This post is adapted from our newsletter, Stores That Succeed, where we give exclusive, expert advice to enterprise-level businesses. When businesses that run on WooCommerce don’t succeed, it’s usually because their store is set up for failure. We’re here to help you win at WooCommerce by building a store that can handle anything you throw at it.
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Today, we’re talking about something that’s going to hit the eCommerce world like a freight train: the European Accessibility Act (EAA). And let me be crystal clear – if you’re selling online, even if you’re based in the good ol’ USA, you NEED to care about this. Ignore it at your own peril.
The EAA is Coming, Ready or Not
June 28, 2025. Mark that date in your calendar, because that’s when the EAA kicks in. And here’s the kicker – it doesn’t matter if you’re based in Europe, the US, or on the moon. If you’re selling to EU citizens, you need to comply. Period. It’s such a big deal, we wrote a whole blog post about it.
The Cost of Ignoring the EAA? More Than You’ll Want to Spend
Think you can fly under the radar? Think again. We’re talking potential fines of up to €100,000 in some countries. Legal headaches that’ll make you wish for a real migraine instead. And let’s not forget the PR nightmare when word gets out that your site isn’t accessible.
But here’s the real tragedy – whether you’re at risk of getting fined or not, by ignoring accessibility, you’re leaving money on the table. A LOT of money. You’re essentially hanging up a “closed” sign for a significant portion of your potential customer base, and telling them to take their money elsewhere. Accessibility is extremely important for your business, beyond just laws and regulations.
Compliance: It’s Not Just a Checkbox
Now, you might be thinking, “I’ll just slap on an accessibility plugin and call it a day.” Sorry, but it’s not that simple. True compliance means meeting WCAG 2.1 AA standards across your entire site. It means making your content perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust for ALL users.
And here’s the kicker: it’s not a one-and-done deal. Every time you update your site, add new products, or change your theme, you risk falling out of compliance. It’s a constant process, and if you’re not on top of it, you’re setting yourself up for failure.
Why You Need the Big Guns
Look, I get it. You’re busy running your business. You don’t have time to become an accessibility expert on top of everything else. That’s where we come in.
At Saucal, we eat, sleep, and breathe WooCommerce. We’ve seen firsthand what happens when businesses try to DIY their way to compliance. Spoiler alert: it ain’t pretty.
Here’s what we bring to the table:
- We’ll build you an EAA-compliant store from the ground up, or overhaul your existing one.
- We’ll implement a monitoring system to keep you compliant, even as your store evolves.
- We’ll handle updates and changes without disrupting your operations.
- We’ll turn accessibility into a competitive advantage for your business.
The Clock is Ticking
June 2025 might seem far off, but in the world of eCommerce, it’s practically tomorrow. The time to act is now. Every day you wait is another day your competitors could be getting ahead.
Don’t let the EAA catch you with your pants down. Don’t miss out on the massive opportunity that accessibility presents. And for the love of all that’s holy, don’t try to do this alone.
Get in touch with us, and let’s turn your WooCommerce store into an accessibility powerhouse that leaves your competition in the dust.
Remember, in eCommerce, you’re either growing or you’re dying. Which one will it be?
