BFSG: Making Your Website and Online Shop Accessible, Obligations for Businesses

Since June 28, 2025, B2C online shops and digital services in Germany must be designed to be accessible. Anyone who ignores the Accessibility Strengthening Act (Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz, BFSG) risks fines and market surveillance measures.

In short: the BFSG requires providers of B2C e-commerce and digital services to design their website or online shop according to EN 301 549 / WCAG 2.1 AA and to publish an accessibility statement. All companies are affected except micro-enterprises with fewer than 10 employees and at most 2 million euros in annual turnover or balance sheet total. Violations can result in fines of up to 100,000 euros.

Who Is Subject to the BFSG Obligation?

The obligation to design for accessibility arises from Sections 1 and 3 of the BFSG and applies to all companies that offer B2C e-commerce or digital services and direct their products or services to consumers. This covers all websites, online shops and digital services through which consumers can buy products or use services. An exception applies exclusively to micro-enterprises with fewer than 10 employees and at most 2 million euros in annual turnover or balance sheet total, only if both conditions are met at the same time does the obligation not apply. For all larger companies, the accessibility obligation applies without restriction, regardless of whether a low-barrier website is already operated or the topic has not yet been addressed.

What Do You Specifically Need to Do?

At its core, you must systematically check your website or online shop against the WCAG 2.1 AA criteria, fix any barriers found and permanently ensure access for people with disabilities. This covers technical aspects like contrast and keyboard operability as well as content aspects like alt text for images and clearly labeled forms. A tool like Company Audit shows which of these obligations specifically apply to your company. Accessibility is not a one-off project but an ongoing task that should be reconsidered with every content or technical change to the website. The following five steps form the practical process from the initial check to ongoing maintenance:

1. Check whether the micro-enterprise exception (fewer than 10 employees and at most 2 million euros in turnover or balance sheet total) applies at all.
2. Test the website or shop against the WCAG 2.1 AA criteria (contrast, keyboard operability, alt text, forms).
3. Fix identified barriers by priority (screen reader compatibility, focus order, error messages).
4. Publish an accessibility statement on the website.
5. Set up a feedback mechanism for users who encounter barriers.

By When Do You Need to Act?

The obligation has already applied since June 28, 2025, there is no transition period anymore, the requirements have been binding from this date onward. Anyone who has not yet checked their website or shop should therefore catch up on implementation without delay, since the obligation does not only start with a future relaunch but already applies now. Even existing shops that have been operating for years must meet the requirements retroactively as of that date. For planning purposes, it is advisable not to limit implementation to a single person responsible, but to involve design, development and editorial teams together.

What Happens If You Violate the BFSG?

Violations of the accessibility obligation can result in fines of up to 100,000 euros as well as market surveillance measures that can force corrections to the website or online shop. Market surveillance authorities can act on violations even without a specific complaint from a user and require companies to respond and remove the barriers. For companies, this means a double risk: the fine itself and the additional effort of an officially ordered correction under time pressure. Early, structured implementation is therefore significantly less demanding than a subsequent correction under the pressure of an official complaint.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the BFSG Also Apply to Small Businesses?

Only to a limited extent: the exception applies exclusively to micro-enterprises with fewer than 10 employees AND at most 2 million euros in turnover or balance sheet total. Both criteria must be met at the same time, otherwise the full accessibility obligation applies. If a company initially exempt grows beyond either of the two thresholds, the exception no longer applies and the obligation takes effect from that point on.

Which Standard Must My Website Meet?

What is required is a design according to EN 301 549 in conjunction with WCAG 2.1 at conformance level AA, covering among other things contrast, keyboard operability, alt text and accessible forms. Both frameworks are recognized technical standards for digital accessibility and also form the basis of comparable requirements outside Germany.

Is an Automated Scan Enough for Testing?

No. An automated scan only finds part of the problems; a manual check using keyboard operation and a screen reader is necessary to identify all relevant barriers. Automated tools are suitable as an initial overview but do not replace testing through real usage scenarios.

Does Accessibility Also Bring Benefits Beyond the Obligation?

Yes: accessibility also improves SEO and load time as a side effect, so it is not purely a compliance effort but also pays into visibility and user experience. Well structured, easy to use websites benefit from this regardless of whether visitors rely on assistive technology or not.

What Belongs in the Accessibility Statement?

The accessibility statement must be published on the website and should be supplemented by a feedback mechanism through which users who encounter barriers can report problems. This way, the statement does not become a one-off document but an ongoing channel through which you learn about real accessibility issues.

Source: Sections 1 and 3 of the BFSG. This article is general information and does not replace legal advice for individual cases. As of July 2026.