Does my website have to be accessible? 

1. What does digital accessibility mean?

Essentially, digital accessibility means that your website is designed in such a way that everyone—including people with disabilities—can perceive, use, and understand its content. Three areas are crucial for this:
 

• Design & layout
• Programming
• Content

2. BFSG vs. BITV – Who is affected?

An overview of the most important laws and standards:

BITV (Barrier-Free Information Technology Ordinance)

• Federal public authorities Mandatory accessibility – Mandatory accessibility

BFSG (Barrier-Free Accessibility Act)

• Private sector (B2C) – Implementation of the European Accessibility Act

WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines)

• Global standard – Technical basis for BITV & BFSG

3. Am I affected by the BFSG?

The BFSG only applies to the private sector and is mandatory for B2C companies if they meet two criteria:

• Size: They employ more than 10 people or have an annual turnover of more than €2 million.
• Business transactions: Users can purchase goods on their website (online shop) or initiate/conclude contracts.

Even simple interactions—e.g., newsletter subscriptions—can be considered contract initiation.

There is currently no legal obligation for B2B companies to ensure accessibility.

4. Does the entire website have to be accessible?

No. According to the BFSG, only those parts of the website that are relevant to the digital business transaction or contract conclusion in question must be accessible.

In a typical online shop, these are, for example:

• Home page, category page, product page
• Shopping cart and the entire checkout process
• Legal pages: Terms and conditions, legal notice, and data protection

5. Caution: Overlay tools are not a solution!

Third-party accessibility overlays cannot fix deep-rooted, structural problems in the code and often even create new barriers.

As a website operator, you are always liable for what you include on your website. Don't rely on tools that only provide superficial help and do not protect you from potential fines.

6. The role of the accessibility statement

Affected companies (BFSG/BITV) require a document describing the digital accessibility status of their website.

Important for the private sector: Unlike public authorities, you should not mention any remaining barriers in your statement. This would make it unnecessarily easy for competitors and authorities to take action against you.

7. The clear added value of an accessible website

The costs of adaptation are manageable compared to the enormous benefits:

• New target groups: You reach around 20% of the population who cannot use non-accessible sites.
• Brand strengthening: Up to 77% of consumers pay attention to companies' social commitment. You create trust and a positive image.
• Better USP: Accessibility becomes a unique selling point.
• Improved SEO: Many accessibility measures (e.g., semantic HTML structure, alternative texts) automatically improve your SEO and thus your visibility on Google.
• Risk minimization: Avoid fines of up to €100,000 from market surveillance authorities.
• Support cost reduction: A comprehensible, accessible website leads to fewer questions and support requests.

The best start is a professional audit. We at keytec are your experienced partner. We help you identify problematic processes and areas and work with you to plan the optimal roadmap to accessibility.

Contact us now for an initial consultation on accessibility! We make your website legally compliant, future-proof, and a real competitive advantage.