services accessibly since June 28, 2025. Compliance relies on WCAG 2.2 Level AA.