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Web accessibility cost calculator

Accessibility costs: budget your BFSG/WCAG compliance

Estimate the investment for an accessible website – from WCAG audit to remediation and testing.

In brief

Investment frame for accessibility

The investment frame for an accessibility retrofit is EUR 2,856 – 82,334 excl. VAT. Template condition and test effort move the project inside that band.

The upfront cost can be spread over 72 months. Terms are on the software financing page.

Related: accessible software development.

Estimate accessibility work

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How the accessibility range is built

The calculation follows six visible stages. All figures remain planning values until scope and assumptions have been reviewed.

  1. 1. Capture inputs

    The calculator records the visible project, volume, complexity and operating parameters selected on this page.

  2. 2. Add fixed components

    Fixed base modules and selected add-ons are added without mixing them with recurring charges.

  3. 3. Apply multipliers

    Quantity, complexity and scope factors multiply only the cost components identified for them in the calculator model.

  4. 4. Create the range

    The calculator applies its documented lower and upper uncertainty factors to the base result; ROI views keep investment and savings visible separately.

  5. 5. Round and calibrate

    Monetary result fields are rounded to the nearest whole euro. Public project-cost components are calibrated with the centrally maintained display factor.

  6. 6. Classify the result

    The result is shown as non-binding guidance. A binding quote requires scope, data, integrations, risks and acceptance criteria to be reviewed.

Included

  • Inputs shown in the calculator
  • Calculator-specific base values and factors
  • Displayed one-off and recurring result components

Not included

  • Requirements not selected in the calculator
  • Unknown data migration and third-party licence costs
  • Taxes, legal advice and a binding delivery commitment

Efficiency or discount factor: A central display factor of 0.7 is applied to public project-cost components to keep all calculators aligned with the currently reviewed pricing basis. It is not a customer-specific discount; customer-entered wages, revenues and existing operating costs are not reduced.

Why this is not a binding quote: The calculator cannot verify complete requirements, third-party dependencies, data quality, legal constraints or acceptance criteria.

Technical responsibility and review

Technical owner
Björn Groenewold
Role
Managing Director and software engineer
Expertise
Software development and software estimation
First published
Last technical review
Price basis
September 2026

Sample calculations & scenarios

Concrete project profiles with assumptions and indicative budgets—useful for internal alignment alongside the calculator.

Cost examples

All cost examples for this calculator

FAQ

Web accessibility & BFSG costs

Legal requirements

Who has to comply with the German Accessibility Act (BFSG)?

Since 28 June 2025 the BFSG – Germany's implementation of the European Accessibility Act – applies to B2C online shops, booking portals and certain apps.

Micro-enterprises below 10 employees and EUR 2 million turnover are exempt for services. Pure B2B offerings are not directly in scope but benefit from accessible implementation as well.

Which standard does my website need to meet?

The European norm EN 301 549, which builds on WCAG 2.1 level AA: sufficient contrast, full keyboard operability, screen-reader compatibility, understandable forms and a published accessibility statement.

Are accessibility overlay widgets sufficient?

No.

Overlays do not fix structural issues in the markup and are regularly rated insufficient by auditors and courts. Sustainable accessibility lives in semantic HTML, focus management, contrast and forms.

Björn Groenewold – Geschäftsführer Groenewold IT Solutions

Get a BFSG readiness check

We audit your site against WCAG 2.1 and prioritise the fixes that matter.

Budget & delivery

What does a BFSG-compliant retrofit cost?

Smaller websites, online shops and complex web apps sit in the investment frame EUR 2,856 – 82,334 excl.

VAT The dominant cost driver is the technical starting point: clean semantic templates are cheap to fix, legacy frontends are expensive.

How does an accessibility project run?

Three steps: a WCAG audit with a prioritised defect list, remediation in templates and components, and a final round of screen-reader testing plus the accessibility statement.

Monitoring and editorial guidelines keep the state stable afterwards.

Typical pricing models (overview)

Comparison: typical pricing models for software and IT projects
ModelWhen it fitsBudget & flexibilityTypical risks
Fixed price (fixed scope)Clearly defined scope, stable requirements, repeatable delivery.Predictable total cost; little room for change without a change order.Scope creep leads to change orders or quality trade-offs.
Time & MaterialDiscovery, legacy, evolving requirements, or close collaboration.Maximum flexibility; budget transparent via hourly or daily rates.Without prioritisation, effort can grow—backlog and reviews matter.
Retainer / maintenance packageOngoing operations, updates, small features, and support.Agreed capacity per month; predictable follow-on cost.Large changes may still need a separate estimate.
Hybrid (milestone + T&M)MVP or phased releases with clear go-lives, then iterate.Core delivery fixed price; extensions on a time-and-materials basis.Define contractually what is in scope vs. extra work.

Calculators on this page provide indicative ranges; we choose the right model with you based on risk, scope, and planning horizon.

What determines the costs, and what comes next?

The ranges shown are indicative. For a binding quote we discuss scope, priorities and funding options in a free intro call. Many digitalization projects qualify for grants – try our funding calculator.

Browse all cost calculators, explore services and typical solutions. Questions about accessible software? Contact us.

After using the accessible software calculator, validate assumptions in a short intro call.

What we align in the call

  • Scope, risks, and funding options
  • Milestones and documented exclusions
  • Transparent quote without hidden line items

Costs for accessible software in context

  • Scope, risk, and quality expectations drive the range
  • Include operations, maintenance, and grants
  • Dedicated contacts and short paths from East Frisia

Browse all cost calculators in the costs overview.