From June 28, 2025, the German Accessibility Strengthening Act (BFSG) comes into effect – a step towards better digital participation for people with disabilities. But before you panic and rebuild your entire website: the law does not apply to everyone.

Who is affected by the accessibility law?

The BFSG targets companies that offer specific digital products or services to consumers. Examples include:

• online shops (e-commerce)
• banks and insurance providers
• telecom providers
• long-distance transport companies
• providers of e-books or messenger services

These companies must ensure that their websites and apps are accessible – aligned with international standards like WCAG 2.1 (Level AA).

Who is (still) not affected?

Good news for many small businesses: micro-enterprises with fewer than ten employees and an annual turnover of under 2 million euros are explicitly exempt – as long as they don’t manufacture or sell covered products.

This means: if you operate a website as a web designer, consultant or coach, but don’t run an online shop and don’t offer covered digital products, then you’re (still) not legally required to fully rebuild your site for accessibility.

Why it still makes sense

Even if you’re not legally required (yet): accessibility is a quality feature. It improves usability for everyone, can support your Google rankings, and makes your content available to a wider audience.

My tip as a web developer

Check early whether your website might be affected in the near future. And consider what you can implement now – e.g. strong contrasts, alt texts for images, and clear navigation.

Conclusion: not every website must be legally accessible by 2025 – but every website benefits from it.