Understanding ADA Compliance Costs

Any decent person understands the need for web accessibility. Still, in recent years, it’s become more than just showing that we care about our fellow human beings – it’s also a business necessity. The WebAIM Million 2024 report revealed a staggering statistic: 95.9% of homepages still fail basic accessibility standards. That means the vast majority of websites have barriers preventing millions of people from accessing content, products, and services.

For businesses, this presents two choices: invest in accessibility now or pay for it later – often in the form of lawsuits. The cost of non-compliance is growing, with legal action becoming increasingly common. A prime example? The National Association of the Deaf v. Harvard case, which resulted in a $1.575 million settlement because of inadequate video captioning​.

However, legal risk is only one part of the equation. Accessibility is also a smart financial decision. This article breaks down the real costs of ADA compliance, covering audit expenses, remediation investments, tax incentives, and long-term maintenance. While the total cost depends on site size and complexity, proactive accessibility investments are far more affordable than reactive litigation.

Think of it like insurance: you don’t wait for a disaster to strike before getting coverage. The same applies to accessibility – it protects your business from legal risk, but it also expands your market reach, improves SEO, and enhances user experience.

Up next, we’ll dive into the numbers: what it really costs to audit, fix, and maintain an accessible website. Let’s get started.

Failing to make your website accessible excludes millions of potential customers and exposes your business to costly lawsuits. ADA-related litigation has surged in recent years,  targeting businesses of all sizes.

Some of the most high-profile cases have resulted in hefty settlements:

For smaller businesses, the costs may not be in the millions, but they still add up fast. ADA settlements typically range from $5,000 to $20,000 per case, but that’s just the start. You also have to factor in:

Once a lawsuit is filed, there’s no negotiating whether you’ll need to fix accessibility issues – only how much it will cost you to do so under legal scrutiny.

Accessibility is an opportunity to grow your business. Making your website more inclusive expands your potential customer base, improves SEO, and boosts brand reputation.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 16% of the global population lives with a disability. That’s over 1.3 billion people who rely on accessible websites. Additionally, the American Institutes for Research (AIR) estimates that working-age adults with disabilities control $490 billion in disposable income. Businesses that ignore accessibility are effectively shutting the door on this massive market segment.

Consumers increasingly prefer brands that prioritise inclusivity. When businesses actively work towards accessibility, they build trust, loyalty, and a positive public image – all of which contribute to long-term success.

A more accessible website isn’t just better for users – it’s also better for search engines. Accessibility improvements lead to:

When viewed through a business lens, accessibility is less of a cost and more of a smart investment – one that delivers measurable returns while keeping you safe from legal risks.

First, we need to clarify that making a website accessible costs far less than defending against a lawsuit. Yet, many businesses delay compliance until legal action forces them to act – a far more expensive approach.

Here’s what ADA compliance costs in 2025, based on website size and complexity:

While these costs used to be higher, the maturation of accessibility tools and industry expertise has made compliance more affordable than ever.

The final cost depends on several factors, including:

Investing early saves money – proactive compliance is always cheaper than the cost of a lawsuit and rushed remediation.

ADA compliance for websites is based on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2, the current technical standard for digital accessibility. These guidelines ensure websites are usable for people with disabilities. 

At the core of WCAG are the POUR principles, which define how digital content should function for all users:

WCAG criteria have three levels: A, AA, and AAA, with the latter being the highest level of accessibility you can have. And while you might think that aiming for the highest level is the best way to go – and it is, if you have the resources – achieving level AA is much more practical and is usually enough. Here are some examples of what that might look like: 

A fully accessible website requires investments across multiple areas, from training and audits to remediation and ongoing maintenance. Each of these requires specialised expertise to ensure compliance with WCAG and ADA standards. Below, we break down key cost areas and their role in achieving long-term accessibility compliance.

Investing in accessibility training ensures that your team can maintain compliance and integrate accessibility into daily workflows. Whether you’re a developer, designer, or content creator, proper training helps prevent issues before they arise.

Key training considerations include:

Ongoing training ensures that accessibility becomes second nature, reducing future remediation costs and keeping your website compliant.

While automated testing tools can help identify some accessibility barriers, they only catch about 30% of WCAG issues. Relying on DIY audits can leave critical gaps, increasing legal risk and missed compliance targets.

Professional accessibility audits provide a comprehensive evaluation of a website’s compliance with WCAG 2.2 and ADA requirements. The WebAIM Million report found that 96.8% of websites contain WCAG failures, showing the importance of expert evaluation​.

The cost of an audit varies based on:

Investing in an expert audit helps businesses prioritise fixes, avoid unnecessary spending, and ensure long-term compliance.

At $5,000, our expert accessibility audit provides a detailed compliance analysis conducted by IAAP-certified professionals. The audit includes:

Need results sooner? We offer expedited services based on your timeline.

Investing in a professional audit now means fewer issues, lower costs, and stronger compliance in the long run.

Fixing accessibility issues often requires specialised development expertise to modify site structure, improve navigation, and ensure compatibility with assistive technologies. The cost of remediation depends on the time and expertise needed to fix underlying code issues.

Accessibility compliance requires continuous oversight to keep up with WCAG updates, website changes, and evolving user needs. Regular maintenance ensures that new content and features remain accessible over time.

Ongoing maintenance typically costs between $200–$1,000 per month, depending on the size and complexity of the site. 

If you’re proactive with your approach to accessibility, you can easily balance compliance costs and still create a high-quality user experience for all users. Here are some tips on how to stay compliant, reduce costs, and maximise long-term value.

The ADA tax incentives program helps businesses offset accessibility costs. For example, small businesses (≤30 employees or ≤$1M revenue) can claim up to $5,000 through the Disabled Access Credit, covering 50% of eligible expenses up to $10,250 (excluding the first $250).

Prevention is cheaper than remediation. Integrating WCAG 2.2 standards into development workflows saves money long-term:

Accessibility doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Companies succeed by tackling it in stages:

An expert audit provides a clear roadmap to compliance:

Many “automated” accessibility overlays promise instant compliance but come with risks:

If you’re curious, check out this video by Haben Girma – an American disability rights advocate discussing why you should avoid overlays. 

Accessibility compliance is, first and foremost, about building an inclusive, user-friendly website that benefits everyone. As we’ve outlined, proactive investment in accessibility is far more cost-effective than the financial and reputational risks of non-compliance. To help you get started, we’ve created a simple, yet effective audit process that covers all the essentials:  

But why choose The A11Y Collective’s audit?

Don’t wait for accessibility issues to become legal problems. Book your expert audit today and take the first step toward a fully compliant, accessible website.