The verdict in three sentences
Since the European Accessibility Act took effect on 28 June 2025, a covered company that fails to make its site accessible faces fines of up to EUR 50,000 in France. In 2026, budget EUR 1,500-4,000 for a WCAG 2.1 AA / RGAA audit and EUR 3,000-12,000 for remediation, accessibility statement included. Beyond legal risk, accessibility improves SEO, UX, and conversion for all visitors.
Who is covered and against which standard
The EAA targets e-commerce, banking, transport, telecoms, and many B2C and B2B digital services. In France, the audit framework remains RGAA 4.1, aligned with WCAG 2.1 level AA. Compliance requires a published accessibility statement, an action plan, and a displayed conformance rate.
| Criterion | 2026 requirement | Impact if breached |
|---|---|---|
| Text contrast | Ratio ≥ 4.5:1 | Unreadable content, fine |
| Keyboard navigation | 100% of functions | Site unusable without mouse |
| Image alternatives | All informative images | SEO + accessibility loss |
| Semantic structure | Hierarchical headings | Screen readers lost |
| Labeled forms | Each field associated | Form abandonment |
| Published statement | Mandatory | Formal non-compliance |
2026 pricing breakdown (EUR, ex. VAT)
The budget depends on page volume, complexity (forms, funnels, PDFs), and the starting level. Here are 2026 ballpark figures for a medium-sized brochure or e-commerce site.
| Service | 2026 price (EUR ex. VAT) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| WCAG 2.1 AA audit (sample) | 1,500 - 4,000 | 1-2 weeks |
| Front-end fixes (contrast, keyboard, ARIA) | 2,000 - 6,000 | 2-4 weeks |
| Heavy fixes (JS components, funnels) | 4,000 - 12,000 | 3-6 weeks |
| Accessibility statement + plan | Included | - |
| Final verification audit | 800 - 1,500 | 3-5 days |
| Full compliance | 4,500 - 16,000 | 4-8 weeks |
Mini case study
Sophie, e-commerce director of a furniture retailer based in Lille, runs a 60-page site subject to the EAA. The audit, billed at EUR 2,800, reveals 34 blocking non-conformities. The fixes, quoted at EUR 7,500, are delivered in 5 weeks. Beyond avoiding the EUR 50,000 fine risk, the checkout funnel, now labeled and keyboard-navigable, sees its abandonment rate drop by 4 points, i.e. an estimated +EUR 22,000 revenue/year. The EUR 10,300 investment pays back in under 6 months.
FAQ
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Is my company actually covered by the EAA?
If you sell online, or offer banking, transport, telecom, or many consumer-facing digital services, yes. Micro-enterprises in services (under 10 employees and under EUR 2M revenue) benefit from partial exemptions.
What is the penalty for non-compliance?
In France, the fine can reach EUR 50,000, renewable every 6 months for persistent breaches, on top of reputational risk and user complaints.
How long to become compliant?
Expect 4 to 8 weeks between the audit and delivery of fixes for a medium site. Complex sites (marketplaces, apps) may need 3 to 4 months.
Does accessibility help SEO?
Yes, significantly. Semantic structure, text alternatives, contrast, and performance are factors shared by accessibility and SEO: an organic traffic gain is often observed after compliance.
Do I need a manual audit, or is an automated scan enough?
Automated tools detect only 30 to 40% of criteria. A valid WCAG audit requires manual testing by an expert, including screen reader and keyboard navigation.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your page count, whether you have checkout funnels, and your deadline; we will scope a WCAG audit (EUR 1,500-4,000) and a remediation plan. 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.
