Skip to main content
AccessiGuard

Website Accessibility for Small Businesses: What You Actually Need to Do

Small business owners: web accessibility isn't just for big companies. Here's a no-nonsense guide to what the law requires, what it costs to ignore, and how to fix your site without hiring an agency.

·5 min read·AccessiGuard Team
Small BusinessADA ComplianceWeb AccessibilityWCAG 2.1Cost of Non-Compliance

You run a small business. You've got a website. And you just heard something about "accessibility compliance" — maybe from a lawyer, a web developer, or a scary email threatening a lawsuit.

Here's the thing: web accessibility lawsuits hit small businesses harder than anyone. In 2025, over 4,600 ADA web accessibility lawsuits were filed in the US — and the majority targeted small and mid-size businesses, not Fortune 500 companies.

Let's cut through the noise.

Do Accessibility Laws Apply to Your Small Business?

Yes. If your business is open to the public and has a website, accessibility laws almost certainly apply to you.

  • US (ADA): Courts have consistently ruled that business websites are "places of public accommodation." The April 2026 deadline formalizes WCAG 2.1 Level AA as the standard for government-related sites — and private businesses are next.
  • EU (European Accessibility Act): Effective since June 2025. If you sell products or services to EU customers online, you need to comply.

The "we're too small" defense doesn't hold up. Plaintiff law firms specifically target small businesses because they're more likely to settle quickly.

What Does "Accessible" Actually Mean?

It's simpler than it sounds. An accessible website means:

  1. People who can't see well can use a screen reader to navigate your site
  2. People who can't use a mouse can navigate with just a keyboard
  3. People who are colorblind can still read your content
  4. People who are deaf can understand your video content (captions)
  5. Everyone can understand your forms and error messages

The technical standard is called WCAG 2.1 Level AA. It covers things like:

  • Images have alt text describing what's in them
  • Text has enough contrast against its background
  • Forms have proper labels
  • Pages have a logical heading structure
  • Interactive elements are keyboard-accessible

What It Costs to Ignore This

Let's talk numbers:

  • Average ADA lawsuit settlement: $10,000–$50,000 for small businesses
  • Legal defense costs: $5,000–$25,000 even if you win
  • Demand letters: $3,000–$10,000 to settle before court
  • Repeat lawsuits: Nothing stops a different plaintiff from suing you again next year

Compare that to actually fixing your site: most small business websites can be made accessible for $500–$2,000 in developer time, or less if you use automated tools to identify and prioritize issues.

The Overlay Widget Trap

You've probably seen ads for "one line of JavaScript" that makes your site accessible. Companies like accessiBe, UserWay, and AudioEye sell these overlay widgets.

Don't fall for it.

  • The FTC fined accessiBe for deceptive marketing claims
  • Overlay widgets don't actually fix your code — they add a layer on top
  • The National Federation of the Blind has publicly opposed overlays
  • Courts have ruled that overlays don't constitute compliance
  • Many plaintiff attorneys specifically target sites running overlays

Real accessibility means fixing your actual website code. There are no shortcuts.

A Simple Action Plan for Small Businesses

Here's what to do, in order:

1. Scan Your Site (5 minutes)

Run your website through an automated accessibility scanner. This won't catch everything, but it'll identify the obvious issues — missing alt text, poor contrast, broken form labels.

Scan your site free with AccessiGuard →

2. Fix the Critical Issues First (1–2 hours)

Focus on what matters most:

  • Add alt text to all images. Describe what's in the image. "Team photo at annual retreat" not "IMG_4532.jpg."
  • Check color contrast. Text should have at least 4.5:1 contrast ratio against its background. Use a contrast checker.
  • Label your forms. Every input field needs a visible label connected with a for attribute.
  • Make sure you can tab through everything. Navigate your site using only the Tab key. Can you reach every link, button, and form field?

3. Fix the Structural Issues (2–4 hours)

  • Add proper heading hierarchy. One H1 per page, then H2s, H3s in order. Don't skip levels.
  • Add skip navigation links. Let keyboard users skip to main content.
  • Make sure links are descriptive. "Read our pricing" not "Click here."
  • Add language attribute to your HTML tag (<html lang="en">).

4. Set Up Monitoring (10 minutes)

Accessibility isn't a one-time fix. Every time you update content, add images, or change layouts, new issues can creep in. Set up automated monitoring to catch regressions.

5. Document Your Efforts

Keep a record of what you've done. If you ever receive a demand letter, showing good-faith efforts to improve accessibility is your strongest defense.

Publish an accessibility statement on your website that says:

  • You're committed to accessibility
  • What standard you're working toward (WCAG 2.1 AA)
  • How people can report issues
  • What you've done so far

The Bottom Line

Web accessibility isn't optional, and it's not going away. The good news: for most small business websites, the fixes are straightforward and affordable.

Don't wait for a demand letter. Scan your site, fix the big issues, and set up monitoring. Your future self (and your customers) will thank you.

AccessiGuard scans your website against 22 WCAG 2.1 criteria and gives you plain-language fix guidance. Start with a free scan →

← Back to blog