Website Accessibility Checklist for Small Businesses (WCAG-Based) | How-to Guide

A practical website accessibility checklist based on WCAG 2.2: a keyboard and focus walkthrough, text, contrast, form labels and errors, image text alternatives, what automatic checkers catch versus human testing, and how to record findings without claiming legal compliance.

This checklist covers the checks a small-business owner can run in about an hour without special software: use the site with only a keyboard, check text size and contrast, check that every form field has a label and clear errors, and check that images have sensible text alternatives. It is based on WCAG 2.2, the standard most laws and policies refer to, and on the W3C's own Easy Checks. Passing it does not make a site legally compliant; it finds the most common barriers.

1. Keyboard and focus walkthrough

Put the mouse away. Press Tab from the top of the page to the bottom, then Shift+Tab back.

[ ] A "Skip to content" link appears on the first Tab (helpful on long menus)
[ ] Every link, button and form field can be reached with Tab
[ ] You can always see where focus is (an outline or highlight)
[ ] Focus moves in a sensible order, top to bottom, left to right
[ ] The menu opens with Enter or Space and closes with Escape
[ ] Pop-ups can be closed with the keyboard, and focus returns to the page
[ ] Nothing traps focus (you can always Tab onward)
[ ] Sticky headers do not cover the focused item

2. Text, contrast, form labels and errors

[ ] Body text is readable at normal zoom (around 16px or larger)
[ ] Zoom to 200%: nothing overlaps or gets cut off; no sideways scrolling
[ ] Text contrast at least 4.5:1 (3:1 for large text) - check with a tool
[ ] Links are distinguishable from text by more than colour alone
[ ] Every form field has a visible label (placeholder text is not a label)
[ ] Required fields are marked in text, not only with colour
[ ] Errors say what went wrong and how to fix it, next to the field
[ ] Buttons say what they do ("Send enquiry", not "Submit" or an icon only)
[ ] The page language is set, and headings go in order (H1, H2, H3)

Check colour pairs with the color contrast checker. The contrast figures come from WCAG's contrast (minimum) criterion.

3. Image purpose and text alternatives

  • Informative image (a photo of your work, a map): alt text says what it shows that matters, for example "Rebuilt stone wall with new capping stones".
  • Decorative image (a background texture): empty alt (alt="") so screen readers skip it.
  • Image with text in it (a flyer, a menu photo): the text must also be on the page, or in the alt text if short.
  • Linked image or icon button: the alt or label says where it goes or what it does ("Call us", not "phone icon").

The W3C's alt text decision tree covers edge cases.

4. Automatic checks versus human testing

Automatic checkers findOnly a person can judge
Missing alt attributesWhether the alt text is actually useful
Low contrast on plain backgroundsContrast of text over photos and video
Form fields with no labelWhether labels and errors make sense
Missing page language, empty linksKeyboard order, focus visibility, traps
Skipped heading levelsWhether headings describe the content

Run an automatic check first (the website grader includes basic accessibility checks; the W3C keeps a list of evaluation tools), then do the manual walkthrough above. If your customers include many people with disabilities, pay for testing with disabled users.

Filled findings log (a labelled demonstration)

A fictional business, "Harbour Line Plumbing". Not a real company; this shows the format, not results.

Date checked: [date]   Checked by: owner   Pages: Home, Services, Contact
Browser/devices: laptop keyboard only; phone with screen reader on
#  Page     Issue                                   WCAG ref     Fixed?
1  Home     Call icon has no label ("button")       4.1.2        yes
2  Home     White text over hero photo hard to read 1.4.3        yes, darker overlay
3  Contact  Postcode field label is placeholder only 3.3.2       yes
4  Contact  Error says "Invalid" only               3.3.1        yes, "Enter a phone number"
5  Services Gallery photos alt = file names          1.1.1        yes
6  All      No visible focus on menu links           2.4.7        open - raised with builder
Not tested: video captions (no video on site)
BLANK
Date / checked by / pages / browsers and devices:
#  Page  Issue  WCAG ref  Fixed? (yes / open + note)
Not tested:

5. Document findings without claiming legal compliance

  • Keep the log with dates. It shows good-faith effort and what is still open.
  • Publish an honest accessibility statement: what you tested, known issues, and how to contact you for help. The accessibility statement generator drafts one.
  • Do not claim "fully ADA compliant" or "WCAG certified". Laws differ by country; in the US see the Justice Department's web accessibility guidance, and our guide to ADA website compliance for small businesses. Ask a lawyer about your obligations.
  • Avoid overlay widgets that promise automatic compliance; they do not fix the underlying page.
Click-to-edit in the We.Inc builder, used to fix labels and text on the page
Fixing labels and text in place in the We.Inc builder.

Next step

Start from a business template in the We.Inc website builder, then run this checklist and the website grader before you publish. Free gives up to 3 template sites on a we.inc address (no AI credits, no custom domain); Starter at $20/month adds AI building and custom domains (pricing). Budgeting fixes or a rebuild? Use the website cost calculator.

Start building your business website

Frequently asked questions

What standard should a website accessibility checklist follow?

WCAG 2.2 at level AA is the standard most laws and policies refer to. This checklist covers its most common small-business issues, not every criterion.

Can an automatic checker make my site accessible?

No. Automatic tools catch missing attributes and some contrast problems, but a person must check keyboard use, focus, and whether labels and alt text make sense.

Does passing this checklist make my website ADA compliant?

No checklist can guarantee legal compliance. Keep a dated log, publish an honest accessibility statement, and ask a lawyer about your obligations.

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