The business in one offer
Who it serves
Owners of small e-commerce and professional service websites, such as dental practices and local retailers, who have heard about accessibility complaints or want customers who use assistive technology to be able to book and buy. They pay for a clear, prioritized list their web developer can work from.
What to sell first
An audit of up to ten representative pages and one key flow, such as booking or checkout, against WCAG success criteria, with automated scans plus manual keyboard and screen reader tests, a prioritized issue list with code-level notes, and one retest after fixes. Excluded: legal advice, fixing code, and claims of full compliance.
A fixed page count and one flow make the audit quotable in advance. Prioritizing issues that block tasks, like an unlabeled checkout button, gives developers a clear starting point and shows the owner progress quickly.
What could it cost to start?
This is an original example budget for the limited pilot described above. It is not a researched market average or a complete quote for every location.
| Item to price | Example allowance |
|---|---|
| Screen reader and accessibility testing tools | $150.00 |
| Used Android phone for mobile screen reader testing | $200.00 |
| Training course on WCAG manual testing | $400.00 |
| Report template and sample audit design | $150.00 |
| Professional liability insurance quote allowance | $500.00 |
| Contract review covering no-legal-advice terms | $350.00 |
| Example total | $1,750.00 |
What this assumes—and excludes
Assumes you already understand HTML, own a computer and an iPhone, and can use built-in screen readers. Excludes owner pay, certification exam fees, paid ads and code remediation tools. Insurance and legal costs vary by state, so get quotes before taking audits for clients facing complaints.
Collect actual supplier, insurance and local-authority information. Add a reserve for delays and unexpected costs; the example total is not a funding recommendation.
How the unit economics work
At an assumed $1,800.00 per audit and $30.00 in direct costs, contribution is $1,770.00 before monthly fixed costs, owner pay and taxes. With 18 all-in working hours per unit, that is $98.33 per delivery hour before those deductions. These inputs illustrate the arithmetic; they do not establish a market price or expected earnings.
The example also allows $110.00 in monthly fixed costs. Include unpaid acquisition and administrative time when deciding whether the offer is worthwhile.
Try your own numbers
These are editable planning assumptions, not prices we have verified. Calculations stay in your browser.
Operating result = (price − direct cost) × units − monthly fixed costs. Before owner pay, taxes, financing and startup recovery. At these inputs, delivery requires 180 hours per month, plus any work not included in your per-unit estimate. Sales volume is a scenario, not a forecast.
How to find the first customers
Test a small offer before scaling traffic. Record the source of each enquiry, whether it fits the offer, and whether the buyer pays.
- Partner with two web designers who build small business sites and offer audits of their client sites before launch, so accessibility becomes part of their delivery.
- Give a short talk to a local business association on how a keyboard user moves through a booking form, with a live demo on a sample site you built.
- Publish a sample audit report for a fictional store so owners and developers can see how you rank issues and what code notes look like.
- Contact disability advocacy groups to ask whether they run user testing, and pay testers with disabilities for their time when a client wants real user feedback.
What to validate before spending more
- Run three audits at a reduced price and time each phase. If manual testing takes longer than your quote assumes, cut the page count or raise the price.
- Have a lawyer review your contract so it clearly states you do not give legal advice or guarantee protection from claims.
- Compare your manual findings with an automated scan on the same pages. Record how many issues only manual testing found, so you can explain why the price is higher than a scan.
- Practice with the screen readers your clients' visitors use most, on both desktop and mobile, until you can test a full checkout without help.
The operational catch
Overlay widgets that promise instant compliance are common, and clients may ask why they should pay for an audit instead. Overlays often leave code-level problems unfixed. Explain what the audit finds that a widget cannot, avoid disparaging specific vendors, and never describe your own work as making a site compliant.
A practical way to fund the first step
Start with the training course and free screen readers, and take a 50 percent deposit for each audit. Add paid tools only when the volume justifies them, and offer retests as a separate fee to cover the time.
Separate cash already available from money still to earn. Count only proceeds after direct expenses, and do not spend customer funds needed to fulfill their existing orders.
Questions before you start
Is WCAG the same as the ADA?
No. The ADA is a civil rights law; WCAG is a technical standard that is often used to measure web accessibility. How they apply to a given business is a legal question, so refer clients to a lawyer for that.
Can I just run an automated scanner?
Automated tools catch only some types of issues, such as missing alt text or low contrast. Keyboard traps, confusing focus order and unclear error messages usually need manual testing.
Should I also fix the issues?
You can offer remediation as a separate project, but some clients prefer an independent auditor. If you do both, retest with a fresh eye and say clearly in reports that you fixed the issues yourself.
Source-backed checks
These references support the specific checks below. They do not endorse this business idea or substantiate the example prices, costs or demand.
ADA.gov explains that the Americans with Disabilities Act is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities. ADA.gov: Introduction to the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The FTC's advertising FAQ explains that businesses need objective evidence to support the claims they make in ads before the ads run. Federal Trade Commission: Advertising FAQ's: A Guide for Small Business.
SBA lists professional liability insurance as coverage that protects service businesses against claims of errors or negligence. U.S. Small Business Administration: Get business insurance.
- Introduction to the Americans with Disabilities ActADA.gov · Reference checked September 8, 2026
- Advertising FAQ's: A Guide for Small BusinessFederal Trade Commission · Reference checked September 8, 2026
- Get business insuranceU.S. Small Business Administration · Reference checked September 8, 2026
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