Quick question: could someone using a screen reader, or only a keyboard, complete an enquiry on your website?
If you don’t know, you’re not alone. But in Germany it’s now a question with legal weight.
The Law Has Been in Force for Over a Year
Germany’s Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz (BFSG) has applied since 28 June 2025. It puts the European Accessibility Act into German law and covers certain consumer-facing digital services, such as online shops. It’s about B2C, so purely informational or B2B-only sites are generally outside its scope, and micro-enterprises providing services are exempt.
If it does apply to you, the stakes are real. According to law firm Heuking, fines can reach €10,000, and up to €100,000 in serious cases.
It’s Not Only About Compliance
Many of the same fixes make a site easier for everybody to use: clearer layouts, readable text and forms that work properly on a phone. A website that’s hard to use costs you enquiries whether or not a regulator ever looks at it.
Quick Checks You Can Do Today
- Try using your site with only the keyboard. Can you reach every link and button, and can you see where you are?
- Check text contrast, especially light grey text on a white background
- Make sure images carry meaningful alt text
- Check that form fields have clear labels and helpful error messages
- Run a free automated checker, but remember it only catches part of the problems
That last point matters. Automated tools are a useful start, not a verdict. A person actually trying to use your site will find things a scanner misses.
Build It In, Don’t Bolt It On
The cheapest time to think about accessibility is during design and development. Fixing it afterwards costs more. The benchmark most people work to is WCAG 2.1 AA, which the European standard behind the BFSG builds on. October’s post looked at the next generation of search. A well-structured, accessible site tends to serve both people and search engines better.
As always, this is technology advice, not legal advice. If you’re unsure whether the BFSG applies to your business, ask your legal adviser.
Thinking about a new website, or a review of your current one?
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