Tick tock, tick tock…
Can you hear that?
The clock is ticking for businesses operating in the EU.
As an agency serving these businesses and building their websites, you play a key role in their compliance journey. With the European Accessibility Act (EAA) deadline set for June 28, 2025, your clients must meet strict accessibility requirements (with few exceptions), or risk penalties, lost opportunities, and a damaged reputation.
If they don’t comply, guess who they'll blame? Your agency. And frankly, they wouldn’t be wrong.
But no pressure, right?
Panic aside, there’s a lot you can do to prepare, and with the right approach, you can turn accessibility into a growth opportunity for your agency, positioning yourself as a leader in the space.
So… What does EAA mean for your clients, really?
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is designed to make digital spaces more inclusive for individuals with disabilities. To comply with the EAA, businesses operating within the EU, or those serving EU customers, must meet the requirements outlined in EN 301 549, which focuses on the principles of accessibility: perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust—also known as the POUR principles. While
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA guidelines aren’t mandated by the EAA, they are a helpful framework to ensure compliance with the POUR principles. This impacts a wide variety of digital platforms, from websites and mobile apps to eCommerce sites, online banking services, and even self-service kiosks, all of which must be accessible by June 28, 2025.
However, there are some exceptions to keep in mind:
- Small businesses with fewer than 10 employees or under €2 million in annual turnover are exempt.
- Private internal networks or intranets that are not accessible to the public are not subject to compliance.
- Legacy websites that haven’t been significantly updated since before 2025 may not need to comply immediately, but any future updates must meet accessibility standards.
- Certain private services not available to the public may also be excluded.
For most businesses, however, the EAA represents a strict legal requirement. Non-compliance can lead to serious consequences, including fines of up to €500,000 or 2% of annual global turnover, whichever is greater. Beyond these financial penalties, businesses may face legal action from individuals or organizations unable to access their services due to accessibility barriers. There is also a significant reputational risk, as customers increasingly expect brands to be inclusive and socially responsible.
But… there’s an opportunity in there to expand your client’s reach, improve user experience, and future-proof their brand.
And there is also the issue of SEO: Making accessibility improvements now is basically a win-win for both users and search engines; here are a few examples of how:
- Improved crawlability: Accessibility improvements, such as adding alt text for images, properly structured headers, and clearer navigation, make it easier for search engine bots to crawl and index the site. This helps improve organic search visibility and ranking.
- Better user experience: Accessibility enhances the overall user experience (UX). Clearer text, simpler navigation, and better usability lead to lower bounce rates and higher engagement. Google and other search engines prioritize websites with better user engagement, which can translate into improved rankings.
- Faster load times: Accessible sites often have optimized media, better structured code, and faster load times. Google has confirmed that page speed is a ranking factor, so websites that load faster and function more smoothly tend to rank higher in search results.
It’s a lot to take in, right?
But here’s the thing: While the June 2025 deadline might seem far off, the reality is—the time to act was yesterday.
What does this mean for your agency?
As an agency building websites for businesses operating in the EU, or serving EU customers, you are in a unique position. The EAA is not just a compliance requirement for your clients; it's an opportunity for your agency to step up and lead the charge in accessibility.
True, if your clients don’t meet the June 28, 2025 deadline, there are consequences, which might be an incentive enough for your agency to act. The fact that your agency may be held responsible is scary. Not to mention the reputational damage. Beyond that, there’s the risk of losing clients altogether. As more businesses realize the importance of accessibility, they’ll turn to agencies that can help them navigate these new regulations. If your agency doesn’t offer accessibility as part of your services, you risk falling behind competitors who do.
But many agencies hesitate to handle accessibility for various reasons. Some simply lack knowledge, not fully understanding the complexities of web accessibility or the regulations involved. Others think it will be okay and underestimate the potential consequences, including legal action or reputation damage. Some are hesitant to take ownership of such a large project, perceiving it as too complicated and time-consuming. However, with the right website builder and accessibility audit tools, this process becomes much easier, allowing agencies to offer accessibility without adding significant complexity to their workflow.
In a market that’s becoming more aware of inclusivity, web accessibility is a critical differentiator. By incorporating accessibility into your service offerings, you’re not only ensuring that your clients comply with regulations, but you’re also positioning yourself as a leader in this increasingly important field. The ability to offer a full range of accessibility services can set you apart from competitors, helping you attract more clients and build stronger, long-term relationships.
The bottom line is that agencies that can confidently help with accessibility compliance will find themselves in high demand.
Who doesn’t want that?
So, how should your agency prepare?
The following steps will help your agency lead this space:
1. Understand the requirements
Get familiar with the European Accessibility Act (EAA) and the
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA. These guidelines provide the framework for accessibility compliance. Additionally, resources like
AudioEye’s EAA checklist and ourAccessibility checklist, will give you a clear roadmap of what needs to be done to ensure compliance.
2. Make sure your website builder prioritizes accessibility
Every website starts with a website builder. Make sure your chosen platform does everything within its power to make accessibility a priority. Duda’s platform is built with
accessibility in mind, offering built-in features like AI-powered alt text in bulk, a color contrast checker, and other accessibility tools to ensure compliance and enhance the user experience. Verify that your website builder supports these features and integrates easily with accessibility guidelines.
3. Offer your clients an accessibility audit
Start by conducting an accessibility audit of your clients' websites to identify areas that need improvement. Visit
AudioEye
a trusted Duda partner, in our app store, to integrate a comprehensive accessibility solution, which includes an automated scanner that detects over 30 WCAG violations, expert audits, and more. See AppFolio’s success story detailed in the next section to understand the immense value of AudiEye and Duda combined.
4. Educate your clients on accessibility
Many businesses are unaware of the EAA’s requirements and what they need to do to comply. As their agency, you have an opportunity to guide them through this transition. Help your clients understand the legal implications, the benefits of accessibility, and the risks of non-compliance. Communicate why accessibility matters—not just to avoid fines, but to create a better, more inclusive experience for all users.
By taking the lead in accessibility education, you’re positioning your agency as a trusted expert. Clients will look to you for guidance, and in turn, you’ll strengthen your reputation and grow your business.
Real-world example: AppFolio’s commitment to accessibility
AppFolio, a real estate and property management software company,
partnered with Duda and AudioEye to enhance web accessibility for its clients. They successfully migrated over 7,000 client websites from WordPress to Duda without any downtime, all while integrating accessibility solutions to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In response to growing demand and legal concerns, AppFolio added AudioEye's accessibility platform to its platform, which automatically identifies and addresses accessibility issues on websites. This integration not only improved the websites’ accessibility but also provided valuable assurance to clients through comprehensive audit reports. With this partnership, AppFolio has seen increased traffic and client satisfaction, highlighting how accessibility can benefit both users and businesses.
Don’t wait until the last minute
Don’t let the June 2025 deadline catch you off guard. The time to act is now.
By incorporating accessibility into your service offering today, you can ensure your clients stay ahead of the curve and avoid any last-minute scrambling. This proactive approach will not only help your clients meet the EAA requirements but also enhance their digital presence, leading to higher engagement and more conversions.
With Duda's platform, you’ll have the tools you need to streamline the accessibility process. From AI-powered alt text generation to integrated color contrast checking, Duda simplifies the task of ensuring compliance. When combined with AudioEye's accessibility audit capabilities, your agency can confidently tackle any accessibility challenges, offering solutions that keep clients compliant without adding complexity to your workflow.
