The verdict in three sentences
Bringing a company website to WCAG 2.1 level AA compliance costs in 2026 between EUR 2,000 and 5,000 for the audit and EUR 5,000 to 15,000 for remediation, depending on size and technical debt. The key workstreams: contrasts, keyboard navigation, text alternatives, semantic structure and accessible forms, crowned by a mandatory accessibility statement. Beyond the legal obligation (now extending to the private sector), accessibility widens your audience and mechanically improves SEO.
The criteria that weigh most
WCAG breaks down into roughly a hundred criteria. In practice, five families concentrate most of the remediation effort on a typical B2B site. The initial audit measures the compliance rate (often 40 to 60% before work) and prioritises. The table places effort by family.
| Criteria family | Example of non-compliance | Remediation effort | User impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colour contrasts | Grey text on white < 4.5:1 | Low-medium | Low vision |
| Keyboard navigation | Menu unusable without mouse | Medium-high | Motor disability |
| Text alternatives | Images without alt | Low | Screen readers |
| Semantic structure | Disordered headings, no ARIA | High | All disabilities |
| Forms | Fields without linked label | Medium | All disabilities |
Cost, timeline and legal framework
Digital accessibility is no longer limited to the public sector: the European Accessibility Act extends obligations to many private players in 2025-2026, with penalties. Here is a 2026 order of magnitude for compliance items.
| Item | 2026 cost (excl. VAT) | Timeline | Deliverable |
|---|---|---|---|
| WCAG 2.1 AA audit | EUR 2,000-5,000 | 1-2 weeks | Compliance grid |
| Brochure remediation | EUR 5,000-8,000 | 3-4 weeks | AA-compliant site |
| Complex site remediation | EUR 10,000-15,000 | 6-8 weeks | Site + AA components |
| Accessibility statement | EUR 500-1,200 | 2-3 days | Published page |
| Annual control audit | EUR 1,500-3,000 | 1 week | Follow-up report |
Mini case study
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Sophie, communications director of a 400-employee industrial mid-cap in Dublin, must make her corporate site compliant ahead of a public tender requiring accessibility. Audit at EUR 3,500: initial compliance rate 52%. Remediation of a 40-page site at EUR 11,000 over 6 weeks, plus the accessibility statement (EUR 900). Total investment: around EUR 15,400. In return, she secures eligibility for public contracts worth several hundred thousand euros and avoids the penalty risk tied to the legal obligation.
FAQ
How much does site accessibility cost in 2026? Between EUR 2,000 and 5,000 for the audit and EUR 5,000 to 15,000 for remediation, depending on size and complexity. Expect a total of EUR 7,000 to 20,000 with the statement.
Is WCAG mandatory for the private sector? Yes, increasingly: the European Accessibility Act extends obligations to many private players in 2025-2026, with penalties. Public tenders already require it systematically.
What is an accessibility statement? It is a mandatory published page stating the compliance rate, known non-conformities and a reporting contact. It costs EUR 500-1,200 to produce and must be kept up to date.
Does accessibility improve SEO? Yes: clean semantic structure, text alternatives and contrasts also benefit search engines. An AA-compliant site often sees its Core Web Vitals and crawl improve.
How long does remediation take? Expect 4 to 8 weeks by size: interactive components (menus, forms, carousels) concentrate most of the AA-level effort.
Let's scope your project. Tell us the page count and your deadlines (tender, legal obligation), and we will audit your WCAG accessibility and cost remediation through to the statement. 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.
