BFSG & Accessibility: Get Your Website Compliant
Since 28 June 2025, Germany's Accessibility Strengthening Act (BFSG) has been in force. If you sell products or consumer services online in Germany, your website must be accessible — or you risk fines and competitor warning letters. I audit your site, fix the issues in code and keep it compliant.
Who the law applies to
The BFSG transposes the European Accessibility Act (EU Directive 2019/882) into German law. It covers online shops, booking flows, banking services and many other B2C digital services — regardless of company size. Only micro-enterprises (fewer than 10 employees and at most €2M annual turnover) are exempt for services.
The technical benchmark is EN 301 549, which for websites points to WCAG 2.1 level AA: contrast, keyboard operability, alt texts, form labels, understandable error messages and a published accessibility statement. Violations can trigger market-surveillance proceedings, fines of up to €100,000 — and in practice, above all, warning letters from competitors.
Avoid warning letters: audit first, then fix precisely
The fastest route to compliance is not an overlay widget but an honest finding: what exactly on your site is not accessible, how critical is it, and what does fixing it cost? That is what my audit delivers — a prioritized list of real WCAG violations in your rendered HTML, explained in plain language with a concrete fix for each.
For WordPress sites I built a dedicated plugin: Kipphard Accessibility Audit checks your pages right in the admin and can generate the accessibility statement. And for everything the plugin finds, I offer remediation as a service — from a single contrast fix to a fully accessible relaunch.
My offer: audit, remediation, ongoing compliance
I work in three stages. First, the audit: a technical WCAG 2.1 AA assessment prioritized by risk. Second, remediation: I fix violations directly in the code — semantics, focus management, contrast, forms, ARIA only where genuinely needed. Third, ongoing compliance: every new feature and piece of content is checked against the requirements so the site stays compliant and the accessibility statement stays current.
As a senior frontend engineer I implement accessibility where it lives: in your site's HTML, CSS and JavaScript — not in a bolted-on script. That is the difference between real compliance and an overlay that will not hold up in court.
What you get
BFSG audit
Prioritized WCAG 2.1 AA assessment of your website — real violations, plainly explained, with effort estimates.
Fixes in code
Remediation directly in the theme or frontend: semantics, contrast, keyboard support, forms, focus management.
Accessibility statement
The legally required statement, written and linked — including a feedback mechanism.
WCAG consulting
Training and guidelines for your team so new content stays compliant.
WordPress plugin
Kipphard Accessibility Audit: continuous checks right in the WordPress admin.
Ongoing compliance
A maintenance agreement with regular re-audits so updates and new content don't create new barriers.
Common questions
Does the BFSG apply to my website?
If you sell products or services to consumers through your website — an online shop, a booking flow, or a contract-initiating contact form — very likely yes. For services, only micro-enterprises with fewer than 10 employees and at most €2M annual turnover are exempt. Pure B2B offerings are out of scope. If in doubt, I clarify this in the audit — as a technical assessment, not legal advice.
Isn't an accessibility overlay tool enough?
No. Overlay widgets layer a script over existing barriers without fixing them in code. Studies and statements from accessibility organizations show overlays fail to fix many WCAG violations and sometimes create new ones. For BFSG compliance, what counts is the actual state of your website.
What does it cost to make my website accessible?
The audit is a fixed price depending on the size of the site. Remediation depends on the findings — from a few hours for contrast and alt-text fixes to a larger rebuild for deep structural issues. After the audit you get a concrete fixed-price quote for the remediation.
How soon do fines or warning letters become a risk?
The BFSG has applied since 28 June 2025. Market surveillance is ramping up, and competitors can send warning letters over violations. The more visible your offering, the higher the risk. A documented audit plus remediation plan shows, in case of a dispute, that you are addressing the issue seriously.