Skip to main content
8 min read

EAA Accessibility Checker: A Small Business Guide to the European Accessibility Act

The EAA requirements started applying in June 2025. Here's what small businesses need to know, how to check accessibility, and how to fix common issues.

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) requirements started applying on 28 June 2025. If your business sells covered products or services to customers in the EU, even if you're based in the UK, US, or anywhere else, you may need to comply.

This guide breaks down what the EAA means for small businesses, how to identify common website accessibility issues, and when to get legal or specialist accessibility advice.

What is the EAA?

The European Accessibility Act is an EU directive that requires digital products and services to meet accessibility requirements. The practical standards are implemented through EU harmonised standards and national enforcement, with WCAG commonly used for web accessibility assessment. It covers specific areas such as e-commerce, banking, passenger transport services, e-books, telecoms, and some digital services offered to EU consumers.

Each EU member state has transposed the directive into national law with their own enforcement mechanisms and penalty structures.

Penalties vary by country

The EAA is implemented through national law, so penalties, regulators, and enforcement processes differ by EU Member State. Some authorities can require remediation, restrict products or services, and impose financial penalties. Treat country-specific exposure as a legal question, not a scanner result.

Does the EAA apply to my business?

The EAA may apply when a business sells covered products or services to EU consumers and is not covered by a micro-enterprise exemption. Relevant categories can include:

  • E-commerce sites that ship to the EU
  • Some digital services offered to EU consumers
  • Financial services platforms
  • Transport and travel booking sites
  • Telecommunications services

Micro-enterprises are treated differently under the EAA, and the exact effect depends on the product or service category and national implementation.

The customer location can matter, not just where your business is registered. A UK-based e-commerce store selling to consumers in France may need to consider French implementation and enforcement of the EAA.

What does "accessible" actually mean?

For websites and digital interfaces, WCAG 2.1 Level AA is commonly used as a practical benchmark for accessibility assessment. WCAG is organised around four principles:

  1. Perceivable: Content must be presentable in ways all users can perceive (alt text, captions, colour contrast).
  2. Operable: The interface must work for all input methods (keyboard navigation, no time limits, no seizure-inducing content).
  3. Understandable: Content and interface behaviour must be understandable (clear language, consistent navigation, error prevention).
  4. Robust: Content must work with assistive technologies (proper HTML semantics, ARIA attributes).

How to check your site right now

The fastest way to check is an automated scan. ClearSite uses axe-core, a widely used accessibility testing engine referenced in UK public-sector accessibility guidance, to run WCAG-based automated accessibility checks.

A completed scan gives you:

  • An accessibility score (0-100)
  • Detected issues explained in plain English
  • Step-by-step fix instructions for your platform
  • Priority ranking so you know what to fix first

Automated tests identify a meaningful but incomplete share of accessibility issues. For broader coverage, pair automated scanning with a manual accessibility audit.

Enforcement is already happening

The legal framework is live: EAA requirements started applying on 28 June 2025. Enforcement happens through national market surveillance and regulator processes, so the practical steps and timelines differ by Member State.

Outside the EU, accessibility litigation and regulation remain active in markets such as the US. A conservative product posture is not to rely on shortcuts, but to identify barriers, fix them, and keep evidence of ongoing remediation.

What to do next

  1. Scan your site, use ClearSite's free scan to find common accessibility issues. No signup needed.
  2. Fix critical issues first, our AI report prioritises by severity. Start with issues that block users from accessing your content entirely.
  3. Set up monitoring, websites change. A new plugin, a theme update, or fresh content can introduce new issues. ClearSite's paid plans re-scan automatically and alert you.
  4. Document your efforts, keep records of scans, fixes, audits, and decisions so you can show the accessibility work you have completed and what remains.

Sources: European Commission EAA overview, AccessibleEU EAA in-force note, and UK public-sector axe guidance.