The verdict in three sentences
Since 28 June 2025, the European Accessibility Act extends the digital accessibility obligation to many private companies, not just the public sector. A corporate site must target WCAG 2.1 AA, verified by an audit costing 2,500 to 6,000 EUR, followed by remediation of 4,000 to 12,000 EUR. Beyond the fine risk, accessibility opens the site to the millions of people with disabilities and improves SEO.
The criteria grid and the cost of the audit
WCAG 2.1 AA covers success criteria across four principles: perceivable, operable, understandable, robust. The audit measures the conformance rate and produces a mandatory public statement.
| Service | 2026 range (EUR) | Deliverable |
|---|---|---|
| Rapid audit (25 key criteria) | 1,500 - 2,500 | Major non-conformance report |
| Full WCAG audit (all criteria) | 3,500 - 6,000 | Detailed grid + score |
| Conformance statement | included - 800 | Mandatory published page |
| User-journey audit | 800 - 1,500 | Test with assistive tech |
| Editorial team training | 900 - 1,800 | Half-day accessibility session |
| Post-remediation re-audit | 1,200 - 2,500 | Verification of fixes |
The accessibility statement is a legal obligation: it must state the conformance rate (e.g. "partially conformant, 78 %") and be reachable from every page.
Prioritization: fix what blocks first
Not all non-conformances have the same impact. Smart remediation first tackles the criteria that fully block use for a screen-reader or keyboard user.
| Priority | Fix type | Effort | User impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Critical | Text alternatives for images | Low | Very high |
| Critical | Full keyboard navigation | Medium | Very high |
| High | Colour contrast (4.5:1) | Low | High |
| High | Form labels | Low | High |
| Medium | Heading structure (h1-h6) | Low | Medium |
| Medium | Visible focus | Low | Medium |
| Low | Video captions | High | Targeted |
By tackling the first four rows, a site typically moves from 60 % to over 85 % conformance for less than 40 % of the total remediation budget. That is the best effort-to-conformance ratio.
Mini case study
Nathalie, communications director of a London borough authority, runs a 320-page corporate site assessed at 58 % WCAG conformance. The full audit costs 5,500 EUR, remediation estimated at 11,000 EUR.
By prioritizing critical and high fixes (text alternatives, keyboard navigation, contrast, labels), the team reaches 87 % conformance for 4,200 EUR, i.e. 38 % of the budget. The rest (video captions, complex cases) is scheduled over two quarters. Result: the statement moves from "non-conformant" to "partially conformant (87 %)", the enforcement risk is removed, and organic traffic rises 9 % thanks to the better semantic structure detected by Google.
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FAQ
Who is covered by the European Accessibility Act in 2026?
The public sector for years, and since June 2025 many private services: banking, e-commerce, transport, telecoms, above certain thresholds. A company over 10 staff and 2 M EUR turnover offering online services to the public is generally covered.
What fine applies for non-compliance?
In many EU countries, up to 50,000 EUR per non-conformant service, renewable. Beyond the fine, reputational risk and user litigation weigh heavily for a public institution.
How long does full remediation take?
For a 300-page site, budget 6 to 12 weeks depending on depth. Critical criteria are fixed in 2 to 3 weeks; video captions and accessible PDFs take the longest.
Is an accessibility overlay plugin enough?
No. Automatic overlays (floating widgets) do not fix underlying problems and are explicitly rejected by user associations and several court rulings. Only in-code remediation guarantees conformance.
Must the audit be redone every year?
A re-audit is recommended after each major remediation, and a full audit every 2 to 3 years or at each redesign. The conformance statement must be kept current continuously.
Let's scope your project. Send us your page count and estimated conformance level: we price the audit (2,500-6,000 EUR) and a high-impact, prioritized remediation. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
