Accessibility: does the new BFSG affect your website?

What the Accessibility Improvement Act (BFSG) means for website operators from 28 June 2025

Introduction

From the 28 June 2025 the Accessibility Reinforcement Act (Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz, short BFSG) comes into force - and is currently causing quite a stir in companies, the media and web agencies. Many people are asking themselves: Do I have to act now? Do I have to completely rebuild my website? Or can I sit back and relax?

To be clear: not every website is affected. But it is worth taking the issue seriously - not only because of the threat of fines, but also because digital accessibility is increasingly becoming a quality feature.

Does the BFSG affect my website at all?

Before we get into the details, the most important question: Are you affected or not?
The answer is usually quite simple.

You are not affected if...

• your company has fewer than 10 employees AND an annual turnover of less than 2 million euros.
• your website or shop is aimed exclusively at business customers (B2B).
  (In this case, a clear reference in the footer is recommended, e.g: "Our offers are aimed exclusively at companies.")

For all others:

If you offer B2C services and exceed the above-mentioned thresholds, you must take action. Your website (or digital service) must be designed to be accessible by 28 June 2025 at the latest - otherwise you could face fines of up to €100,000 and warnings.

What does "barrier-free" mean?

Accessibility means that your website, shop or service is accessible and usable for everyone - including people with disabilities or restrictions, without outside help and without any particular difficulties.

Classic stumbling blocks in everyday life:

• Audio content (podcasts, videos) without transcription or subtitles
• Weak contrasts between text and background (e.g. light grey text on white)
• Pages that cannot be operated using the keyboard (tab key etc.)
• Complicated or non-accessible forms

The aim of the law:

Unrestricted usability - regardless of the type and degree of disability.
Digital services should be available to everyone.

Examples:

Accessible text vs. "normal" text

Normal version (less accessible):

Click here for more information.

Accessible version:

You can find more information on the Barrier-Free Accessibility Reinforcement Act on our information page.

Why is that better?

• The link text is clear: screen reader users know immediately where the link leads to.
• No "Click here" or "Read more" is used without context.
• The language is clear and understandable, no unnecessary technical terms or anglicisms.

Another example - Accessible headline

Little barrier-free:

Let's go digital! Everything for you at a glance.

Barrier-free:

How to implement the legal accessibility requirements for your website

Here it is clear what the section is about - even for people who go through a list of headings using a screen reader.

Who does the BFSG specifically apply to?

The law affects a wide range of digital offerings, including

• Websites and online shops aimed at consumers (B2C)
• Telephone services, messenger and chat services
• E-books and other digital publications
• Numerous other digital services, provided they are made for end users

B2B offerings or very small companies (< 10 employees AND < € 2 million turnover), on the other hand, are excluded.

Nevertheless, mixed forms in particular (e.g. shops that sell to both companies and private customers) should keep an eye on this issue.

FAQ | BFSG and accessibility

Do I have to redesign my website 1:1?

No. Targeted adjustments are often enough: Increase contrasts, add alternative texts, ensure keyboard operation. A complete relaunch is rarely necessary - but sometimes makes sense.

Does the BFSG also apply to existing websites?

Yes, all affected offers - whether new or online for years - must be accessible from 28 June 2025. There is no grandfathering rule.

What happens if I do not fulfil the requirements?

There is a risk of warnings and fines of up to €100,000. Implementation should therefore be taken seriously, especially as customers and search engines are also increasingly focussing on accessibility.

How time-consuming is a complete accessibility check?

That depends on your website. An initial quick test with Lighthouse takes 5 minutes. However, you should allow some time for a complete test (including a human test). I will be happy to support you.

What are typical barriers that are often overlooked?

• Missing or meaningless alternative texts for images ("IMG123" instead of "Logo of the sample company")
• Unclear link texts ("click here")
• Missing or poorly understandable error messages in forms
• Colour contrast too low (e.g. light grey on white)
• Navigation not fully operable with the keyboard

What are the benefits of accessibility - apart from the obligation?

• Greater range: People with disabilities can also use your website
• Better ranking: Search engines favour accessible pages
• Positive external impact: Your company shows responsibility
• Future security: The requirements for accessibility are constantly increasing - YOU are prepared

How do you test the accessibility of your website yourself?

If you want to know how your own website is doing in terms of accessibility, you can test it yourself with a free tool: Lighthouse, a browser extension from Google.

Here's how to do it step by step:

1. Open Google Chrome and go to the Chrome Web Store.
2. Search for "Lighthouse Report Viewer" and install the extension from Google

Here is the direct link to the Lighthouse Report Viewer extension

3. After installation, the Lighthouse symbol appears at the top right of the address bar.
4. Call up your website, click on the Lighthouse symbol and select at least the "Accessibility" category.
5. Start the report with "Generate report" and wait a few seconds.
6. You will now receive an evaluation (value between 0 and 100 - the higher, the better).

Important:

The Lighthouse test recognises many barriers - but not all of them. In the event of uncertainties or conspicuous results, a human check by experts is always the best choice.

What Lighthouse cannot find or assess

Lighthouse is a good start - but not a panacea. Some typical weaknesses of the tool:

• Useful alternative texts: Lighthouse only checks whether an image has an alternative text - not how good it is.
• Comprehensibility of content: The tool does not recognise whether links, headings or instructions are really self-explanatory.
• Complex interactions: Forms, dynamic pop-ups or specially programmed elements are only checked to a limited extent.
• Test with real aids: Only a human can test how your site performs with screen readers, voice input or Braille displays.
• Quality of subtitles and audio descriptions: The tool recognises whether there are any, but not whether they are well made.

Conclusion:

Lighthouse is great for an initial overview - for full legal certainty and the best possible user-friendliness, additional human tests or an expert audit are recommended.

Conclusion and practical tip

This applies to most of our customers:

They are either automatically excluded or a clear B2B notice in the footer is sufficient. But be sure to check for yourself: Anyone who makes B2C offers and exceeds the turnover/employee limit should take action now.

My tip:

We have been using the WordPress theme GeneratePress for all our projects for years - it offers the best technical prerequisites for fast and largely accessible websites. But: The final accessibility stands and falls with the content, choice of colours and the implementation in detail.

Are you unsure or would you like a non-binding BFSG check?

Feel free to write to me - I will check whether and which measures are necessary for your website. If in doubt, reacting early is cheaper than making expensive improvements later (or incurring penalties).

Get in touch now