The verdict in three sentences
Bringing an institutional website into WCAG 2.1 AA compliance costs in 2026 between EUR 3,000 and 8,000 for the audit and EUR 6,000 to 20,000 for remediation, depending on the number of pages and components. The European Accessibility Act (EAA), in force since June 2025, and the mandatory accessibility statement make the work legally unavoidable, with fines up to EUR 50,000 in France and strict enforcement under Germany's BFSG. Allow 6 to 12 weeks from order to verified compliance.
What the audit and remediation cover
The audit assesses WCAG success criteria across a representative sample of pages. Remediation fixes the code (contrast, keyboard navigation, text alternatives, ARIA, forms) and produces the mandatory accessibility statement.
| Item | Scope | 2026 range (EUR) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accessibility audit (sample) | WCAG criteria, grid, conformance rate | 3,000 - 8,000 | 1-2 wk |
| Code remediation | Contrast, keyboard, ARIA, alt | 6,000 - 20,000 | 3-8 wk |
| Accessibility statement | Legal document + multi-year plan | 800 - 1,800 | 2-3 d |
| Editorial team training | Content best practices | 900 - 2,000 | 1-2 d |
| Control audit | Post-remediation re-test | 1,500 - 3,500 | 1 wk |
The cost of inaction: fines and risks
Beyond fines, non-compliance exposes you to complaints, reputational damage and exclusion from public tenders that require accessibility.
| Element | 2026 detail | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| France fine | Up to EUR 50,000 per non-compliant service | Financial + reputational |
| Missing statement | Formal notice possible | Correction deadline |
| Public tenders | Accessibility often disqualifying | Lost contracts |
| User complaints | Report to regulator | Litigation |
| Berlin benchmark (EAA/BFSG) | Audit + remediation EUR 8,000 - 25,000 | Strict German framework |
Mini case study
Ms Fontaine, secretary general of a public body in Berlin, runs a 240-page non-compliant site. She commissions an audit at EUR 6,500 revealing a 42% conformance rate. Remediation, quoted at EUR 14,000, fixes contrast, keyboard navigation and 180 images without alternatives. With the accessibility statement and editorial training, the total budget reaches EUR 22,000 over 10 weeks. The site reaches 96% conformance, removes the EUR 50,000 fine risk and regains eligibility for public tenders requiring accessibility.
FAQ
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Is accessibility really mandatory for my site?
Yes for the public sector for a long time, and now for many private actors via the EAA in force since June 2025. Online services, e-commerce and banking are particularly targeted.
What is the difference between RGAA and WCAG?
RGAA is the French operational implementation of WCAG 2.1 level AA. Complying with RGAA amounts to meeting WCAG 2.1 AA criteria using an official test method.
How many pages must be audited?
The audit is run on a representative sample (often 8 to 30 template pages) covering key layouts and journeys. Price mainly depends on the number of distinct components, not total page count.
Is compliance permanent?
No: every new feature or redesign can introduce non-conformities. An annual control audit plus editorial training keep the AA level over time.
How long to become compliant?
Allow 6 to 12 weeks depending on volume: 1 to 2 weeks of audit, 3 to 8 weeks of remediation and 1 week of control audit.
Let's scope your project. Tell us the number of templates, the CMS and your target deadline: we scope audit + remediation with an indicative budget (EUR 9,000-28,000). 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.
